Butterfly Apocalypse: Fight or Flight

The Dark Place.
The quiet paranormal shift that had trapped Roivas. No one, not even Roivas knew exactly what it was. This black space was as desolate as it was eerie. The cold breeze being the only sigh of the material world. If this place had more than one occupant, they hadn't made themselves known yet.
Anna had been sitting under the mysterious light source for quite some time now. She had no real idea as to how much time had passed. It could of been hours or maybe even a few days. There was no way for her to tell. She didn't feel tired. She had not been hungry. All that was there was the crippling loneliness. Even the fear seemed to dissipate.
If she did feel any fear, it was about letting the others down. Her head in her hands, thinking about the choices she made. Letting Mesay down. She shouldn't have probed into her dreams. Now she was trapped. Powerless to do anything. To fix anything.

"And we have to get her out of there.", Mesay insisted.

Back in the Mess Hall Mesay was back to her normal self. Save for the new eye color. The blue seemed to glow as she said that. Which made everyone flinch a little bit. The others didn't want to end up like Anna, Zero or Dox. Not to mention how strange it made Mesay look. Her eyes flared and ebbed which left the butterflies a little scared.

"Come on guys.", She said frustrated. "I'm not gonna zap you."

"Not on purpose.", Chouji chimed in.

"I told you. It's under control now.", She insisted. Muse teleported next to her.

"Yeah, see?", Muse started. He disappeared then reappeared on the other side of the room. "Nothing un-butterflied about me!" He was like a kid with a new toy. Muse loved this new ability he gained. Especially since it broke the long distance part of his relationship with Mesay. It seemed strangely appropriate for him. When the two started dating, they often had dreams of randomly appearing next to each other. He figured it was just their mind's way of closing the gap between Australia and the United States.
So when Muse woke up to the shrinking patch of land with Mesay running toward him, he thought it was just one of those dreams. When they teleported back to the kitchen, he realized it was more than that. He had really done it. His friends he had only talked to online were here right in front of him. Mesay was right here in front of him.
He appeared right behind Mesay and gave her a huge hug from behind. He held tight and nestled his head in on her hair. Nuzzling on her neck. Smiling broadly as he did so, and enjoying the scent of her shampoo. Mesay's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden affection. She lowered her eyes to almost closing. Slowly reaching up and holding onto Muse's arms with her hands. She grasped tight and squeezed.

“I didn't think I was going to see you again.”, she said. Almost breathing it as she took a deep breath in and sighed in happiness. “I'm so glad you're here.” She squeezed her eyes shut as thin streams ran down her cheeks.

“I can't understand any of you except Mesay!”, Zero yelled breaking the moment.

“Wait...what?", Chewie asked. "You can understand Mesay?"

“Stop talking weird Chewie! I have no idea what is going on!”, she insisted.

Izzie rolled her eyes and walked to a nearby table where Dox's clipboard laid. She picked it up and thrust it in Zero's face pointing at the decoded, backwards, alphanumeric scrawlings he had put on there. Zero took the clipboard and looked at it for a second before realizing what was going on.

“Awwww really?”, She asked. “But I suck at doing Roivas code.”

Izzie ignored the comment. “I'm just going to chalk that up to all the random weird shit I've seen today. Chewie, why don't you get Zero out of here while you can. Safely. We'll keep you informed as to whatever it is we're doing.”

“Alright.”, Chewie agreed as he escorted an irate Zero out of the room.

“Do we have kind of plan going on here?”, Izzie asked. “We may want to work on that.”

“Well I think first of all we need to assess Mesay's situation.”, Zander chimed in.

“What situation?”, Muse asked. Now having broken his ultra hug from Mesay. He studied her as she wiped the tears from her face.

“I had an incident. With Roivas.”, Mesay started. “They were controlling me while I slept.”

“Yeah and power zapping everyone in between.”, Chouji added.

“That wasn't our fault. They tried to keep us from doing that. Apparently it was a side effect of coming through me.”, Mesay explained. “But they're gone now. And I have a grasp of it.” She was trying to assure the group but Mesay didn't have a much better idea as to what was happening to her as the others did. All they could really do was theorize.

“So now you can make people's powers go away?”, Zander asked.

“Sort of. It doesn't feel like that though.”, Mesay scratched her head a bit in awkwardness. "Everything is different in that place."

"The Dark Place.", Zander continued.

"Yeah. They tried to warn me with the promise I had made.", Mesay continued. "But I can't remember it. I don't know what I promised or did. The whole thing is still very confusing."

Muse held on to her. "How did Mesay get there?", Muse asked.

"The same way I got here. Through my dreams.", Mesay paused. "I think."

Home suddenly started to shake. As if some kind of earthquake had started up. It made everyone assume a stance that would keep them steady.

"What was that?", Izzie started.

"Oh God.", Zander spurted out loud.

"What?", Izzie insisted. Then another tremble shook Home. This one was more violent than the last. So much so, that it made everyone grasp things around them for balance.

"How many of us have been de-butterflied?", Zander asked.

"Three.", Izzie answered.

"This is so crazy. I don't even know where I'm going with this.", Zander rambled.

"What?", Izzie pushed.

"What is Home? It's a place where we are kept safe from Help3r and all of his drones. What if Home is falling apart.", Zander stated. Everyone's eyes got really big at the thought.

"How could Home just fall apart?", Chouji asked.

"Home has everything. Food, materials, countless rooms and access to just about anything. All we have to do is think of something and it appears. What if we created Home? What if Home is us." Zander had hardly stopped talking when it had clicked for everyone. Home as a byproduct of the butterflies. As random as it felt it also made sense. That kind of deep knowing that you can't logically describe. The kind that gives you goosebumps. The kind that makes your stomach drop.

"Izzie. You had started it.", Zander offered.

Izzie was shocked. She felt like she was being accused. "Me? Home was here before we were.", Izzie defended.

"But it was you who was looking for refuge. You were looking for safety.", Zander continued.

"There's no way...", Izzie tried to talk.

"You were the one who found the door. You were the one who got hungry first. You were the one who brought Mesay here.", Zander stopped. He could see Izzie was getting upset.

"So what are you saying? That this was all my fault? That I did this to Mesay? How could I even do that?", Izzie questioned.

"I don't think you meant to do it. It just happened.", Zander answered.

"This is ridiculous. We all do things here. Make our own rooms and places. Make our own things. It's not just me Zander."

"Not now, but you began it. And now, everyone is a part of it. We are all responsible for Home's existence. So what happens when butterflies start leaving or disappearing?", Zander stopped.

"Home starts disappearing...", Mesay finished. That's what happened back in that strange room. It was created by Zero. So when Zero was....zapped by me. She wasn't a part of Home anymore. So the room went away.", Mesay hung her head. "Izzie may have created Home, but I'm destroying it.

"You didn't destroy anything.", Muse defended. "Home is still here."

"It's falling apart. The signs are all there. Dox's fall from his room. Home not letting him leave the Mess Hall." Home rumbled again. "These tremors. The ones who are gone are effecting Home."

"If we make Home what it is. Then it can't exist without us.", Chouji finished.

"Exactly", Zander agreed.

"I'm.....so sorry.....", Mesay apologized. "I didn't mean to do this."

"Neither did I.", Izzie said.

"Nobody is to blame here.", Zander tried to console everyone. "I think what we need to do is gather ourselves and get a plan together so we don't have to worry or panic."

"Oh you can go ahead and start panicking.", Hoop retorted in the Hivemind.

"Now what?", Izzie started.

"We got big problems guys. Dox and I are outside here and we're looking at a rather large storm coming our way. Help3r's army is coming.", Hoop continued.

"Army?", Muse questioned.

"How many Hoop?", Zander asked.

"If I had to guess....a lot. Like hundreds a lot. This doesn't look good guys.", Hoop reported.

"How far away are they?", Mesay asked.

"I'd say an hour, max. They aren't moving terribly fast.", Hoop paused. "This is worse than we thought. I can't see how we're going to get past all these things at once. There has to be at least thirty of those giant golem things. God knows how many dolls and drones."

"Like we didn't have enough problems.", Xuch chimed in from the doorway. Paul was right next to her.

"Yeah, is that what all this shaking is about?", Paul asked.

"Hardly, we got three major problems that absolutely need to be dealt with like now.", Chouji retorted.

"Hoop, stay out there with Dox. You guys need to keep an eye on that army. We're going to try to think of... something.", Mesay ordered.

"Aye Aye Captain. Whatever you guys cook up, make it fast alright? I doubt Help3r is going to wait for an invitation.", Hoop dropped the Hivemind.

"What are you thinking Mesay?", Zander asked.

"I'm thinking we need to get the hell out of here.", Mesay offered. "But we can't just scatter. A bunch of us will have to stay and defend what we do have while the others leave."

"That means we'll need volunteers.", Xuch stated. "I guess you'll expect me to come and help huh?" Her sigh mid sentence was only half grief filled.

"You can count me in too", Paul said.

"Me too.", Muse responded.

"Even with all of us here we'll still need more.", Mesay continued. "We need to get everyone here. We need to let everyone know what is going on."

***

It took a few minutes for every butterfly to get to the Hall. Home's instant thought travel service was starting to feel the effects of the three missing butterflies. The shaking of Home being only one of a few things that they all needed to worry about. Mesay got on top of one of the tables in the room. Muse helped her up.

"What are you going to say?", He asked.

"Hopefully not much.", She smiled back.

Mesay stood on the table and thought about what she had to say. What she had to ask. And how to say it in as coherent a way as possible.

"Hey, everyone!", She said. Trying to get all the butterflies attention. "So uh...yeah you probably want to know what is going on. And frankly, we don't have the time for me to really explain it so I'll just tell you the important parts.", Mesay took a deep breath. "Help3r's army is going to be here within the hour."
Everybody started to talk a little.
"We don't know exactly how many but we guess there are over a hundred various dolls, drones and golems that want to get rid of Home. And perhaps ourselves. You've also noticed the random tremors that have been shaking our place today.We're not exactly sure what that is from but we are sure that Home is not necessarily a safe place to hide anymore. So we have two choices.
To run or to fight.
Personally, I'd rather everyone get out safely before we do something stupid like try to fight a bunch of robots. But there is no guaranteeing our escape unless we have a distraction. And that is where you all come in. We basically need a bunch of volunteers to stay here and fight these things as long as we can while another group gets the others to safety.
I know that we don't always feel confident or useful. But everyone here has a role to play. And now you have a chance to choose that role. All of us have something to offer. And I'm not saying this isn't fucking dangerous. But I wouldn't be asking this of you if I didn't think we weren't all capable of helping.
I want all of you to know that you have a choice still. And no one will think less of you no matter what decision you make. Because while they may have an army, we have a family."

"Meeeeooooooooooooooooooow!", Called Opie from the other end of the room. Everyone looked back and watched Mesay's three cats, Opie, Sovy and Dulcet run through the crowd. They weaved between the small crowds legs and to the front. Mesay knelt down as the three jumped up on the table. Opie tackled Mesay, the force almost throwing her on her back. She grunted as the fifteen pound cat hugged her shoulder and rubbed against her cheek. The other two rubbed against her legs and meowed desperately.

"They were worried about you.", Sunni chimed in.

"No kidding?", Mesay laughed.

Suddenly a whinney came from the doorway. Tex the horse trotted in with Lucy riding on his back. All the other cats, rats and pets of Home came in and came to their respective owners.

"I want to help get the pets out safely.", Sunny volunteered.

"I want to stay and help. If that's okay.", Blue offered. "My hand is still a little messed up but I could help anyone who gets hurt. Maybe buy us some more time."

Others raised their hands and offered to help. Soon everyone had a job. A place where they were needed. They were all working together. Just like a real family. Soon two parties were formed. Those who would stay and fight and those who would help everyone else escape. Plans were made and soon everyone was working to get ready to leave Home.
Chouji had grabbed Kim and separated from the group. He had a plan of his own but needed Kim's help. Kim had a special talent much like the other butterflies. But hers was one of the most complicated. When Chouji told Kim of his plan she jumped at the chance to help.

"Now we’ve got our own way to help.", Chouji said.

"We're going to get Anna.", Kim added.

***

Outside the army was getting closer. Hoop tried his best not to panic before finally making that fated Hivemind call to the others.

"Uh...guys. You think of anything yet?", Hoop asked.

"Sure did.", Mesay answered behind him.

Hoop and Dox quickly looked and found Paul, Xuch, Chula, Muse and Mesay armed and ready to go, thanks to Envoy's stock of weaponry and armor. Chewie and Zero walked up to them.

"Ooooo." Chewie mocked curiously. "Can I play?"

"I figured you couldn't stay away." Mesay chided.

"So this is the plan then. Fight to the death." Dox discouragingly offered.

"Hardly." Mesay retorted.

"Mesay?" Dox inqured. "You....you can talk normal. Oh thank god for that! Do you know how hard it is to not be able to understand what Hoop is really saying?"

"Tell me about it.", Zero quipped. She handed the clipboard to Dox. "Here, you're better at this than me."

"You and Zero need to go to the back of Home. There you'll find a bunch of us getting ready to leave. Go with them.", Mesay told Dox.

"Ah, the old hold them off so the others can get away bit hmmm? Where does fight to the death not apply to this?", Dox asked.

Mesay put an arm around Muse. The two disappeared and reappeared on the other side of the courtyard. Then came back.

"Ah again.", Dox repeated. "So once everyone is safe you guys teleport out of here. I suppose we can only do a few at a time right?"

"Pretty much.", Muse said.

"I don't like leaving you all here.", Dox said.

"Me either! I'm staying!", Zero proclaimed.

Mesay walked up to Dox and Zero. She put her hands on their shoulders. "I'm sorry friends. But we need to get you out of here. We can fend for ourselves. We have a few others backing us up too, if it makes you feel any better.", Mesay offered. "They will need your help too. Somebody has to keep everyone calm Dox."

"I suppose so. Besides these wings are more dead weight than an asset in a fight now. I can't even lift them.", Dox responded.

"Thank you Dox.", Mesay said with a smile.

Dox began to walk off. "Come on Zero. We need to go help the others."

"What can I even do now?", Zero followed.

"What if we got you to ride Tex in front. Leading the group.", Dox said.

"Oooooo! That would be cool!", Zero responded.

***

About twenty minutes later the six butterflies stood outside the closed gate. Not a hundred feet in front of them was the massive army. Tons of dolls flanked by the massive golems. With an airstrike of drones above. The six put on their brave pokerfaces. Not willing to let Help3r get to them. Though inside they were just as scared as they were brave.
Beyond the gate stood the others. Hoop had his telescope still out watching them closely. He was to give orders to the others as soon as things got sketchy.
Paul, Xuch, Chewie, Chula, Muse and Mesay stood facing the immense army. All waiting. All gearing up for the first launch. None of them had any official training but they had a plan. A plan with armor, weapons and powers. This wasn't going to be pretty. It was going to be a mess. But it was also going to be worth it.

They had to make it worth it.

Butterfly Apocalypse: The Inglorious Butterflies

(Writer's Note: Inglorious Butterflies actually takes place between Papilio's Dream and Blue Code. For continuity sake.)

"Ten Hut!", Loris commanded.

Deep in the bowels of Home, Loris was preparing his troops for battle. He had eight, six foot tall, soldiers standing in front of him.  The Bunker they were in was quite large with a low ceiling. Multiple halogen bulbs giving off a harsh blue/white light lined the ceiling. The walls were a gunmetal grey and gave off the effect of some sort of infinity room. One wall was lined with various weapons. Everything from basic pistols to long range sniper rifles to a bazooka or two. Four large tubes with people sized openings were at the opposite end. It looked like some sort of silly sci-fyi set design but in reality they were fully functioning teleporters. Or at least they were in theory. Loris had never tried them out.
Loris had been working on these for months. He had found that he could create creatures out of just about anything and animate them. So he had spent most of his time in Home experimenting. These eight were his crowing achievement. He has spent months working on them. And when he heard about the Help3r army, the first thing he decided to do was to test them out. He had used any number of things from the room. Including the armory and weaponry that was available. This was however the most important part of the process. Imprinting the creations with their purpose. He found that when he did this with more emotion and fever that they came out stronger. So he had a whole speech lined up. This was going to be a war after all.

"I am Lutenent Loris, and I'm putting together a special team and I need me eight soldiers. Eight butterfly, Pro-Roivas soldiers. Now you all might have heard what Zander said about the attack on Home happening soon.
Weeeeeell, we'll be getting a head start on that fight. We're going to charge Help3r's fortress. And once we are in that cave, as a bushwacking man made army, we're going to be doing one thing and one thing only. Killin dolls.
Now I don't know about you all. But I sure as hell didn't come to Home all the way from California to fight my way through a cave and teach a mute, hypochondriac a lesson in humanity. Help3r ain't got no humanity. He's a butterfly hating guy who has built an army of robotic doll things. And that's why every doll we see, is gonna die.
Sound good!"

The eight soldiers raised their hands in salute.

"What in the hell are you doing in my room Loris?", Envoy demanded. He walked the length of the room with a scowl on his face.

"Envoy!", Loris said excited. "Aren't they great! This is what happens with months of work and practice. Aren't they are just the coolest?"

"Their dolls. You're playing with dolls again.", Envoy chided.

"These are not dolls! Their soldiers. Just look at them!", Loris insisted.

Envoy took a good look at the mashed together soldiers. The he noticed exactly what they were made of. "Loris, are you using my things for your dolls? Is....is that ones head a cooking pot?", Envoy pointed to the third one's "head".

Loris looked at the soldier then back to Envoy. "Well I ran out of buckets.", He shrugged.

"This is Home!", Envoy yelled. "All you have to do is think up another one and it's there!" Behind Envoy came a large clunk. When they both looked, a large metal bucket was laying in the ground sideways. "See!"

"Come on Envoy this is going to be great! Look at them. They are soldiers now. They can protect us all.", Loris insisted.

"How could you even know that?", Envoy questioned. He grabbed the bucket and walked right up to one. "I bet these hunks of junk wouldn't even be able to stand up to me. And I'm almost half their size!", He took the bucket and hit the soldier in the leg. The soldier kicked Enovy back with such sudden force that he flew across the room and landed in a tower of metal buckets. Loris ran to him. Envoy started crying out in pain.

"Oh god Envoy are you okay? I'm sorry! They still need a few tweaks and...where did all these buckets come from?"

"AHHHHHHH! MY LEGS!", Envoy hollared.

Loris moved the buckets to the side revealing Envoy in agonizing pain. One leg was turned a direction it shouldn't have. The other seemed okay. Until you saw the exposed bone sticking out of the knee socket.

"Holy crap!", Loris yelled.

"Damn it you mother fucker! Shit this hurts!", Envoy cursed and sputtered. Loris was looking on in disbelief and horror at the scene. Trying desperately not to call out in the hivemind. He'd be in trouble for sure.
As Loris and Envoy found themselves lost in the moment another figure walked into the room. Rio stood by and watched the two butterflies interact. Her robot eyes glowing with a purple hue. Focusing and adjusting. Her sensors and mechanical mind started processing the senario.

<COMMAND>  Identify Butterflies.

Her sensors moved and located the two in her database.

<Butterfly: Juverncia aka Loris.>
<Ability: Create lifeforms from inanimate objects.>

<Butterfly: Inachis aka Envoy>
<Ability: Unknown>

<COMMAND> Study Butterfly Inachis to determine Ability.

Rio walked closer to the scene. Envoy was still crying out. Loris apologizing intensely.

"God why is this taking so bloody long!", Envoy yelled!

Soon afterward his body froze as if he had become paralyzed all at once. The sound of muscles tearing and reforming made Loris cringe. And a very loud crack,  announced Evnoy's bones being forced back into their proper shape. His leg jerked as the bone seemed to move itself back into his body. And with that he let out one more scream. Then his whole body went limp as his endorphins flew through his veins ceasing any pain getting to the receptors in his brain. Loris watched as the hole in his knee quietly formed the muscles around the bone then the skin covering the wound and repairing itself within moments. The entire process took five minutes. When it was finally done Envoy took a huge breath and exhaled a loud frustrated moan. Loris had covered his hands to his mouth. He did not imagine seeing this today.

<INPUT> Inachis ability: Regeneration.
Rio's eyes glowed a bright purple at the discovery.

Loris tried to help Envoy up. Envoy flailed his arms at him in protest as he helped himself up awkwardly out of the giant bucket pile. Loris stood back, then quickly turned as he caught Rio out of the corner of his eye. He jumped and got closer to Envoy again.

"What is that doing here?", Loris questioned.

Envoy looked up and saw Rio. "What in the fuck! Now the fuck up robot is here. This is MY room people! Not your's Loris. Not robot the creep's. Mine!"

Rio just looked at the two and tilted her head. Both Envoy and Loris just stood their looking back not sure what to do with it. Envoy didn't trust Rio at all. And this had been the first time Loris had even seen her.

"Loris.", Envoy whispered. "Make yourself useful and get your dolls to capture that.....doll."

"Do you think it's dangerous?", Loris whispered back.

"It's a Help3r doll isn't it? Just do it for christ's sake.", Envoy insisted.

"Uh....", Loris hesitated.

"Get that thing!", Envoy shouted.

"Uh...yeah....capture the prisoner!", Loris ordered.

The soldiers all moved in unison quickly turning to Rio and surrounding the small framed doll.

***

Rio was now tied up to a chair. The eight soldiers standing guard around the captured Rio. Each facing outward, making sure no one tried to free her. Loris and Envoy had been arguing for the better part of an hour as to what to do with the bot. They got so invested in the argument that they had forgotten to keep their Hivemind to themselves. As such, all of Home was hearing the tedious yelling in their heads. Chewie and Ion were the first to arrive at the scene.

"What in the love of Thor is going on here?", Chewie yelled as him and Ion walked over to them.

Envoy and Loris quickly abandoned their argument and saw they had been found out. 

"Chewie! Come over here and tell Loris he's being a twat!", Envoy called.

Ion looked at the giant soldiers. "Well that's something I haven't seen yet.", he commented.

Chewie looked past and saw Rio. "Rio what are you doing?" Chewie began to walk past the soldiers but was stopped by two giant weapons now blocking his way.

"I have been captured. I am a prisoner.", Rio responded.

"What?", Chewie asked.

"Chewie it's a doll. A Help3r doll. We needed to capture it.", Loris defended.

"She's not a doll anymore Loris. She's a butterfly now.", Chewie explained.

"Hardly.", Envoy scoffed. "She's just been running around here like Anna's new pet. We can't trust that she won't go all crazy at any moment. For all we know Help3r is watching us now through her eyes."

Chewie gave a deep sigh. He has been putting this off for too long. 

"Hey Ion? You up for a little robot surgery?", Chewie asked.

"Uh yeah. I suppose. That is if these giant things don't try to slice and dice me first.", Ion responded.

"Loris, you made these things right?", Chewie asked.

"Yeah.", Loris already knew what he was going to ask him to do.

"Call them off so we can get to Rio. We can make sure she dosen't have a connection to Help3r and is an official butterfly.", Chewie promised.

Loris hesitated at first. Part of him fought against it. This was a Help3r doll. The things that were out to kill everyone at the first chance. But this one hadn't tried that. And honestly, it seemed more curious then blood thirsty. Besides, Chewie wouldn't ask him that if it wasn't for a good reason.

"Alright. But they should keep watch just in case.", Loris insisted.

"Of course.", Chewie smiled. 

"Soldiers! At Ease!", Loris commanded.

All eight soldiers relaxed their defensive postures and put their arms behind their backs in a simultaneous motion. Chewie and Ion walked past them and approached Rio. 

"Rio? Remember how we talked about removing your remote to Help3r?", Chewie asked.

"Yes, I remember." , Rio responded.

"We need to do that now. Otherwise the others may keep feeling nervous.", Chewie explained.

"Why?", Rio asked.

"Well Rio. Others like you have tried to hurt us before."

"Like my family?", Rio interrupted.

"Yes, like your family."

"Will I receive a new goal?", Rio asked.

"I suppose that will be up to you. After we make sure you aren't controlled by Help3r then you can make your own goals."

"My own goals." 

Rio had stopped her questioning. She just sat there for a while not able to show her thoughts. Chewie looked at Ion for a second. This was an odd conversation to have. Trying to explain free will to a being that was meant to have none. 

"I wan't to set my own goals. Initiate removal of remote." Rio moved her arms to her sides, easily tearing the ropes that had held her down. Clearly she had no trouble getting out of the situation. Chewie and Ion moved back, unsure as to what Rio was about to do. She moved one hand to her neck and opened a small hatch. She slowly reached inside with two of her long robotic fingers and seemed to clasp down on something. Her arm jerked a few times trying to pull something out. 

"I will set my own goal.", Rio reiterated. 

She then pulled out a small chip. Immediately she froze as everything seemed to shut off. As if someone had pulled her power cord. Her eyes were black. She was motionless and seemed dead. 

Chewie walked up to her and took the chip out of her hand. It glowed and seemed to work independent of the robot's mainframe. He put it in his hands and focused his ability. Short circuiting the chip and rendering it useless. Chewie dropped it on the ground. And for good measure, Ion crunched it into pieces with his shoe. Chewie looked at Rio close up. He wasn't really sure what had just happened. Just as he was about to try his ability on Rio when her eyes lit up again. The purple seemed more radiant and bright.

"Rio? Are you okay?", Chewie asked.

Rio began to move her joints again. Every extremity was moving in succession. As if she was going through an all systems check. A moment later the robot looked up at Chewie.

"Yes Chewie. I seem to be functioning at maximum capacity. I have achieved my first goal.", Rio reported.

Everyone stood around shocked. Even Envoy and Loris were now looking around Ion at the event.

"What goal was that?", Chewie asked.

"To attain free will. I no longer hear the words of my family.", Rio answered plainly. "I wish to set another goal."

"What now?", Envoy asked bluntly.

Rio glanced over at Envoy. "I wan't to help my new family."

Butterfly Apocalypse: The Infection

A knock came from Izzie's door. She looked up from her writing and smiled. Closing the journal she got up and walked over to the door. When she opened it Zander was standing on the other side, smiling back.

"Saw me coming?", Zander asked.

"Yeah.", Izzie confessed.

They both stood there for a second.

"Oh! Did you want to come in?", Izzie offered.

"Yeah....uh...sure.", Zander walked in. Izzie shut the door. Then walked past him and grabbed her notebook to put away on a nearby shelf.

"Did I interrupt you?", Zander asked.

"Oh no. I was just putting some of my thoughts down on paper. It's funny how much you can get done with no internet to distract you.", Izzie joked.

"Yeah, that still gets me. This whole place is, just weird.", Zander countered.

Izzie shrugged. "Ehh, you get used to it."

The two found themselves standing in silence for another long moment. Even the Hivemind wasn't revealing any thoughts. Ever since Zander came to Home he had been swept up in the new environment. First he had to detail what he saw to the others. It didn't seem like Help3r was just replenishing his dolls. He was building an army. Probably to attack Home full force. All the adjusting and planning had kept him away from what he wanted to do since he got there.

"So....uh.....I was thinking...", Zander started. "Since I found you now, and we're both here...in front of each other.....right now. That maybe we should go on a date." Zander stopped then quickly added, "If you want."

Izzie's smile got bigger. She had been waiting for this for a few days.

"Of course I do.", Izzie said.

"Really?", Zander asked.

Izzie laughed. "Goddamn it Zander. Yes."

Zander's face brightened up. And the smile revealed the success of doing something he had been previously too shy to do in person. He started flailing his arms in the air just like he had done so many times in skype chats with Izzie. She couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Suddenly a loud knocking came from Izzie's door. Then Hoop burst in. He stopped himself from talking at the sight of the two. Hoping he didn't interrupt anything. The feeling of excitement was thrown into worry as they wondered what was worth the effort.

"Yes Hoop?", Izzie asked.

"Izzie......you....didn't you hear the......", Hoop was lost in thought. "...uh....brain, thingie?"

"Hivemind?", Izzie offered.

"Yes!.....We've been trying to...oh boy....get to you.", Hoop was finally getting some air into his lungs. It took him much longer to get to Izzie's door than he planned. For a moment, it seemed like he had run for quite some time before getting there. He would of thought it strange if it wasn't for everything being so strange in Home.

"Mesay is doing creepy stuff. And Dox can't get away.", Hoop finished.

"The hell?", Zander said.

"Come on.", Hoop insisted.

***

The three took off to the Hall. When they got there the room was different. It felt like it was changing or moving. Even though there was no visible indication to suggest that was happening. On the far side of the room were two figures. Dox backing up to the adjoining wall. And Mesay cornering him there.

"Dox and I we're talking and then Mesay came in all spookie like.", Hoop explained. "She's walked in with her eyes closed and started going after Dox. Every time he tries to get away see uses her power to corner him."

"What is she doing?", Izzie questioned.

"I have no idea.", Hoop started. "But she did one other weird thing. She called me Aricoris."

Zander leaned over to Izzie. "Is this one of those power things?", Zander asked.

"No. This is something else.", Izzie replied.

She walked toward Mesay and Dox. As she got closer. She could see Dox trying to talk to Mesay. He looked equal parts terrified and curious. The feeling that filled the room got stronger as she advanced. It was both eerie and comforting. Izzie was feeling more and more like that wasn't Mesay at all. When she got close enough Dox looked at Izzie. It was then that Mesay turned. Izzie could just see her close her eyes as she faced her. Her hair looked tossed and she stood in her pajamas and bare feet.

"Hello Glaucopsyche."

Mesay spoke, but it wasn't her voice. It was altered. As if her voice and many others had been layered and distorted just enough to make it not her own. Her eyes were shut, but Izzie could feel her piercing gaze anyway. They both stood there regarding each other for a moment.

"Roivas.", Izzie answered.

Roivas smiled. "You can see me."

"You're not making yourself all that inconspicuous Roivas.", Izzie offered. "What did you do to Mesay?"

"Papilio is here. With us.", Roivas answered.

"Inside you mean?", Izzie questioned.

"Yes. We are helping her remember.", Roivas countered.

"Remember what?", Izzie asked.

"Her promise.", Roivas responded.

Dox used the distracted opportunity to get away. He made his way past the possessed Mesay and quickly walked toward the exit. His wings were dragging behind him, acting as dead weight and forcing him to escape slower than he would of liked.

"Mourn for Loxura, Glaucopsyche.", Roivas began. "For a member of the family has died."

This brought Hoop closer. "What? Who died?"

"I can no longer see Loxura.", Roivas continued. "Papilio must remember soon."

A sudden yell filled the Hall. Zander was closest to it and ran toward the doorway to the room. He couldn't see the hallway anymore. Dox had tried to escape the room, and fell into a black void. His survival instincts must of kicked in. Because Dox was now hanging from his fingertips trying desperately not to fall. Zander grabbed his writs and proped his feet against the door frame.

"A little help!", Zander yelled at Hoop and Izzie. His feet slipped a bit as he tried not to fall with him into the darkness. "Dox, Hold on."

"I don't know what you just said Zander. Just don't let me fall.", Dox pleaded.

"I won't Dox.", Zander assured.

Hoop arrived and grabbed onto Dox's hands. "Now Izzie!", he yelled.

Zander turned his head a bit to see what was going on. He was only able to look out of the corner of his eyes but refused to believe what he had seen. Hoop's body was stretched from where they had been standing. Like an elastic band. At the other end where his feet should of been was a sort of boxed spool that his body fed into. Much like a garden hose. On the side of the box was a large turn crank. The whole thing looked like a huge cartoon gag. And that's exactly what it was. Hoop didn't mind showing off his power but occationaly seeing a human cartoon in action looked a little creepy. Useful but creepy. This was one of the useful times.
Izzie tried her best to turn the crank but it was near impossible. The weight of Dox and two others made it difficult to pull them out of harms way. The stress from holding onto Dox's hands was starting to make Zander's slip.

"You gotta go faster Izzie. He's slipping.", Hoop insisted.

Just then Hoop felt a hand rest on his. A platform grew beneath Dox and gave him a steady bit of ground to stand on.

"Lift him now.", Roivas instructed.

The three lifted him up and finally got Dox to safety. Roivas, still with their eyes closed, turned to Hoop.

"Aricoris, get what is left of Luxora out of Home before it destroys him." Roivas began to walk off to another  part of the Hall. They reached a wall and put their hand on the surface. Suddenly a door appeared.

"Where are you going?", Izzie yelled.

"To save what is left of Antopia.", Roivas responded.

***

It was a georgeous day. The sun was shining and there were only a few white clouds that spotted the sky. The cool breeze wafted the sweet smell of thousands of flowers that littered the grassy field. In the middle of this field was a single but large oak tree. And underneath was Zero, quickly walking around a large wood table with a collection of jars on it. In each jar was one butterfly. No two were the same. This field wasn't just fragrant. It was filled with every kind of butterfly known to man. And Zero had spent the last few months capturing as many as she could. This place wasn't any oasis outside in the Wyoming desert. It was actually a room inside of Home. Zero wasn't just able to summon up a shield to protect herself with. She had a direct connection to Roivas, their progeny. The one who gave them all their names. The one who dubbed them 'butterflies'. And Roivas had lead her to this strange room that appeared to have the same properties of being outside. Neither Roivas nor Zero gave this place a name. But Zero had kept it as her own little secret from the others.
Roivas and Zero talked about many things here. After reminding Zero of her parents death at the hand of Help3r, Zero had gone on a vendetta. Only to be saved by a few members of the family. Surviving that event  she was instructed by Roivas to meet them there. A number of days had gone by since she was asked to do that. And she spent each day in the room, waiting for Roivas. So it was no wonder when Zero finally yelled out,

"So bored!", out loud. Secretly trying to will something to happen. "Where are you Roivas?"

It was then that she noticed the sky was clouding over. Making the entire field grow dark. The butterflies in the jars began to flutter about recklessly. Zero pounced to the table, studying their panicked behavior. A slight shaking of the ground made one jar fall and break on the ground. The butterfly in it was dead. The shaking continued and in an effort to save them, she opened each jar and released the butterflies as quickly as possible. The leaves from the tree began falling around her. Distracting her from the task. She succeeded to release the rest and they cascaded out and away from her leaving a trail in the sky. The shaking ceased and Zero watched them as they all disappeared in the sky. It was then that she noticed the crunching sound beneath her feet. She looked down and found all the leaves that had fallen from the tree were now dead.
She noticed the flowers that were once abundant around her, had died and the earth itself looked dry and aged.
A horrible feeling came over her. She felt scared. On the edge of running. She stopped moving, instincts kicking in trying to figure out what was happening. A crunching sound, pressed into her ears from behind. Uncontrollable goosebumps rose through her body making her hairs stand on end at the realization that something was now behind her. It was watching her. And when Zero finally turned around she saw the thing was only a few feet away. The faceless Slender Man was descending from the now dead tree. Approaching Zero while knocking over the wooden table. Crashing the jars on the ground. Zero let out a blood curdling scream.


"Antiopa!", Roivas yelled. 


Eyes open, Roivas ran toward her as Izzie and Zander watched in horror. Their nightmares come to life. Roivas raised their hands and swiped them in a broad stroke to one side. Their spirit hands invisibly flinging the creature away from Zero. Roivas ran to Zero and closed their eyes before approaching her.


"Are you alright Antiopa?", Roivas asked.


Zero gave them a weird look before realizing who she was talking to. "Roivas?", she asked.

"You have to leave. It was wrong for me to send you here. Go to the fami..." Roivas was suddenly pulled from Zero. Crashing their head on the ground, forced their eyes open. Zero and Roivas' eyes met, pushing Zero back a number of feet from the event and landing her on her back on the ground. A long fingered hand attached to a contorted unnaturally long arm had grabbed onto Roivas' ankle and was pulling them close. Various tentacles emerged from its back and pushed it upright giving it the advantage of height it relied on.
Roivas dug their hands into the earth trying to stall the inevitable. Zero getting up from the fall was suddenly surrounded by eight large divots, created by the spirit hands mimicking Roivas' movements. None of it did anything to slow Slender Man's pull.

"Remember Papilio.", Roivas grunted to themselves. They coughed and began to spit up a decent amount of brown liquid. Roivas took their hand and spat into it. Slender Man let go of their ankle having dragged Roivas right to it. Roivas quickly turned around and chucked the liquid from their hands at Slender Man's no face.

The noise that followed was indescribable. Too low for a piercing screech. To high for a growl. All anyone would be able to remember was the paralyzing terror. And the feeling of their hearts, collectively stopping for a brief moment. Roivas closed their eyes.

"You just have to remember Papilio."

And then it was gone.

***

"Wake up Roivas.", Chewie insisted.

She sat up. All she could see was black.

"Chewie?", Mesay asked. She reached for her eyes and felt a soft piece of cloth that was over her eyes and tied in the back.

"Mesay? Are you back?", Chewie asked.

"What happened to my eyes?", Mesay countered.

"Your eyes are doing something to the others. I'm sorry but we can't risk you looking at anyone right now.", Chewie explained plainly. He wasn't exactly sure what Mesay was doing but it was clearly out of her control and possibly hurting the others.

Mesay bowed her head. She understood and felt ashamed for it. But she trusted Chewie. He never did anything without a purpose. 

"Alright.", she said reluctantly.

The ground then started to shake beneath them. Chewie quickly lifted Mesay. 

"What's happening?", she asked.

"I don't know, but we need to get out of here. Now." Chewie took her by the arm and held her close. "We have to go as fast as we can. I'll lead the way, okay?", he instructed.

"Yes.", she answered.

In the distance was an open door. The same one Roivas had made to get to this place. Beyond it was Izzie and Zander yelling at them to move quickly. Zero was with Chouji behind them. Zero was yelling about not being able to understand anyone. Occasionally freaking out at the wild blue color of everyone's eyes.

The ground around Mesay and Chewie was tearing apart and splitting. Chewie glanced at the emptiness creeping beside them. There was no cavern though. No bottomless pit. It was just empty. And any debris that fell into it disappeared. As if falling through a veil.

"We have to move quicker!", Chewie yelled. He pulled her along faster. Mesay tripped at the sudden speed increase and fell. "Come on Mesay!"

"Go on Chewie! I can't do this blind. Just go and I'll be right behind you.", Mesay ripped the makeshift blindfold off. Chewie immediately turned away. He didn't have to like this, he just had to trust her.

"Hurry up!", Chewie yelled as he ran off. 

Mesay quickly sped up behind him keeping pace."Right here!"

The ground trembled forcing the two to catch themselves from falling mid sprint. Izzie and Zander looked behind them. The ground was falling away. The sky melted into a black void. This made them scream at Mesay and Chewie to keep running. Grabbing the attention of Zero and Chouji who were now looking through the doorway as well. 

Another giant quake split the ground before Chewie. Forcing him to leap over the questionable abyss. Even though Mesay wasn't far behind she had to stop. The tear in the ground had grown a number of feet in a matter of seconds. It was too wide, she couldn't jump it. She ran along side it desperately trying to find another way around.

Chewie finally reached the door. The others parted, making way for him to barrel through just before the ground beyond the door dissipated. They all watched as Mesay's attempt to get by was halted from the disappearing world in the room. Everything fading around her. Creating an shrinking island among the darkness. She looked to the door that now hung in the void. Watching her friends, watch her. Zander, Izzie, Chouji, Chewie and Zero all holding their breath. Waiting for the inevitable.

Then another figure appeared on the patch. Mesay turned at this presence and ran toward them. Vanishing just before the last bit of earth dematerialized. A vacuum started to suck the air from the room and the five butterflies backed off from the door. It slammed shut on its own. And in the same instant they heard a crash in the kitchen. The door faded back into the wall as they went to investigate the noise.

Wearily they all turned the corner into the kitchen. Chewie leading the way, all of them ready to strike. What they found were two people lying on the floor. 

"Ahhh....crap.", Mesay said.

"Owwwwwww.", Pseudomuse droned.

"Who in the hell is this?", Chewie asked.

"Muse?!", Izzie and Zander said at the same time.

"Who?", Chouji questioned.

"What is going on!", Zero yelled.

Mesay propped herself up and looked over at Muse. Her boyfriend. Muse looked over at Mesay. His eyes widened.

"That was you.", He said surprised.

"Muse. You're here.", Mesay said with teary eyes. She flopped on top of him. Holding him close.

Muse grunted at the gesture. "Mesay....your okay.", he hugged back.

She sat up and looked at him. Muse wasn't pushed back by her gaze. He just stared at her lovingly and said,

"Your eyes. Their so blue."

***

The entrance to Home opened and out toppled Dox and Hoop. They were exhausted from escaping Home. Hoop had never seen the place act so negatively toward anyone or thing. He didn't even know it was capable of doing that. They just laid there on the ground trying to catch their breath. Dox's wings acting more like dead weight than the things that had given him flight.

"These bloody things are going to be the death of me.", He sputtered.

"What the hell is Home's problem?", Hoop asked.

"Chewie said something about not being a butterfly anymore." Dox looked at Hoop. "I'm not a butterfly anymore?", he said worried, almost sad.

Hoop was about to say something when they heard a low rumbling. They both got concerned that it was another attempt by Home to get Dox. But this wasn't coming from where they were standing. Hoop pulled a giant, brightly colored 10 foot tall periscope out of his pocket. He took a look through it and moved his body around to see what was going on outside of the gate. He stopped when we got to the front.

"Oh....oh....uh.....", Hoop sputtered.

"What? What is it?", Dox asked.

"Uh....well....", Hoop continued.

"Spit it out Hoop!", Dox insisted.

Hoop handed the periscope to Dox. Dox looked though it and saw thousands of dolls marching besides fifty or so odd Brick Golems flanked by an airstrike of flying brick drones.

"I'm pretty sure we're screwed.", Hoop finally said.

Butterfly Apocalypse: Blue Code

(Writers note: Blue Code and the next fic Inglorious Butterflies, are suppose to take place while Papilio's Dream is happening. Just a quick note for chronological context.)



Chewie and Chouji were just a mile north of Home. Walking though a patch of trees and rocks that was the closest to a 'forest' the Wyoming desert had to offer.

"Where did they say she was?", Chewie asked.

"I don't have a single clue Chewie.", Chouji answered. He stopped to light a cigarette. "They just said she was hanging out here somewhere."

"I can't imagine where. I've been out here a ton of times and have never seen anyone that's not a drone or doll. Or a place where they could hide, let alone live.", Chewie argued.

"Well can't we just use the hivemind of something?", Chouji offered.

"I don't think she's a butterfly.", Chewie answered. "So we'll have to do this the old fashioned way."

Chewie paused for a second and searched the surroundings. Looking for footprints, disturbed foilage, garbage, anything that might determine that someone was living in the area. Chouji just watched. This was going to take a while. But then he got an idea.

"HEY RENE!", Chouji belted. "GET OUT HERE WE NEED TO TALK TO YOU!"

Chewie turned and looked at Chouji in a bit of shock at the sudden yelling spree. Then he just rolled his eyes.

"Well now that we've told the entire desert where we are. I'm sure we'll find something. Don't know if we'll survive in this terrain but hey, you won't know until you try right?", Chewie sarcastically said. He kept ranting for a few more minutes. Then they both heard the the familiar clicking of a weapon. A shotgun to be exact. The two slowly turned around and each had a scary view of the double barrel that was pointed directly at them. Behind it was Rene.

Rene was fairly new to the butterflies. She had heard the rumors and bits of stories about them on the internet. She figured it was just some kind of crack fanfiction. An odd bit of writing that everyone was pretending to be real. Afterwards though, her days seemed to be getting shorter. Her nights staying dark a little longer. And what started as a simple story she read on the internet, became something much worse. Something that was only really theorized about. A creature that seemed to be at the core of all these events. All the symptoms were there. The coughing fits, the paranoia, the lapses in time.
This couldn't be real.
Until she stumbled upon Home.
One evening she had lost track of time and found herself running home from her school library. Only to be met by the abomination. It's appearance wasn't so terrifying as was its existence. For this thing to be real. To be standing in front of her. That was what made her run. She ended up doubling back and running between two fences that made a narrow walkway between the suburban yards. Eventually she tripped and landed on the ground. When she got up she saw the tall building that was Home. The rising moon was just enough to light the edges of the immense building.
She walked around the outside a few times, unable to find any doors or windows. Eventually she walked off trying to find shelter for the night. But she ended up running away from something worse than the common coyotes of the desert. The thing that has chased her back home was not chasing her here. Suddenly she heard a strange noise.
A song.
As she ran toward the music the monster seemed to stay back. 

Feeling less panicked she slowed down to catch her breath when the ground collapsed and dropped her into a hidden sanctum. The music was very loud here. She got up and dusted herself off to find the source. The moonlight streaming in gave her something to see with. On the opposite side of this place was a little blinking red light. Following it she could see the faint image of a tape player. It was blasting a recording of a piano played tune. She didn't recognize it. When she stopped the tape the entire place lit up. Lights went on, computers started up and she found herself in a mini laboratory. Despite everything, the oddest thing she found was a shelf by itself. With nothing but a large set of headphones, tapes, a ton of AA batteries and an old fashioned walkman.

Now Rene stood there with her headphones on. Blasting some Bob Dylan from the walkman. Pointing a gun at Chewie and Chouji. Both of them held up their hands. She had them at point blank range.

"Woah, woah.", Chewie started. "We're not going to hurt you."

Rene was clearly spooked. It didn't matter that she couldn't hear a thing they were saying. She still had never used a gun before. And it was noticeable. She was shaking a bit and occasionally changing her sight from one to the other.

"Are you Rene?", Chewie asked.

Rene kept her stance. Not responding to the question. Chewie tried to walk toward her. She aimed low and accidently pulled the trigger. Chewie lept back. Chouji quickly dark misted to her side and pulled the shotgun out of her hands. Rene, terrified fell down and looked up at him. Her eyes were almost pleading for help. Chouji unloaded the gun, and put his cigarette out. Then he looked right at Rene and pointed to his ears.

"Take. Off. Your. Headphones. We. Just. Want. To. Talk.", He elaborated. Rene complied and stopped the tape. 


"Are you proxies?", Rene asked.


Chouji looked at her oddly. "Proxies?", he laughed. "Nope, we're something much worse. We're butterflies! BOOGDIE BOOGDIE!" Chouji motioned a faux creepy pose and continued to laugh.

"Quit scaring the girl", Chewie insisted. He turned to Rene and offered a hand up. "My name is Chewie. This is Chouji. We heard you we're out here." Rene cautiously took his hand. Chewie helped her up. Rene had a look of relief on her face. As if she had finally found what she was looking for.

"Butterflies. Finally.", she started. "Quick! We need to get inside. It's not safe right now. It's too hot, and too bright." Rene ran off past a few rocks, she doubled back only to yell, "Bring the gun!" to Chouji. The two butterflies followed Rene to a wall of boulders. She knocked on one a few times and it revealed a doorway into the rock.
"Come on! Quick! It's on a timer.", Rene insisted. Chouji and Chewie ran in and Rene followed. Moments later the doorway closed.

Inside was Rene's adopted home. A single room, larger than average. A rather clean and comfortable spot considering where it was. The once clean walls were filled with various drawings and sketches. Another had a cot with a box for a bedside table. The other walls were filled with various labwork and said materials. A single table resided in the middle of the room. The general workstation for the place. The ceiling was just an inch or so taller than Chewie. Over all this room was very much an elaborate hole in the ground.

"Did you build all of this?", Chewie asked.

"Nope. Found it this way.", Rene answered.

Chouji examined all the sketches on the wall. They were mostly black and white. Filled with various rantings and rough edges.

"So do you have them?", Rene asked.

"Have what?", Chewie questioned.

"The vials? The ones Zander got from Help3r.", Rene pressed.

Chewie looked at her oddly. "How did you know about that?"

"Hivemind.", she simply responded.

Chewie looked at her in surprise. "So, you're a butterfly too then?"

"I'm honestly not sure. But I've been hearing you guys a lot lately. Lots going on. Now give them to me and I'll test them.", Rene said.

Chewie wasn't sure what to make of this. But since Chouji and him had been sent out to find this scientific butterfly that Izzie kept seeing. They figured it was a good idea to keep the vials handy. Seeing as how they may be able to figure out exactly what exactly Help3r was testing. He handed over the vials. Rene quickly scooped them up and got to work.

"I'm not sure how long this will take. You might want to make yourselves comfortable.", Rene said. Seeing as how there was no other place but the cot to sit down on, Chewie opted to just stand.

"Hey Chewie, come here.", Chouji called.

Chewie walked over to the drawing wall Chouji had been studying.
"You see this?", Chouji motioned.
There were drawings of everyone on the wall. Every butterfly had their own drawing. And around this were various other scrawlings. Ones that looked like Help3r. Others that were sketches of the dolls and drones. But one corner of the wall was black with ink. A tall figure. With no face. And tentacle like appendages that spread from its back and out among the other nearby drawings. Both of them looked at each other. A new threat was apparently just outside their doorstep now. A new respect for Rene had come over them. Her behavior had all the earmarks of someone who was being stalked by Slender Man. They didn't know for how long this had been going on. But under the circumstances she seemed pretty together with that kind of stress around her.


"Chewie!", Rene exclaimed. She was suddenly right next to the two men and nearly scared the hell out of them.

"Yeah Rene?", Chewie hesitantly asked.

"Can I have a sample of your blood please?", Rene asked.

"Uh.....no?", Chewie answered.

"I need it to check something.", Rene offered. "Come on Chewie I only need a little bit."

"Testing against the stuff in the vial huh?", Chewie insinuated.

"Yes.", Rene agreed.

Chewie sighed, "Alright." He didn't like it but he understood why. "Just, don't make me regret this."

***

Many hours went by while Rene tested. Chewie and Chouji sat next to each other on the hard floor. Sometimes quiet, sometimes talking. They kept most of their words and thoughts to themselves. They still weren't quite sure about Rene's condition.

"Oh wow.", Rene finally offered.


"What's up?", Chouji asked.


"This is....it's strange.", Rene retorted.


Chewie and Chouji walked over to Rene. She stood aside and offered for them to look at the mini TV screen next to a microscope.


"Okay so this is your blood Chewie." The screen showed deep rich purple corpuscles and platelets. They seemed to be elongated and mildly warped. What was on the slide looked a lot like blood but the color was completely off. Rene replaced the current slide with another under the scope. 


"And this is what was in your vial." The two looked the same.


"Now this is was was in Dox's vial." Rene switched slides again. The screen showed a dark red version of what they had just seen. But it looked much more normal than the Chewie's blood. 


"I'm think it's safe to assume that your blood is in this your labled vial, and so is Dox's in his. But this is where it gets really weird." 


Rene removed the slide of Dox's sample and placed Mesay's sample under the microscope. The TV shined a bright blue. The corpuscles were almost transparent looking and very smooth.

"This is from Mesay's vial.", Rene explained. "All three are different but Dox's vial is the only one with normal looking blood.", Rene continued. "I also took a sample of my own blood. It looks just like Chewie's. Yours would probably be the same Chouji."

"So what does this mean then?", Chouji asked.

"Well it's only a theory but I bet that the butterflies' blood is all the same. Somehow by being butterflies we are all slightly altered. Which would also explain the strange abilities and such. Maybe that's also why..." Rene trailed off. Her mind going into theory upon theory. Chewie and Chouji were trying to get their heads around the whole thing. This wasn't just an ability. This was a real part of them. This was in their blood. And if it changed their blood. Who knows what they any of them really were now. Rene was still going off on tangents when Chewie finally interrupted.

"Rene!", Chewie hollared. "If Dox's blood is normal. Then would that make him not a butterfly anymore?"

Rene thought for a second. "Well I suppose so. He has normal human blood, different from yours or mine. So yeah, I guess he's just a normal person now."

"That might explain why he can't understand us now.", Chewie continued.

"And why I couldn't get into Home.", Rene offered.

"What do you mean?", Chewie asked.

"When I first got here, I couldn't get into Home. I found it but I couldn't get inside. I bet I was a normal human too at the time.", she paused. "Hey! I bet I can come into Home now!"

"And that's why Help3r hasn't attacked Home directly. He can't get in. He's not one of Roivas' butterflies.", Chewie concluded.

"Hey Chewie?", Chouji started. "If Rene couldn't get into Home because she wasn't a butterfly, then what will happen to Dox now that he's in Home but not a butterfly anymore?"

Chewie thought of this for a second. Then recognized Dox's recent problems. Non-butterflies aren't allowed inside of Home. Dox is no longer a butterfly.
"We need to get Dox out of Home.", Chewie said out loud. "Rene we need to get you to come with us. Get us out of here and we'll take you back."
Rene's face lit up. She was ecstatic that she would finally get to go inside of Home. She would finally be able to feel safe and secure again. Surrounded by friends. By family. The three rushed out of the underground room and hurried back. Rene's comforting thoughts would be short lived. Dox was in trouble.

They all were.

Butterfly Apocalypse: Papilio's Dream

It was dark. Very dark.
Anna couldn't tell if her eyes were open or closed. All she could see was black. Normally the dark didn't scare her but this was different. It almost felt like she was in a giant room. Trapped with some potential predator wandering around. Something lurking, waiting, and she couldn't see it. She took a step forward in the darkness. A loud tap echoed into it. She stopped instantly, a little scared. It almost felt like she had given away her position. But she didn't hear anything. Finally she took a deep breath and yelled out.

"Mesay?"

A loud clunk echoed behind her. Anna turned around to find Mesay lying on the ground. Some random light source from above lit up a large circle around her. Anna ran over and knelt beside her. She seemed okay but Anna would of preferred a more scenic background. She focused, trying to change the environment. Anything less creepy would do. A grassy field, a cottage home, even Red's forest would be a welcome change. But this dream was different. As hard as she tried the only thing that seemed to alter was the circle of light. It had grown a few feet further but nothing else. Anna couldn't understand. She never had a problem doing this before. It felt much more difficult this time. Something was different. Something was wrong.

"Anna?", Mesay asked. She sat up and grabbed her head. The look on her face was more of confusion than pain. "What's going on?"

"I'm not quite sure. I figured you'd..."

"Oh God...I'm dreaming aren't I?", Mesay interrupted.

"Yeah", Anna replied.

"Wait. Does that mean I'm dreaming you, or are you doing your manipulation thingie?", Mesay asked.

"The second one.", Anna answered.

"Oh, okay.", Mesay still looked confused. Then she studied Anna with skeptical eyes. "By accident?", Mesay probed.

".....sorta", Anna hesitated.

Anna had no poker face. She was caught. Sunni had confronted her right after the incident with Dox. She insisted that Anna go into Mesay's dreams and find out what was going on. When Chewie and the others had returned from questioning Avi they found Sunni and Anna arguing about it. They all convinced Anna it was at least worth a try. But they had no idea what Mesay had been dreaming. What made her get so upset. Or potentially, what she had done to Dox because of it.
Banana on the other hand had been against it for just that reason. If not only for the safety of Anna but the privacy and respect they had for a fellow butterfly. What really made Banana unsettled was that no matter how hard she had tried, she couldn't see anything about this in the future. Lately she had been interrupted in daily thought with images of Dox getting trapped. Mesay going insane, and others being killed. But she couldn't see what was causing it. Or what exactly was happening. Banana didn't realize it, but she had learned to rely on her ability to foresee events more than she knew. And that left a bad taste in her mouth.
Meanwhile Anna agreed to at least try to enter Mesay's dreams and get some insight. She was successful at least in the entering part. Now if only she could get a grasp of her abilities again. Especially while in this potentially dangerous dream.

"I knew it.", Mesay, now standing, threw up her hands in frustration. "Why? Why would you come here willingly? Did the others not tell you what happened last time?"

"Yes, but...they just wanted to make sure you were okay. And to know what was going on.", Anna defended.

"There is a reason I haven't shared the details with any of you. This place is dangerous.", Mesay insisted.

"We're in a dream Mesay. It's not that bad. If it gets really weird I can help you wake up.", Anna comforted.

"It's not just my dream.", Mesay's eyes turned intense. "I filter back and forth. And I can't control it. Or remember anything. Anna, you need to get out of here now."

"Mesay, just let tell me what is bothering you so bad. We need answers. Dox is having problems. There is something wrong with him. He fell from his staircase and now he can't understand a word we're saying.", Anna explained.

"Dox? Dox is.....", Mesay was interrupted by a low hum now emanating from the dark. She looked around very scared. "It's starting again."
Mesay grabbed Anna's shoulders and looked her dead in the eye. "Anna. Get out. Get out now! I'm not going to remember anything. Not you, not me, not Home. So I won't be able to help you. Get out Anna! We're not in a dream anymor..." Mesay stopped.
Anna watched as the recognizable light in her eyes faded to nothing but a blank stare. The hum got a little louder and after a few long minutes, Mesay loosened her grip on Anna's shoulders. Her hands let go, and fell to her side. Immediately afterward she plopped on the ground, sitting.
Anna felt something in the air change. It felt like a shift. A sudden movement that she was not aware of until it happened. It was like she had been in one place and now was moved to a dramatically different one without her knowledge. A slight chill filled the air. And a very real shiver created very real goosebumps on her skin. Anna instinctively moved her hands up and down her arms to warm them. It was then that it occurred to her. Mesay was right.
They weren't dreaming anymore.
She looked into the ether surrounding them. Desperate to find anything that would help her get some clarity on this place. She turned and saw Mesay disappearing into the darkness. Anna leaped forward to catch her before she left the circle of light completely. But as she did the spotlight seemed to follow. Anna stood still and observed the movement. She took another step forward and the light followed again.

"Well, at least there's that.", Anna said. "Mesay?", Anna ran in front of her and held her still. Looking into her eyes she could tell Mesay was not home. Something else was guiding her. Anna reluctantly let go and stepped aside. Mesay continued walking. Anna followed Mesay. And the light followed Anna. What Mesay was following, was anyone's guess.

***

They walked for what seemed like hours. Occasionally Anna would try to talk to Mesay. But would get no response. Their footsteps echoing through the space. Anna had almost given up on figuring out where they were. The echo made it seem like they were in a huge room. But they hadn't ran into any walls or stairs. The cool breeze reminded her of being outside but it didn't explain the echo. All that remained constant was the errie feeling she got from just being there.

Mesay stopped abruptly, making Anna almost run into her. Mesay turned her head slightly. Then Anna caught it. The faintest whispering coming from the distance. Someone else was in here, somewhere, whispering. Mesay turned toward the sound and continued to walk. 

"Should we really be following that?", Anna asked. 

It didn't matter. They were going that way anyway. It wasn't a few moments later that a faint beat started to sound. It was constant, steady, and as they continued felt like it was coming from all around them. Anna grabbed her chest. She could feel her heart begin to beat in time with it. It made her catch her breath. The whispering got louder and every now and again Anna could of sworn she heard whimpering. In the next instant little balls of blue and green light began to float around them. Passing around the beam of light that highlighted the only visible visitors to this place. The whispering was now very loud and seemed like whoever/whatever was making it, was right in front of them. Mesay stopped and starred strait ahead, not blinking.

"PapiLIO!", the whisper hissed. Then left the two in silence save the rhythmic beating. Anna stood there, terrified into shock. Unable to run.

Mesay shook her head. She stood strait up and looked around. She caught Anna in her peripheral vision and whipped her body around. Mesay had snapped out of it but she looked alarmed and it was obvious that she was studying and analyzing Anna in her head.

"Mesay, It's okay. It's me, Anna."

"Who?"

"Apolo.", the voice called.

Now they both gave their full attention to the darkness. Each of them terrified. 

"What on earth is that?", Mesay asked.

"Do not be afraid. You have found us.", The voice began again.

A realization came over Anna's face. It took a second for her to finally ask, "Roivas? Is that you?"

"Yes", Roivas answered.

"You know that thing?", Mesay asked.

"We both do.", Anna replied.

"I know of lots of creepy things but I have never met this one.", Mesay quipped.

"You weren't kidding Mesay. You forgot everything.", Anna answered.

"I'm sorry Papilio. I'm sorry Apollo. But I'm glad you are here.", Roivas seemed to take a deep labored breath before finishing with, "Lonely".

"What is going on please?", Mesay asked.

"It's a long story." Anna started. "Roivas, what are we doing here?", Anna asked.

"Papillio has been visiting me. She promised to come since I rescued her.", Roivas responded.

"I didn't promise anything. I don't even know who you are?", Mesay defended.

"Eventually she will remember.", Roivas responded.

"What did you rescue her from?", Anna asked.

"The Beast.", Roivas answered. "Came to kidnap Papilio. Came to kill the rest of you."

"Do you mean Help3r?"

"Yes. Before Home."

Anna was taken aback by this. Mesay was rescued by Roivas from Help3r. But she had promised to visit Roivas.....

In The Dark Place.

"Oh No.", Anna announced worried. That's why Mesay wanted her to leave. Somehow in her dreams she went to The Dark Place. As a condition of her promise to Roivas. Now Anna was there. No wonder her ability didn't work.

"Roivas, we need to leave. These visits are making Mesay sick. They made Paradox sick.", Anna explained.

"Luxora is sick?", Roivas asked. "This is not good. I can't see Loxura"

"What are you talking about?", Anna pressed.

"I cannot see his light.", Roivas answered. "Papilio, you must remember and help the others."


"I have no idea what you're talking about!", Mesay yelled frustrated.

"If we loose one, Home will weaken."


"Weaken? Like how weak?", Anna asked.

"Home will die.", Roivas responded.

"Look I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. But all I can think of is how to get out of here. I'm sorry but I can't help you.", and with that Mesay turned around and started to walk off.

The heart beat that had been echoing though the darkness stopped. And so did Mesay. She dropped to the ground and gasped for air.

"You must remember or we will die."


Anna rushed over to Mesay's side.
"Stop it Roivas! Your hurting her!", Anna yelled.
Mesay's eyes began to burn a bright blue. She turned and quickly looked at Anna. Anna was pushed back by some unseen force. Mesay began to breathe again and all the little blue and green lights collected around her. She got up and starred at Anna. Anna just laid there unable to really move much. Mesay, eyes blaring walked next to her and knelt down.

"I'm sorry Apollo. But you need to stay here now. Don't worry. You'll be safe. We need to save the family.", Mesay's voice had changed. It was layered and distorted. She stood up, never breaking eye contact with Anna.
"Don't worry. I promise to visit.", she turned and walked out of the light and into the darkness. The little green and blue lights followed becoming the only beacon of light beyond the one she had resided in.

Anna watched the lights fade one by one. The errie feeling leaving. But a new sickness resided inside of her. It was the unease of seeing what Roivas was really capable of. And the idea that whatever happened to Dox. Was now happening to her.
"Mesay!"
"Roivas!", Anna called out.

".....ANYONE!"

Butterfly Apocalypse: Right place, right time.

Zander woke up coughing. His throat felt dry and coarse. Like he had tried to swallow a bucket of sand. He rolled over and propped himself up to his hands and knees. After a minuet he was able to catch his breath and take a look around. He seemed to be at the mouth of an open cavern. On each side of him were tall jagged walls of rock that letter boxed the bright blue sky above. The entire hall was only four feet wide and seamed to weave back and forth with the stone. When he turned around he gawked at the desert landscape spotted with small patches of brush and lined with the distant mountains. It looked vast and desolate.

"Where the hell am I?", Zander said out loud.

The last thing he remembered was making his butterfly application video. Zander had become quite concerned for his friends. They had all seemed to start following this guy and his problems. Good natured as they we're, one by one they had all started disappearing, leaving Zander alone. At first he tried contacting Caught and Natalie, but had gotten no response. He even considered messaging Help3r but opted first to see what Roivas knew. Since they had all become these "Butterflies" strange things had been happening. And if anyone knew where they were it was probably him, or them rather. But Roivas doesn't talk to non butterflies. So Zander made the video and waited. Waking up in the desert was not what he was expecting.

A hawks cry drew his attention back to the sky. As it passed over the ridge he heard the echo of footsteps from inside the rocky crevasse. Someone was around. Maybe they knew how he got here. Or maybe he was brought here by them. Either way his choices seemed to be limited to follow the noise or bake in the sun. So reluctantly he opted to follow the noise. He stood up and brushed himself off before entering the cavern.
The inside was cool and breezy. He did his best to both avoid the jutting rocks and keep quiet. He had no idea what was going on but there was no need in getting into a potentially bad situation. Like yelling with your arms flailing. That was for later when things got crazy.
Please don't let things get crazy, he pleaded in his head.
Following the long trail, a slight hum started coming from just beyond the next rock. He rounded a corner to a widened part of the hall. Above a few giant fallen boulders had pressed themselves together to create a sort of ceiling. It also made a much smaller hole about, five feet tall, to another part of the cavern. Zander stopped and backed off suddenly when he saw the figure of a small girl. She was looking out and seemed ready to pounce at any given moment. The hum had now turned into a large rumbling filled with the accents of metal on metal. The girl rushed through the hole and disappeared. Zander was about to follow when the hawk swooped down and nearly knocked him over. It tucked its wings in and quickly shot through the hole. Zander gave himself a few more seconds before peaking through the hole. The noise became almost deafening as he saw a huge enclosed cave. Artificial lighting bounced around the ceilings and walls, giving shape and form to this place. A very thin walkway lowered to the cave floor where hundreds of dolls were being constructed. And tons of giant metallic looking bricks we being welded and powered up. Every one that was completed joined a marching formation. The dolls and drones just standing at an opposing exit to the outside, waiting to be sent out. He looked up and saw directly across the cave from him was a suspended room. Attached to the rock wall with a metal staircase going all the way to the floor. Inside was a figure with a black hoodie and gasmask. Help3r was working in his lab as his army assembled below.
On the floor, some movement caught Zander's eye. The little girl was trying to sneak around and moving toward Help3r. She wasn't being terribly discrete and if Zander could see it, he doubted Help3r would miss her. As Zander tried to figure out what was going on he was nearly scared to death by the sound of a little black cat meowing next to him.


"How did you get here?", He thought. "Are you Help3r's evil cat or something?"


"Hardly", the cat responded.

Zander threw himself back a bit at the sound of voice in his head.

"So, you must be a butterfly now Zander." , the cat thought.

Zander stared wide eyed at the cat. Not only was he in this desert filled with some sort of narmy Help3r army, but now he was having a telepathic conversation with a cat.

"It's called Hivemind.", the cat started again. "But we can't talk right now Zander. Zero is getting in some serious trouble."


"Who are you? Am I even doing this right?", Zander asked.

The cat walked past Zander toward the walkway. "It's Xilaya. And yes you are. Now come on." Xilaya, the black cat ran down the walkway to the assembly lines. Zander while in shock followed anyway.

The walkway led them to a series of large containers perfect for hiding. Xilaya sat on the floor looking up at Zander. She turned her head toward the mini factory. Zander stole a look around the container. Large lines of doll parts were being put together by other dolls. Arms attaching, legs moving and heads turning, it was creepy to say the least.

"Those are Help3r's dolls. Along with the brick drones they attack and hunt us on a regular basis.", Xilaya explained. "I followed Zero here. Blue thinks she may be looking for revenge."


"Revenge for what?", Zander asked.

"For the death of her family." Another voice had invaded Zander's mind. A figure walked out of a darkened corner of the cave. It was Applestar, she was dressed in all black and had her hair tied up in a ponytail. She approached Zander and cat Xilaya. "She's heading directly for him. I don't know what she has planned. Or knowing Zero, not planned."


"Where the hell did you come from?", Zander insisted.

"I've been following you since you entered the cave", Applestar explained.

Applestar had even taken Xilaya by surprise. She had been quite the absent butterfly and the only reason Xilaya knew she had arrived at Home was because Hoop had told her. But that wasn't necessarily Applestar trying to be evasive. Her power, like the others was not always under her control. And as such she often walked around Home without being seen or heard. She had attained a stealth beyond most people's senses. So when she overheard Blue telling Xilaya about Zero running off. She decided to go after her. Xilaya had no idea that she was being followed. Which would explain how Applestar knew the little cat was Xilaya.
Zander was now confused beyond all thought.

"Wait, so I'm talking to a cat that used to be Xilaya, and a ninja? Who are tracking Zero who is trying to avenge the death of her family?", Zander proposed. "What the hell happened to everyone?"


"It's a long story Zander. Which we will be happy to explain as soon as we get Zero and get out of here.", Xilaya pushed.

"How do you suggest we do that?", Applestar asked.

Just then a loud scream came from cave. The three looked and saw a giant doll holding up Zero by her hair. She struggled and squirmed as the doll presented her to it's master. Help3r, casually walking down the staircase, eventually arrived at the hostile butterfly.
The doll dropped Zero. Zero immediately got up and removed a knife from her pocket lunging after Help3r. The large doll grabbed her by her arms and stopped her just short of him. Zero was furious. Hot tears streaming down her face from her failed attempt.

"Why did you kill them?!", Zero yelled.

Help3r just stood there looking at Zero. He raised his hand and pointed to the far left. Just beyond the parts for the drones was a hot furnace. Various dolls were tossing faulty parts into it. The giant doll turned and slowly moved toward it. Zero was screaming and squirming the whole way.

"We have to do something!", Xilaya exclaimed.

"Xilaya, can you turn into an animal that's big? I mean really big.", probed Applestar.

"Maybe, I've never tried....this whole thing is kinda new to me still.", Xilaya said unassured.

"We need a distraction. Right now Xilaya.", Applestar pushed. She quickly ran back into the shadows and disappeared.

Xilaya concentrated. She focused her mind on the largest animal that came to mind. The little black cat began to grow. Her fur falling off and revealing tough skin underneath. She kept growing with the little ears getting bigger and bigger. Her nose elongated until she reached her full size. Zander had to run to not get instantly crushed.
Suddenly Xilaya the elephant came bursting around the crate. She moved through the first assembly line of doll parts crushing it, leaving pieces in its wake. Help3r brought his attention to the new development and took out a remote control from his pocket. He pressed a few buttons and three brick drones ascended and moved toward Xilaya. She noticed this and proceeded to run around the cave making a huge mess of things.

Meanwhile Applestar made her way toward Zero and the giant doll. It was pretty easy to sneak around even with Help3r there, thanks to Xilaya. She saw a few loose pipes on the ground and grabbed one up as she ran by. Using it like a bat, she went at the back of the doll's knees. It didn't even flinch. Applestar knew she wasn't going to be able to take this thing down alone. So she went for the next best option. She followed the electrical cords from the furnaces opening hatch to a control panel. The panel was in Help3r's lab. Without hesitating she ran back to the stairway. Help3r was right here, watching the chaos ensue as the drones had finally reached Xilaya.
She was turning and whipping her trunk. Raising up and stomping another set of dolls. The one drone came at her hard and hit her side. She trumpeted in pain and fell to one knee. The other two drones would of hit her if she hadn't had the sense of mind to quickly turn and run. She ran full speed at the finished dolls by the exit and proceeded to stomp and crush them to bits. The drones turned and doubled back to catch up to the giant menace. The first one, being closest made the best time on Xilaya and rushed her. But this time she was ready. Just before it approached her she fell on her side and it just bounced on her body, scraping some skin and hopping over crashing into a good chunk of the army and the neighboring wall.
Applestar was extra careful around Help3r. She moved as quickly and quietly around him as she could. Zero screeched, getting dangerously close to the furnace. Applestar couldn't wait any longer she had to make a run for it. She turned and rushed up the stairs only to be caught by her ankle and pulled back down to the main platform. Applestar hit the floor and winced in pain as she dropped the lead pipe. Help3r dragged her to the rock floor and placed a foot on her chest. He pressed a button on his controller. Four half finished doll torsos with arms crawled over to her. They grabbed her with their half assmebled bodies and held her still. With another few commands Help3r called two of the drones back. And Applestar could of sworn she heard a muffled laugh in his mask.
Xilaya looked up and noticed the other drones going toward a trapped Applestar. Zero now screaming at the top of her lungs was almost at the furnace. Xilaya tried to think but was so hurt from the last blow that she panicked and didn't know what to do. Applestar tried so hard to free herself as she watched Help3r back off. She knew what was coming. Squashed Apple.

The drones neared.

Zero screamed as she felt the heat from the furnace.

Xilaya could hardly move.

And there was Zander.

Walking among the chaotic scene. He had seen the entire thing from the safety of the containers. He was confused and worried and furious that he couldn't do anything to help. He just wished everything would stop.  And it did.
The drones were frozen in mid air. The doll had hesitated to drop Zero. Even Zero stopped screaming. Applestar had a look of sheer terror in her eyes. Xilaya the elephant was in mid transformation into some other animal. Zander didn't understand any of this. But he knew that they were in trouble. And he seemed to be in a position to help.
He walked up to Help3r's lab. He wasn't sure how long this would last so he tried to work quickly. Inside the lab was a large board. On it was a working chart with the butterfly names. It looked like Help3r was trying to find a connection between certain butterflies and Roivas. Something more subtle. Nearby were three corked vials in a holder. Each had a different butterfly name on it. Chewie, Paradox, and Mesay. All three had separate colors. The Chewie one was a dark brown. Paradox's was a deep red. The Mesay one was a bright blue. He grabbed the vials and continued to look. After another minute he found the control for the furnace door. He hit the button and watched the door close.  He turned to leave and found another lever for the exit. Zander when ahead and pulled it. As it opened the light from the afternoon sun streamed inside. That was perfect. They had a way out now and Zero would be safe. Zander left the lab and quickly descended the stairs.
At the bottom he reached Applestar. Feet over her were the drones. A second later and she would of been killed. Zander didn't hesitate. He started to peel her from the doll fingers when she suddenly jerked. Zander backed off as she struggled.

"You were stopped.", Zander started.

"I was what?", She continued.

"Nevermind. Let me help you get out of this.", Zander could figure this out later.

"Zander? What is going on?", Applestar asked.

"I'm trying to help you super whatevers.", Zander replied. "You got a ninja pack or something?"

"I have a satchel on my side here, why?", Applestar asked.

He finished releasing her from the dolls. Then he took the vials and gave them to her. "Put these in there."

Applestar decided not to question it and she placed the three vials into her back. The two then ran off to Zero's aid. Once they got there they noticed that the doll was holding up Zero by her arms. But in the struggle she must of gotten her right arm free. Because the doll was only clenching her shirt on that end. They tried their best to move the giant doll's fingers but it wasn't budging. Zander slipped and touched Zero's arm in the process, releasing Zero from the time stop.

"Get your damn hands off me!", Zero screamed and flailed.

"Zero relax!", Applestar yelled back.

Zander backed off for a second and took a look around. Everything was had been so still. But when he touched a person or thing it moved again. He was slowly wrapping his mind around it. But he was a full fledged butterfly. Complete with the powers to not only stop time but animate specific things aside from it.
"Cool", Zander thought.

"Zander, a little help please?", Applestar asked.

He threw himself back into the moment and tried to think of something. Suddenly things began to feel different. Zander looked around and noticed the doll starting to move. He looked behind them at the dolls Applestar had just been released from as they twitched. Time was returning to normal.

"Zero! Let me have your knife!", Zander said. She stopped moving and opened up her hand so he could take it. He grasped it and went back to her left side where the doll held tight.
"Now old still Zero. I don't want to cut you."
Zander proceeded to cut the fingers off of the giant doll. He hurried as fast as he could while time quickly caught up with them. One by one the fingers fell to the ground slowly releasing Zero. Finally Zander finished the last finger. The one side of her body dropped. The other side the doll was grasping held for another second before ripping her shirt from the weight and eventually plopped Zero on the ground with an, "Owwww!"
Time was moments from starting up again. Zander and Applestar picked up Zero and made a run for Xilaya. They rushed past Help3r and hurdled the reanimating half dolls. When everything returned to normal a loud crash hit the ground. It was the two drones now sitting where Applestar would of been. Help3r looked up and saw the three running for the door. He looked around in confusion for a second before heading up to his lab.
The three rushed past all the chaos and dolls. The machines and fighting. They finally reached where Xilaya had been but was gone from sight. They slowed down to look for her until they heard a hawks cry. It flew down and morphed back into Xilaya's human form just in time to catch them running together. Now Zero, Applestar, Xilaya and Zander were running into a storm of dolls. The only thing between them and the exit. Help3r got into his lab and pulled the door lever. Zander watched the dolls rise up and the door begin to close. That was it. They were trapped.

"Everyone keep running! Don't stop!", Zero yelled. She put her hands up and created a force field a few feet around them all. As they ran the dolls bounced off the invisible shield. It was awkward and tough but they got through. With plenty of time to get under the exit before it closed. As they ran into the desert they saw a giant dust trail approaching them. Zander looked and saw a car with Blue behind the wheel. She stopped a few feet in front of them.

"Get in!", Blue yelled.

Everyone pilled in the car. Blue didn't wait for all the doors to be shut before tearing though the sand and dirt  and away. Zander looked behind them and couldn't see anyone or thing following them. He couldn't even see the exit anymore. Between the dust and the sun he wasn't able to.

"Everyone okay?", Blue asked. Wincing a bit as she tried to drive with a bandaged up hand.

"Yeah. Some awfully good timing on your part Blue.", Zander prodded.

Zero looked at Zander, "It's called Hivemind. Duh!"

"It's called not running off and perusing some personal vendetta Zero.", Blue scolded.

"What the hell does vendetta mean? Besides he killed my family Blue. What the hell was I suppose to do?", Zero retorted.

"How about you not run off.", Blue started.

"Or endanger yourself.", Applestar continued.

"Stop it guys! Your making me feel all shitty.", Zero complained.

"We just don't want to see you hurt Zero", Xilaya offered. "We're a bit mad, yes. But you need to look at where we just were. We almost died in there."

"I didn't want you to follow me Xil!", Zero defended.

"What are we suppose to do? Just let you go and kill yourself?", Applestar said.

"I could of killed Help3r! I could of ended all of this shit!", Zero yelled.

Zero.....please calm down.....I don't want you to die.
Zero heard the voice that seemed to come from nowhere. It was like the Hivemind but felt different. She knew exactly who this was though. As the others yelled around her she thought to herself. "But he killed my family. I couldn't just let him get away with it."


"Zero, come to the room. We will help you understand this better there. Please don't be mad at your family. They love you."


Zero quieted. The others noticed her sudden silence.

"Do you understand what we're trying to tell you Zero?", Xilaya asked.

"Yes.", Zero answered. She kept looking forward. She stayed silent for the rest of the ride to Home.

Zander tried to analyze everything. Strangely enough though, he didn't have as hard of a time understanding the superpowers and Help3r or even the army of dolls and drones. What he wondered most was what was in those three vials that Applestar kept safe in her satchel.

"Applestar, could you give me those tubes I gave you?", Zander asked.

She opened up her satchel and gently retrieved them.

"What is that?", Xilaya asked.

"I don't know. But I think the people listed here should know that Help3r has some kind of experiments he's running on them.", Zander said.

The group stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. As they approached Home, Blue motioned for Zander to look. He gazed at the large structure that seemed to oddly jut out of the landscape. At that moment he knew that he was right.

Things were going to get crazy.