Save State Hero -CH20-

“I just didn’t expect it,” Romina murmured. “I mean… I know she always told us to make a video will just in case. I know she even recorded one.

“Several times, in fact. I was even there for one of them.

“I just never expected it to actually happen. For it to actually be needed. That we’d actually have losses. It just feels surreal.”

“I mean, you’d expect to have casualties going into something like we did,” Edmund muttered. He really didn’t like the way the mission had ended, but he didn’t want to restart the day just yet. He needed to know if there was anything else at all that’d happened.

He needed to make sure everything was exactly the way it should be given he didn’t want to reload that often. That each time was a risk for someone or something to simply vanish.

That didn’t even take into account Save-state degradation but that wasn’t going to be an issue for him. He really didn’t want to access Save-states all that much.

“I’ve been following Felix’s attempts to bring Andrea back to life,” Oz reported suddenly.

“— you’re not wrong, but still. It’s just… it’s such a shock,” Romina continued with a small shake of her head. Then she clicked her tongue. “I think I need a drink. Several drinks.

“Wanna go back to your place or mine? I don’t want to go to a bar. I don’t have the tolerance to deal with people wanting to buy me drinks tonight.”

“Sure, sure. That’s fine,” Edmund answered with a small nod of his head. There was a vague fluttering of memories that came with her request. That a number of their relationships started from drinking their woes away after this mission.

He knew there was another number of times where the relationship had failed because of that, too. Edmund really wasn’t enjoying having glimpses into what might be based on what happened in another timeline.

“Felix will not be able to bring her back. Ever,” Oz continued. Not really caring at all that Romina was talking as well.

Trying to listen to both was giving Edmund a bit of anxiety.

“Coo. Coo, coo, coo. Alright. I want to go take a shower,” Romina huffed and looked down at herself. With a casual gesture it brought his eyes down to her torso. She was dressed in thin clothes that she’d had on under her armor.

She had pit stains that went from the top of her arm down to her waist. The sheer amount of sweat she’d put out was impressive.

“I’m like a nasty gym-sock,” she complained. Then she looked at Edmund and held up a finger, her mouth a flat line. “Do not make a joke about what you used to do to your socks. Even if it’d be funny. Don’t. I don’t want to laugh right now. I don’t.”

“You sure?” Edmund asked, feeling a smirk curl his lips. He’d almost done exactly what she told him not to.

“Yes. I’m sure. Ha ha, good joke. Love it. Funny funny.

“Whatever. I’m just grouchy. Go clean up. I’m coming over to your place at like seven. Need booze. I’ll get it, buy some ice or something and stuff to mix with the alcohol,” growled Romina. She left him in standing there in the Legionnaire armory. They’d turned their armor over to be cleaned, repaired, and checked.

It’d been another sad reminder that all the Andrea’s were gone as she’d been the armorer. One of the many places and positions she inhabited.

Edmund moved to the far back corner of the armory and sat down on a bench. There was no one here and Andrea had broken the camera every time it got repaired.

So there simply was no camera here anymore.

Apparently the armory Andrea didn’t want people to see what she was up to here.

“What’d you mean by that? Following bringing her back to life that is. Exactly how many people can he bring back? Or who, I guess,” Edmund demanded.

“A few select people. Not everyone. Andrea is one of those people,” Oz elaborated.

“Err… then he really could have brought them back in the other timeline. Then… why didn’t he,” Edmund mumbled to himself. “Was this whole thing pointless in the end? If he can bring them back, why didn’t I just run that down instead? I can’t remember now. I swore he said something about it.”

“What was that Edmund?”

“Oh, uh, err, there’s another Save-state I have where Felix was beside himself. Everyone had died but he didn’t bring them back,” Edmund explained. “I wonder if this is similar to that. Maybe the same reason he couldn’t, in fact. I’m pretty sure he mentioned it. It’s a bit of a blur.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. Would Edmund like to test that?” asked Oz.

“What’re you asking? Load over to that Save-state, ask you there, then come back here or something?”

“Exactly that. Lay down a Save-state here, load to the other, then come back,” Oz laid out.

“Alright. How do I get you to respond? You weren’t answering me previously,” Edmund reminded him. He wasn’t sure if he’d told this Oz about him not answering him or not.

Edmund felt like he was starting to lose track of what was real and what had existed in a different timeline.

“Ah. Call out to me and inform me that this is a no-longer needed Save-state and is being utilized for informational purposes,” Oz answered. “If it’s known that it is a un-needed Save-state, whatever the task I’m working on will no longer be a priority.”

That works, I guess.

Doesn’t really seem quite right but… whatever.

Edmund mentally went over his Save-states and what was readily available to him.

He had the Twilight Zone save, Ellie’s seed, this morning, and the mission acceptance.

If he made a Save-state right now, he’d likely replace the mission acceptance Save-state. He knew he’d be going on the mission regardless now so it wasn’t really that needed.

Edmund put down a Save-state exactly as Oz had suggested. He needed to look into this. If Felix really could bring back certain people from the dead, there was the distinct possibility this would be a lot easier for Edmund.

Pushing his power around he quickly loaded into the Ellie seed Save-state.

Edmund found himself sitting in the chair across from Felix. Ellie was there and slowly shaking her head.

Errr… oh! She’d just said she wouldn’t want to do it, because I don’t want her seed in me.

Damn, it’s getting harder to remember where I was at with these Save-states that are a bit out of alignment

Like opening up an old video game I haven’t played in months and trying to remember where I was.

“Uh, I just loaded back into this Save-state,” Edmund said. “I’m trying to re-remember everything that was going on here.”

“I… uh… huh. Huh. That’s curious,” Felix murmured, leaning back in his seat. “Rather disconcerting, too. It was only a moment for us, how long was it for you?”

“I dunno, couple days? Been busy saving everyone. I’ve got it down to the point where the only person who died is Andrea,” answered Edmund. “Oz just told me that you don’t seem to be able to bring her back to life.

“I was curious why you’re not able to bring her back to life here. If it’s the same reason or something else entirely. How’d she die? What killed her? Why can’t you bring her back? Why can’t you bring others back?”

Felix blinked several times then let out a short sigh.

“I don’t know,” he admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. “Something happened on that mission. Everyone who died, I can’t bring back.

“Well, that’s not quite true. I can bring the body back to life. I can summon their phsyical being back into existence. I can give them life back.

“But they don’t wake up. They just… lay there. Unmoving. All of them. I can’t… reach them. They’re just dead even if their body isn’t.”

“Oz, this isn’t an active timeline. This is a Save-state that won’t be progressing. Can you help me? You told me to say this to you to get your attention. That you’d shift your priority,” Edmund said aloud, looking up at the general direction he often heard Oz speak from.

“Acknowledged,” Oz stated. “I’m here, Edmund. How may I assist?”

“Great. I need to know why Felix can’t bring back the dead like he normally does. Or whatever it is,” Edmund asked.

“I didn’t hear a response, so I’m assuming I can’t hear them,” Felix said, looking up to where Edmund was, then back to him. “If it makes you feel better, I get it. There’s someone who does the same thing to me, but his name isn’t Oz. It’s Runner.”

“I’m not permitted to speak with Felix,” Oz said. “Felix is unable to bring back the dead, as their souls are currently in limbo. They are not able to be recalled from where they are. They are… imprisoned, so to speak.”

“Oh,” Edmund mumbled, shaking his head. “Oz said the souls are somewhere else. That’s why you can’t bring them back to life. Didn’t realize we had souls.

“That’s mildly disturbing. I’d rather not have considered that at all if I’m being honest about it.”

Felix looked thoughtful, then slowly shook his head.

“There is one caveat to this, Edmund. Andrea’s soul is missing,” Oz declared. “Originally it was occupied as were the others. Upon checking now, I’ve found it to be not there.

“This is an impossibility. There is no possible answer as to why the Andrea soul would be missing. It isn’t anywhere to be found. On any plane, universe, or world.

“It’s as if it doesn’t exist. Before Edmund asks the obvious question, this is not caused to information loss. Only a family of squirrels was eradicated in loading this Save-state.”

“Alright,” Edmund groaned and put his hands to his face. “Andrea’s soul is apparently missing outright. Like… doesn’t exist, kind of thing. I don’t even know what to make of that.”

Felix clicked his tongue and looked thoughtful.

“She died from a Super striking her with a black lightning bolt. Came out of nowhere and only targeted her,” Felix offered up. “It simultaneously killed all of her Others at the same time. Her death was really strange. Really, really strange.

“The same attack rendered the Super immobile though. He put all his power into that one attack and he was captured by UN troops.”

“Same thing in the new timeline, just a bit different,” Edmund clarified through his hands. “Was a black wave that would’ve hit Gaia. She stepped in the way so it didn’t hit Gaia.

“Then her… and every single Andrea… all died. It was pretty awful. A lot of them started throwing up blood and anything they had in their stomachs.”

“Yeah. That… yeah, that happened,” Felix agreed while nodding his head. “That’s pretty much what happened here.”

“Were there any other qualifying events that took place?” Oz asked.

“Did something else happen?” asked Felix at the same time.

“Errr… the world kinda exploded for some reason. Almost like it got torn in half? Then you fixed it Oz,” Edmund explained quickly. “Then I ended up living almost every single life that I could have ever lived at the same time.”

“Yes, I noticed Edmund is suffering multiple fractures of reality. Edmund is carrying… bits… of other Edmunds with him. A great many Edmunds,” Oz agreed.

“I mean… there’s a Save-state of it. Check it, Oz,” Edmund suggested.

“Accessing,” reported Oz.

“This is rather confusing,” complained Felix. “Though I’m glad to hear most of everyone is alive again. Even if I’ll personally never get to see it. But… I won’t exist once you eliminate this… Save-state, as you called it. Right?”

“Basically? Yeah.”

“Interesting thought process. That means that theoretically I could act in any way I wish, because none of it would carry over,” Felix reasoned, his eyes starting to unfocus.

“I mean, yeah? No reason to do anything at all though. It doesn’t carry over. It’s a weird place to be mentally,” Edmund admitted. “It took me a while to get my head around it. To… to adjust to it.

“I guess.

“I spent a lot of time just doing horrible things on reloads to see what would happen. Where it would go or what people would remember.”

“That sounds lonely and painful,” Ellie whispered with a sad and slow shake of her head. “I wouldn’t wish to be alone and in your shoes. It sounds painful. Very painful.”

With a blink, Edmund found himself staring at Felix’s desktop. Her words had struck him far deeper than he wanted to admit.

In a way he didn’t want to consider.

He’d done his best not to look at the Dryad.

When he had, waves upon waves of emotions and memories threatened to over-run him. Emotions and memories that were his, but not his.

“I have completed my investigation,” Oz said in a subdued tone. “There was a unrecoverable situation that occurred. I cannot be certain given I did not experience it, but there are points from that Save-state that have carried over into every other.”

Edmund didn’t respond. He was still fighting against the emotions that’d sprung up from Ellie’s comment.

“I believe that Andrea’s death has caused all Andrea’s to die. Everywhere. Across all Save-states and in all conditions,” suggested Oz. “The Andrea soul was present before you entered this Save-state and is now gone afterward. The only variable change is the unrecoverable situation that happened.

“Therefore, Andrea is unrecoverable at this time. This is what you should state to the Oz of that Save-state so that they understand.

“I would suggest taking Ellie’s seed with Edmund. Edmund is likely going to suffer continuous harm due to the confluence of echoes. The Dryad seed would likely absorb a great deal of the emotional burden Edmund is undergoing.

“This is only a suggestion, as I cannot guarantee it wouldn’t harm Edmund in the long run, either.”

Edmund wasn’t going to take that suggestion, nor could he reasonably consider it right now considering what Oz had just postulated.

The last thing he needed was a more physical reminder of the closeness previous iterations of himself had lived through.

Rather than respond to any of that, or consider that Andrea was dead in every single save-state, Edmund opened up his save-states and moved to the most recent one.

Coming back to himself in the armory.

“You told me that Andrea’s soul is unrecoverable at this time,” Edmund relayed. “That it was unrecoverable. The others that died in that Save-state had souls that were… uh… busy? You phrased it weirdly. Just that they were occupied or something.”

“Ah. I see.”

“So… what do I do?”

“Nothing. There is nothing to be done. If Andrea’s soul is unrecoverable, than it is unrecoverable. Andrea will likely die in any Save-state Edmund opens, regardless of when the Save-state was made.”

“That makes no sense!” Edmund shouted as the reality of what Oz said dawned on him. “How is that even possible? If she died, I can just go back to another Save-state and prevent this!”

“Edmund is welcome to attempt this, though I can guarantee that Andrea’s soul will be absent. I cannot comment on the how and why, just know that what has occurred in that Save-state, with the confluence of echoes, that cannot be altered or changed.

“Reality is no longer what it once was. It’s been damaged irreparably. Andrea has lost her soul and it is unrecoverable. Andrea will die in any Save-state you travel to.”

“That’s impossible.”

“It was impossible. A change in the way reality operates has made it possible. It is also why Edmund experienced the confluence of echoes.

“This was impossible to happen, until it was possible due to the unrecoverable situation. Now it is possible and Edmund must live with those echoes.

“It will be imperative that Edmund seek out assistance in the future to help with the echoes, as I can only do so much to assist. Therapy, telepaths, or those with mental super powers would be advised to assist you.”

“Great… I’ve got multiple personalities and I need a Super-hero pschiatrist.”

“A therapist would be better recommended.”

“Thank you for the clarification,” growled Edmund. “What about a Dryad seed. Would that help limit it?”

“Yes, a seed of a Dryad would help limit the emotional impact. Though Edmund is not physically qualified to carry a Dryad seed,” Oz warned. “It would be too powerful for Edmund. Nor would a Dryad seed be able to live within Edmund. Edmund does not generate enough… nutrients, for it.”

And… that goes back to Felix. Felix can modify the seed so that it’s usable. That I could actually carry it with me.

“I mean… is there a time-limit on this help I should be getting? Is my heading going to explode?”

“No. Edmund’s head will not explode.”

“Good. I didn’t want to go out like a Liveleak video.”

“Edmund would be taken over by other Edmunds with stronger emotional control and memories. Many of the Edmunds that now dwell within Edmund are much stronger than him as they lived their lives fully.”

“Ah. A hostile takeover. That almost seems worse in some ways.”

“Yes. The current Edmund would be submerged, absorbed, and then destroyed as the dominant Edmund took over. It is unclear how they would behave given that they would have reverted back in time, to them,” warned Oz. “Its unknown how long this process would take, but once it occurs, there is no backstep.”

Sighing, Edmund realized he’d have to go back to Ellie and take that seed after all. Then he paused and considered something strange.

What if I took her seed… more than once.

Could I do that? That doesn’t seem possible.

But Felix did say he modified it so that I could travel Save-states with it.

Edmund loaded back into the Save-state with Ellie and Felix.

“Hey, I’ll take that seed after all,” Edmund said, looking at Ellie.

Inside of his mind, he felt a rough and heated upwelling of thoughts. Demands and desires that were flung into the open by putting his focus on the Dryad.

“Quickly, if you don’t mind,” hissed Edmund, putting a hand to his temple. He suddenly had a feeling akin to claustrophobia inside his own head.

“Oh, uhm, ah… yes? Yes,” Ellie said with some surprise.

Before either he or her could act, Felix had pulled a letter-opener out of a drawer and stabbed Edmund in the chest. He whipped it to the side, leaving a wide and open gash in the flesh.

Staring down at it and the sudden outpouring of blood, Edmund didn’t know how to process the fact that he’d just been attacked.

By Felix, no less.

Ellie made a squeaking noise, then pushed her hands up to the open wound.

Edmund felt an immediate cooling sensation take over the burning and painful heat that’d sprung up. A sensation that left him feeling better in seconds.

“Just easier that way,” Felix said in a non-apology. “Ellie can handle it from there.”

With a grunt, Edmund didn’t have the ability to offer any words to that. He was still reeling from the sudden and explosive pain.

It’d caught him completely off guard.

“I’m sorry Edmund, there you go. It’s okay now. It’s okay,” Ellie said soothingly. Her fingers stroking over the wound repeatedly. “All better. I… I put the seed in and healed the cut. It’s okay. It’s okay.”

She put it in?

I didn’t really notice anything different though.

“You won’t notice a change,” Felix said even as Edmund thought about it. “I changed it considerably compared to what Faith did to me.

“You wouldn’t have survived it otherwise. That also meant… well… fine-tuning how the seed interacted with you. It’s more a passive observer than anything else. It’ll help you shoulder the load but… you won’t even notice it’s there.

“See? Best it could have been right there. Then again, it’s not like I really planned it out that perfectly either. I just abused my own super power. I can be pretty vague with it you know. Modify anything I want, as long as I own it.

“Gaia is my wife who predates governments. Dryads? Clearly they’d be owned by Gaia as they’re life-forms and her children, but also from a different era of law. Ellie? Owned by me as communal property that Gaia has granted me verball. Only took a small prayer to my dear wife and there we are.”

Edmund couldn’t feel as if the seed had changed him in any way, except for one thing. There was a sudden lack of pressure on his mind that he’d felt building since all the memories of other Edmund’s had run him down.

It was all just gone.

“Well, it doesn’t feel that different for me,” Ellie remarked with a beautiful and sad smile.

It reminded Edmund of watching a wonderful sunset and knowing that it would soon be over.

“I’ll regret that I don’t get to experience my tree growing though. This timeline not… being… valid and all. And thank you for the thought Edmund. I had no idea you thought of my smile like that,” Ellie said with a dismissive hand wave.

You can read my mind?

“She can’t read your mind. Not really. Kinda? More like emotions and feelings. But as she said, it won’t matter since this is a null timeline,” Felix agreed with a nod of his head.

Edmund pulled his hand away from the cut and looked down.

It was completely healed over with only a thin scar there.

Alright. Let’s see what we can do with two seeds than if we got this much better from the first.

Edmund opened up his Save-states and froze.

The Save-state he wanted to use, the one he was in currently, now had a shattered red border and a section of the middle appeared to have crumbled away.

“I wouldn’t utilize that Save-state, Edmund,” Oz warned. “It’s become very unstable, though I do not know why. This’ll be the last time you should visit it.”

Regretfully, Edmund couldn’t help but agree with Oz.

He’d been enjoying using Ellie and Felix as idea sounding boards.

Though it did give him something he wanted to try out when he got back to the current timeline.

“Thank you, Aenor,” Edmund remarked absentmindedly as his thoughts ran along a plan that was forming.

He didn’t see it when Ellie’s eyes widened and she froze up as if she were made of ice.

Only for the moment to be lost when he loaded the Save-state from the morning of the mission. He needed to see if he could put his plan together.