I awoke to a bright light, a gritty texture baking my skin. I sat up slowly, unclasping my hands and looking over the glowing cube that had nearly attached itself to my flesh.

"Omega?" I groaned, voice horse and body weary as I held my head, "Where are we? Is this hell?" I better looked around, surrounded by sand.

"From what I can gather," Omega remained in my chip, preoccupied from other things, "Southern Mexico, December 29, 2017."

I tried to stand, muscles somewhat atrophied, "So... I was only gone for three years... and what... three months?" I brushed my hand over my mouth, feeling the psychotic smile creep across my face, "The Book of Inter-Universal Transportation was correct... universes run at separate rates! Am I home?"

Omega was silent, as if not wanting to break the news.

Of course I wasn't home.

The Reds and Blues became my home.

Even if I was back, despite the infinite amount of universes available... I have lost everything.

I looked down at my skinny, pale arms and legs. My clothing barely fit me anymore, what little fat I had completely replacing the muscles of the past twenty years.

Everything is gone.

I stood again, kicking the numb feeling out of my legs. I just need my blood to flow again, and so long as I am standing, that should happen pretty quickly.

I observed the landscape, nothing but sand and prickly pear cacti in view, "What's close?"

"There's a shack about one-third mile northwest of here..." He muttered quietly, analyzing the area further, "Closest town's about ten miles north, so you decide."

I watched as a snake approached me, stomping its head in with the heel of my sand-filled shoe, "Let's check out the shack first." I tightened the waistband of my shorts, "It's only a third of a mile right? ...I think I see it." I walked with a spring in my step.

"From what I understand, it's a gas station."

"Then we go for food!" I felt the smile return to my face. I can't bring myself down on something irreversible. What awaits me is a new adventure!

"Wait!" The AI spoke quickly, "There's a man at the station walking this way."

I pressed a hand against my hip, hooking my thumb into a belt loop, "Don't worry about it. Just play it cool." I spoke quietly, more so trying to convince myself rather than the fragment in my head. I curled my fingers into a fist, ready to defend myself if need be. I had to look intimidating, because I don't remember how to last, as skinny as I am now.

Getting closer to the gas station, we walked by a slightly muscular, barely tanned man possibly in his late twenties. His eyes were cold yet somehow gentle... familiar... I nodded as I passed him, sand crunching behind me lasting only a moment.

"M...Michele?" He spoke quietly, my body stiffening.

I turned around quickly, hands reaching for weapons that had not even been there, "How do you-" My posture softened as I further observed the man. Light brown hair and blue eyes. His facial structure showed off his youth behind the stress, the tired eyes that had crows feet beginning to form at the ends, and the stubble that had been under-maintained for perhaps a week, "La...zerus?" I felt tears brim my eyes, smile becoming wider.

He watched me happily, a smile seeming unnatural to him, as if he hadn't in years, "Long time no see, huh? How've you been?"

I nearly threw him off balance, wrapping my arms around his waist and burying my face in his chest, "Nevermind about me, ya big dummy! What about you?"

His chest expanded wide before compressing slowly as he let out a sigh, giving me a pat on the head, "I'll tell you after you answer." He chuckled quietly, gently pulling me away before walking toward the shack. He grabbed me by the arm forcing me to follow.

He watched me once more, a warm smile across his face, "I want you to tell me everything."

Entry One: Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha: An Entry For the Baseline of Remembrance

My name is Michele Jay Walker, and I don't know how I got here.

Once upon a time, everything had been perfect. Now everything... everything is wrong. Everything is just too different.

I can't go back.

I can't go home.

It has been too long... Would they remember me?

I can barely remember myself... and the more I remember the more it pains me.

I didn't ask for this, for the path that had been forced to me...

They're depending on me now.

Entry 2: Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha: A Summary of Memories

I... Remember who I am.

A Freelancer.

A Sim Soldier.

A College Dropout.

But for years, I was just another thing to fear.

I did it all for them, for the project I knew was wrong... and though I tried so hard to keep the innocence in his eyes, they became cold regardless. My first friend in this world, long before Omega.

Still before Freelancer wronged us, I did it for him. Not necessarily out of love, but because my days were cold too without him being there to brighten them.

Entry 3: Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha: What I Remember After Reuniting With Him

But then more broke the barriers that I had left to protect them, and I held them close to my heart. I couldn't bear the thought of living without them, until I was forced to change... and in order to protect the majority, some had to be... disposed of.

His smile no longer brought me joy... and when that joy had been forgotten, when the project still fell, so did his joyous smile.

I could not bear to see how cold his eyes had become, once he had found me years after. He didn't know what the project meant to me. It wasn't the same for us.

He joined to make the world better.

And I stayed to protect those dear to me.

Entry 4: Valhalla: Repairing the Epsilon Unit, and Reviewing Previous Entries

But... they all... ended up dead. All but him and I could tell that he blamed me.

Despite all my efforts.

I blame myself too, but I hope to save him just like he had saved me that fateful day we met.

And my new friends will be protected at ALL costs.

I know what we used to be.

And I know what we have become.

but all I want is to protect them... to keep them safe and ensure that they live...

longer than me.

Entry 5: Chorus: A Final Message

Washington.

I haven't really had the chance to say goodbye.

I don't really know why, but I've noticed you avoiding me lately.

I think... I just wanted to properly patch things up before admitting defeat... I... don't even know if you've noticed? I'm not really one who likes to die surrounded by people. I've tried it before, cannot say I'm a fan.

I'm distracting myself, I do that waay too often.

A slow, labored exhale of air can be heard*

Listen, I just wanna say... sorry. I'm sorry for running instead of standing by your side. I'm sorry for going after Simulation Soldiers over keeping you safe when you needed me most.

I'm sorry for not making the universe a better place like we agreed many years ago. I've been... selfish I guess. The world's just been a little too big for us.

I hope to see that innocent smile again... before I die? The same smile that got me through Freelancer? You're not going to be able to listen this until after I'm gone, so the odds of that happening are slim.

I've said my goodbyes to Tucker... and Caboose... Although Caboose doesn't seem to completely understand death? I just felt like he needed a goodbye... I've just had troubles facing you about this, you know? It's not trust, I promise you... I'm just... Afraid of admitting it to someone who once looked up to me.

I'm sorry.

I try every day to tell you... I just... don't know how much time I have left and the closer I get the harder it is to admit it to you...

I... Don't let the boys forget about me, okay? Tucker's not going to be fond of it, but you're gonna have to be the leader for a while.

Make me proud, David.

End of Final Entry

Agent Washington stood over the corpse, watching... almost waiting for something to happen. She's come back before. She'll be back. She always comes back.

The Sargent of red stood at attention, arms rigid as he was the only one prepared for a three-volley salute. No one else wanted to risk wasting the ammunition. Although this burial had been for a dirty blue, he felt it proper to give her a proper farewell.

Donut wrapped the body in a large, beautiful blanket, being careful to keep the fabric as smooth as possible. He carefully put a glowing cube between her hands. No one really knew much about it, nor did they completely understand it, but it was customary for a soldier to be buried with all technology, unless otherwise decided by the UNSC. Now, whether or not that technology is dug up after burial, that is another discussion altogether.

Doctor Grey and a man in white armor watched the corpse sadly, guilt eating away at them.

Many Feds surrounded them, providing their own compassion and sorrow.

As her face was covered, Washington reflected on the last good moments, before the world went to shit against his urges to patch it together. When they passed the entrance exam, when they met York and North and South and Maine and the many other Freelancers that helped them shape who they became today... Her eyes were cold and empty, her joyous smile defaced from this sad, hallow universe.

He smiled behind his helmet, knowing that is what she had wanted.

This was a hard time for everyone...

And a terrible day for rain.

And that wraps up Hey You Electric Blue in a more satisfying way. This should bridge to Jumper's Guide to Returning Home (Which I'm going to work on rewriting a bit to help with fluidity). This bugged me for so long... I'm glad I finally tied loose ends together.