AN/ As I was editing the last ten chapters, it occurred to me that perhaps it might be nice to cover this scene that was otherwise missing from FtPverse canon. So, here it is. Enjoy.

Reporting how the events of Castle Oblivion had failed was not something 3 could say he was looking forward to. He didn't technically have to report anything—Axel could take care of that. But… 3 had a duty to the Replica Program. According to Master Vexen's wishes, all power over the Program lay in 3's hands. He had to make that clear.

Being a Replica, he wasn't allowed to sit in the chairs. So Axel got to sit in his, and 3 stood on the floor in the center of the room. Xemnas and Xigbar and Saix were all here. Why Saix was, 3 could not fathom. (Well, he could not fathom why Xigbar was here either, really, but you learned to accept Xigbar's constant presence at Xemnas's side.) 3 stood in the center of the room, and he waited for his turn to speak.

Axel did most of the talking. 3 interjected occasionally to cover for Master Vexen. "Riku was unpredictable," he said. "We weren't given enough time to fully execute the plan," he said. If Master Vexen were here, he would probably tell Xemnas that it served him right, but that was not 3's place.

"And, anyway," Axel said, laughing. "Turns out Marluxia and Larxene were traitors, so I guess it all worked out well enough. Shame about Vexen, though."

"Is that why you're here, whichever-number-you-are?" Xigbar called down at 3. "Ol' Flamesilocks here could've given us the mission report without your input, so I figure you have something to say...?"

"Well, now that Master Vexen is dead, the Replica Program is under my jurisdiction. I just wanted to make that clear." As soon as 3 said it, he realized his mistake in coming here. There had been no need to tell Xemnas directly. He should have carried on as normal, and only brought it up when confronted.

Because, even from this distance he could see the flash of Xemnas's eyes. The way Xigbar's smile widened.

"It really is a shame," Xemnas said.

3 wasn't sure what hit him, just that suddenly his body was engulfed with pain. The Program…! he thought, desperately, sadly, furiously. I've failed.

He knew no more.

Xemnas turned to Saix, now, smiling more than he had in a very long time.

"The Replica Program is in your hands, now," Xemnas said. "Do not disappoint, Saix."