*Well, I'm posting a lot lately, aren't I? ^_^ I guess this latest little plot arc has inspired me.  (Now if only I could get some CAPOW work done....) Anyway! On with the post!*

Recuperation....

*Flash forward a bit: The morning following Hugh's dramatic battle with Guu.  Our Protagonist is still quite unconscious, of course, and is being tended to by Ritsuko and Aerith.*

Ritsuko: *Jots down a few notes on her clipboard* Amazing....simply amazing! By all medical logic, he should be dead!

Aerith: ^^;;; Ummm....that's rather morbid, don't you think? Shouldn't you just be thankful that he's recovering....?

Ritsuko: *Ahem* Well, yes....^_^;; But still, this is all quite astonishing....

Rei: *Walks into the room, quietly closing the door behind her* Ohayou....how's he doing?

Ritsuko: Quite well....much better than I expected.  He should regain consciousness in a day or two.

Rei: *Smiles* I expected as much....

Ritsuko: *Suspicious frown* You did....? How much do you know about him, anyway?

Rei: More than you, Ritsuko-sensei....

Ritsuko: Is that so? In that case, you should know that this rate of recovery is impossible, even for him! Was your AT Field treatment _that_ effective?

Rei: It was hardly a treatment, Sensei.  All we did was hold him together, to give him a little head start....Hugh did the rest.  *Gives Ritsuko a quizzical look* I don't understand why you're so surprised.  You, of all people, should know that he's recovered from much worse.

Ritsuko: ....Do you mean....?

Rei: Indeed....the breakdown.  This is nothing by comparison....

Ritsuko: You're right, of course....*Looks at Hugh from the corner of her eye* This is his second impossible comeback....how does he do it without an Angel's regenerative function?

Rei: He has motivation, of course....*Smiles softly* He has something to come back to.

Ritsuko: ....I suppose the psychological factor could be at play here....

Rei: *Nods* Indeed....

Ritsuko: I wish I knew more about the healing abilities of Demons, though....

Rei: *Flashes Ritsuko a sly, knowing smile* You do not need to know.  Hugh will make a complete recovery regardless of how much knowledge you possess of his biology.  You and Aerith are....caretakers, I suppose.  Nothing more.

Ritsuko: *Glowers* What's that supposed to mean?

Aerith: *Shrugs* Well, if you think about it, all we've really been doing is keeping an eye on him....he's doing all the healing himself.

Rei: Hai hai.  Now, will you two excuse me? I need a moment alone with Hugh.

Ritsuko: As you wish.  *She departs the room, with Aerith following close behind*

*Outside*

Ritsuko: Ne, Aerith....why did you offer to help me, anyway? It isn't necessary for two people to be working on this....I mean, I appreciate your aid, but I thought you'd want to help Tifa fight the roaches.

Aerith: Ummm....well, I don't really like fighting, I guess....

Ritsuko: That's not what Sephiroth said after the invasion from Hell.  ^^;;;

Aerith: Er, well, to be honest....it's a personal reason.  *Twiddles her thumbs* Tifa and I both think I shouldn't put myself in harm's way for....a little while.

Ritsuko: *Piku piku* If you say so....^^;;;

*Meanwhile, back inside Hugh and Rei's bedroom, which is now Hugh's sickroom....*

*BGM: "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan*

Rei: *Pulls up a chair next to Hugh's bed* Sorry if I'm disturbing your rest, m'love....*Toys gently with his hair, smiling sadly to herself* There're a few things I need to tell you, though, and they can't wait....

*Hugh makes no reply--in fact, the only movements he makes are the near-imperceptible risings and fallings of his chest as he breathes.  But somehow, Rei knows that her words are being heard.*

Rei: Kyuu-chan has been worried about you....he can sense your pain, your exhaustion....he hasn't been crying, but I can tell how upset he is....and your injuries are not all he has to be upset about....

*Rei gazes anxiously at Hugh's face, some naive part of her hoping to see him respond--but as before, he does not move in the slightest.*

Rei: *Sighs, wiping away the tears threatening to fall down her cheeks* I'm worried too, Hugh....I know you'll pull through, but....I can only pray it'll be fast enough.  Every day, no, every _minute_ counts.

*Ayanami, now occupied by maintaining her emotional composure, fails to notice the slight stirring of Hugh's eyelids that her declaration produces....*

Rei: *Takes a deep breath* Hugh....the pursuit is not over.  We are not safe here....

*Hugh's eyelids twitch again, almost opening but not quite.*

Rei: I know....we have a good life here.  Better than any of the previous ones....This is the only place out of all the ones we've been to where I'd want to bring Kyuu-chan up....so if it's at all possible, I want to stay, and I know you agree.  But that does not change the fact that he is on his way....he knows we're here.

*Ever so slightly, Hugh's eyes begin to open....*

Rei: Adam....has found us.

*And at that, Hugh is fully awake.*

He's....not dead....

Rei: *Registers no visible shock at this--indeed, she had hoped it would happen this way* Well, we knew that already....remember, he projected himself here during Hell's invasion, via Mayuri....

But that wasn't a complete appearance....he was just restoring himself.

Rei: Hai.  He had returned to his embryonic form through unknown means--probably through help from Mayuri or Gendou, though--and Mayuri was merged with him.  But he escaped.

So why didn't he stay then? It was a perfect opportunity.  We were distracted by the demon invasion, and wounded besides....

Rei: *Smirks* You should know by now that Adam never strikes in the most obvious way.  Besides, at that point, he had no bearings as to his dimensional location....he was thrust into EGC against his will and without having a chance to get a fix on his position.  Now he has had a chance to rally his strength and get a good sense for his terrain.

Quite a dangerous situation....

Rei: Quite an understatement.  *Chuckles quietly* In any event, we'll have to do something about this--but quietly. The others have their own problems to deal with; we can't drag them into this.

I agree....*Smiles at Rei* We're not gonna leave, Rei....this place has been great for us, and for the other Shito Sentai.  I'm not going to go reality-hopping again without a fight!

Rei: *Bends down and kisses Hugh's forehead* I knew you'd say that....but before you put up any kind of fight, you need rest.  ^_-

*Yawns* I know, I know....^_^ Ne, tell Kyuu-chan his 'touchan is all right, okay?

Rei: Of course....now get some more sleep.

Hai hai....*Dozes off quickly*

Rei: *After tucking in Hugh's covers a little, Rei leaves the room silently*

Ritsuko: *Comes up the stairs from the bar* Should I go back in and look after him?

Rei: *Shakes her head* No, no....help Aerith tend to any wounded from the roach battles.  Hugh should be fine now.

Ritsuko: Whatever you say....*Heads back downstairs*

Rei: *Slips her crimson eyes shut* *Thinks: You'll see, Adam....you can't drive us away this time.*

*Aaaah, the plot thickens! ^_^ Well, since the Elementals are off cutting up roaches and such, there'll be no commentary today....so, until next time!*

End communication.

Let's Not Forget This Opportunity!

"Life is a taut little string between birth and death.
It's good for hanging keys on."

(*The Roaches are attacking, the Rats are fighting.  Guu and Krycek are down and out, whilst Lava and Raba seem to have semi-succeeded.  Hugh is recuperating, Shinobi is having an out-of-body experience [so to speak], Arisugawa fights the honorable samurai rat May, Jelynne's fending off Rebopp, Jen-chan is going to be litigated, and Subito hasn't fought the Leader's xenogear Gregor yet.  Dot's minions fight the Roaches and them alone, which is a pretty darned important thing whilst other RLs are distracted.  Rufus is in the bar, Roísin is in the bar, Plimsky is in the bar, Sephiroth is no where to be seen, Jenova is in the bar [is she napping or something?], and Chatty is in subspace, unfortunately looking like he's going to be stuck as the Flying Cat familiar of [a rather ditzy version of] a certain deadly solipsist.*)

(*To put it another way, all sides are busy.  And isn't that the perfect opportunity...?*)

(*In the echo-y part of Subspace ...*)

Lost:  Hey, wakey wakey! (*shakes Chatty*)  Flying Chatty kitty wakey wakey!

.... wuh-- stop that.

Lost:  Stop wha?

The cutesy wootsy kitty talk!  I'm not a cat at brain!

Lost:  Ah, sure ya are.

No, really!  I'm a Lunar Dragon!  My RL told me so!

Lost:  Think whatcha like, kitty! (*giggles*)

(*blink blink*) You're ... strange.

Lost:  No, I'm Lost.  Strange is two dimensions to the southpast ...

Does she have your cerebellum with her or something? ¬¬.

Lost:  Heh ... silly kitty.

Look ... you may be a you-know-who --

Lost:  God.  All-seeing, all-knowing, all-doing being-type person.

Um ... no, you're not.

Lost:  Of course I am! You're just not supposed to think so, 'cause you're a silly kitty dragon-thing.  And you're Chatty, too, that amounts to ... to ... (*furrows brow, thinks*)

You're the slow plant of the patch, huh?

Lost: (*floats into a "Thinker" position*) Naw, naw, it amounts to ... whatchamacallit, sommat I think ... gimme a little time, it don't matter, time's irrelevant to me and such like, being God and all that ...

Um ... sure.  Err ... in any case, can I go home?

Lost:  Heck, su-- hey, no!  Y'can't go, you're my familiar now!

Familiar?! Oo

Lost:  Yeah, all the great mages have familiars!  It's a tradition!

But, um, you're supposed to be God.  God, uh ... doesn't have familiars.

Lost:  No need to be so formal!  'Sides, I can change the rules, huh?  I made 'em, I can change 'em ... don't remember that one, though ... ah well. (*shrug*)

Whate--

Lost:  Heeeey!!  Look, incoming Shinobi echo!

Nani?!  Incoming --

(*faint*) _You_ were sent to assassinate me?  I don't know how you got the drop on me before, but never again!  (*Aims lasers, fires*)  I bet this is all i need to win this charade!

(*faint*) Izzat all you got!?  'Cause we gots something you ought to see, right sis?

(*faint*) Most definately...

(*There is a tiny echoing showing of the lightshow ...*)

Holy crap.

Lost:  Ain't it grand?  I love it here ... a fine job if I do say so myself!

Aaaah!  Shinobi, look out!

Lost:  No need t'scream, everything's already happened!   'S like yelling advice to characters in a movie.

You don't do that?

Lost: (*sheepish*) Well, that's different ...

Shinobi!!  Look out for that Twin Sword Thingy -- aw, crap..!

Lost:  Ah, dun worry, he's just a wraith now.

Just a wraith?  Just a wraith?

Lost: Heck yeah, it's not like he's going to Hell, right?

Um ... I think he did that.

Lost:  He did?  Huh.  Well, make that dead, then.

Err ... but isn't he?

Lost:  Sorta, kinda, maybe.  You ask a lot of questions, y'know that?

Do I?

Lost:  Heh ... silly kitty.

(*glancing at a passing echo*) Hey, what's this?

(*faint*) Ah ... sorry I took so long, she insisted on taking full weapon form before getting here.

(*faint*) Knowing him, I'm not surprised.

(*faint*) Might I remind you, Wiegraf, you're not in a position to crack comments.

(*very faint*) Sorrahboutdat.

Lost:  Ignore that.  They're mean.

Yeah, but ...

(*faint*) In any event, here she --

(*not faint*) I Can Introduce Myself, Thank You.

(*blink blink*) Hey! It's ... me!  The self-insert's former consciousness!

Lost: A-yup.  She's mean, they're mean, I don't like them very much.  So, uh, how's about sommat else?  There's the Guu - Voidstar fight echoing in five minutes over that-a way..?  Hm?

Shh.  I want to see this.

(*faint*) So you can.

(*faint*) Okay, so you guys got one. Now what?

(*faint*) Well, nearly everyone in the city is busy with either this Roach matter or related business, so it's the perfect opportunity to gather the other two items.

(*faint*) And that's what you're going to do?

(*faint*)  Naturally.  I never miss an opportunity.

Lost:  Argh ... mean double meaning in that ... did I forget to mention I don't like these people?

Oh shush up.  Go watch another echo if it bothers you.

(*faint*)  Ravenal will go to Shinra HQ #2 for one, and I will retrieve the other one.

(*faint*) Shouldn't it be the other way around?

(*not faint*) No, This Is More Characteristic.   Ravenal Will Go To The Place With More People, Who She Can And Probably Will Kill With Much Glee And No Discretion.  Such Is Her Way.  Dives Will Retrieve The Other One, Because He Is More Evenly Matched To Its Protector.

(*faint*) Err ...

(*not faint*) Matched In Fighting Ability, Wiegraf.   And There Is Another Reason, Which I Will Not Mention For Fear That He Might Be More Brutal In The Retrieval Than Need Be.

(*faint*)  Too brutal?  No need to worry of that ... there's no such thing in this mission ...

(*not faint*) Would That I Could Ignore Censorship ... Your Intents Aside, Dives.  The Item Comes First.

(*faint*)  Perhaps it does, but I'm not taking orders from you.  Time to go?

(*faint*)  Wiegraf, grab me a scythe, and don't drop that damned weapon, it'll blow up the whole city if you're not careful.

(*faint*) Wh-what?!

(*faint*) Heh heh ...

Lost?

Lost:  A-yup?

How old is this echo?

Lost:  Not too old, I think ... need specifics?

Nope.  I just hope that wasn't what I thought it was ...

(*Meanwhile, in the bar ...*)

Rufus:  Damn, that robot's good at cards ...

Jenova:  Always has been, always will be.  Doesn't have a job, so that's what he does ... eh, Plimsk?

Plimsky:  Pip pip pip!  Ich spiele gut!

Jenova:  Speaking of which, you a jobless bum too?

Rufus:  Wha... no!  Most certainly not!

Plimsky:  Piep?  Wie machst du?

Rufus:  I ... uh ...

Roísin:  Anno ... leave him alone.  You're on vacation, ne?

Rufus:  Um ... yes, you could say that.

Roísin:  I thought so.  The job doesn't have to chase into someone's freetime, does it?  There are some times when you just want to get away and forget about it completely ...

Rufus: (*jumping up*) Yes! That's it!  That's exactly what I, erm ... meant ... and such ...

Jenova:  Oy ... 's enough coffee for you, young man.   And, uh, could you get down from the chair?  They're kinda expensive to replace ...

Rufus: (*meekly*) Yes'm. (*sits down*)

Aerith: (*walking in*) Konnichi wa, Jenova-san.   Need anything from the cellar?

Jenova:  No thankee, Aerith-chan.  What are ye going down there for, anyways?

Aerith:  Just getting some extra bandages and such.  Those roaches are really wreaking havoc.

Jenova:  Ah, don't we all know that ... hey, Coffee Boy, you going to deal or what?

Rufus:  Just a minute!  I'm trying to shuffle, but the deck keeps shaking!

Jenova: (*sigh*) On second thought, Aerith, why don't you get some really strong bourbon ...

Aerith:  Sure thing. (*goes down*)

Jenova: Soooo ...... back to playing cards with Plimsk, Coffee Boy, and Ro-cha--

Roísin: (*winces*) Please don't call me that.

Jenova:  Don't call you what?

Roísin:  Ro-chan, don't call me Ro-chan.  It doesn't bring to mind particularly ... fond ... memories ... (*bows head*)

Jenova:  Hey, wha... don't take it that way, I'm just being friendly.

Roísin:  I know, I know.

Jenova:  Hell, I don't know squat about anybody, 'cept what they tell me.  I just work here in the bar.  People come, people go, I can't do anything about it.  But I'm not malicious.

Roísin:  I know.  I'm sorry.

Rufus:  What are you apologizing for?  You didn't do anything ...

Roísin:  Exactly ... that's the start of ...

(*Suddenly there's a big flash of light, blasting from down where the cellar should be ...*)

Rufus: What the..?

(*SCREAM!!*)

Jenova:  What the -- Aerith?!

Plimsky:  Piep!!  Aerith!!

(*Plimsky skids over to the cellar door and flings it open.  The open door is almost immediately greeted by Aerith being flung through it into the bar at high velocity, landing facefirst on the cardplayer's table, and crashing onto the floor.  It ain't a pretty landing.*)

Aerith:  Nnh ... (*sits up, wipes off her bloodied chin*)

Jenova:  AERITH!! What the... what happened?  Are you alright?!

Aerith:  .... Tifa! (*huff puff*) Where's Tifa?!

Jenova:  Tifa's out fighting roaches ... but --

Aerith:  No, I have to find her now!  Holy did nothing!  Absolutely nothing!  I can't believe it ...

Roísin:  H..Holy wouldn't come?

Aerith:  No, Holy came, but had no effect!  None ... and I didn't have my staff ... my God, that was too close ... (*sob*)

Roísin:  Aerith ... what --

Jenova:  Nevermind that!  Are you okay?!  Your hair's all out and --

Aerith: (*stiffening*) My hair's ... out..?

Jenova:  Yes, the braid's completely out of whack ... looks like the ribbon and a few tufts got --

Aerith:  Aaaaaaah!!  The White Materia ... he stole the White Materia!

Rufus:  Who?

Aerith:  That black-suited bastard ...

Roisin:  Black..suited ... oh no ... not ... ohGODno ...

(*In the streets on the complete other side of the EGC, a certain black-suited man walks down the street, tossing a certain light colored ball of solid magic to himself.*)

(*A scream echos down from elsewhere in the city.*)

(*He pauses and listens.*)

Dives:  Ah, so that's where Ro-chan ran to ... (*smirk*)  Too bad the item comes first.

(*And with that, he continues on his way ... space distorting the street in front of him so that, in a few seconds, he is even farther than that ...*)

Heh.  For some reason, that seemed amateurish ... ah well.

In any events, know three things: 1) Yep, Lost is who you think she is.  2) Aerith had a really close call -- no more, no less.  and C) I got a 100 on the New York State Global Studies Regents -- can you believe it?!   What were those test-scorers smoking..?