Paradigm [Xiggy, Zexion, Another]

[Fate]

"Found another."

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In the Darkness Lies
--

That was the only thing said so far to the Dusk standing in front of Zexion, who was proceeding to scrutinize it. "Deliver that message to Number Two and no one else. Quickly." The Dusk disappeared through a Corridor of Darkness seconds later, leaving the Schemer alone. He was in one of the lower sections of the castle, not too far from the laboratory. The temptation to actually go into the lab, just for the sake of curiosity, was strong. Now he actually had a reason.

He leaned against a wall, crossing his arms. Xigbar would know what he meant by that message-- the Nobody was too cryptic for his own good anyhow. After that, Zexion didn't know what would happen. He had no plan going into this one and had not one idea of what to expect. He was going to have to improvise and gauge the situation as things progressed. Hopefully the Freeshooter would have a better idea than he did. Oddly enough, he knew the Superior better than the rest of the Organization...

This should be interesting.[/blockquote][/font]

[Lagunamov]

You are gonna have to dance for the keys.

Relatively quickly after the dusk left, perhaps a minute or two, a Corridor opened up in the room, the Freeshooter exiting from within, taking a glance around. Sure enough, Zexion had sent the note and the creature to fetch him, giving him something to do for a change of pace. The Bookworm was leaning on a wall of the computer room, the passage into the proper lab further down blocked by the security measures originally set by the Apprentices, and later kept by The Superior. Of course, if said security measures had worked, then it would have been impossible for Xigbar to eavesdrop on him so often.

"About fudging time," he saluted Shorty, scratching the left side of his face. "I take it the only reason you even bothered to contact me instead of rushing in and keeping this whole thing a secret to yourself is because I'm the only other person that knows how to enter the deeper lab nowadays," he crossed his arms as he leaned on the computer, mocking the youngster. All he really needed to do was enter a password, and then the magic gates would be opened. But he was enjoying having something that the Schemer lacked and wanted. In this case, knowledge.

[Fate]

Sorry, no jazz hands today.
--

Xigbar didn't waste any time in getting here, seemingly knowing that this was going to happen sooner or later. And, of course, he was right about why Zexion had contacted him. He had to taunt the other about it too. The Schemer rolled his eyes, moving to stand instead of lean. "Yes. I figured you would be the only one who knew. You were the only one who enjoyed eavesdropping on the Superior." And for good reason too. Zexion couldn't hide the fact that what Xemnas had been doing down here interested him.

He looked away from Xigbar momentarily, narrowing his eyes. Good, no one followed the Freeshooter. He didn't think anyone would, or could for that matter, but he certainly didn't want anyone else spying on either of them. Vexen's spy had managed to get past his senses once and he didn't want it to happen againHe looked back to Xigbar. "No one followed you. Lead the way." He wished he knew how to get into the deeper laboratory quite honestly. But no, only Xigbar knew. And he was going to dangle that fact in front of the Schemer just because he could.

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[Lagunamov]

I grow tired of dangling the proverbial carrot in front of you.

The Freeshooter chuckled. The shrimp was always up for some banter, regardless of the situation. Probably because he knew by his size and speed that trying to punch Xigbar in his face wouldn't work. "And if I hadn't done so, we wouldn't be here. Probably cause Xemnas would also still be around, rendering this whole point moot," he joked a bit as he turned around, starting to mess with the computer, finding the program that controlled the locks to the lab further down. Naturally, it was password protected. Not that the password was unknown to the current user. He had gone all the way down there to eavesdrop, after all.

After a series of key presses, the door to the right of the room opened up in a quick flash, revealing the catwalk down to the very bottom of the lab. Or, the visible bottom. There was still further walking to do once they reached that place. "After you, my dear Schemer. The path to Another self has been opened, and now all it does is await us," he signaled Zexion with a wave of his right arm across his chest, pointing towards the door. All while giving him a malicious grin, clearly enjoying playing with the younger Nobody.

[Fate]

I got tired of not being able to reach said carrot.
--

Eavesdropping was the only reason they'd both be able to go further into the laboratory. Zexion didn't know what to make of that, remembering that he had already once told Xigbar off for eavesdropping on Xemnas. That was then though, and it was good that Xigbar did whatever he pleased and didn't listen to the Schemer. While he was busy dealing with the computer, Zexion attempted to entertain himself with other artifacts in the room. Not much luck. And he was sorely tempted to just peek over his shoulder and see if he could memorize the password...

Well, that wasn't going to work-- he spent too much time contemplating that action and Xigbar was done. Now he had to go first down to the lab. Grinning back, he started the descent. Light was dim, not surprising, as they both started to go down. Though, after descending a flight or so, perhaps more since Zexion wasn't bothering to count, they reached a platform with a glowing light. How peculiar. He raised an eyebrow at Xigbar before stepping on it, watching as the platform disappeared and revealed another set of stairs that lead downward.

"He could never make things short could he?" he asked aloud before going down this set. Then he looked to the side and down. "... Lovely." Why in the world did Xemnas have to make this path so incredibly long? They were going to have to descend all of these stairs to reach him... hopefully. There had better not be more stairs.

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[Lagunamov]

Yeah... Don't act as if this was a surprise. You knew it was coming.

The Freeshooter followed Zexion further down the lab, a platform at the bottom opening up and revealing a path into the bowels themselves of the castle, the only section never found by any of the meddlesome members of the Restoration Committee. The path remained long, and quite honestly, tiresome. Only someone as dull as Xemnas would have no issues walking up and down that spiraling ramp so frequently.

"Of course he can't make things short. You ever looked at our castle from outside?" he stood next to Zexion, looking down the spiraling ramp at the darkness beyond. As far as Xigbar remembered, there was ground at the very bottom. Or there ought to be at least. "Come on, we'll make the descent quick enough," with that, he moved behind the Schemer and kicked him off the platform, jumping after him seconds later.

[Fate]

GdjsaghkladsyousuckXigbar
--

Come to think of it, Zexion never really did look at their castle from the outside much at all. He always used a Corridor to go in and out, never actually going through the world itself. Though, he went through the castle itself enough to know that Xemnas really needed t-- and that thought was cut off by Xigbar saying something else and kicking him off the edge of the stairs to go hurtling down at top speeds into the darkness below to probably splat and meet an unpleasant end at the bottom.

If he was less polite, he most likely would have sworn at Xigbar right now. All he could do was glare and hope that there actually was ground sooner or later; fear wasn't present due to the whole thing of being a Nobody. Xemnas wouldn't make it a neverending thing of darkness would he? Knowing the man, he just might have because of his fascination with the entity. If that was the case, then all of the hate that this Nobody could possibly muster was now focused on Xigbar and his ability to defy gravity.

Fortunately, there was ground. Unfortunately, Zexion did not meet it well. He managed to not land face first, but landing on his backside still hurt just from gravity alone. After biting his tongue and willing himself to not mutter obscenities, he got himself to stand up. Great, now he was sore. "Thank you Xigbar for a wonderful experience and making the descent so much quicker."

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[Lagunamov]

I want one. And I'll ride it around town and shoot peasants from its back. And it shall be named... Beasty.

While the Nobody with the sigh impairment met with an abrupt landing at the bottom of the catwalk and in front of a door, the other Nobody with a sight impairment landed gracefully by his side, his descent smooth in the last couple of meters thanks to his manipulation of gravity and space. "You are very much welcome, my short friend. We don't want to waste any more time before this heartfelt reunion now, do we?" the irony of the sentence didn't escape Xigbar,who had decided to move forward and let the door open on its own, revealing a long corridor with cells on the sides, and another large door at the very end.

"You-know-who ought to be back there. Though, now that I think about it..." his mind trailed off, as did his feet, walking closely to the right wall and inspecting the cells through the little jailed windows. He couldn't see almost anything for the most part, either the cells remained deserted, or they were simply too dark in general. By the time he approached the third, however, the impact of something against the door echoed in the corridor and made the door shake violently. It was a wonder that thing remained in place.

"Well, look at that. Looks like our old buddy Xemnas kept a pet or two around here," the Freeshooter chuckled as he leaned forward, staring right at the face of a fierce beast inside. A large Pureblood Heartless stared back, barely visible at all itself, if it weren't for those bright yellow eyes that had an unsettling red glow to them.

[Fate]

... Hello Beastie.
--

Yes, heartfelt reunion. Lovely irony there Xigbar. Zexion followed him, staying silent as he looked around. There were a series of cells on either side of the corridor before a large door at the end. A single scent was behind that door, nothing else-- wonder if he knew that they were here. Xemnas did always seem to have a way of knowing things like that, even though he lacked the Schemer's sensing abilities.

However, there were other dark scents in this room coming from the Heartless. Some cells were empty, others weren't. Why would there even be cells of Heartless? Couldn't the creatures simply escape like they always did? Perhaps not. The third cell seemed to be interesting to Xigbar, that one shaking violently. The scent in that cell was incredibly strong for a Heartless, almost too strong. Xigbar said it was Xemnas's "pet", which was an interesting thought all by itself. Zexion didn't remember ever sensing anything like it.

Or seeing eyes like that. He had approached the cell alongside Xigbar, looking through the bars and seeing nothing except for those eyes. Heartless eyes were normally yellow, but not these ones. These ones had a bit of a red glow to them. The illusionist didn't even want to think of how that was possible or how it was even created. "He obviously took good care of it, didn't he?" he asked sarcastically, looking back at the cell. How in the world was a single cell able to hold such a fierce and tenacious Heartless in there?

"Let's not waste anymore time." And let's get away from the large Heartless that could tear the two of them apart with ease. Zexion went over to the large door and, without giving it a second thought, opened it and looked back to Xigbar. "After you."

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[Another]

"Good tidings, friends"

The man in the chair's said, his voice resonating throughout the room and hall. He was leaning back in the chair, hands lightly gripping the edge of the chair's arms. A cruel smile danced on his lips, his eyes twinkled in a sadistic delight. He needn't have bothered searching them out, no, they came right to him.

Drumming his fingers on the armrest, a thin line of light traveled across the ground towards the door at the end of the hall, causing it to immediately close. "It pleases me to see that you are both well. I'd feel disappointed if anything had befallen you, my young apprentice." His eyes lighted on Zexion, the smile thinning. "What brings you down to these depths? Certainly, it wasn't out of fear of my return, was it?"

[Fate]

I'm wondering how this is going to go.
--

And there he was.

The door shut behind Zexion and Xigbar as they came in the room. He had changed some since the two of them saw him last; even his voice changed, no longer empty but carrying a sense of malice. He then looked straight at the Schemer, who didn't falter. Of course he did. He had been the last one Xemnas looked at before he faded. Called him "Most loyal". Well, now that he was standing in front of the man yet again, there was some truth to that.

"Nice to see you too," he said, a slight grin, "It's only polite that we stop by for a visit. Isn't it, Xigbar?" Admittedly, there was not much he felt he could truly say. Xemnas was a bit different to talk to, and even then Zexion didn't talk to him much. He didn't know him as well as Xigbar did. He was sort of curious how this conversation was going to go.

[Lagunamov]

I wish the geezer had left a manual for these kind of situations.

"Of course!" Xigbar played along with the Schemer, raising his arms into the air with the exclamation. "If it'd be up to us, we'd have thrown you a welcome back party, too. But, we kinda just found out you were back, so the preparations will have to wait," he joked, back to his usual self now. His face turning serious for once, he looked at Xehanort, examining his reactions. He appeared a bit more... lively than Xemnas. That was a good sign. For now.

"Onto serious business, are you ready to pick up where you left off? Your two halves, as you probably have figured out by now, didn't succeed in either of their enterprises," he asked, hoping that from the answer he could tell whether it was truly Xehanort in charge, or the kid who owned the body had started to slip in again, like it had happened with The Superior before.

[Another]

I trust you know what will happen next

Standing up from his throne, he walked off to the side of it, hands clasped behind his back. As he turned his head to face the two Nobodies, his shoulders hunched slightly, and another little smile grew on his lips. "Oh, no, they did just fine. You of all people should know, Braig, that I have many contingency plans. I've left nothing to chance in my enterprises."

Turning back around, he stood in front of his throne and held his arms out. "I believe it's time to pick up where I left off, so many years ago. Only this time, I don't think that I'll be splitting my body and heart." Xehanort chuckled softly to himself. He had received all the information he needed from such endeavors, and to do so again would be a waste of his time. "Tell me though, Braig, has anyone attempted to create it again?"

[Lagunamov]

Does it look like I have a crystal ball here?

The Freeshooter couldn't help but let out a small chuckle when Xehanort mentioned the contingency plans he had. "Sure. The fact that the same kid screwed you over not once, but twice, was part of the planning session eleven years ago. Lets go with that," he grinned a little maliciously as he said that, mostly yanking his chain.

The subject changed quickly as soon as he stood up, however, moving onto a more cryptic one only he would be able to follow. As of now, the bookworm's presence in the room served the same purpose as a plant: simply decoration, and with the occasional consumption of air. "Not that I am aware of," he answered quite plainly, before continuing with the usual rant. "Of course, I believe there are only three people still alive on this realm that even know of its existence, and two of them are in this room," he crossed his arms, turning his body sideways, half looking towards the exit. "That is, so long as the one not present here has passed on the information to the younger generation. Maybe silencing would be in order?"

[Fate]

Don't mind me.
--

The two of them started talking, both of them rather cryptically. Zexion raised an eyebrow when Xehanort referred to Xigbar as Braig, though he wasn't incredibly surprised-- this was Xehanort after all. The Schemer paid attention to the conversation, though didn't offer anything to say in the middle of it; he was incredibly curious as to what Xehanort was referring to when he asked if "it" was created. He didn't mean Kingdom Hearts, for Xigbar said only three people knew about it, two in this room. What was it then?

And who was the third person that knew? He was a bit suspicious now. "Who would you need to silence?" he asked. He wasn't going to ask what it was-- if he needed to know, Xehanort would make him aware. By now, Zexion thought he had a pretty good handle on how Xehanort was. Though, he was acting a bit differently from his previous incarnation...