1 Chapter 5

The day started early. I woke up feeling refreshed. After a moment of looking through an old Bible, scanning the pages for the name Paul or Saul, I finally decided to get up and make some proper food so I didn't end my day with another buffet. I teleported into the kitchen and made some eggs and pork chops. Or bacon as I sometimes call it, but no one in Minecraft knows what I am talking about when I call it that. And if you are wondering how I was even able to cook eggs in Minecraft, just know that there are a lot more things you can do while in the game compared to simply playing it.

Once done making breakfast I managed to teleport to the table and set it all out, and yes there were forks, we don't eat like SAVAGES here. :>

Everything had just been set up when Fred came in chasing little Teddy, who seemed to know there was food in here. He must have a good sense of smell.

"Bweakfast!" Teddy squealed as he ran to the table. Fred saw me sitting down eating and gave up chasing the boy. Sebastian and Madelyn walked in after Fred.

"Mornin." I mumbled, covering my mouth since I was still chewing. All three sat down at a plate of food and began eating. I had made sure to make enough for everyone, except Fred.

"I guess you slept well Lord Herobrine?" Fred questioned with a little smile as he saw my unmiserable self.

"Yeah, I guess so." I chuckled the I guess obvious answer. Once I was done I left the kids to finish and do whatever as I continued working on that time machine.

A few progressive hours passed when I heard Fred teleport in.

"Um, Lord Herobrine. Sebastian asked if he can help with your work. Should I tell him no?" He asked. At first I thought no since probably the only reason he had asked was to know what I was working on and possibly sabotage my work. I also didn't want him to find out what I was planning and tell Teddy. If Teddy found out he would be heartbroken for sure. But I didn't want him to think I was brainwashing an army of human soldiers or creating some kind of mega weapon to destroy the world. I wanted him to trust me like Teddy did.

"No, it's alright. You can let him in here. He could be helpful." I said. Fred was surprised but vanished without arguing the case I already knew. I would just have to make sure to keep a close eye on the young teen at all times. I was working on one of the three main processes so I guess I might need a bit of help. I had just finished the first of the three processes just that morning.

I heard a teleporting sound once again and could tell Sebastian was there, just because power instincts stuff. I made sure to keep the sixth sense scanner, or 'double eye' as I sometimes called it, on Sebastian. I could see a basic outline of him walking around in the room along with a simple outline of the room around us. I often used that special power when I couldn't see for whatever reason, or if I just wanted to see what was behind a door. It was similar to x-ray vision in a way, but third-person so I could see myself too. However, I also had to keep a close eye on what I was doing. Good thing I was simply screwing a few things in so I had the brain room to multitask. Fred left almost right after he teleported in, probably to keep Teddy out of trouble.

"Hey, Sebastian." I said plainly, deciding to be the first to speak. Sebastian just looked around the room at all my gadgets and other what-nots.

"Oh, um hi. So um.. How can I help?" Sebastian snapped out of his in awe moment. I usually just levitated things to me but since I was already using my 'double eye,' doing that would just take more energy; energy I was trying my best to preserve as much of as possible. And I guess it would seem pretty pointless for Sebastian to be here and have nothing to do.

"Uh, yeah. Mind grabbing the gravity-warp stabilizer for me over there?" I asked.

"Heh, what does it look like?" He asked as he looked all around him.

"To your right, okay down, a little left, right, up a little, left an inch more, okay that's it." I instructed as he followed along. I was screwing in the last couple bolts for the gravity-warper as I instructed. Sebastian must have noticed my multi-tasking skills because he looked at me confused.

"How can you see me when you are looking at that?" Sebastian asked.

"Power." Was my simple answer. That seemed to satisfy his question, and he brought me the piece I had asked for.

While screwing it in I mumbled to myself, "Alright, need to keep the pull equal with T-O-N-618."

"What was that?" Sebastian asked inquisitively. I wasn't used to working around others so I often noted things out loud to keep myself reminded.

"Oh, forgot you were here.. Um, it's a quasar containing a black hole. My power all together would be strong enough to use the equivalent pull force of it for probably about five seconds. Should be long enough to make this thing work. I just hope the gravity stabilizer will make things easier for me. Should keep everything together." I explained. I figured that if I was at least mostly open about it then Sebastian would trust me a little more.

"Wait, the power of a black hole?! Aren't those things strong enough to suck in even light!?" Sebastian was rightfully so stricken by the new information.

"Yeah, last time I used something like this it took me a long time to recover. And since then I have hidden power reserves all throughout the world so that I wouldn't have too much all at once. Even when I was evil I didn't want to destroy everything!" I didn't lie.

"Woah, really?" Sebastian questioned in awe. An idea entering into his mind.

"Yeah. Now can you hand me that thing over there?" I asked while pointing towards a fabricator. He didn't hesitate to grab it and hand it to me.

"So, um.. What is this thing?" Sebastian asked me as I worked on attaching the piece to the stabilizer. I knew he would eventually ask.

"Right now, it is just a pile of scrap. But eventually, it will be a little something I plan on using. It's kind of a secret right now though." I told him. Sebastian just looked at me with a little suspicion. "Hey, you know the crafting table very well?" I asked Sebastian.

"Pff, yeah! Memorized just about every recipe there is!" Sebastian bosted.

"Prove it then. I need four miniature anvils, a diamond sythe, and three sticky pistons." Sebastian went quickly to work. Digging into the chest for iron ingots, diamonds, slime balls, stone, redstone, etc. Once he had all he needed he ran to the nearest crafting table and began crafting, his hands moving about with incredible speed. He must really enjoy making stuff. Once he was done Sebastian set everything on the floor near me. I smiled when I was done with the last tightening in of the stabilizer and hid it from view with a few stone panels, and then walked over and grabbed all but the sythe.

"What are you going to do with the sythe?" Sebastian asked as he looked between me and the weapon.

"Let you have it I guess. I figured you might like it." I said with a smile, and then turned around to continue working. Sebastian just stared at the weapon in awe. He had made the handle with dark iron too, which made it look even cooler in both our opinions.

"Th- thanks." Sebastian studded. The thanks surprised both me and the teen. Sebastian then picked up his new sythe and swung it around a little. He was a bit clumsy with it and ended up whacking himself on the head with the handle. I chuckled almost silently at that.

"If you want, I can teach you how to use it." I offered with a little smile.

"Nah! I got it." He waved my offer off and continued practicing by himself. I guess I had taught myself how to use one, he might be the kind to learn that way too.

"I remember teaching myself how to fight when I was just around your age." I said quietly as I pushed the mini anvils into place. I was making it so that they all acted like cogs in a motor.

"You were once my age?" Sebastian asked. I turned around with an 'are you serious' look and saw him staring at me with genuine confusion.

"Uh, ueah. I was born like everyone else, raised like everyone else, and get tired like everyone else. And, you already know I get hungry like everyone else." I chuckled. He just looked at me with a tilted head.

"Really? I heard you were a virus or something. Something made by hackers with the sole purpose to destroy." Sebastian was actually serious?!

I almost laughed. "Wait, what?! People think I am some kind of AI?!" I laughed lightly a little. "Nope, believe it or not, I'm human. Just born with a few tweaks." Sebastian almost smiled as this new revelation was brought to him. He really must have thought I was evil!

"Wow, I- I- I never knew that..." Sebastian sighed. He was silent for a bit so I continued working. "..Well, then what made you evil?" The question caused me to drop the mini anvil I was holding as I shook a little for no real reason. Well, I guess there was a reason. The memories were sickening. Sebastian saw my pale face and stiffened to my reaction. He swallowed hard and waited for an answer. An answer I didn't know how to tell.

"Heh heh, w- well.. I- umm..." I just ended up trailing off in thought. Sebastian looked down almost ashamed he had brought it up. I had to answer. But first, I had to know the answer. How did I become evil? All of my old memories had melded so much with ones of destruction it was hard to pinpoint exactly when and where I had become bad in the first place. I shook as I tried to remember, forcing myself through the internal pain once again. I needed an answer! If I didn't have one then I really would be a mad man! But I knew deep down there was an answer, slowly bubbling up, but not yet accessible. I squeezed my eyes shut with the hopes that it would help me remember.

Then it hit me. My mind became clear as it narrowed on a series of very specific events.. "The Test." The same one I tried to put Evie through several years ago to see if she would turn out like I did. She probably would have, if I hadn't stopped her in time. I sighed with a shaky breath when I remembered all the things I had been through.

"#######." Was my answer.

"Wait, Dora- what?!" Sebastian asked.

"#######! He was the one who set up that trap for me so many years ago. He turned everyone against me, but before I could realize it, he had actually turned me against everyone. That man was the master at mind manipulation. Better than anyone else I have met before or since. But, he wasn't the one who turned me evil in the end. He simply funneled me into that direction.. I was the one STUPID enough to take the bait and go against everyone I loved. He was simply the one guiding the leash." I growled as I let my anger flow out my mouth, mostly towards myself. Sebastian just listened.

"I know how you feel.." He said in almost a whisper after a moment of silence. I looked up at him confused.

"How so?" I asked just as quietly.

"After our parents died, I was the man in charge. And it became my responsibility to provide food for my siblings. Poor Teddy was only one when we were orphaned. Madelyn was only eight, too young to take care of him. And I was too young to take care of both of them at only twelve. But somehow we managed. Going from house to house. People often would let us stay over for a few days before kicking us back out. Not mad at them though, they were often in similar situations we were in. Lost family members and little to live off of." I slapped myself inside for most likely being the one responsible for all that trouble. "Well, after a bit, my 'friends' started suggesting we steal for a living. Of course, I said no. But like you said ####### was manipulative, so were my 'friends.' They got me to believe that the diamonds and gold were not really theirs, but ours. And I slowly began to believe those lies. It was too late when I finally remembered that they were indeed wrong. I and my siblings had already been on the run for a couple of days when I remembered. And.. I actually had gotten away with a few diamonds. Not as bad as Maddie, but still.. And when I finally remembered, I mailed them back with the hopes that I would be forgiven. But, I was still a thief. I was still the one to have been fooled. And worst of all, I was the one that brought Madelyn and Teddy into the mess. They would be fine if it weren't for me. And now none of us will be able to move back into Minecraftia and live normal lives.. All because of me..." Sebastian took his turn to look defeated.

"Well, at least you can return a diamond. You can't however, return a life." I sighed. "Being a thief is nowhere close to what I have done."

"Will you just stop comparing yourself to others already!?" Sebastian suddenly shouted. "Comparing didn't help me, and I am sure it hasn't been helping you! So just stop already!" ..I was shocked by the sudden raise in volume. I had never thought about it before, but I did compare my actions to others a lot. Almost all the time actually. But how could I stop? It seemed impossible, comparing was just a natural thing to me, used to beat myself up all the time. If I stopped comparing myself to others, I wouldn't see myself as the person I had been anymore. Would that be a good thing? Was that what Saul/Paul did? I couldn't help but wonder.

"I don't know how, but I'll try." I said. After that, it was a little awkward, so I just continued working on the machine while Sebastian continued practicing twirling around the sythe. Every now and then I would ask him to craft something or hand me something I had already crafted myself. But I mostly just let him have fun with his new gift. And from the looks of it, he seemed to really like it. But like all time, it passed. And both of us had to go to eat and rest. But inside, I knew that I had earned at least a little of Sebastian's trust.