I jolt awake, sweating all over, my mouth dry, my vision out of focus.

I think I had another bad dream.

Space buddy groans. He has felt it too.

I look around. I spot what I want. Beside me, on the top of the drawer there's a jug and a glass kept. I pour myself some water, then chug it down.

Wiping my face with the back of my palm, I set the glass back down.

"Oof!" I feel refreshed!

... Kind of.

My heightened heartbeats mellow down which allow me to take in my surroundings. I notice my glasses kept right by the side of the jug and put them on.

With my vision clear and distinct, I take in the form of a person right opposite to my bed. In front of me, I see a familiar face waving in my direction. "Had a good sleep, eh, Jordan?"

"Hey now, you can see it on my face." I send a smile in return, a slightly pained expression lingering on to it.

I'm really lucky to wake up to see a friendly face like this. After how long it's been...

"So, are you excited for today?" he asks me, but from his expression, he's the one who's excited. Even more than me.

I wouldn't say I'm excited though. It's more like the dread of what's to come that haunts me. Yeah, I think I am scared.

"Yeah, I guess so," I answer anyway, while I rub my hands and roll my eyes.

Today is a big day after all. It's the day I get to serve them. In the front lines. Lay down my life for their cause, that's meant to be ours.

You won't die on your first day, you idiot.

Maybe. But I can die one day, ahead of my time. I don't particularly have any patriotic feelings right now.

Space buddy erupts in laughter.

"Come on, let's meet up with the others shall we? We'll show you around the station." Rocky hops off and rushes to the side.

"Yeah. I'm coming!" I quickly follow behind him.

Well, you have me. Don't worry too much. I'll lead the way and keep you safe!

That... does little to assure me for some reason.

Hey, what now?

Never mind.

With all the events that have unfolded till now, I won't exactly say my enthusiasm is at an all time high.

But you'll meet with the girls! Show some excitement!

...

It's true, I'd meet with all of the girls, and Kevin. It's been so long.

I blush.

You just had to say it, didn't you?!

He chuckles. There, I have you pumped. Easy-peasy.

____________

The day I pissed in my robe was yesterday. But it feels so distant, now. So long ago. So much happened that I still find troubling that it all happened in a single day. Technically it's still that day, has been since I came here, but if I were to quantify it according to the human scales, it all happened within one sleep cycle.

That's a fancy term.

Isn't it.

After that, as was usual, me borrowing the power of the Eye had drained my energy, and I was fast asleep right after I got the change of clothes. Space buddy had allowed for a counsel but I had ended up using the Eye's time altering powers, thus depleting my stamina. I couldn't even speak properly with the others, after almost a month of being isolated. I was out before they even entered the hive.

Only Fiona had seen me in that period of turmoil, when I couldn't so much as move properly. And that was only the day before yesterday.

I sigh. "Talk about time dilation."

And then, I came back!

I smile. Yeah, then you made your dashing entry back into my life.

Wohoo~ Wait. That's not sarcasm is it?

I chuckle. Maybe?

What do you mean, 'maybe'?!

Chillax, bro. I continue to snicker. I warrant a backward glance from Rocky. I quickly swallow down my laughter. "It's nothing, just a stupid memory is all, hahahaha... "

What do you mean by that? I'm stupid?!

I exhale. But don't bother to answer him back.

So technically this is my first time talking to Rocky after weeks.

But...it feels so normal. He looks just like before. And he isn't even that much different. Didn't treat me any different, earlier.

"He really is so understanding," I spoke out admirably, but just lightly enough to not let it reach his ears.

Walking like this, I garner a lot of attention. Many look at me. Particularly my transformed hand.

But the looks, aren't the same anymore. They don't look at me with disguist. They look at me differently. Almost as if...

I call out to Rocky. "Hey, do they all know of something I did?" I did a lot so...

Rocky looks back and waits till I catch up and then starts moving along with my pace. "Man, you're a celebrity here."

My heart thumps. "Really?"

"Yeah. Particularly those black pipes. They look sick! The first one was just a hole so aside from it being totally black, it was just that. But the other two, one sticking out of the field reaching to the height of this building itself and the other one literally penetrating all the way down from the lab:  it's so cool! How did you even do that! It doesn't make any sense! What even are those? It's like you turned into a superhero with special powers and stuff."

I smirk. "Correction: I am a supervillain." I place my hands over my waist and put on an evil smile. A few chuckle from the side.

"Oh? And what might you be called?"

"Haha! So you ask at last! I am called The Lost Eternal!" I erupt into dramatic supervillain laughter.

"The Lost Eternal?! Pfft-" he chokes and laughs till he's out of breath. "Who even came up with that stupid name?!"

Brother, this is disrespectful.

"Space buddy did. And I think it's cool," I look at him seriously.

He considers my answer for a while. "Wait. That thing talks to you?"

He figured it out! I didn't have to explain it to him!

Yeah, I get it. He's smart. For a human, maybe. Not more than me though. No. I'm on the top. And I'm there to stayyy.

A warm feeling cascades throughout my body. "Yes," I answer Rocky. "He does. Just like a brother."

Awwwww, Space buddy sniffs and starts sobbing.

Hey, quit it.

_____________

"Jordan!" Kevin yelps in glee as he rushes to me in short quick steps that break into a run in no time.

He slams into me with all his weight. I catch him, somehow managing to not topple over. "Whoa easy buddy!"

Beth, in gleeful tears joins in from the side. Hugging me tightly, she says nothing just rubs her face against my hand. "Aw sweetie. I missed you!" I smile warmly, and stroke her head.

They are the first to reach me before I can even pass the beds of Fiona or Diana. They were really longing for this long awaited reunion, huh? It feels nice. To be longed by someone. I thought I had forgotten that feeling.

As soon as they both let go, Kevin jumps up and down. "I heard you broke away from the lab! Broke in another one, and made a mess out of two service robots!"

"Well, I won't say I made a mess-"

"Yeah, they warned us about a monster being lose. What are they up to, really?" Beth asks impatiently.

"And most importantly, you got into a secret area! Is that where the aliens live? What's in that place?" Kevin continues his barrage. The questions are never ending.

"So did they openly announce whatever I did once I got out? I didn't expect this..."

To be honest, I thought whatever I did laid bare their evil nature, so they'd want to keep everything behind closed curtains. And most importantly, now that I know so much, how can they just let me be like this? Don't I pose a threat to them? They can't even control me anymore, because space buddy jams the implant.

I touch the spot again. Now it no longer feels like a part of my skin, a part of my body. But, he can turn on the translator when need be. I can comfortably let him control my body now after the examples he has shown me.

Hehe, you know who's the boss.

Beth pulls on my sleeve. "Yeah, they said something like 'He passed the test' and were acting very proud, for the fact," she says, still holding onto me. I place my hand on her shoulder.

"Kevin, which secret area are you talking about?" I ask him calmly.

"Well, it's a secret area. I wouldn't know anything else about it would I?"

"Hmm... " I ponder on that statement for a few seconds, then say, "What exactly did they say, that you came to know of this infiltration of mine?" I grunt.

"When Diana asked further, they told her that you passed the test by getting into this secret area. They elaborated no further," Beth says, momentarily looking away. She doesn't like talking about the pests either, huh. Heh, why not, they took me away for one thing. Twice.

"And that's why! I am asking you about it right now. What did you see in that place?" Kevin's eye shines in wonderment.

With both my hands, I strongly pat both his shoulders and say, "Look here, buddy. I was in life or death levels of dangers back in there. If they wanted they could have sent me... " The view of purgatory comes back, momentarily haunting me. I bite the pain back inside. "What I'm trying to say is, it's not something you'd like to hear right after waking up." And I need some time as well, to think through this. Is it really okay to tell them everything?

I straighten up and look at Rocky. "Shall we unite with the girls?" he says, looking up ahead. I see Diana and Fiona coming our way. They don't seem as excited as these two though,  but they do have a calm and happy outlook all over. If I were to describe their expression in a single word, I'd say they look relieved.

But where is Sally? I look back. I tense up momentarily. She is supposed to be my commander, right?

I sigh. This is all a lot to take in.

"Looks like you're holding up alright, bud. Long time no see!" Diana high fives me.

"You don't look half bad for someone toiling for weeks on an alien planet," I say, taking in her appearance and then Fiona's.

She tches. "Talk about yourself. Fiona told me how you were kept on that marble bed, with barely the strength to move your hand. We were better off than you. Leagues better. I can't imagine myself going through something like that."

Placing her hands on her waist, she takes a good long look at me. I feel vulnerable for a moment. But then, she smirks. "I don't know what it took you to keep that sunny personality of yours intact."

Whoa, really?

I giggle at that. Then, I look at my mutated black hand, and smile...sadly.

"Everything," I say.

Breathing in, I take a look at Fiona. She's beautiful as always. She looks at me lovingly, smiling so empathetically. "I'm glad you're out of that mess," she says. She holds out her hand for a handshake.

But instead, I take her by surprise by grabbing her hand with both of mine. "You gave me the push," I say, "to break away from that body prison. Had it not been for you...I... I don't even want to imagine." I am so thankful to her, it's beyond words.

Diana hums seeing us.

"W-well, it's alright now. You're back. You gave them a fight. You found your strength." Fiona gets a bit flustered, and then looks at my left hand. With that she eases a little bit. "Looks like it came back, even."

"Space buddy gave me that strength."

She looks at me in awe for a moment, then giggles. "Space buddy? That's what you call it?"

"Him," I correct her. "And he does have a stellar first name. But I can't attempt to prounounce it correctly without offending him." I shrug.

Hmph.

"The both of them can talk in the head. It's sick!" Rocky says from the side.

"Wow, really?!" Diana gapes in shock.

"Hahaha, you're in for a lot." I shake Fiona's hand. If they could only hear our banter.

Space buddy laughs proudly.

"At last... " Fiona says as she looks distantly over my shoulder.

I turn back. It's Sally.

I wave at her. "Guess who's back!"

...

She says nothing back. I kind of get chills. That's weird. What happened to her?

When she finally catches up to me, her eyes are dead serious and there are bags underneath them. Her bed hair is messy, more than either of the three girls.

"I'm sorry, Jordan, and to all of you to say something like this first thing in the morning. But, I have a responsibility. And... I think I'm responsible in a way, so... " her words aren't clear, they don't sound like her. At all.

She exhales a laboured breath and takes a good look at all of us, before saying, unable to keep eye contact-

"Billy is gone."