*Author's Note:* *This was a strange encounter I had while I was walking with Ika one day after her therapy. Though she has a life partner, she claims to prefer to discuss things with me before Mako, as she feels it's good to have some time apart sometimes. For this passage, I have placed myself in the third person, and took my best guess at what everyone was feeling, double checked by Ika herself.* It was a quiet afternoon in The Human Residence. The birds were still chirping, and the sun was still flowing by, somewhat shaded by clouds, but the occurrence was rare. Ika had just finished up with her counseling work for a 7-day period, and swung open the doors of the clinic, meeting with her friend, Yalvol. Ika herself had definitely changed a lot. What she once had covered with what had become known as a "dysphoria hoodie" has instead been replaced by a light cut shirt, short on the sleeves, with not much of a design printed on it. Her skirt, too, was green, though more verdant, darker - and her leggings, of course, were something more on the black side. Attached just above her waist was a blade, of course, but one with a lock - a real lock, that would keep it from being unsheathed. Yalvol himself, he wasn't much for dressing, Typical polo shirt, buttons on the right - no, stage right, so his left, colored a light pink with the occasional blossom upon it, complemented by some rough denim jeans, a rarity in The Plane. He held one of the two keys to Ika's blade in the pockets. "Hey, Ika!", Yalvol called out as his friend exited the office. Ika similarly replied with a "Hi Yal! Good to see you.", before smiling subtly. She always wasn't much for expression - you would think she was a practiced mage, but no, she just keeps to herself. Yalvol was similarly kind. "Good to see you too. It's always lovely when we walk together." Ika gave out a small "Heh,", before continuing, "If I had a 5-Amog coin for every time you've said that... by the way, you owe me 5 Amog." She recollected herself a bit. "I was thinking, Yal, since Mako's down in the Desert- do they still call it the desert?" Yal shook his head. "I think it's just 'The Neon', what with the restoration and all. But you were saying?" "Well, since Mako's down in The Neon, it's just us two today. She doesn't *usually* return until sundown... Did you have anything in mind?" Yalvol thought to himself, putting both his hands on his hips. "Hm... You know, Ika, I hear there's some bird watchers in the area. Would be good to get your mind off of things, yes?" Ika nodded. "Sounds good." From the office, you would need to take a right, then it's a bit of a walk through a somewhat forested path, passing by a couple of dimly-lit houses, not necessarily decrepit, but just for those who consider themselves the loner type. Further on was a clearing into a small pond - just large enough to be of interest to some birds, but you couldn't fish in it. Still, though, there was a fishing rod, just barely dipped into the water, its bobber laying near motionless. The rod itself was hung in suspension, as if by the rays of light themselves that were coming through the tree leaves - but, no, actually, there was the occasional shimmer in the air, a line, as if to define a figure, one barely visible. Ika put a hand to to her face, somewhat splaying it. "I don't think I've seen anything like *that*, Yal." The unseen figure spoke. "You don't see anything." The voice sounded raspy, as if its words were hard to speak properly, but you could still understand them. It was... nasally, but not overtly so. What it *was*, to Ika, was scary - "Yalvol, key me.", she ordered, but without a word, she calmed down. "Sorry. Words first, right?" "Words first, friend. You may start, if you'd like, Ika." Ika stepped forward, towards the fishing pole. She kneeled down, but just decided to sit down on the grass. It was soft, but it wouldn't be staining. "Hi. My name's Ika. Who are you?" The pole-holder spoke. "You don't remember me? Heh. You don't even remember yourself, Era." "That is *not* a name I go by anymore.", she barked. "Maybe once, but not anymore, I mean. I've grown out of that title and identity." "So then, you don't care about me?" Ika shook her head. "A part of me is still curious about my past. I guess you wouldn't know, but, I did voluntarily try and purge my brain of my memories, so..." she paused for a moment, perhaps for dramatic effect. "If I once knew you, I would like to know you again." The fishing pole bobbed again. No, it shook. Something was caught on the line, the string starting to become taut as the pole bended, until, without much effort, a fish was procured - a salmon. The salmon leapt directly into a claw - a scaly claw, with 4 fingers and a thumb, which itself was connected to the rest of the body, something that looked like a lizard, standing on two legs, with green scales adorning its back, the intermittent round spike, something like ivory, lining its spine. Its front was much more tan, with lines going up from its tail, all the way to its neck. It was a Reaptile. An oft forgotten species, resembling a bipedal lizard, usually living in the dense bristles of forests. With a swift motion, it gulped down the salmon in one go. Ika recognized him immediately - "L-Lizal?!" Lizal nodded with his whole snout, breathing a sigh. "In the scales, Era- Ika, sorry." "It's alright,", she replied. "I didn't think you were alive, though." Yalvol had to interject. "Pardon me to interrupt, but, who is this, Ika?" Ika stood up, brushing some grass off her skirt. "Sorry, sorry. This is Lizal." She put one hand on her chin, two fingers over her mouth, while her elbow rested on the other hand. "If I recall correctly, we both worked for The Lady all those aeons ago..." "It's been aeons?", asked the lizard of the hour. "The war must still be ongoing, then. Are we winning, Ika?" Ika looked down at the ground. Grass sprung up from the earth, as it raised past her shoes - in a still dance of un-mow-ed-ness. She held her left arm, the non-dominant one, with her hand. "Uhm..." was all she could muster out, before turning to Yalvol. Yalvol simply nodded, beckoning her to be honest. "Lizal, she's dead." The lizard couldn't help but laugh a bit. He was in sheer disbelief. But Ika's expression said it all. "You're serious... Who did this? I'll find them and hunt them down." Yalvol stepped forward, and silently unlocked the padlock on Ika's sword, just in case. Ika wasn't exactly quick to the draw, though. "I'll tell you, but you have to understand, Lizal, things are different now. *Very* different. It's not like back on the fields where everything is so clear..." Lizal squinted his eyes, though that was a welcome move, since otherwise they looked like they would burst out from the top of his head. "You... Era, you didn't... I mean..." "I did, Lizal. I had to. She has caused a lot of people a lot of trouble, and it's because of her that there are so few Cyborgs in the world. They're as rare as jeans." Ika looked down, holding her hands. "I had no other option. Since then I've been getting help for everything, I've been changing myself, I..." Lizal snarled, just a tad. "I do *not* want to hear it, traitor." Ika took a step back, but this time, Yalvol spoke, causing her to turn. "Maybe we should leave, Ika." Ika swiveled back to Lizal, who had his fishing rod sling over his shoulder. "Maybe you should." But Ika had other ideas. She thought, if she could rescue *herself* from the mental clutches of that war, perhaps she could rescue someone else? It was a stretch, but it was worth a try. "Lizal!", she started, "Surely you're in pain from all this, aren't you? That's probably why you came running all the way here, far from the Synths, I'm guessing?" "I don't want to entertain the thought, *Ika*." Lizal said that last part with a sneer, as if distasteful that he had to conform to the concept. "Just hear me out, alright?", Ika said, trying to calm both herself and the Reaptile down. Lizal obligated, staying silent. "You and I, we both fought the same battles. But they were battles we were *never* meant to fight. I was only put in there because I was abandoned as a child, and you? I think they stole you off from the desert. Am I wrong?" Lizal curled a claw halfway, hovering it over his head. "I- you're right, but... What does that matter? I would have joined willingly give the chance." "Those were innocent people that we slaughtered, callously, without remorse. I know, because I did. I knew we reveled in it too." "It was with purpose, Ika!", shouted Lizal. "Cybers are- they're aberrations, they're hideous, they're-" "They're beautiful, Lizal. My life partner is a Cyborg, and she's wonderful. I wouldn't have it any other way." The lizard sighed, sitting down on the ground, replacing his bobber in the pond. He closed his eyes to think for a moment. Finally, he did speak. "Doesn't that make us scum of The Plane, then?" "Maybe, Maybe not. But, even if I was, I've found people that really like me anyways... I think, anyways. Yalvol?" Yalvol was mildly tuned out., leaning against a nearby tree. "Oh- uh- yeah, you're pretty cool, Ika! Even what with the murder and all." Ika chuckled a bit. She needed the mood lightener. "I appreciate it." She turned back to face Lizal. "Look, it'll probably be a bit, but I know that you can heal, just like I am now. Here, hold on..." She fished through her pockets, pulling out a small card. "This is the therapy office I go to every so often. If you register with them, they have a lot of resources to help you out." Lizal snickered a bit. "I'll... consider it. Don't expect us to be all buddy buddy, though." "This isn't about me, Lizal, it's about you. I know you can do good." Ika turned away to look at Yalvol again. "We should probably get going, shouldn't we?" Yalvol nodded, quick as he ever was. "Yeah, we should." The two left the clearing, and parted their ways. They knew they would meet again in good time, but it was always a little tearful saying goodbye.