"I simply can't understand it."
    These were five words that Doctor Arnold Spoons had never heard himself say and hoped he'd never hear them again. 'I have a doctorate in medical science,' he thought to himself, 'surely I should be able to find a simple diagnosis!'
    But, unfortunately for Doctor Arnold Spoons, he had no idea that Deanna's diagnosis had nothing to do with the words medical or science. No one in Yoglabs would really have an opportunity to know that. Or, so everyone thought.
   Andy sighed. "I'm sure she'll be fine once she wakes up..."
   Deanna had been fast asleep all night, now in one of the beds in the Yoglabs Sickbay. Clancy and Vern had both woken up within an hour of the fight with mild headaches, but nothing wrong with them. They didn't really talk to each other at all, or even look at each other.
    Andy had told them what happened, but all anyone could deduce was that she had certainly done something with magic. But wasn't she just an Enchantress? Andy didn't know much at all about Magists, but she know Enchanters weren't powerful at all.
    "I certainly hope so." Said Doctor Arnold Spoons. "I-I mean if she doesn't wake up, it's possible she could fall into a coma or even die, we really don't know what the diagnosis is so anything can happen in this crazy-ass dimension."
    Andy sighed. "You're very helpful, Doctor Spoons."
    "I try to be..." Doctor Spoons said rather wistfully.
    "What kind of a name is Spoons?" Vern asked.
    Clancy groaned loudly. "Vern, don't..."
    "I just asked a simple question!"
    "Phrased in the rudest possible way!"
    Vern scoffed. "Whatever."
    Clancy rolled his eyes and looked away grouchily, crossing his arms. It felt weird no longer having his lab coat. It was unnatural... And cold.
    Andy sighed. "You are literal children."
    "And you are...!" Clancy looked at her and started to make an argument, then thought this over and decided against it. "Not wrong."
    Andy smirked and looked away.
    "What is the meaning of this?" Clancy looked up to see Professor Xephos, the CEO of Yoglabs, striding up to them looking rather disgruntled as usual.
    "There was a magic thing in Barlow's quarters." Arnold said. "This girl here, Deanna Blake, is apparently an Enchantress, but she used very powerful magic and has been unconscious all night because of it."
   Professor Xephos stared down at Deanna fixedly for a few moments before he huffed. "I really have no idea about magic."
   "No one seems to." Spoons said with a sigh.
    Professor Xephos hesitated again, this time a bit longer. "We do have someone who might."
    "...Sir..." Spoons said. "I really don't think-"
    "No, you don't often, do you?" Xephos said shortly. He looked at Clancy. "Barlow, Clone Labs Ward 1A. You know the place."
    Clancy swallowed. "...Professor, maybe there's someone else who knows about magic..."
    Xephos shook his head. "Not here. Go."
    Clancy considered telling the CEO that since he didn't work there anymore he didn't have to do anything he said and to bugger off, but he knew that would be rather rude so he sighed. "Yes, Professor..."
   "Italian." Vern didn't realize Lewis was talking to him as he inspected his nails, or he at least pretended not to. "Hey." Lewis nudged him. "Go with him."
   Vern looked up at him. "Bugger off, Yoglabs." He looked back down at his nails and continued not doing anything important at all.
   At the doorway, Clancy smiled. Xephos seemed surprised by Vern's reply for a second or two before he turned to Andy. He extended her middle finger to him as she walked to the doorway with Clancy. Clancy just grinned at his friends before he and Andy left Sickbay and walked down the corridor.
   "What's Ward 1A?" Andy asked Clancy as they went. "And why's everybody so weird about it?"
   "They're scared of it." Clancy said.
   "It?"
   "Well, who... As in, who's inside."
   "Who is inside?"
   Clancy stayed quiet for a few seconds. When he answered, he didn't answer directly. "He's killed more Yoglabs employees than Honeydew."
   Andy was clearly very confused, but she said nothing. The two entered the Clone Labs and descended a long flight of spiral stairs before they stopped at a door. Clancy went inside, looking to the left. It was a glass cage, completely empty aside from a lone figure sitting in the far corner, his back to them. On the glass was a sign that said, "Do not tap glass".
    Clancy and Andy stopped in front of the glass, side by side. Andy's curiosity aroused and slowly, she raised a hand to tap on the glass. Before she could, Clancy quickly grabbed her wrist. "Don't."
    Andy looked at him in confusion, then back into the cage. She tensed. Clancy followed her gaze and jumped slightly. The figure was now looking straight at them.
   Washed out blue eyes stared at them. He had dark circles under his as and his skin was so pale he looked like he had never once been out in the sun. His hair was blond and unkempt, some pieces longer than others. The figure was wearing a straight jacket and black pants, and he seemed oddly calm. He slowly stood and Clancy felt the hairs on his arms raise.
   The figure walked closer to them, tilting his head. "Nobody simply visits me." He said, his voice a bit hoarse. "You must want something."
    Clancy stared at him uncertainly. How should he start? Luckily, Andy was with him.
    "We need to know about magic."
    "Ah..." The figure leaned back. "And you think, because I'm different from everyone here, surely I must know about magic, yes?"
    Clancy swallowed. "Yes."
    The figure laughed. "They get stupider the older they get! Let me guess, Xephos sent you? He's the stupidest of all of you."
    The figure smirked as Clancy and Andy said nothing. "Who are you?" Andy asked.
    The figure shifted his weight casually. "Call me Hector, dear."
    Clancy scowled. "Look Hector, we just need information."
    "Why should I help you?" Hector said.
    Clancy stared him in the eyes. "My friend could be dying, Lalnable." He said.
   Hector looked at him and blinked as he seemed to realize something. "...Very well." He said. "I know some things but not enough. Tell me what's happening."
   "Our Enchantress friend used very powerful magic and she's now unconscious." Andy said.
   Hector tilted his head. He thought over this for several moments, slowly pacing. "It's funny because... My counterpart, the original one of me, he's the one most closely tied to magic... But... Yes, I think I know." He looked up. "Your friend is not an Enchantress. She simply hadn't unlocked her magic until last night." Hector hesitated. "I have no idea what to do, but Xephos has a friend, a Mage. Ask him to draw a map to take you there. And take the Enchantress with you."
    "We can't do that, we have to focus on the mission." Andy said.
    Clancy looked at her and he thought. "...What if we split up?"
    Andy blinked. "Split up?"
    "Yeah." Clancy said. "You and I can stay here and finish the investigation and Vern can take Deanna wherever this guy is."
    "He's an Ender Mage. Or... Ilex Mage, that's the new term, isn't it?" Hector said. "So once these Verns and Deannas got there, he could teleport them back here, and they could take a dimensional door home."
    Clancy nodded. "Perfect. Thanks Hector."
    Hector nodded. "Always happy to be of assistance..."
    Andy nodded and headed to the door. "C'mon, Clanker."
    "You go on and get the map from Professor Xephos." Clancy smiled at her. "I'll catch up."
   Andy stared at him a bit uncertainly and shot a glance in Hector's direction before she nodded and ran off. The door closed automatically after her. Clancy was quiet for a few seconds before he turned to Hector and smiled. "Sorry it's been a few days."
    Hector raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to turn off the security camera?"
    Clancy shook his head, sitting down. "Doesn't matter if they see me here anymore. Can't do anything to me. Got fired..."
    "Yes, I heard it through the air vent..." Hector sat down as well smiling sadly.
    Clancy sniffed. "I-I don't think I'll e-ever get to talk to y-you again..."
    Hector's gaze softened. "Hey... Look, I can eat this Vern character if it makes you feel better..."
    Clancy laughed half heartedly. "No..."
    "I've never tried Italian, but I'd like to."
    "Hector, no..." Clancy wiped at his eyes, sighing. "He wasn't thinking right... It wasn't his fault..."
    Hector stared at him slightly. "...I could try to be good and Xephos can let me write letters again." He said. "And then you and I can be pen pals."
    "Do you honestly think Professor Xephos would ever let you do that?" Clancy asked, looking up. "He h-hates you..."
   "A lot of people do." Hector smiled. "That's what makes you special. You're not afraid to make friends with monsters..."
   Clancy shook his head. "You're not a monster..."
   "Wish I could agree." Hector said smiling grimly.
   Clancy tried to smile back.
   Hector gazed at him sadly and he put a hand on the glass, his arm easily slipping out of the straitjacket like it wasn't even an effort. "Hey, we're always gonna be best friends, okay? No matter what happens."
   Clancy put his hand on the glass as well, over Hector's. He nodded sadly. "O-Okay..."
    Hector smiled. "Now you should go on and get your friend to the Ilex Mage."
    Clancy nodded. "I-I can at least write you... I-I promise I will, I-I don't care what Lewis says..."
    Hector nodded. "Hey and if you ever need any advice..." He let his hand slip away and he stood, backing away. "You know where I'll be!"
   Clancy sniffed and wiped at his eyes. "Thanks... F-For always being my f-friend..."
    Hector grinned. "My pleasure, Clanker. Now get lost, go do something productive."
    Clancy nodded and started to walk away, but he heard a tap on the glass. He blinked and turned around. Hector was smiling at him sadly and waving. Clancy smiled back as a tear fell down his cheek. "Goodbye Lalnable..." He said softly. Then he turned and left Ward 1A, hugging himself tightly.
    After the door had closed after him, Hector's smile faded and he moved slowly back to the corner of his cage. He crouched down, lowering his hand, sliding his arms back into their place in his straitjacket. "This is your place." He told himself quietly. "You're a monster, and you can't leave... Not ever..."

Vern looked up from his nails as Clancy walked back into Sickbay. "Barlow, what took you so long?"
    Clancy didn't answer as he walked over to Andy, who was sitting on Deanna's bedside. The Enchantress was awake. "Hey Deanna." Clancy smiled. "How do you feel?"
   She shrugged. "Just fine... Little tired..."
    Clancy nodded and looked at Andy. "Did you get the map?"
    Andy nodded, holding up their map, which now had a new route marked on it.
   Clancy nodded. "Okay, Vern, you and Deanna head that way. It's less than half a day's trip so you'll get there fast. Andy and I will finish the investigation and we'll all meet back at the base."
   Vern nodded. "Got it. Come on Deanna, and don't slow us down if you please."