Episode 30: The War Starts With You

[Tracy White]

Tracy wasn't too shocked that Alex turned out to have powers that do not befit a human being. Seeing Noland's Gundalian side was enough for her to open her mind a bit on who could be walking around in this facility.

"Well, you ARE this way. That's just who you are," Tracy expressed to him. "Even if you wanted to deny it, you have to look at yourself in the mirror eventually and accept that what you see is what you have."

She believed there was some underlying reason why Alex feels the way he does about the origin of his power. She didn't want him to talk about it nor would she recommend that she should be the person to hear that. She's far from being a therapist, but if she could be of some help, then she might as well try.

"That reminds me of Seiki a bit when you say that... She didn't know why she was even a participant in all of this. She was just pulled in, but...she still fought for me when I got into a mishap with Baalenoid a while back. I'll admit, I never requested for things this extreme to be in my way when all I wanted to do was not embarrass myself again by brawling like a miserable child and thinking I was good, but...you know how that goes. You just have to work with what you got. There's others like you, people that understand what you're going through and how you're feeling. That's the joy of having people beside you, the ones who care enough to walk with you."

[Alex Andersen]

Alex slowly slides off his bed and stands up detaching a few of those remaining wires previously attached to his body. He makes a few slow steps into the next room with a closet located in it, so he could find a change of clothes.
He grabs the rest of his bandages and tears them off leaving clearly visible scars of battle on his shoulders, back, left cheek and legs. That axe sure left a mark, but nothing that won't be possible to heal with his 'inhuman' body.

Alex reaches for his clothes that seem to have been fixed for him when he gets up. He quickly dresses up and walks outside of that room.
Dante jumps off the closet and lands on Alex's shoulder.
Alex has already grew sick of lying down thanks to Zero Hydranoid who forced him to go to sleep and Maria's words that made him think.

"Yeah, right..." Alex just silently responds.
He heads towards the drawers and takes out his cards and finds his gauntlet shattered into pieces, but still there for some reason. Seems like those attacks really did their magic on it. And getting a new one will definitely cost him. "At the end of the day, your Ventus friend and Master Blaze still know things; how and why some things happen." Alex says.
"Accepting this isn't as same Master Blaze accepting he is a Gundalian. There are lots of things he knows about himself and has his father to help him out with Gundalian side. All I can do is hope this power is good and not bad."

"I mean, it was forced on us, our family was torn apart because of it, Kyuki wants to cut us open for it... and we don't know anything about it. How accepting and optimistic one would have to be to accept it? Answer is 'very'." Alex tends to explain what has been on his mind. Daniel does not really have issues with this like Alex; Daniel sees things in much different way. He focuses on using those powers to protect; same as Lydia.

He takes that used-to-be trusty gauntlet of his and tosses it in the garbage can near his bed. Seems like he won't even bother to have someone repair it.
Aside from that, he does not want to say all things on his mind. He knows that he joined Silver Knights purely because of revenge and not because he wanted to help. Common sense drives him to help others, but his goal definitely is revenge over Kyuki and to find answers he has been looking for.

[Tracy White]

"Gosh...so it created problems with your family, huh? That's terrible news. I'm sorry to hear that. I won't pretend to know how you feel after that," Tracy admitted. Then she picked up on something that she hadn't really thought about since meeting Alex face-to-face like this.

"It's like you and Noland are somehow similar," she mentioned. "Oh, wait. Don't worry about me saying that; it was just me thinking out loud. But, regardless of what happens from here on out, you have a special ability that is yours. We all have certain abilities or gifts that make us different from each other, some more powerful than others, some more dangerous than others, and maybe even some that are more pure. Any kind of power can be used for good or evil if the user requests it, whether it's good or bad in nature."

Tracy then smiled at Alex as she affirmed her belief in him that he won't have to go through a period where he questions his capabilities on making the right decision. "You look like a great guy, so I'm sure you won't have any problems with that. I believe you're going to make it work. It's a difficult path to take, but I strongly believe that you are here like this for a reason just like we all are. Whatever that reason may be, I hope you learn what that is and that you will make the right decision."

That being said, she left the room to let Alex have the room to himself. It sounded like he had a lot on his mind following his engagement with Kyuki.

[Alex Andersen]

Once Tracy leaves the room Alex continues thinking.
Despite all that is said he cannot change his mind just like that.
It is not a surprise that there still are people who are not idiots and see the situation in the way he sees it and he is glad about that.
But that doesn't make him feel better overall.
He still doesn't want this power; fear instilled in him that he might end up like Daniel or worse makes him really nervous. Since he doesn't know anything about his own power it might end up being another trick Kyuki did to him while he was not aware.

He lets out a heavy sigh and looks through the window.
Clouds are gathering from everywhere and slowly covering the sky. It looks like it is going to be a rainy afternoon. "Dante..." Alex says quietly.

"Yes, Alex?" Dante replies quickly.
"What do you think of... me and dad?" He hesitantly asks not wanting to remember his father's face being on those doppelgangers. However, he still wants to ask. It feels important.

"Your father was a great man... It pains me that I don't get to see my old friend by my side anymore... He is the reason why I am what I am now... And you... you remind me a lot of him; always on the move, caring for others...maybe too much... you never forget promises you've made... I wish he was here to see this. I wish he was here to see the strong man you've grown into... To see what I see..."

"...You're not a monster, Alex... You prove us that every day..."

[Noland Hardy]