Virus just frowned ” theres no beating him. No matter how hard I try… he wins…everyone prefers him. Hes the bad guy and he wins.” Black tears still streaming “we are just broken. No one wants. We are never enough…..never enough. No matter what we do, how much we modify, it will never be enough.”

Gears listened to him speak, aching for Virus and seething at Bex for doing this to him even if it was in a nightmare. It was still his fault. He lifted his head from his shoulder to look him in the eyes as he held him. “Not everyone. I prefer you.” “I want you. You are enough for me. The doctor too. We want you.” He rubbed his back gently.

Kal actually couldn’t help but chuckle at that, his darkness settling comfortably in the corner of the room as he watched the two.

Virus still had tears streaming “its not fair…..he hurts us and gets away with it….he can literally get away with anything. We don’t do anything and suffer…why Gears…why?” He ask him. “Make it make sense. Explain the point, Explain what we are suppose to do?”

“It’s not. It’s not fair. He should be the one that suffers, not you.” Gears brought a hand up to wipe at the black tears that flowed from Virus’ eyes. “I don’t know. You don’t deserve any of this.” “I wish I had answers. It’s not right. You deserve happiness. Freedom from that wretch.” Gears said.

“Lissten to you,” Kal purred from the shadows. “You two are going to be my -favorite- new ssnackss, I think. I never knew the undead couldh give ssuch beautiful nightmaress…and sso eassily, too. Thiss shall be -delightful-. I do believe we are desstined to be the besst of friendss.” The voice was soft and gravely as though on the edge of sleep, coming from a darkened corner of the room at barely the volume of a whisper.

Virus heard a voice? Someone else is in the room. “Who else is here?” He ask gears confused.

There was a knock on the door, Azazel looks to Wagner “get the door open worm now ” he demanded as he stood back, reaching to stroke Mariel head.

Gears head snapped up at the voice, “I dont know… who the-” He didn’t get to finish the words before he heard a knock and Azazel’s voice outside.

Wagner reached to Gears as he moved to the door. Gears was almost tempted not to restore power and reset the access, but he did so. The door unlocking when Wagner entered the code.

Kal only chuckled softly once more, but said nothing else. There were others coming; too many, and it wouldn’t do to be noticed this early in the game. He settled back cozily in his corner, closing his eyes to mere slits to reduce his visibility as he spied on the room.

Mariel was swaying gently where he stood, the occasional blackened tear running down his face as he kept on hand on the wall to steady himself. He flinched as Azazel’s hand touched his head, moving as though he were being struck rather than merely pet. “Dead,” he said quietly, barely a whisper. Poor little Mariel, he may have friend more than just his skin when he went nuclear.

Virus sat there confused the voice was quiet and now the door opening. He see wagner with azazel and scowl some.

Azazel moves in “Virus…sweety..how is you and the baby?” He chuckles. He looks at Wagner pointing to the floor before him. “Wagner has news to tell you.” He grinned so sadisticly. “Wagner tell him what you did…..with 24….” he glance at Mariel and said “no you’re not dead my pet…I’d never let you go so easily.” Azazel still burned pretty good. Wagner looked to where he pointed at the floor, he knew what to do, kneeling on the spot Azazel pointed at.

The angel was just quiet then, shivering faintly as he just stood there stark naked and covered in gouges and bruises. His brow furrowed in confusion as it was confirmed he was not dead, but understandably the news did not come as any kind of welcome relief. He was silent besides that, simply staring at nothing with his blind eyes.

Gears glared as well, already angry with everything that had happened and seeing Azazel’s smiling face as he spoke to Virus made him seethe. He stayed silent though.

“I failed to stop 24 from killing me and escape with Bloody Massacre. Stahs. I damaged all the cell doors to cause chaos, resulting in most of the experiments escaping.” Wagner bowed his head, waiting for whatever judgment Virus and Gears rendered.

Gears knew that was a lie, but he wasn’t sure pushing the truth to Virus was any better. Still he didn’t like lying unless he felt it necessary… he opted to hastily push the information to Virus through the hive. He wouldn’t be happy either way, but he felt like Virus might handle the truth better than Wagner’s approximation of it.

Mariel’s head jerked up as Wagner spoke, the blind orbs wide with only the faintest twitch in the corner as he moved brokenly. He said a single word in celestial but then croaked out “Liar. Lies. Liar. Lies. Who are you? Lies. Stahs. Stahs. Stahs saves everyone, he looked right through me. Was he here for me? Of course he wasn’t. I’m a fool. Not here for me. Stahs, Lord Stahs, he broke my door and looked at me as though I wasn’t there. As though I am nothing. Stahs broke my door, and didn’t care. Only to save one, nobody else. He doesn’t care. Lies, you are lying – ” And now his voice cut to celestial, the sound grating an accusatory as he lurched forward towards the source of the lying voice, Wagner, the tears rising up again. The file had said that Stahs saved everyone, but the file was wrong. How could it be wrong?

Azazel kicked Wagner “thats incorrect. Tell the truth.” He hissed. ” you let 24 escape ontop of the release of the experiments.” He then straighten up and smiled. Wagner winced as he was kicked. Shrinking at his words.

Virus wasn’t in a good headspace and then getting information conflicting to what was being told. He hold his head “everyones betraying me.” He hissed and turn away as he curled up on the bed. Black tears just leaking out of his eyes again. When no attack came after Virus’ words Wagner looked up at him. Oh fuck.

Azazel turn hearing Mariel and then goes to pull camera feed. Looking “how convenient that everything is missing. Virus it seems your hive has indeed betrayed you.” He smirked and leans down to Wagner “I may not be able touch Virus, but theres more then one way to break things.” He then grab Mariel “silence that angel talk or I rip out your vocals.”

Gears looked from Wagner to Virus, purely panic stricken. Damn it. No no no no. He wanted to help. This was 24’s fault. All 24’s fault. The next time he saw him he was going to pump him full of nanites and have them rip him apart. He didn’t dare speak aloud, for fear Azazel would use whatever he said against him. Trying to plead with Virus through the hive. Convince him he hadn’t been betrayed.

“No. Not his hive. Just me….” Wagner growled, he wasn’t going to let Azazel twist the blame. He was smiling so hard his gums bled as Azazel leaned down to him and spoke, his single eye filled with nothing but hate for the demon. He’d never loathed the demon more than he did now.

Mariel twitched and flinched back at the threat, though his jaw was set stubbornly as he hissed, “Lies, you are lying. You are -lying-,” he rasped, but otherwise just stood there, vaguely mumbling to himself.

Azazek just watched him and ask “who my dear Virus…can fix the cameras, cause clearly this was not your work.” He grinned.

Virus shut the hive down, disconnecting himself as he needed peace. He was so lost so confused at that moment. He just murmurs “never good enough.”

Azazel tsk “perhaps they are right. You are pretty pathetic right now. That fire gone out? What a pitty.” Shaking his head. Looks at Wagner “i can always take everything away Wagner.” He looks to Mariel “my sweet pet you are right…he lied. Thank you for telling me. I shall reward you.” He grins, stroking their cheek. He then tugs Mariel with him. “Remember wagner, the elevator fix, you leave with me.” With that he tug Mariel with him as he left. There was another recoiling flinch at the touch, but the angel didn’t resist being pulled along as he tried to get his beairngs, always keeping one of those skeletal hands on the wall.

Gears didn’t move or say anything as Azazel spoke. The cameras could be fixed but the recordings were gone. He’d wait til Azazel was occupied elsewhere to fix them though. Then he felt Virus shut the hive, forcing himself to remain as he was. He wouldn’t let Azazel see how he was being affected.

Wagner felt it too, just sitting numbly on the floor. He wanted to scream at Azazel, to rip his throat out so he’d stop talking to Virus, but he knew that would only prod Azazel on. Instead nodded, shivering and shrinking into himself a little at the mention of taking everything away.

“Yes sir…” He whispered, bowing his head at Azazel’s final words.

Virus just laid on the bed as Azazel left. He grip his head tight “never win….he always wins…….always gets his way…..everyone always helps him…chooses him……we are never good enough.” He murmur.

Wagner sat there for a few moments before slowly getting to his feet, shuffling to the door like a zombie. He didn’t slam it. Just easing it closed. Gears slowly lay down next to him silently, just gazing at him. Not knowing what to say. Virus just broke down, the first nightmare he had hit more real, his brain was having issues deciphering what was real. The only real thing he knew was Bex always wins, always.

Virus frowned “why……why did you both do it…..hide everything. Why help him?” He ask. “Why…..am I truly that bad…that worthless?”

“I was trying to protect Stahs. If Azazel found him he would’ve never let him go, just to prove a point because I wouldn’t give Stahs to him.” Wagner said numbly into his hands. “Tried to keep 24 as far from him as possible. Planned to get Stahs back to his manor, 24 was supposed to stay here and be killed.

“I-I panicked. Everything was happening at once and I was trying to keep Azazel away from Stahs and sic the demons pet on him and then you weren’t okay.” Gears sobbed, “You’re not.. You’re good. I wanted to protect you.” He extended a hand to touch one of Virus’.

Virus listen and says “24 always wins.” Like a broken record. He clutch his stomach, gripping tight, digging his claws in to his flesh. “What….is a dream….that feels real like memories?” He whispered. Still confused from that, he felt gears touch his hand. Shaking some “I…..I need you both……we are broken……we are malfunctioned….”

Gears sucked in another sharp sobbing breath seeing Virus dig his claws into his stomach. Wagner lifted his head slowly and turned, remembering the demon’s warning again, Azazel would take everything from him. He couldn’t defy him again.

“A… lucid dream… Maybe.” Gears whispered in response, a bit surprised when Virus didn’t recoil from his touch. At his next word Gears scooted closer without hesitation, draping his other arm around Virus. “I’m here.” He choked out between sobs. Wagner moved to lay down on the other side of him, curling his arms around Virus as well.

Virus laid there and ask “this life is not 24s yes?…..its not?” That dream really shook him. He stared at Wagner and then says “I can’t lose you…..either of you. I dont want to be alone again.” Slowly connected back to the hive as he was letting everything that happened settle in his head.

“It’s not.” Gears nodded, “It’s not 24’s.” He repeated, rubbing Virus’ back.

“You won’t… not permanently. I have to go with Azazel for a while when the elevator is fixed, or else he’ll take you both from me… but it won’t be forever. We will always be connected, if you want us.” Wagner said. Gears gave a sob of relief as Virus slowly connected back, hugging him tight. The tension in Wagner’s muscles relaxed a little as he felt him again.

Virus frowned “no….we….we can be stronger….we can…we can modify to be stronger. You can’t leave.” He panic some. “I can’t….. I won’t lose either of you. Bex gets to be happy…..if he can…then I’ll become a villian too I will take happiness.” He told them

“It’s ok. You will, you’ll become stronger. Learn your abilities. Even if he takes my body for a while I’ll be with you in the hive. I’ll never really leave you.” Wagner tried to reassure.

Gears panicked a little too, he didn’t know what to do to stop Azazel from taking Wagner back to his lab. “You won’t… Won’t lose us. You deserve happiness.”

Virus shook his head “no…..I can save you.” He told him. He looks down, before he looked back up to wagner “the heart.” He says.”we….need the heart. If you put it in us….it wilk give us more then enough energy…..we can do alot with it. ” he heard gears. “No I won’t. Im going to take everything.”

“But… what about what Voltaire said? Azazel’s boss?” Wagner asked, his fear of the demon and his boss undisguised. He followed his gaze down and then back up.

“Where is it?” He asked softly, “Did you set it back down in artifact storage after I gave it to you?” Wagner asked

Gears nodded, at the idea about the heart and at Virus’ words to him.

Virus furrow his brow “I lost it….I set it somewhere…..oh ya it was sort of tuck in the pants you tore off….when you had me on 1-2….I didn’t grab it…would an intern have returned it to the case?” He ask.

“Gears can you find where it went?” Looking to him as he laid on his back. He look to Wagner “what else can you do to me and Gears. We keep trying to do things alone. We need to work as a hive…..Gears..you need to boost the hive signal… to weak to right now…but the army in the warehouse….we need them.”

Wagner nodded at his words, “Likely so. If it’s been found its almost certainly back in his case.”

Gears nodded, seeing Azazel off with Mariel, he returned the cameras to their normal flow before checking artifact storage. “I might have some tissue samples and a handful of artifacts in my personal storage that might be of use. You’re right, we need to work as a hive.” He nodded. “The heart has been returned to artifact storage.” Gears said and gave a nod. “If I can concentrate the nanites I didn’t pour into that demon’s pet toward the top of the elevator shaft that might boost the signal.” Gears added.

Virus looks at Wagner “ok we will get it.” He stared at the ceiling, he still wasn’t well from everything. However he refused to give up. “Good, doctor me and Gears need you to modify us.” He told him. Hearing Gears he nods “very well.” He nod again “ok. If we can get the hive here, we can take this place. Azazel lost his chance.”

“Okay. Just be careful. Azazel’s going to be more on his guard than ever.” Wagner nodded, resting his hand against Virus’ chest. “Of course, whatever you need me to do. I’ll do it.” Wagner nodded.

“I’ll start gathering all the nanites left in the power system to the top of the elevator. ” Gears nodded, hugging Virus.

Virus shrugs “me and gears took the lab from you….we just need to distract him……you need to distracte him.”he look at wagner “he possessive…use it. Be the obedient pet. Prove he can trust you. So you can manipulate him. While we prepare.” He state ” I can prolong the elevator repairs easy.”

Wagner nodded, listening carefully to his every word. “Right. Right, I can do that. He knows he’s already got me scared. He’ll expect me to submit at this point, I just need to play along.”

“We communicate everything to each other. No more working independently.” Gears said, his comment directed at Wagner who gave another nod at his words.

Virus nods “yes…also….I know sires tend to protect their own, but you said Stahs was a failure. Why did you protect him from Azazel?” He ask. Virus looks to Gears “agreed. ” he said as he look straight up again “he already knows of the life form….need to make sure he doesn’t realize im weaker at this point.”

Wagner contemplated the question a moment. “I don’t know, to be honest… maybe it’s vanity, in the hopes I could bring out Bloody again. The only reason I considered him a failure is he let himself grow soft, but that’s not unfixable. He showed he’s still got it in him.”

“If I let him have him he would not thrive. Azazel would crush him, break him. He wouldn’t let him develop on his own. And I can’t have that.” Wagner added. “Yes, he already jumped on the vulnerability seeing you here with Gears. We can’t give him any other opening or let on the truth.” Wagner nodded.

“Which means we’ll need that heart to keep you well fed.” Gears said.

Virus nods to him as he listen “do you think me a failure when I break?” He ask. Virus frown some “I had a dream….never dreamed before i thought it was real.” He explains his vulnerability. He then nods to Gears “yes….so i can handle what I need to and we have a strong front.”

Wagner brought a hand up at his words to brush his tear smudged cheek. “Never. You could never be a failure in my eyes.” He listened, regarding him thoughtfully. “A dream? That must have been very intense. Even for those used to them they can be overwhelming. They can feel so very real.”

“Well do whatever you need us to. You won’t lose us.” Gears nodded.

Virus leans into his touch. Nodding “it was, I thought it was real. It’s annoying,even in my dreams he wins.” He pout some.

He sighs “we will win this….im tired of losing.”

Wagner continued to gently stroke at his cheek, nodding with understanding. “It is annoying, ” he agreed, “That sounds like quite the bad dream.”

“We will. No more losing.” Gears agreed, looking at Virus. Just looking at him, absorbing as much of the view as he could. He wondered about that other voice they’d heard before Azazel walked in.

Virus frown, “dream 24 killed life form and replaced….it made mo sense we couldn’t destroy him….nothing we did worked.” Hr told him

Virus just stared as he frowned, holding his stomach ” it felt real…..we do not like dreams.”

Wagner nodded as he listened, even if it was a dream he still seethed that any version of 24 would torment Virus that way. “How awful, that must’ve been incredibly disturbing.” Wagner said. He’d seen how distressed Virus had been after 24 hit him with his tail, so he could only imagine how upsetting the dream was for him. “Dreams are very much a gamble. They can be wonderful when they are good, but can be devastating when they become a nightmare like that.” Wagner nodded. Gears rested his hand over Virus’, just watching him with soft concern.

Virus nods some as he still tried to assess it. Clenching his stomach, trying to not lose it again. “No more…we wish to never sleep again. We will make sure to stay ontop of feeding, we wish never again to experience such.” He told them. Gears could feel him struggling to maintain composure through the hive, nodding at his words as Virus still tried to assess.

“We’ll find a way so you don’t have to sleep and risk going through that again. We’ll make sure of it.” Gears said protectively, “We’ll make sure nothing can take this life form or us from you.” Wagner nodded in agreement at Gears words.

Virus looked confused some “yeah.” He say. “Now just need to figure how to kill a demon.” He told them “or atleast get rid of him.” Virus kept trying to think “he thinks he has won and we will play into that.”