Chapter 50

(A/N: Sorry for the lack of some concrete action in recent months. I have been immensely busy as an essential worker at a hospital in the US. I'm somewhat fine. My grandfather, sadly, passed away the day after St. Patrick's Day and won't be interned at Arlington until things are better.

I must clarify some things. 1) The reason why I'm so scattered in terms of plots and what-have-you is because I have a lot on my mind as time goes on. With stories like this? I have a general idea of where things are going. The ideas become more solidified or change over time. So, I am hopefully going to close this story with Chapters 53 or 54 for everyone's sake and actually get on point with the (altered) RWBY/Star Wars plotline for the sequel. Yet to be determined when it starts, though I am thinking about a spin-off/prequel.

And here's the recap, as I should have done:

In this altered universe of both RWBY and Star Wars, you have Adam Sym, a mysterious co-founder of the Jedi Order, one of the last remaining people of his world that made a deal with the 'Employers' Interdimensional beings that pretty much use his race as sort of mercenaries. After fighting the Force Wars of Tython, battling the Rakatan Empire, he tried to start a family. With whom, I'm not saying yet. But, because of his different beliefs, he left the Order. After his failed attempt, he was sent to Remnant, before it became that, and found an orphaned Ozma after gaining a reputation. He took him in as an apprentice and later adopted him as his son. Then, after Ozma became a full Knight, Adam Sym left Remnant for parts unknown (other dimensions) and waged thousands' of years worth of war, sabotage, espionage, undercover business, and what-have-you. During his time, he made a pact with his son before the Gods of Remnant to aid him in a quest given to said son by the Gods. He accepted, abandoning his objective viewpoint to help his adopted son, he came back to Remnant (after a disturbing incident) discover that his son somehow became an Emperor, had a family... but the peoples he had known were gone and the moon was shattered.

Happy with his newfound life as a family man, he soon discovered that old enemies somehow came back to haunt him. So, while hiding the evidence and his past from his family, he tried to be the best grandfather/father, anyone could ask for. Unfortunately, trouble came a-calling, and he was taken to the future. He came back to discover events repeating itself.

Afterwards, his long-lost family started to arrive and then had a habit of showing up to Remnant, finding out from Ozma (throughout his various reincarnations) about their father/ancestor's 'passing' and the terrible events that occurred, and going after Salem. And had a habit of disappearing, never to be seen again. But, strangely: they leave behind children of their own, down through the ages. From after the Tythonian Civil War to the Clone Wars, where the newest addition to the family (Artyr, son of the long-lost Jedi Knight, and former padawan of Yoda, Aogust) fights as both a commander and a padawan. Initially, he is belligerent, oblivious to the majority's perception of clones, and of course: unkillable, though this leaves scars on his psyche. When a mission goes awry, he finds himself on Remnant, following his unknown heritage to be under the tutelage of his ancestral uncle Ozma, though he doesn't know it, and his long-lost mother Glynda Goodwitch following his 'heroic' (a convenience store blew up) actions in halting a robbery. After passing the entrance exam, he is made the leader of Team ARTY consisting of himself, Rebecca Winden the team machine gunner (the granddaughter of a former Sith Lady, Darth Vita) Tyler Doyle the team marksman (in truth Adam Sym in disguise), and Yi Shen, a fox faunus. He learns his heritage from both his mother, his ancestral Uncle along with Qrow Branwen, whom knew his father along with the remaining members of Team STRQ. However, Salem knows that a new Sym has arrived and trains her apprentice/protégé Cinder Falls to kill the Jedi . Unbeknownst to her (possibly) Artyr has other plans as he trains his team and his friends to be members of a new order.
Aogust Sym re-appears from a very long hiatus with Artyr's girlfriend being delivered to Taiyang's place after she injects herself with Artyr's DNA as a way to remind herself. Meanwhile, Artyr's master, Almira leaves the Order and is then tasked by Master Yoda to find Artyr and Lira's location and to stay the there as he feels the coming storm, which ends up having her go into battle with Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker and his padawan Ahsoka Tano, as they fight on the long-lost Jedi home world of Tython.

Meanwhile, Artyr's long-lost brothers arrive on Remnant with Topher, the middle brother, causing a rampage in Mantle. Kobacca, the youngest, is taken in by Team SSSN and learns how to act like a human on Remnant, despite his Wookiee upbringing. *cue Wookiee growl* and of course: Salem knows that something is up, but doesn't know that a member of her protégé' (Cinder Fall) has an infiltrator, Adam Sym, posing as a double or even triple agent! However, it seems that Adam Sym is planning something as strangers come to Remnant with the Schnee Corporation somehow getting their hands on Separatist battle droids along with the mysterious Mandalorian Byron Oros, whom goes to Mandalore to settle a matter on his former home world before attending a meeting. Now, Adam Sym's cover is discovered after a meeting with the group of friends he has infiltrated with Blake Belladonna, Yi Shen, and Rebecca Winden discovering it, thanks to their Faunus abilities. (It's the ears). Artyr Sym now returns home with his uncle Ozma and his brother Topher after resolving a very tense standoff. With the ever-growing tensions and complex revelations: two dimensions will never be the same.

XXXXX

Adam Sym, also known as Tyler Doyle/Elim Rawne, knew something was off the moment he felt the glares from the faunus in the group of friends he'd been with. He admitted it, he fucked up. Fucked up bad. Probably should've stayed as a young fella' in the restroom. Now, it was too late. His cover was blown... one of them. He was sure, pretty soon with all the tales he'd been telling to Emerald, Merc, and the others in the gang of thieves and murderers... he'd be burned by Cinder as soon as she came back from training with Salem. Aogust's orb would watch her, leaving Salem to observe through more mundane means. He knew Leo Lionheart was on her payroll, that was a given. There were more than likely others. He wondered if Tyrian would be sent after him. That would be fun. He grinned at the thought. 'Least I'd give that scorpion a fighting chance' He thought to himself as the bus went off towards the skydocks. He heard various scrolls beeping and buzzing, alerting their owners. He took out his own scroll and put in an ear bud, beginning to play music. He knew the jig was up. So, why not play the part of a renegade? He grinned as he found the song he was looking for, then pressed the button.

[Insert: 'Renegade' by Styx]

He felt and saw the brief glares as everyone started to know part of the truth. He was clearly not going to make it by lying. So, that left a few other options. Time for Plan B. He waited for the bus to stop as everyone else made their silent preparations. Hands slowly went to weapons, glares were made, the entire bus was silent. No one spoke, except for the bus driver. "You kids are really quiet back there," The old man commented, looking through the rearview mirror at his passengers.

The bus stopped as soon as it reached the sky dock, its doors opening. No one got out immediately. Everyone kept glaring, save one, at the same person. The Infiltrator smiled as he nodded to the beat of the music, tapping his left foot to it. He stood up, releasing his own personal cargo. Metal balls dropped to the floor, rolling around the bus. As soon as he dropped them, he closed his eyes and used the Force for once, timing it right as the flash-bangs occurred. As soon as he heard and felt it, he ran. He sped right through the front windshield, shattering the glass, and landed in front of the bus. He stopped right as soon as he was on the ground and turned around to see something fly at him: a foot connected to a hellishly mad Qrow Branwen... with his scythe.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Qrow roared, slashing at him. Tyler rolled, his head missing the blade. "I knew it! You're the one that got my nose busted!" Qrow pointed as Tyler arose. "Technically- I was-" He dodged another of Qrow's slashes. "Technically, I should disembowel you for being in the same vicinity as my niece!" Qrow finished for him. "You drunk again?!" Tyler asked as he kept dodging each slash. Qrow glared at him. "I'm always drunk!" He roared back. "But today: you made me pissed!" He slashed at him again to prove his point, forcing Tyler to roll and dodge a kick by jumping back.

"You didn't think I would suspect something?" Qrow asked. "You think I wouldn't know about those late-night visits to that warehouse?" He said. Adam's eyes almost widened at this. 'Holy shit! Now, I know I fucked up.' He thought to himself. Adam grinned as he stood up, wiping his nose. He rose as he chuckled. "Have to hand it to ya', Qrow: you really are smarter than you look." Adam commented, nodding. "How about we try fighting for real this time? No branches." He asked.

"Oh? And what are you going to fight me with? You haven't got anything on you last I checked." Qrow asked, readying for a strike. By now, the kids were coming out of their daze and watched the battle, all coming out of the bus with their weapons. "YOU FUCKING TRAITOR!" Yang roared, charging out of the bus with her gauntlets. Her yellow hair now glowing like fire. "WE TRUSTED YOU!" He didn't dodge the punch, feeling that he deserved it. He felt the shot-gun rounds pound into his skin with each punch while they both traveled into the woods as she grabbed him with her legs, furiously pounding the shit out of a trusted classmate and traitor. Eventually they crashed into a tree, the bark breaking upon impact. With two last punches, she emptied her magazines in both arms. She huffed as he lay against the broken tree. He looked up, his nose now broken and bloody. He chuckled, nodding with his earbuds out of his ears. "Not bad." He told her, rising as he wiped the blood from his nose. "Haven't had someone punch me like that in a long time." He told her, being reminded of something a long time ago. The way she stood and looked at him... he felt his mind be taken back to many years before... so long ago in an alternate world.
XXX

"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, ADAM?! WE TRUSTED YOU AND YOU DITCHED US!" Yang roared at him in the freezing cold. He looked at her in his alternate form with his bluish-green eyes. The relic was safely clipped to his belt. He gritted his teeth. Ozpin looked at him, the possessed boy holding his alternate lying son's spirit within. Ruby gave him a hurt look as Blake and Weiss shook their heads. Qrow glared at him with an old woman looking between them all.

"Adam, you've had us worried and sick since that shit you pulled back at Haven! You killed half the damn White Fang back there. One of the guys you faced exploded into bits so small they'll be fit only for a soup can! And Cinder-" he shook his head. "Oum, Adam. I didn't know you had it in for her that bad." Qrow said.

"You left us to get the relic. WHY?!" Yang asked. "YOU BEAT MY MOTHER BLACK AND BLUE! WHY?! SHE WON'T WALK AGAIN NOW BECAUSE OF YOU!" Adam scoffed in response. "She abandoned her daughter. I hold no sympathy for her." He half-lied turning his back. "You abandoned your own family and friends!" Yang retorted to his back. He stopped mid-step. The snow fell around them as he turned around. The trees blew from the wind's cold rage. They braced for it, whereas he did not.

"My family?" He asked, rhetorically. "My family is fucked beyond all reckoning." He said, angrily. "And I need to get back." He told her. "What the hell are you talking about?" Qrow asked. He glared at the drunkard, fuming. He raised a hand and clenched it into a fist. Grimm within ten miles or more died in a cry so loud it was heard ten times as far.

XXX

Something broke his reminiscence as he heard and felt it, his eyes widened. "Oh, shit." He muttered. All the anger everyone was feeling... shit-shit-shit-shit! Suddenly, the roars of Ursa were heard. He closed his eyes as Yang turned to confront whatever new threat was coming. For the first time in a good while: he broke cover and whatever barriers he had made. He reached out through the force, targeting the Ursa and any other Grimm beyond, then clenching his fist- crushing them into balls. They died with a brief roar. He had ensured it would be at least: twenty-perhaps thirty miles.

XXX

Less than half a mile away, Teams RWBY(Yang was now off beating the shit out of Tyler) JNPR, and now ARY (as Tyler was an apparent traitor) had turned to the forest to confront whatever Grimm would come after them. Qrow was running towards wherever Yang had gone. And then, just as the Ursa had come out of the forest to charge at them- they turned into balls with a pained roar within a second before dissipating into dust. The combined pained roar though was loud to be heard for at least several miles. Ruby blinked as she stood up, her now ready Crimson Rose now lowered as everyone else made somewhat similar gestures and expressions.

"What... just happened?" Nora asked, confused. "Did they just... get crushed?" Blake asked. "By nothing?" Rebecca thought. "No... that's not 'nothing'..." She said, shaking her head. Pyrrha thought for a minute and then her eyes were raised along with Ren's.

"Hey, is someone going to check on the driver?" Jaune asked, interrupting. Said driver groaned as he held his head.

XXX

Far off at Beacon Academy, the one-time Sith Lady, Arina Winden looked up from her paperwork as she sensed a disturbance in the Force... and something very old. Her yellow eyes widened in horror. "By the Force," She whispered. Such power!
XXX

Salem's eyes widened as she raised her head. She turned her head to a window. She couldn't use the orb.. but she sensed it.
XXX

Artyr Sym's eyes widened. "Holy shit!" He cried out in shock as soon as he felt it. It was like something ancient had just awakened, like it broke free from some kind of binding. "Artyr? Are you okay?" His uncle asked, looking at his nephew. The Battleaxe had a few hours to go before it reached its destination. "I just sensed a disturbance in the Force." He told his uncle in shock. "Something old just..." He shook his head. "Something very old just came out of hiding." He said, whom or what, he didn't know.

Toph would only grunt in his dreams as he felt something too.
XXX

In Haven Academy's mess hall, Kobacca raised his head before taking a bite of something called 'chicken noodle soup' as he felt something... like it had just broke free. He looked around, wondering what it was that he felt. "Hey, Kobe? You okay, cuz?" Sun asked. Kobacca nodded and kept eating with his newfound friends as they listened.

XXX

Lira Su looked in the distance. She didn't know, but there was this feeling... this indescribable sense somehow that something had just showed itself to the world after a long time hiding... or slumbering. She didn't know if she was afraid or not. She had never been like this before. She looked down at her hands. Perhaps... injecting herself with that blood sample had been a bad thing. She sighed. "Stupid, stupid girl." She muttered to herself.

Yang turned from the sound of the distant roars to see Tyler with his clenched fist. He then stood up single-handedly before wiping his bloody nose. "Don't let your emotions cloud your judgement..." He paternally said, then shrugged. "Sometimes," He received another punch in response. "You don't get a word in!" She roared as he hit yet another tree.

"Yang! GET BACK!" Qrow warned as he charged from the woods at Tyler with his scythe while his neice also charged at him. Tyler looked at both of them, raising both index fingers from his hands and moved both of them away. Immediately, both uncle and niece were separated. Qrow used his feet to not have his back crash into a tree while Yang rolled onto the ground, getting back on her feet. "What the-?!" She asked, confused. Tyler then rose, looking at Qrow, smiling. The huntsman looked at Tyler in first confusion and then awe after setting foot on the ground. Then his face twisted into a snarl. "So..." He said, retracting his scythe and putting it on the backside of his waist. "You're a force-user," Qrow snarled.

Adam merely shrugged and then turned to Yang. "NO!" Qrow roared. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" Tyler ignored the yell and with one finger, as Yang again charged at him with glowing hair, he sent her skyward towards the bush. "She has a landing strategy anyway, as good ol' Ozpin says." Tyler said. "She'll be fine," He assured Qrow. Qrow gritted his teeth. "You're a Sith, aren't you? You can't be a Jedi!"

"I was once," The infiltrator said, nodding in reminiscence. "But, I've sadly had to leave. I'm just a contractor, anyway." He said, shrugging. "You're a Jedi-turned-Merc?!" Qrow scoffed. "How low can you go?" He asked, walking forward as he started to take a hot pink-colored hilt out. The one-time Jedi raised an eyebrow.

"So, you're a Jedi as well, I take it?" He asked, pointing at the saber.

Qrow shook his head. "No, this belonged to a good friend of mine." He answered with a hint of regret. Adam inwardly felt sympathetic while he nodded.

"Very well: let's settle this the old way." He then produce a bag from his back pocket, tossing the components out and then used the force to connect them in mid-flight. It formed an ancient, well-worn hilt with a blade guard.

"I like having this around, makes me think of old times." Tyler said, holding it up. "How long have you been working for Salem?" Qrow asked. Tyler shrugged. "Not so much as 'for' Salem as 'with Salem'. I've worked for others as well-" he paused. "For a fee, of course." Inside, he hated acting like this. Internal rage clawed at his soul.

"Your name isn't 'Tyler Doyle', isn't it? How much of what you just said was a lie?" Qrow asked, walking forward. Tyler glared at him. "In a sense, I told the truth... a bit. You just need to know where to look." He told the alternate version of a comrade he had. "And my name wasn't always 'Doyle'." He paused and then smiled, shrugging. "Actually, I'll spare you a bit of a lesson on family history and what-have-you. But, I suppose I might as well just say my name is 'Izunia'- 'Ardyn Izunia.'" He bowed with one hand on his chest and the other stretched outwards. "Former Jedi Master, at your service." He arose, changing his body from that of a young man to an old one.

"Nice trick," Qrow commented without smiling. "You get a few perks when you get to be my age and line of work," Adam shrugged in response. "And experience," He added. "So-" Adam cut him off. "If you must know: Salem does indeed have me on her payroll." Adam somewhat-lied. "But, she doesn't exactly know about my former profession either. Neither do any of the colleagues she has me working with." Adam confessed. "Best keep that secret, alright?" He asked, winking. Qrow blinked and raised an eyebrow.

"You're just ratting on your friends.. just like that?"Qrow asked in response, weirded out. Adam laughed. "Only if you can keep a secret," he winked. Qrow frowned. "Now, are you going to fight me, or do I have to punch you in the face... again?" He asked, grinning. Qrow's face burned a darkened red. "THAT WAS YOU?!" He asked, pointing the lightsaber hilt at him.

Adam laughed. "Well, you were drunk!" He answered, hands on his hips. "It's going to take weeks for this to heal!" Qrow moaned. "And I made that hole in the counter top as well." Qrow looked at him with ever more increasing rage. "YOU BASTARD! I HAD TO EMPTY MY RETIREMENT ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE!" He activated his lightsaber, a blue light now rising to six feet.

(Insert: Duel of the Fates)

The infiltrator: Adam Sym, one-time Jedi Knight, Contractor, Infiltrator, one-time Grand Knight of the Empire of Remnant, Grandfather, Father, and Ancestor to the Sym bloodline, smiled in response as he raised the hilt up to his nose, pointing the blade end to the sky before activating it. A green pillar of light no more than six feet sprang out. He then lowered it in a diagonal mode. Their lightsabers hummed before both charged at each other.

Qrow struck first at his arms and shoulders, only to be parried back by Adam. He still held back, only using enough of the Force to augment his speed and strength. Whatever trick Qrow used, Adam only parried or dodged, smiling. The drunk huntsman fainted a swing from the right to truly strike from the left only to be block ed by his opponent. Then, Adam started gaining momentum, striking wherever he could. Sparks flew from the clash of their sabers as Qrow struggled to block each strike. Qrow then spun backwards, swinging while he did so. Adam only jumped backwards as well only to have Qrow strike at him while he flew at his opponent. Adam stepped back and blocked the strike as Qrow landed.

By now, the children had run to the scene to watch in shock as they saw their 'traitorous' friend and Ruby and Yang's uncle duel. "Is that Tyler?" Yi asked, seeing how old their 'friend' looked. "He had a lightsaber this whole time and didn't tell us?! Much less share?!" Nora asked in shock. "He looks so... old," Jaune asked. Rebecca blushed. "We've been having classes and hanging out with an old man this whole time?!" She asked in shock.

"Pervert!" Nora yelled. Suddenly a pebble came flying at her to which he dodged. "Like Hell, I am!" 'Tyler' roared back. "Shut it, traitor!" Nora roared, turning her hammer into a grenade launcher as the two fought.

"Nora," Ren warned, putting a hand on her launcher. "Can't we do something?" Nora asked. "I wouldn't advise it, we can't risk Qrow getting hurt." Pyrrha said. "Too bad we don't have sabers. Remind me to ask Art for one when he gets back." The ginger glumly requested. Rebecca huffed. "I can't believe it- Tyler's a Jedi? A Sith? What the hell is he?" Rebecca asked. "Too many people keeping too many damn secrets," She muttered. "Hear, hear." The entire group of kids said. As they watched the fight with dread, Ren had an idea and started to record it with his scroll. "Just in case we can learn some moves," He suggested. "TYLER: YOU CAO NI MA!" Yi yelled at his former friend.

Adam/Tyler didn't respond to this as he fought Qrow, holding back a good portion of his strength and speed. He struck at Qrow's legs, only for him to jump and strike at his head. Adam dodged, twisting his upper body to face the blade as it came back for another run. He rolled onto the ground as he fell, blocking a strike and burning the grass and ground underneath him. He blocked another strike.

"Had the Order raised you, you would've been a great fighter, but a lousy Jedi." Tyler said, blocking a strike, their faces close to each other. "This coming from a traitor?" "No, this is coming from a fellow father." Tyler whispered so low only Qrow could hear him. The drunkard's face contorted into rage as he realized what Tyler meant. "HOW FUCKING DARE YOU?!" He roared, striking at him with fury. Tyler blocked each strike, his speed now increasing. He force-pushed Qrow back and tossed something at him before closing his own eyes (along with a flashbang at the kids) and turned to run at the sound of the explosions that followed. He then used the Force to speed towards Qrow, enhancing both strength and speed as he force-punched him faster than the eye could see: elbows, knees, and hands before he could get a strike in. Qrow roared in pain as his joints broke, making him fall along with his saber deactivating when it hit the ground. As his eyes were blurry and his ears rang, he would see the infiltrator stand over him. Strangely, he didn't gloat, but merely had a pitiful look on his wrinkly old face.

"You have a lot to learn, kid." Adam told him with a solemn tone. "When next we meet: I'll let you punch me in the face." He said and then tossed a green, cut crystal that glowed onto his chest. "That's for Oz and Artyr when they return. All of you can see it... when the time comes." He paused before stepping away. "Oh- and one more thing:" He said, his eyes suddenly glowing. He reached down and called upon the Force, taking a hold of Qrow's black semblance of misfortune with the Force and tore it from him, making him scream all the more. It broke his heart as he screamed. "You'll thank me later, trust me." Adam said, nodding as he felt the semblance dissipate into nothing. He had learned a thing or two over the many centuries. Some things were harder learned than others. "Feel better, Qrow. Until next time." He said his farewell. Qrow glared at him through angry, tearful eyes. "I'll kill you!" He yelled as Adam started to run, tears falling down his own eyes. "I'LL KILL YOU!" He roared after him. He then Force-ran away from the group and as far away as he could, holding yet another crystal in his hand. It glowed as he had a destination in mind. One day, he would pay for his sins in his own blood... happily.

XXX

Fear gripped Ruby's heart as soon as she heard her uncle scream. Yang by now had run back to the clearing and ran over to her uncle as well. "Uncle Qrow!" She yelled. Ren called for help on his scroll as Pyrrha and Jaune tried to discern what was wrong with him. "I'll kill him!" Qrow roared! "I'll kill that prick!" He cried through tears. Pyrrha put a hand on his chest with worry and felt something. Her face paled as her eyes widened in horror.

"His semblance isn't there," She announced. Rebecca blinked. "What?" She asked. "His semblance: I just checked for his semblance: and it's not there anymore if it was. It's like a literal piece of his soul was just... ripped out of him." She said, looking at Qrow. "I'm going to kill that bastard," Yi said, cracking his knuckles.

"Anybody know what this is?" Weiss asked, picking something off of the ground next to Qrow. She looked at it as the green, finely cut crystal floated in her palm. "Is that gravity dust?" Blake asked. "No, can't be. I think we all know the color." Weiss said. The two opposing members of Team RWBY, the hidden faunus and the human heiress looked at each other and then at Winden. "Think your Grandma would know what this is?" Blake asked. "Maybe," Winden said, shrugging. She looked down at Qrow in pity. Their hearts aching for him as well as the burning rage against their traitorous friend.

XXXX

He had run a long way and then heaved over as soon as he had arrived back in Vale. He had made sure to avoid streets with security cameras. He sat in a darkened alleyway and rubbed his face and then proceeded to bash a trash can into nothing in anger. "FECK! FECK! FECK!FECKFECKFECKFECKFECKFECK!" He roared in anger and then made a final bash of the can, flattening it while rubbing his face. He had done so much evil in his life under the guise of good. He had betrayed so many... and for what? To bring the family back together to stop Salem?! To keep the bloodline from fixing his mistakes?! It had started with him. He slumped down onto the dirty concrete ground and looked at his old self in a puddle. He would end it, he swore he would. All the pain and misery would end and die with him. No one else was going to suffer for his mistakes, for his actions... no one.

Just then, he felt something darken the entranceway to the alley. He looked up to see a brawny figure in a brown cloak. "Hey, Grandpa? How's it going?" Aogust asked, smiling. Adam scoffed and looked away. "You taught him well, Aogust. I assume that lightsaber he had was Summer Rose's? This timeline's version of her?" He asked in a tongue they were both familiar with.

"Yeah," Aogust admitted, walking next to him and sat down. "He always was losing kirwa." Aogust said. "Part of me wants to talk to him... talk to her, y'know?" He asked. "I know the feeling. I want to explain everything, but I don't have the time to do it." Adam sighed, shaking his head. He rubbed his face.

"To think all this trouble could've possibly been avoided had I never set foot here," Adam bemoaned. "Or never made that pact." He made an iffy gesture. Aogust spoke up. "Artyr wouldn't have existed, y'know. Or any of us. I mean: Grandpa Abel never would've found out he had an adopted brother. He's been meaning to talk to Uncle Oz again, y'know? Let him in on the family secret." He laughed a little.

"'Secrets'," Adam corrected him. He shook his head, rubbing his eyes as his accent went from just a brogue to a strange mixture of rural drawl, a brogue, and finally: a husky accent. "To think that-" He sighed as he looked up at the sky. "In this age, I'd be bones by now," He sighed. "I'd rather be buried onfucking Mars than here." He sighed and looked at Adam. "You know we were close to getting our space program up and running again when the last president was still in office? Before all that crazy 'black sky-people-turning-into-fucking-drug-addicted-monsters right?" He asked. "This fecking close!" He said. "I could've been a carbon miner on a space colony in my forties! It was that fucking shitty!" He slammed his fist into the ground, making a dent. "My grandpa dies and the world literally goes to shit! What a fucking joke! The absolutely greatest fucking joke of all fucking time!" He roared in anger. Aogust looked around for anyone watching them. He sighed, rubbing his face. "I'm paying for this at the end, you know?" He said, wagging a finger. "Don't let anyone else tell you different. I'm saying this as a fucking fact: I'm paying for it. It ends and dies with me, got it?" Adam sighed, looking at Aogust, his eyes pleading for affirmation. Aogust sighed and took the hood off of his now-bald head. His slits-for-nostrils took a deep breath before nodding. "Right," Aogust said in Basic.

"It's going to be all over soon," Adam said, looking at the sky. "Thank God," he said, shaking his head a tiny ray of light. "I finally get to pay for what I did and leave all this kirwa behind," He said as Aogust looked at him with worry. "Yeah," Aogust said, nodding. His voice was a solemn whisper. After an hour of being with his ancestor, he left him for an errand. He then produced a scroll and called a number as he went to another alleyway, his hood hiding his earth-brown face. "Hey, it's me. Can you talk to him tonight? After he does his thing?" He asked his call's recipient.