Disclaimer: You've heard it before.

"What are you going to do with us?"

Jaxon frowned and glanced up over his shoulder into the cell behind him where a pair of violet-blue eyes glared back at his own, standing to his full height he looked down at the girl leaning on the bars for the first time.

So this is Kairi? Looks a lot like Xion. He noted the facial features and dark red hair. And Naminé...

Glancing behind her to where the cell's other occupant, a thin, yellow dog, was still sleeping he gave her a small smirk.

"Awake at last are we?" The glare intensified.

"What are you going to do with us?" She repeated, something she had been doing to every member of the Organization who had guarded her, according to Saix, Jaxon was under strict orders not to reveal anything the Organization had planned for the girl to her.

"But... what do we have planned for her?" He had asked, Saix just smirked.

"Should we need to use her Jaxon, then you will know"

Big help Saix... Shaking his head and dismissing his thoughts of the Organization's number VII he picked up a small plate of food and slipped it through the bars of the cell, the girl eyed it suspiciously then turned her glare back to him, he just laughed and sat down facing the cell this time.

"It's not poisoned kid."

"I'm not hungry" she replied coldly, he laughed again.

"Suit yourself" he muttered giving a tired yawn, he hadn't slept much since leaving the clifftop, he hadn't even returned to the Castle at first, instead wandering around the Dark City torn between apparent rage at Demyx's callous dismissal of their friendship and a strange feeling of emptyness that had nothing to do with not having a heart, even now he couldn't quite place what it was, though it had hit him hardest earlier that morning when upon his arrival in the lounge Demyx had stood up and marched out without so much as looking at him. Sighing to himself he turned his mind back to the argument, he couldn't shake the image of Demyx's heartbroken face when he realised his partner was responsible for perhaps costing him getting his heart back, the one thing he'd ever wanted the whole time Jaxon had known him...

Still doesn't meant he could say what he said...

Ordering the voice at the back of his mind to be silent, he began to realise what he'd done, in letting Roxas go he'd robbed them all from their goal of completing Kingdom Hearts and getting their hearts back, there was still Sora but how could they rely on someone who had already eliminated half their number? Demyx in particular had been growing more and more anxious as the goal had neared completion, for someone who didn't really remember what it was like to have a heart it wasn't too much of a deal, but for Demyx, who remembered every lost feeling, every last moment where the fake joy should have been real, it must have been the ultimate betrayal. Considering it was his best friend doing the betraying it was little wonder his partner had finally given in and let his Nobody side take over.

Oh man, it really is all my fault...

"What are you talking about?" Jaxon jumped at the question, not realising he had spoken out loud, caught off guard he snapped his head up.

"None of your business!" This time Kari jumped, eyes finally changing from the glare to a slight look of fear, realising what he'd done he softened his voice and expression. "Sorry..."

He went to return to his thoughts but the girl spoke again.

"You're not like the others..." she fell silent as he glanced up in confusion.

"What d'you mean?" He frowned, not sure why he was suddenly seeking a conversation with someone he was meant to be guarding, she shook her head and turned away. "Hang on, what's that meant to mean?"

She turned to face him, seemingly just as confused as he was about continuing. "It's just... the others who've watched me, they seem... weird."

"We're a pretty weird group" Jaxon shrugged, the desire to have a decent conversation to take his mind off everything driving him on.

"No, they just... it's like they're not there, they don't show emotion."

"They wouldn't, we don't have hearts to feel with" Jaxon replied. "So I've been told" Kari frowned.

"But, if you don't have a heart, how are you alive?"

"Technically, I'm not, I don't even exist, I just... am" he finished lamely. "That's what thats for" he gestured to Kingdom Hearts out the window. "When it's ready it'll give us our hearts back."

"How?"

"Beats me" he shrugged. "All I know is what I've been told. No hearts, no feeling."

"You seem normal though" Jaxon laughed slightly.

"Well, let's just say I haven't accepted the theory, not fully anyway..."

"There a reason why you're talking to the prisoner fifteen?"

Jaxon turned at the cold sounding voice to see Demyx striding towards him, barely acknowledging his onetime partner the Nocturne continued.

"Your orders were to watch her only, not share a conversation..."

"Gonna tell on me to Xemnas Dem?" Jaxon snapped back, immediately hostile again. "Surprised you haven't seen him already after what you said last night."

Demyx looked torn for a moment but quickly replaced it with a steely expression again.

"What I do and when I decide to do it is my business, not yours."

"Yeah? Well you do what you gotta do partner" Jaxon hissed. "What brings you here anyway?"

"I'm here to relieve you, apparently I'm stuck with you and Xigbar for a mission, you're to go get ready."

"Highlight of my day no doubt" the younger Nobody muttered sarcastically before pushing past him much like Demyx had done that morning, the Nocturne watched him walk out sight before sighing sadly and sitting on the ground opposite the cell where Kairi had watched the exchange in confusion. Her brain working out that these two must have been close friends who had fallen out, before she could ponder this further the man now guarding her summoned an instrument out of nowhere and began strumming a sad, slow tune.

"Xigbar" The Organization's number II glanced up from his position to wear Saix was approaching.

"Hey scarface, what can I do ya for?" He chuckled, his sarcastic tone making the other Nobody frown.

"Lord Xemnas has sent me to give you your next mission" he answered, Xigbar smirked again, feigning disinterest, a game he played with most Nobodies bar their Superior, not because he enjoyed it (he couldn't feel after all) but out of habit, Braig always had been the type to push buttons.

"Oh, really? That's cool dude, too busy to tell me himself?" Saix's frown deepened.

"Xigbar..."

"I get it dude, boss has plans for me to carry out, big whoop."

"If you're going to play this game can you at least stop shifting the gravity? I have no wish to waste my time talking to you while you're upside down."

"Awwww, spoil my fun why don't ya..." Xigbar laughed, all the same letting his powers fade and landing gracefully on his feet before Saix. "So what's the plan?"

"You are to lead a team to Hollow Bastion, you have a couple of tasks awaiting you there."

"Such as?"

"The first being basic recon, finding out if the Heartless are numerous enough to begin the next phase of our plans for the World."

"Sounds pretty boring but OK, and the other thing you want done?" A computer disc was pressed into his hand, glancing down at it his one eye widened slightly. "The MCP?"

"Yes, Xemnas has explained to me what it is, and why it was locked away in the castle's computer files, but he believes it is still operating even now and wants it brought back online."

"Why?" Xigbar asked, now fully attentive. "That programme was locked down because it had a mind of it's own and started creating it's own Heartless! Why bring it back?"

"The Hollow Bastion Restoration team have found the lab under the castle, if they access the computer the Superior believes they could uncover information that may hamper our plans, particularly if Sora is involved. However, if the MCP is activated it will lock down the files and defend itself against anyone who tries to access them."

"Including us when we go back there after the Heartless are done, what's the plan then?"

"That will be dealt with once it needs to be" Saix shrugged. "You have your mission, see that it is completed."

"Wait a sec!" Xigbar yelled after the disapearing Nobody. "Who's in my team for this mission?"

"Nine and fifteen" Saix's voice vanished with the portal, Xigbar frowned. Jaxon and Demyx? Those two were a headcase at the best of times, and judging by their apparent fallout (why else would they have refused to acknowledge each other when he saw them that morning?) things were gonna be a lot harder to control.

"It's gonna be a long day" he muttered before heading off in search of his comrades.

The heavy rain beating down on him didn't even phase Jaxon as he skateboarded effortlessly through the streets and alleys of the Dark City, he was angry, angry at Demyx for being so thickheaded and baiting him and angry at himself for rising to it when he was meant to be working out how to fix the mess they were in. Lightning flashed and thunder echoed across the city but he didn't slow down until he saw Memory's Skyscraper ahead of him, kicking off the skateboard when he reached the centre of the square in front of the skyscraper he watched it disapear into a portal leading to his room then turned and looked around the square.

"Heartless!" He yelled summoning the Gunblade and firing a round into the air. "Come out and play!"

There was a long pause then a lone Neoshadow emerged from the ground in front of him, it regarded him with interest for a moment then slipped back down into the ground again. Jaxon smirked dangerously and waited as the Neoshadow burst from the ground behind him, before it had even raised a claw the Gunblade slashed through it causing it to vanish in a plume of darkness, as if summoned by it's demise another dozen Neoshadows emerged from the edges of the square and began closing in on him.

"So, which of ya wants to go first?" He asked, voice still low and steady, two of the creatures took up his offer and flew at him only to be immediately impaled on the blade, the rest of the Heartless charged forward but he disapeared into the ground. They gathered round the spot he had vanished from, chittering to each other in confusion before a round from the Gunblade exploded right in the middle of them, the one's that weren't eliminated flew to the edges of the square where Jaxon emerged from a portal and slashed through them before using another to emerge on the opposite side of the square and erase the rest.

More Neoshadows were appearing in the middle of the square now, drawn by the sounds of the battle, before they had even registered where their prey was Jaxon was on them, slashing and hacking with the Gunblade to send them back into darkness, now grinning madly the young Nobody turned to see more flying at him from the shadows. With a lazy wave of his hand he summoned a wall of darkness that they crashed into, the 'wall' then surrounded the dazed shadows and closed in on itself, crushing them into nothing. The remaining group of Heartless seemed hesitant now and just surrounded him again, raising his Gunblade again Jaxon beckoned them all on, the creatures made to move towards him but the Nobody was already attacking, swinging the Gunblade at anything that moved until he stood alone and panting in the middle of the square.

"That's it?" He muttered. "I'm still not even halfway calm yet."

As if on cue the largest group of Heartless yet began appearing around him, laughing to himself Jaxon raised the Gunblade once more in anticipation.

"Bring it on you freaky little..." he fell silent as a familiar click rang out from behind him, before either he or the Heartless could move a series of arrows flew from behind him into the mass of shadows, not a single one was missed as one by one the creatures faded away. With an annoyed frown Jaxon turned and looked up to where Xigbar was hanging upside down partway up Memory's Skyscraper sporting a victorious smirk.

"I call that the same number of Heartless you killed in a fraction of the time, think I win dude" he drawled, Jaxon just glared up at him.

"What do you want Xigbar?" He asked simply, the now upright Freeshooter dropping to the ground in front of him, still smirking at his actions.

"Well firstly, why you're out here when I swear I heard the boss say you weren't to leave the Castle, secondly why you're out here when waterboy tells me he told you to come get ready, and finally why you and said water-controlling Nobody are apparently having a bitch-fit at each other?"

"The last one is none of your damn business!" Jaxon snapped, only causing Xigbar to smirk even more. "As for the other questions I'm out here 'cos I wanna kill something."

"Awwwww!" Xigbar mocked. "Have the two lovers fallen out?" Jaxon raised his Gunblade threateningly. "Kid, please. You think that's gonna work on me? As if."

"No, but cutting your head off might" the Freeshooter just laughed.

"No doubt it would kiddo, but save it for another time, right now we gotta go work."

"I take it Demyx is still coming too?" Jaxon sighed.

"Well d'uh! But don't worry, I promise you won't have to talk to each other too much."

With one last mocking laugh Xigbar opened a portal and stepped through, gesturing for the younger Nobody to follow, Jaxon glared for a moment then made a defeated noise and followed in his wake.

"Well, this takes me back" Xigbar chuckled as the Nobodies stood on the walls to the town looking over the area where the residents live. "Even I gotta admit they're doing a hell of a job here making this place look nice" he turned to where Jaxon and Demyx were standing, both very deliberately not looking at the other. "Don't go agreeing with me all at once dudes."

"Can we just get this over with?" Demyx asked with a glare that only made Xigbar laugh again.

"Well look who's all workaholic all of a sudden, OK waterboy I'll brief ya, two of us have the easy job of going out into the mountains and seeing how many Heartless have found their way here, the other one has to go into the castle over yonder" he gave a lazy gesture over his shoulder as he withdrew a small computer disc from his pocket. "And upload this baby into the computer in the hidden lab."

"What is that?" Jaxon asked, curiosity besting his sulky silence, Demyx just eyed the disc warily.

"This, dude, is the disc that holds all the passwords that keep the MCP locked away in that computer's hardrive."

"MCP?" The other Nobodies repeated in unison before giving the other a glare, Xigbar rolled his eye.

"Long story, once upon a time me n' the others installed that thing in Ansem's old computer, an automatic programme to watch the Heartless y'know. Thing is, the MCP had a mind of it's own and started creating it's own Heartless, in the end the boss locked it down deep in the computer's databanks, held in check by all these passwords."

"Are we talking the same computer that has it's own World inside it?" Demyx asked, a nervous tone creeping into his voice. "The same one..."

"You got us trapped in, yeah, remember how bad it was? Well once this thing is loose it's gonna be about ten times worse."

Jaxon shuddered as memories of the three Nobodies present as well as Roxas and Xion fighting off an endless army of anti-virus programmes entered his head. "So, why are we booting it up?"

"The dude's here have found the lab, if they get to the files they could find out more than they need to know if ya catch my drift? So I'm gonna go load this up..."

"You are not leaving me with him!" Demyx exclaimed, pointing at Jaxon, the younger Nobody rounded on him.

"What's wrong? Scared I'll abandon you to the Heartless first chance I get?"

"Wouldn't put it past you trai..."

"Cut it out!" Xigbar yelled. "Fine! If it shuts you both up one of you can go deal with the MCP, OK?"

"I will" Jaxon piped up immediately. "We both know he'll only screw it up."

"Right" Xigbar cut across Demyx's angry reply. "Remember where the lab is?"

"Through the corridors in the basement behind the old study."

"Bingo, and one more thing" Xigbar's tone became serious as Jaxon attempted to leave. "Once you put that disc in get out of there! The MCP is one dangerous programme, could take an hour to load up but it could take two seconds, and once it's online no one's gettin' near that computer safely."

Jaxon nodded. "Back here one hour?"

"Yep, don't screw up kiddo" Jaxon disapeared and the Freeshooter turned to Demyx. "Gonna tell me what's going on with you two?"

"Can we just get on with this?" Demyx muttered again, Xigbar sighed and nodded.

"Have it your way waterboy, let's go."

The two Nobodies disapeared into darkness, leaving no trace of their presence, for a moment the area was still then a fourth cloaked figure emerged from where they had been observing the Nobodies, the newcomer looked around to check the coast was clear then cast a glance up at the castle before opening a portal of their own and stepping into it.

Unlike the rest of the town the castle didn't seem to have had any change made to it since the residents of Hollow Bastion had returned, it was still in a massive state of disrepair and seemed to have gone through a war, some of the damage looked years old, some more recent. To Jaxon it seemed the castle was being left that way to remind of the previous ruler's failings, or maybe they were fearfull of approaching it due to the fact that the witch Maleficent had resided there for the better part of the last ten years, while the young Nobody still laughed at the notion of a witch he couldn't deny that something about the castle seemed off. Shrugging to himself he approached the opening to the corridors that led under the castle to the secret lab where the computer was housed.

"Nothing like a creepy basement to set the mood" he muttered to himself as he negotiated the winding paths, why someone would put a maze of tunnels under an already massive castle was beyond him, passing another of several passages blocked by debris he spun suddenly, he could've sworn he'd heard something moving behind him, frowning into the gloom he summoned the Gunblade and aimed it in the direction of the shadow he'd caught sight of.

"Who's there?" He called to no reply. "C'mon whoever you are, I heard you sneaking around back there!"

Again there was no reply, frowning Jaxon banished the Gunblade, his imagination perhaps? Definitely not a Heartless as whatever he'd heard was too light-footed, dismissing it as his mind playing tricks on him he turned and caught sight of a lone door ahead of him. Quickening his pace he stepped through into the study beyond, the place looked just as wrecked as it had the last time he and the others had been there, the only thing left intact being a large portrait of Xemnas' complete being hanging on the wall opposite. The young Nobody regarded the picture with contempt for a moment before turning to the wall. After a careful glance he raised his hand and pressed it against the hidden switch, immediately the wall disapeared opening a small path over a gigantic factory, with a low whistle he followed the path into the lab.

"Long time no see" he laughed to no one in particular as he took in the computer and large scanner, despite the laugh he made no effort to go anywhere near the scanner, remembering what had happened last time he'd stood in front of it, turning to the computer he withdrew the disc from his cloak and stepped forward, whistling again at the factory below, apparently that was where the original six had manufactured Heartless, it certainly looked forboding enough. Dismissing those thoughts he slid the disc into the computer and prepared to run.

"Master Control Programme reboot initiated, programme will be online in six hours, forty seven minutes."

Relaxing at the computerised voice, Jaxon smirked and turned to leave, only to find the way blocked by one of his comrades.

"What's the matter?" He asked the cloaked figure. "Wanted to make sure the computer didn't try and kill me?" The figure didn't respond. "OK Xiggy, what's the deal? Xig? Oh... is that you Dem? What've I done now?"

The figure just stood there blankly, before Jaxon could ask another questions there was a rush of heat and two chakrams appeared.

"Axel?" Jaxon gasped. "It's really you?" The cloaked figure raised the chakrams. "W... wait! Axel it's me! Jaxon!"

The young Nobody went to removed his hood but a chakram collided hard with his midsection sending him flying across the room and into the elevator doors opposite, wincing but thanking his lucky stars that the chakram wasn't lit he looked up to see 'Axel' typing frantically away at the computer, summoning his Gunblade he took aim at the other Nobody.

"I dunno what you're up to Axel but you asked for this!"

He fired. The other figure glanced up at the last second and ducked causing the round to hit the wall, leaping to his feet Jaxon prepared to charged him but darkness surrounded both of them, when it faded Jaxon found himself alone.

"Axel!" He yelled at the empty room, nobody replied. The young Nobody charged out onto the small path above the factory but found it abandoned. Snarling with anger he turned and punched the wall next to him before looking down at the manufactory below him, an opening had appeared in the floor revealing a path that led seemingly deeper under the castle. The young Nobody raised an eyebrow and entered the computer room with the intention of taking the elevator down to investigate when the computer began beeping, a new file had opened and was now dominating the screen, curious, Jaxon approached and raised an eyebrow at the title of the file.

Ansem's log #1

The day has finally come, myself and the others have finally banished that old fool to the realm of nothingness, now the final obstacle to our plans has been removed.

This report is brief due to the importance of what lies ahead, but neccessary to mark what has happened, and what is still to come. This excitement I feel... there is nothing we cannot achieve now.

Before we go any further it is important that the denizens of this World believe things in this castle are as normal. As such I will abandon the name Xehanort and adopt the name of our now departed former master.

Ansem will live on through me, and using his name our plans will develop further than even we have dared to dream.

Ansem

Jaxon frowned to himself as he stepped back from the computer, so Xemnas wasn't the Nobody of Ansem the Wise? Well that was several recon missions down the pan, looking back over the brief log he frowned again. The realm of nothingness? What was the difference between that and darkness? And was the real Ansem still there now however many years later? Curiosity taking over he stepped up to the computer and began searching through the list of files Axel's actions had revealed, all were logged in numerical order with a excerpt of the first sentance to tell them apart, most seemed to be about the continuing research of the apprentices. One caught his eye and he opened it to read the whole story.

Ansem's log #134

As I and my allies delve deeper into the darkness that grants us power I cannot help but remember something our former master once said in the early stages of our research. The old fool felt we were losing our humanity the further we descended, imagine how he would feel now after months of unobstructed research and tests. And yet...

We are changing, I can feel it, the darkness we are experimenting on is starting to gather round us, empowering us, Ienzo in particular seems even to be aging at an accelerated pace, I'd scarcely believe it if I wasn't witnessing it now. Ienzo himself seems worried but has accepted Even's persuasions for an experiment to be carried out to discover if it is indeed the darkness that is causing this or if the boy has merely been tampering with the chemicals in the lab again.

If it is true the darkness is causing Ienzo's changes then this opens up a universe of new opportunites, already we have discovered, through Braig, that the darkness can be used as a means of travel to other Worlds, if Ienzo's aging is the doing of the darkness then what other unnatural powers could it grant us? This is very interesting indeed.

Ansem

Ienzo? Even? Braig? Jaxon's mind was now operating double time putting the name's to faces, Zexion, Even and Xigbar's Somebodies? This was getting too weird, especially the accelerated aging part, turning back to the computer the searched the files for the next entry to take his interest.

Ansem's log #171

Today is the day.

After an age of preparation myself and my allies will infuse ourselves with darkness, what the results will be I cannot tell, but the risk is more than made up for by the possibilities of the power that awaits us.

Let it begin.

Ansem

That was the last recorded log from 'Ansem', Jaxon felt a shudder rip through him, the day they all died, technically anyway, scrolling down he found a whole new section of reports without titles but all writted by the same person... Xemnas, everything else forgotten the young Nobody opened the first log.

And so it has come to be.

Myself and my allies have returned from the darkness that consumed us, our physical appearances with only the most minor changes, however the greatest changes cannot be seen. The infusion of darkness did indeed grant us power we could only have dreamed of, however it came at a great cost, after months of wandering the darkness we have come to the conclusion that the darkness that now obeys us took away our hearts as its payment, leaving us naught but empty shells, not amongst the living, but neither are we dead or part of the mindless horde that is the Heartless. It also would appear that in our absence our home World has been taken over by the witch Maleficent, the Heartless here now obey her bidding, whilst she may now reside in the castle she seems not to have discovered this lab or the chamber beneath where my old friend rests. However I believe trips such as this one will now be few and far between.

All is not lost however, as during our wandering of the darkness we have heard tell of an entity known as Kingdom Hearts, an entity formed of hearts torn away from their masters gathered together by a weapon known as the Keyblade, the name itself seems familiar but I cannot recall why.

So now me and my allies, rechristened in name as I have been, will wander the Worlds until we find a place to call sanctuary, then we will begin in earnest our attempts to create this Kingdom Hearts in the hopes it will return us our hearts and emotions, amongst other things. However the six of us alone will not be enough, we will need more, an organization of beings without hearts.

An Organization of Nobodies.

Xemnas

Jaxon was immediately flicking through the rest of the reports now, if this computer held the secrets of the Organiztions past, maybe it could reveal what was going on and, dare he think it? Who exactly his other had been, every report that took his interest was opened one after the other.

After many failed attempts to add another member to our ranks, the specimens involved being reduced to the shapeless Dusks previously mentioned, we have finally added another to our number, our seventh member. He is much like the six of us who initially formed this Organization, he lacks a heart and emotion yet retains his human form, Vexen has assertained that the form taken depends on the will of the being that loses their heart, the stronger the will the more powerfull the Nobody, clearly our new friend possessed such a will.

He speaks of another who could join our ranks, a young man who also dwelled in his homeworld, ironically our own, another who's will is just as strong, provided his heart is claimed by the darkness. We shall see.

Xemnas

It seems our seventh member was correct, we now have our eigth member of this Organization, as is the growing trend our newest recruit has a different element to the rest, strangely he accepted the truth of what happened to his original being much easier than I anticipated. Nonetheless we must continue on with our goal if we are to succeed.

Xemnas

Jaxon skipped past the next few logs, most of them just being reports of Heartless and what Kingdom Hearts would provide, nothing he didn't already know, another new report caught his attention.

Number IX is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with, all the members who joined this Organization before him, and the three who joined after, have accepted their place as emotionless beings in this artificial World and gone about their non-existant lives as such, this Nobody however doesn't. Whilst it is true that Nobodies do remember emotions, something I have since begun to forget so long has it been since I cast my heart into the darkness, this Nobody insists on hiding behind a mask of his fake emotions rather than use them when needed. Is he delusional? Or maybe his emotions are all he has to remind him of his former existance? I do not know for sure, but number IX is rapidly becoming a nuisance...

I am however intrigued by events currently taking place in the Worlds, it seems the Heartless of my original self has made its move, as has the witch Maleficent and her newfound allies, it would appear these two forces are destined to collide... but another has entered the equation, a young boy, a young boy who weilds the Keyblade the Organization needs in order to create our Kingdom Hearts and begin the next phase of our plan. Could it be possible that a Nobody of this child could possess the Keyblade too?

Xemnas

The reports after that seemed to get more and more spread out between each one, Jaxon noted one announcing the birth of Roxas, something called the Replica Project and Xion's arrival, but he had already been drawn to another, the one he'd been searching for.

Our number has now reached fifteen in total, fourteen Nobodies and the Replica, however there is something about this new recruit that seems strange.

He has no memory of his original life, no real matter as Nobodies before him have also had this condition, however he does seem to recall what emotions are and that he should feel them, however what is more unique is the strange presence that exudes, I cannot tell if it is familiarity from a previous experience I have had with the boy from prior to the amnesia that cursed my original being or maybe it could be that the boy could very well possess a great power.

For now he has been given his new name, the number XV and assigned to the care of number IX until he is deemed ready to serve the Organization, however I have also decided to, like the replica and our Keyblade bearer, have the boy monitored to assertain if my theories are correct, for the moment Zexion will be the one reporting his progress. Another Nobody will be assigned once the Castle Oblivion experiment begins.

Xemnas

Jaxon sighed bitterly and weakly punched the wall again in frustration, nothing once again, all he'd learned was Xemnas had seemed unsure about a Nobody for the first time once he'd joined. Big deal, what was the point in being special if you couldn't remember why that was? He went to close the file but curiosity took him again, the last few reports appeared on screen, one based after events at Castle Oblivion and two other reports in the time since, he opened the last report which seemed pretty recent and read in half-hearted interest.

As events continue to take their current route I believe this may be one of the final reports before the completion of Kingdom Hearts and therefore safe to start planning my true goals for the entity.

Whilst Sora is not an agent of the Organization as Roxas or the Replica were he is far more impulsive and therefore continues to follow his instinct of slaying any Heartless he encounters, even now more hearts are fusing with my Kingdom Hearts, its power growing with each one, power that I soon shall possess as I ascend to a state that will be all but God-like.

The number of my Organization is decreasing all the while, betrayals and destructions since the last report have left six members plus myself, the remaining six still do not know of my true goal, instead they still cling to the belief that Kingdom Hearts will grant them hearts, whether this happens or not is irrelevant as in the new World I create when I possess the power of every heart in existance they will either continue to follow my intructions or they will cease to exist like their companions before them.

The time has all but arrived now, and the new beggining I have planned for the Worlds since first I discovered Kingdom Hearts is upon us...

Xemnas

The young Nobody felt himself shaking as he stood back from the computer, he couldn't tell exactly what it was, rage? Shock maybe? All he knew was he actually felt it, and it was growing stronger with every passing second.

"No..." he whispered, taking in the words again. "No, Xemnas... you..."

Words failed him again as he stared at the screen, the report almost mocking him as it revealed the betrayal, they were never meant to get their hearts back... just help some madman achieve his psychotic goal. The Gunblade appeared in his still shaking hand as he finally turned away from the screen and numbly began walking back towards the office, he had no idea what he was planning to do but he did know it involved Xemnas doing a lot of explaining...

No!

Jaxon stopped in the doorway, first he was going to find Demyx and drag him back here to show him the reports, then his partner would surely understand why they had to leave like Roxas and Xion had, then they could confront Xemnas together...

"You're through!" He hissed at the portrait of Xehanort. "You hear me? You. Are. Finished!"

Slamming the office door shut he turned to summon a portal out of there but froze as darkness appeared all around him.

"Back again Axel?" He yelled. "I'm really not in the mood for these games anymore!"

"How fortunate then that I am not here to play games then" came a female voice that echoed through the darkness around him.

"Who the..." That was all Jaxon got out before a heavy blow struck him around the head and he slumped to the ground unconscious.

"Where the heck is he?" Xigbar muttered for the umpteenth time, Demyx glanced up silently for a moment then went back to idly examining his gloves, Jaxon was never this late, sure he took his time but he was never more than a few minutes after everyone else at the meeting points, something had happened, something bad.

Why do you care? He betrayed you! He betrayed everyone!

That was true, he conceded, Jaxon's had hurt him, to think his best friend would screw over the entire Organization for the sake of... what exactly? It had been the right thing? SInce when did Nobodies have a sense of right and wrong? But then... Jaxon had always been different, maybe it wasn't beyond the realms of possiblity that he'd had an attack of guilt or conscience that night he'd fought Roxas, maybe he did honestly feel it was right. But still it was a betrayal of everything they'd fought for, didn't stop him worrying for the kid though...

Maybe he's been sucked into the computer again, maybe there's Heartless everywhere and he can't get back, maybe... maybe he's defected!

The Nocturne immediately tried to dismiss that thought, for all his talk of leaving Jaxon would never follow through with his threat... not alone anyway.

Who are you kidding? You called a guy a traitor to his face! He's probably taken off 'cos he thinks you'll go running to Xemnas.

"He wouldn't! Not without me!" He hissed, realising too late he'd spoken out loud, Xigbar turned to him.

"What're you talking about waterboy?"

"Nothing" Demyx replied quickly, too quickly, Xigbar was on him straight away.

"OK, listed dude, you n' the kid've been acting weird all day, now all of a sudden he up and vanishes? As if! What's goin' on here?"

Demyx frantically tried to find an out as the Freeshooter stopped just short at him and glared right into his eyes, not being able to think of a cover story he sighed and stood to face Xigbar, carefully choosing his words so to keep the events of last night from slipping out.

"Look Xigbar, Jaxon... Jaxon and I have been fighting because..." his mind gave up, he had to tell about Jaxon's plan to quit, but that didn't mean he had to tell the whole truth. "The kid's been shaken up since the Underworld incident, whatever he's seeing in his sleep has him thinking he... he has to leave."

Xigbar stared at him for a long moment then turned away with a sigh. "You serious?"

"Yeah..." Demyx started as the Arrowguns appeared one after the other. "Whoa! Whoa! Xiggy! You're not gonna..."

"You know the orders we got after Axel left dude, any traitors gotta get iced, even if they include your so-called best buddy."

"He's not thinking straight!" Demyx yelled stepping in front of the other Nobody, he had no idea why he was suddenly protecting Jaxon after what had been said, all he knew was he had to stop Xigbar before he found him, fallout or not the thought of Jaxon being eliminated suddenly seemed unbearable. "You can't kill him over something he can't control!"

Xigbar stared a hole through him. "Demyx... if the kid's defected then we've gotta get rid of him, the boss isn't one to listen to excuses, hell Roxas had his mind wiped and Xemnas still ordered him killed!"

"But... we still don't know for sure if he has quit right? Can't do anything until it's confirmed."

Xigbar sighed. "OK, have it your way, we'll go check the computer in case he's been sucked in, if not we search this World for him, but if we can't find him we gotta report it in, and if we say he's taken off then the boss'll probably make you be the one who takes him out."

Demyx paled. "M... me?"

"That's how it's gotta be dude."

The Nocturne nodded. "OK... OK, if he's gone, we report it in, but we search every last inch of this place before we do OK?"

"Deal" Xigbar opened a portal and disapeared inside, Demy hesitated behind him, looking up at the castle.

"Jax... where are you?"

"So uh... this thing is how ya got to the heart of the World?"

"Yes... it would appear the little brat and his friends managed to lock it away after my demise. No matter, once I have my revenge there'll be plenty of other ways to open it up again.

The voices from close by brought Jaxon out of his unconscious state with a bump, groaning at the sudden pain in his head he tried to test his limbs but found they wouldn't budge, his eyes flew open with a start. He was in a large room, seemingly in another part of the castle, directly in front of him was a heart-shaped gate, seemingly long since rendered useless by something, looking at his limbs he realised he was being held upright by tendrils of darkness wrapped around each one.

Oh boy...

After a moments struggle yielded no results the young Nobody tried to banish the darkness, nothing happened, with a growing sense of apprehension he tried to portal himself out but the darkness merely gripped him stronger. Growling in frustration he began struggling again to no avail.

This can NOT be good.

"So what're you planning on doin' with it then?"

"Firstly we need to know just what is going on, it would be foolish to act if the device would just be used against us."

The speakers came into view, the first being a tall, thin woman clad in black robes, despite not having ever seen her before Jaxon felt a shudder rip through him at the mere sight of her. Noticing the second speaker, a large, obese almost, cat he gave a sigh of annoyance.

"Another freaky animal? Really?" The two looked up at him.

"Ah" the woman crowed, a small smirk forming. "It would appear our young guest has awakened."

"Guest? Can't say much for you hospitality!" Jaxon spat, the woman just laughed.

"And such passion too! Well this may just be the amusement I need, Pete..." the animal jumped at being addressed. "Is this one of that Organization you spoke of?"

"You betcha, can't say I've seen this punk before but it's their uniform alright."

"Excellent! Well I think we'd best start by asking who exactly you are and what you and your friends are planning."

"No offense lady" Jaxon replied, defiantly staring the woman in the face. "But what exactly makes you think I'm gonna answer? Hell who are you anyway?"

The woman laughed, a cold, evil sound that caused the young Nobody to shudder again.

"My, you are a strong willed child aren't you? But you are right, we haven't been formally introduced..." she stepped right up to where Jaxon was suspended so all he could see were her dark, yellow eyes. "I have been known as the mistress of all evil, but you my child, may call me Maleficent."

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