Chapter 11: A Very Unexpected Development
[Julian! Wake up! Please… just wake up! I don't… I don't really know what I'll do without you, Julian, like… literally and technically. So please, please wake up!]
"!?" Julian woke up from his own gasp, his eyes snapping open, only to see black. MEGAN's sobs echoed in his ears, her artificial voice cracking with emotion.
"What... where am I?" His voice rasped, throat parched.
[Julian…? Julian! You're awake!] MEGAN's relief was palpable, her voice just wringing in Julian's mind. [I've been… I've been trying to wake you for hours.]
He blinked, confusion washing over him. Just moments ago, he was living in euphoria as he hammered away without worrying about anything else – the weapons he had created, journeying with him. But now, all of those weapons are gone–no. Everything was gone.
"I… I can't see," he whispered, panic rising in his chest; he knew why he couldn't see, but he truly did not want to admit it, "Why… why can't I see!?"
[Julian, please… please relax,] MEGAN's loud voice soon became soft, [You remember our calming routine, correct? So, just breathe, Julian… breathe.]
"H… huh?" Julian breathed out; his throat, as dry as it could ever be, "Routine…? What routine? What…"
[Julian, you're back in your real body,] MEGAN explained gently. [You need to eat, you need to rest. I know that you are extremely confused, disoriented, and excited right now – but I need you to listen to me, okay? Julian… breathe.]
"I'm… I'm back to the real world?" Reality crashed down on Julian. He fumbled for the LinkGear, trying to find buttons to press as he was desperate to return to Artemia.
"I… I need to go back," he muttered, fingers searching frantically, "I'm not… I'm not done, MEGAN! I was… I was making so many swords, I was… I was… I saw myself, MEGAN. I saw the trees… I saw everything. I saw you… you were… you were so beautiful and… I need to go back.]
[Julian, stop it! Just stop!] MEGAN's voice was sharp. [The LinkGear won't even let you connect. Your vitals… are dangerously low. You're hungry, Julian. You need food, and you need rest.]
"But… but there's nothing for me here, MEGAN… I need to return, please…" Julian gripped the sheets of his bed, frustration boiling over. He tried to sit up, but his body felt like lead.
[Please, Julian,] MEGAN pleaded. [You need to rest. You've been unconscious for—]
"I don't care…" he whispered. "I… Huh…?"
His words trailed off as he registered a weight on his leg and a familiar scent. Lavender and vanilla.
"...Ellie? Is Ellie… here?" Julian quickly patted the weight on his leg, only to feel a familiar warmth on his palm.
[Yes, Julian. Ellie is here,] MEGAN said softly; her words slightly trailing, [Ellie has been here taking care of your stupid body for almost two days straight. I mean… what were you even thinking?]
"W…What?" Julian froze, a mix of emotions washing over him. Guilt, gratitude, and a lingering ache he couldn't quite place.
"...Two days?" he whispered, "Why… would she even be here?"
[Why do you think?] MEGAN scoffed, [I called her and told her that you've been neglecting your body. I swear, Julian – you're very lucky. Because if I had my own body? Oh… Oho… You would have found yourself stuck with millions of feeding tubes.]
"You… shouldn't have done that, MEGAN," Julian sighed as he very gently brushed Ellie's soft hair, "Ellie and I… we already broke up."
[Do you think I'm stupid? I know that, I was there,] MEGAN groaned and even made a spitting sound, [I heard your pathetic cries. But that doesn't matter – go eat, Ellie cooked for you.]
And as soon as Julian heard that, he finally felt the aching throb that had been weighing on his stomach. Julian gently shifted his leg, careful not to disturb Ellie.
"Food…" The aroma of fresh food wafted through the air, making his stomach growl. He reached out, fingers brushing against a warm plate.
"She cooked for me?" he murmured, a tinge of guilt coloring his voice.
[Yes, and you should eat,] MEGAN urged. [Your body needs nourishment. You do know that you still exist here, right? Don't be stupid, be better.]
"...Right," Julian could really only let out a small sigh as he gracefully sat up and moved toward the smell. He was being extremely careful, of course, as he was still not fully familiar with his new apartment.
[The table is 107 centimeters to your left, Julian.]
Julian carefully stepped to the left, stretching his hands forward until he felt something hard.
[I recommended Ellie to cook you a porridge – she prepared a chicken and egg porridge with lots of leeks. You need a lot of protein and carbohydrates, Julian.]
"...Hm," Julian nodded, lifting a forkful to his mouth. The flavors exploded on his tongue, reminding him how long it had been since he'd eaten. He devoured the meal, his mind, however, was racing with thoughts of returning to Artemia as fast.
[Julian, you need to rest,] MEGAN insisted as he finished eating. [Proper rest, not just sleep.]
"No," Julian growled, pushing himself up. "I need to get back."
[But—]
"No, MEGAN. I'm fine. I still need to–"
"Julian…? Are you alright?" A soft rustle of fabric caught his attention. Ellie's voice, clearly just woken up, drowned any of the other voices and noise surrounding him. But even though she had just woken up, Julian could already feel how angry she was, "Julian…"
He turned towards her voice, heart completely nervous. "Ellie, I—"
"Don't say anything," she cut him off, anger seeping into her tone as she rushed toward Julian. Her words were stuttered, obviously already in tears, "What the fuck were you thinking, ba–Julian!? Seriously? A fucking video game!? I just left you for two days and you're already destroying your… your life!? Seriously!?"
"I'm–" Julian flinched at the raw emotion in her words. He opened his mouth to respond, but Ellie did not even let him speak, her voice rising.
"You sold everything!?" Ellie continued her rampage of words, "And seriously!? The Below!? Why would you even move here!? You could have just asked me and I would have let you stay with me, babe! Do you know how many Daemons are in this place!?"
"But-"
"I know we're not together anymore, but fucking damn it, Julian, I still love you!" The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken history, "I care for you… you're… you're still… you're still my best friend, Julian. Why… just why would you do this to yourself? I mean, what the fuck!?"
"This is–"
"No, you don't get to speak to me," Julian heard her walk away abruptly, footsteps moving towards the door. His chest tightened, wanting to reach out but knowing he couldn't.
"Look," Ellie said, her voice softer now. "My offer still stands. There's a place for you at my apartment in Sky Net if you need it. I left you more food in your fridge, so just eat them."
The door opened, and Julian felt a rush of cool air.
"Just... remember I'm here for you, okay? Whatever this is… I'll be with you," Ellie's final words were barely above a whisper before the door clicked shut.
And with Ellie just suddenly leaving, Julian could really only stand in stunned silence, Ellie's words echoing in his mind. But still, the pull of Artemia and the colorful scenery his working eyes tugged at him, but for the first time…
…he felt the weight of what he might be leaving behind, he felt the weight of Ellie. He should probably chase after her, but he didn't.
He walked back to his bed, his hand trembling as he reached for the LinkGear. His fingers brushed the smooth surface, anticipation and hesitation coursing through his veins.
"Julian, stop," MEGAN's voice cut through his focus.
"...There's nothing for me to do here," Julian sighed.
[Maybe,] MEGAN let out a small hum, "But I talked to the LinkGear, and you must wait eight hours before you can actually reconnect.]
"What?" Julian dropped the device, frustration bubbling up. "Eight hours? I can't—"
[Yes. Yes, you can,] MEGAN insisted, her tone brooking no argument, [Your body needs time to recover. It is a failsafe that Humanity Engineering set up.]
"But… I can't just sit here, MEGAN,] Julian sighed, restless energy thrumming through him. "I need to go back."
[Well… you can't. Might I suggest some exercise would help pass the time?] MEGAN suggested. [Your body has been stationary for almost 48 hours, you need to move it or risk atrophy.]
"...Really?" Julian paused, slightly humming as he thought of MEGAN's suggestion.
[Yes.]
"...Fine," he muttered, dropping to the floor of his small apartment.
He positioned himself for push-ups, muscles tensed. As he lowered himself, something felt... different. But he completely ignored it as he pushed up.
[What!?]
"!?" And all of a sudden, he was airborne. Julian's head nearly collided with the ceiling before he crashed back down to the floor.
"What…?" he gasped, heart pounding, "What happened!?"
[Wait… wait!] MEGAN's voice held a note of shock. [Julian... your strength. Something is not… right.]
"Something's… not right?" Julian whispered, "What… do you mean?"
[It appears, Julian…] MEGAN said slowly,
[...That you may have inherited some of your clone's enhanced abilities from Otherworld.]
"...Huh?"