Pulling up in a parking lot nearby a secluded part of Experiment Labs on the outskirts of Cesa arrived Honch.
*
"I'm back," Honch announced, walking into the laboratory.
"Welcome home, master!" two voices cried out.
Stepping out from the shadows came two young adults. One was a young woman appearing to be in her early twenties: the other, a man appearing to be in his mid-twenties.
"Say, did you buy any good sweets while you were in town?!" The woman exclaimed.
"Did you buy rose petal chips for me, master?!" The man cried eagerly.
"No, and no," Honch grumbled as he walked past the two.
"Tell me, where is Sev?" He questioned.
"What do you need her for?" The woman frowned.
"I have a question regarding the spirit regenerator, seeing as she is the only one willing to help me out with it," Honch said, narrowing his eyes.
The pair whistled awkwardly.
"I'm right here, master Honch," a voice calle
As he lay his head on his pillow, Alastair let out a sigh of relief. "Finally..." He muttered. "Alastair?" Rachael called out. Oh, for the love of... "What's the matter, Rachael?" Alastair groaned as he sat up. "I had a nightmare..." She whispered. Alastair raised a brow. "A nightmare about what?" He questioned. "U-um..." Rachael stammered. "Well, I can't help chase the nightmares away if you won't tell me what they were, Rach," Alastair said with a sigh. "Y-you..." She began choking up. "You died...!" She cried out. Alastair's eyes widened. "R-Rachael..." He muttered. "You went kaboom!" She exclaimed. "Aw, come on, Rach, you know I'm not going to die, so don't worry!" He reassured, stroking her head. "Hmph!" Rachael pouted tearfully, crossing her arms. "Look, Rachael," Alastair began, taking her face in his hands. He took a deep br
As the following morning came, Alastair was busy looking through paperwork at his desk."Alastair?" A voice called out."What's up, Rachael?" He asked, not looking up from his work."C-can we go to that cafe again?" She questioned."Maybe later," Alastair said, quickly brushing her off."But...!" Rachael whined."I put in some of the work too, yes?" She grumbled, puffing her cheeks.Alastair suddenly looked up.The girl had a point; she had put her safety on the line quite a bit; the least Alastair could do was treat her with some of the money she, too, had rightfully earned."Alright, fine, point made, let's get going then, you haven't eaten breakfast yet," Alastair said as he rose from his seat, stretching his back."Yay!" Rachael cheered, running eagerly towards the door.Alastair couldn't help but smile, seeing her so excited.*As they pulled up to the cafe, Alastair parked his car.<
After finishing up his meal, Alastair let out a satisfied sigh. He then glanced over to Rachael, who was still busy munching away on her last crepe. "Yeesh," Alastair began. "Mm?" Rachael looked up in confusion. "Heh, nothing, it's just..." Alastair reached his hand across the counter, petting Rachael's head. "You're kind of cute sometimes!" He grinned. Rachael suddenly began choking. "R-Rachael, hey...!" Alastair cried out, quickly jumping up from the booth and running over to her. As he patted her back, she coughed. "Man, sorry I said anything..." Alastair grumbled. "You aren't one to give sudden compliments, you know..." Rachael mumbled. Alastair smirked. "I guess not, huh?" He said with a laugh. "Right, well," Alastair began, standing up. "Hurry and finish so we can go do our job at the arena," he instructed. "Mm..." Rachael mumbled, plopping the last piece of crepe in
As they made their way to the concert hall, Rachael let out a yawn from the back seat."Are we almost there yet?" She questioned with a hint of impatience."Almost," Alastair replied.Suddenly, a car cut in front of Alastair on the road, causing him to brake quickly."What the hell was that?!" He cried out in frustration, beeping his horn angrily.He then quickly turned his attention to the girl in the back of the vehicle."You okay, Rachael?" He asked, his tone softening instantaneously."M-mm..." Rachael nodded, looking down steadily."Yeesh..." Alastair exhaled."Looks like we'll have to be careful when you learn one day..." He muttered.Rachael quickly looked up."Say, Alastair," Rachael began."Ah, we're here!" Alastair announced, pulling into the parking lot of the concert hall.He then turned to Rachael."What's up? You wanted to ask me something?" He questioned."N-no, ne
After Alastair calmed Rachael down, the pair headed towards the main stage, where the band was waiting.Upon entering the stadium, Alastair looked around in awe."Ah!" A voice cried out."Hey, sis, they're here!" A woman exclaimed.Alastair quickly turned his head, met by the lead guitarist of the band, Kas."Say, Narine," the woman began, studying Alastair."Are you sure this is the guy Riki has a crush on...?" She questioned, biting her lip.She has a what on me...?! Alastair thought to himself in complete shock."Yeah, yeah, that's our man of the hour," another voice called out.Jumping down from the stage was Narine, who appeared to be in her early twenties; she was the drummer of the band and younger sister of Kas."How's it going there, Mr. Spirit Force?" She smirked, extending a hand.Is this real life...? Am I really meeting my favorite band? Does Riki actually have a crush on me...?!
As they were preparing to leave Slam's dressing room, Alastair walked over to Rachael. "Hey," he began as he bent. "Hm?" Rachael turned to him. "Why don't you stay here with Slam's little sister, Raven? Who knows, you might even make a new friend!" He beamed. "B-but Alastair...!" Rachael protested. "Shall we get going, Mr. Spirit Force?" Slam called out. "Ah, coming!" Alastair replied. "Just stay here; I've got this case, okay?" He reassured, patting her head. "F-fine..." Rachael said, giving in. * On their way back to the main hall, Alastair suddenly stopped. "What's up?" Slam asked. "Do you feel a spooky presence, Mr. Spirit Force?" Kas asked. "Yeah, but it's not paranormal..." Alastair frowned. "Eh?" Narine cocked her head. "What do you mea-" Suddenly a high-pitched scream came from inside Slam's dressing room. Alastair's eyes widened.
Footsteps could be heard frantically running down the hallway. Suddenly the door to Alastair's apartment slammed open. "Alastair!" Aya exclaimed, hurrying in. "This better be some sick joke!" She cried angrily. Alastair, seated at his desk, with his chair turned to the window, didn't respond. "Alastair...!" Aya exclaimed. "Paige has a shoot right now. but she's freaking out; we're all freaking out, so tell me what happened!" She demanded. "I told you already," Alastair began, his chair slowly turning. "She got kidnapped," He said as he blew smoke from his cigarette. Aya's eyes widened. "You told me you quit..." She whispered. "I did quit," he replied. "But now that she's gone, I can-" Suddenly Aya's hand flew across the desk, slapping Alastair hard across the face. Alastair kept his gaze fixed steadily on the desk. "You've been deserving that for years," she said w
Back at the secluded part of Experiment Labs, a car pulled up to the lot. "Master!" A voice called out. "Hey, Master!" The voice chimed again. Honch, sitting at the control panel of the spirit regenerator, turned his head. "What is it, Cya?" He questioned as if he could care less. "I did it!" She cried out eagerly. "Did what, exactly?" Honch asked, turning his attention back to the spirit regenerator. "Well, you know how Mr. Eon asked to borrow me, right?" She asked. "Mhm," Honch nodded, only half paying attention. "Well," she continued. "My assignment was to kidnap some brat, and I pulled it off!" She beamed. Honch turned his head. "Right... there was some child the labs were after for quite a bit, wasn't there?" He questioned. "Mhm, mhm!" Cya nodded her head vigorously. "However," Honch began. "Eon is on vacation, isn't he?" He frowned. "Well," Cya began.
*After a few weeks had passed by, life had quickly begun to go back to normal for some.For others, major adjustments had been made. For one, Honch, Cya, Rosario, Sev, and Fiora had finally finished moving into the apartment complex.*"Is that the last box?" Cya questioned."Yes, no thanks to you!" Rosario hissed."Hey, hey, I helped by buying the decorations for our apartment!" Cya cried out."Tacky decorations, that is," Sev frowned."If you don't like it, there's the door!" Cya shouted."Oh, Cya, relax; she's teasing," Honch reassured."Though," he frowned."That lamp is rather tacky..." He mumbled."Not you too!" Cya cried out in frustration."Well then," Honch cleared his throat."If you three are ready and moved in, I suppose I shall be taking my leave then," he said."Take it easy, Honch," Rosario said, waving goodbye."See you later!" Cya beamed."Bye," Sev said with a smile.*As he arrived back at his apartment, Honch let out a sigh."Girls, I'm home," he announced.There
"Does anyone see them...?" Aya questioned nervously."The whole building looks like it's about to collapse, and yet..." Paige whispered.Alastair... Rachael thought to herself.*"Ugh..." Alastair groaned, rolling over onto his back.As he opened his eyes, he saw nothing but white."Where am I...?" He whispered.He then remembered what was happening just a minute prior."H-Honch...!" He cried out frantically, quickly sitting up.Looking around, he noticed the silhouette of a woman in the distance. However, it was too foggy to make out her appearance."E-excuse me...!" Alastair began, rising from the ground."Do you happen to know where I am by any chance...?" He questioned, taking a step forward."My dear sweet boy," the woman began."You're in the gap." She said, smiling softly.The gap...? Alastair thought to himself in confusion."There must be some sort of mistake..." Alastair began."I'm not dead; I'm-""Well, you're not alive either," the woman frowned.Alastair's eyes widened.
"T-Tessa..." Honch stammered.Before him stood the love of his life, whom he had lost thirteen years prior.All anybody could do was stare at the spirit in complete awe.As Honch opened his mouth to speak, Tessa shot him a look."This was quite careless, you know." She frowned."Honch, my love, look at me..." She continued, smiling sadly."I think you know deep down what's gone is gone, and yet...""B-but you're not gone, see?" He interrupted."Darling, you're standing right before me, talking to me; that's all I've been yearning for, for the past thirteen years...!" He exclaimed."Honch," Tessa shook her head."You and I both know that this was not the full purpose of this experiment..." She frowned.Honch looked at her in shock."Now," she paused."Before I go, I would like to say a few words..." She said, smiling softly."Aya..." She began."My, what a lovely woman you've turned into..." She spoke.Aya's eyes widened."T-Tessa..." She sniffled, swallowing hard to fight back tears.
Before anyone could utter another word, the machine churned loudly, emitting a strong red glow."What on earth..." Alastair muttered in disbelief."That machine seems a little unstable..." Aya whispered, reaching for Paige's hand.Suddenly, a bright white light shot out of the middle of the machine. A sudden force swept across the room."Ah!" Aya cried, clinging onto Paige's arm."Don't worry, babe; I've got you!" Paige reassured, pulling her closer."Papa!" Fiora shrieked, taking a step forward."Wait, be careful!" Kiernan shouted, grabbing her by her wrist."Rachael, you too, take a step back!" Alastair exclaimed, grabbing her and pulling her into him."Al, what is happening?!" Rachael cried.Before he had a chance to speak, the light quickly faded."It worked..." Honch mumbled, amazed."It really worked...!" He cried out, clapping his hands together.Swirling around above the machine was a ghastly white circle.Kacie's eyes widened."Don't tell me..." She whispered under her breath
As Alastair, Paige, and Kacie made their way into the building, there stood Aya, Kiernan, and an unfamiliar little girl who was blocking the way."Please, you have to let us through!" Kiernan pleaded desperately."Nope!" The little girl exclaimed, puffing her cheeks."What's going on here?" Alastair called out."Al!" Aya quickly spun around."This little girl is refusing to let us go any further!" She cried."I won't let you ruin papas dream!" The girl shouted."Papa?" Paige questioned."Dream?" Kacie raised a brow."Listen, kid," Alastair began, slowly walking towards the girl."I don't care about your papa or his dreams; I'm here for one thing and one thing only," he paused."That being said, we can do this the easy way or the hard way; which do you prefer?" He questioned, towering over the little girl.The little girl gulped nervously."E-easy way..." She mumbled."Great choice!" Alastair exclaimed, patting the girl roughly on the head."Tell me, have you seen another little girl a
"Get them!" Rosario cried out.At his command, the guards quickly rushed past Rosario and towards Alastair and the group."My, my, not much of a turnout on guards, huh?" Alastair grinned as he quickly dodged a punch from one of the guards.As a guard went to attack Aya, Paige quickly jumped in front of her, bashing him on the head with a hammer."P-Paige...!" Aya cried out."Nobody lays so much as a finger on my girlfriend!" Paige roared."Easy, easy, try not to kill anyone, Paige!" Alastair shouted.As he said that, he noticed a guard charging at Kiernan."K-Kiernan, look out!" He cried out.Before he could spring into action, however, Kacie landed a hard kick to the guard's chest."Where the hell did you learn how to do that?!" Alastair cried out in awe."I took some classes way back in the day!" Kacie beamed."K-Kacie, thank you...!" Kiernan stammered."Don't just stand there, Kiernan; try to make a run for it!" Alastair exclaimed."A run for it...?!" Aya cried out, kicking a guard
*“Are you really serious about starting up your own business?” Aya questioned.“Why not?” Alastair replied.“It’s just,” Aya paused.“Don’t take this the wrong way; you’re just not all that great when it comes to people.” She frowned.“I’ll manage,” Alastair said, closing his eyes as he leaned back in his desk chair.“Did you pick a name for your business yet?” Aya asked.“Spirit Force,” Alastair said, turning to her with a grin.*“Alastair!” a voice cried out.“Hey, Alastair!”Alastair’s eyes widened as he was suddenly snapped back into reality.“We need to hurry; those two bozos ran in to get back up while your head was stuck in the clouds!” Aya shouted.“R-right…” Alastair mumbled.“Al?!” Aya cried out.“Everyone,” Alastair began, lifting his head.“Either turn back while you still have the opportunity, or…” He paused.“Fight like hell.” He said as he pulled out his lighter.“Is now really the time to have a smoke?” Aya frowned.“They’ll be here any minute….” She mumbled.“Relax,
Honch slowly lifted his head, looking over toward Alastair and Aya."Children, I'm sorry..." He paused, clearing his throat."Unfortunately, it seems you were too late..." He whispered, looking back down as he gently stroked his freshly deceased lover's hand."Is she..." Aya mumbled."Pardon?" Honch questioned."Is she okay...?" Aya questioned.Honch stared at her for a moment with a puzzled look on his face."Aya, Tessa is dea-""Not her, the baby!" She snapped angrily."Is her baby okay or not?!" Aya cried out as tears streamed down her face.Honch's eyes widened. He opened his mouth as if to say something but quickly shut it."A-Aya, please calm down..." Alastair whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder."Not until he answers the question!" She shrieked."It's fine..." Honch mumbled."W-what is...?" Alastair whispered."That thing, it came out just fine..." He said, keeping his gaze focused on the floor."That thing?!" Aya roared, shoving Alastair aside as she angrily raced toward
Alastair and Aya hopped out from either side of the backseat as the taxi doors slammed shut. Upon entering the hospital, there was a whirlwind of sounds as the two ran frantically to the help desk. Alastair, panting and trying to catch his breath, slammed a fist onto the desk. "What room is Tessa Holbrooke in?!" He cried out. "I'm sorry, however-" Before the help desk employee could continue, however, Alastair slammed his fist down yet again. "What room?!" He shrieked tearfully. "R-room 246...!" The employee yelped. "Come on!" Alastair shouted, grabbing a sobbing Aya by the wrist as the two ran hurriedly down the hallway. "Excuse me, please, no running!" A nurse cried out. "Shut it!" Alastair screamed. As the two arrived at room 246, they stopped to catch their breath. "Tessa, please be okay..." Aya whimpered. Whispers were coming from inside the room, along with the sound of an infant's cry. Alastair swallowed hard, firmly taking hold of Aya's hand; he slowly raised a knu