Perfection,

That is the only word I can use to describe this person,

His body like a mannequin but skin perfectly soft and without any flaw,

As he smiles politely I slight flash illuminates from his eyes, which when looking into can entrance even the most disciplined of people

(What kind of human is this?)

…….

“A pleasure to meet finally meet you Kage,” Alexander speaks as clear as anyone could

“What are you?” I straight to the point,

“A human, obviously,”

“Shall I ask that question again?” I press

“Very well, since you need me to be specific,

I am a Silicon based human,

We are very common on the first ring.”

(So, he is from the first,

Wait.)

“That doesn’t make sense,” I dispute

“Isn’t the first at war with this ring how are you working with the government,

More so, aren’t you a part of Madvillainy?”

“I work with both the UCA government and Madvillainy,”

“That makes even less sense, Madvillainy is a crime syndicate how can you work with them and the government?”

“Well firstly there is no war between us and the second ring, and I can work with whomever I choose because I am simply superior to the humans here

The government cannot disapprove of my actions.”

(The war was fake?)

“What do you mean the war was fake?” Apollo says what I’m thinking,

“Himari’s father was killed by your people in that very war,”

“Not true, her father was most likely given to us by the UCA,

But that is not what I am here to speak about, please refrain from asking these pointless questions,”

“What do you want then?” Lyra who had been silently gathering her magic, now growls warningly

“Kage obviously, It’s been a long, a very long time since you have been away,

I don’t know how you got away ‘them’ but I am just glad you’re finally awake.”

“You know me, then am actually from the first ring?”

“That is a complicated question that I’m sure I can answer,

I merely am a scout and messenger”

“Then how did I get on the third ring?”

“You were stolen of course, it was a long time ago, time is double that of his ring and quadruple that of the third,”

“Are you here to take Kage back?” Apollo interjects

“That depends on your actions, specifically you, Lyra,” Alexander turns his attention to the girl,

“Are you certain that you want to kill your brother, because I strongly advise you abandon the thought,”

“Fuck you Alexander!

I don’t care who you are or your importance,

That thing that is NOT my brother is getting murdered the next time we meet

You don’t what he put through so save your idiotic suggestions,”

“On the contrary Ms Lyra, I do know,

You see I was the one who put him up to the tasks,

I’ve known your brother since he was a boy before you were even conceived,

As a matter of fact I was there the day you were born Ms Lyra–”

–Shingg!

Shwoom!

As the android speaks these words Lyra conjures a barrage of diamond glaciers straight at him,

“None of that will you?” Alexander says scolding as beams of white light blast out his eyes in a fraction of a second turning the girl’s attack to particles of steam,

“If what you say is true then your death is almost certain,” Lyra threatens though she doesn’t tries to attack again

“Not with my current body,” for the first time Alexander begins to speak haughtily

“You wouldn’t be able to kill me, the only things that we fear are the beasts of the third ring, and people like Apollo, your existence is enough to cause paranoia back home in the capital,

Then again this is precisely why I am here to see you three,

Kage, Lyra and Apollo, ally yourself with me, and I promise you will reap great rewards,”

“Joining up with a two sided machine such as yourself, isn’t all that enticing,” Lyra retorts

“Tell me what your goal is” I demand

“Of course, of course Kage,” Alexander says patronizingly

“Simply put our goal is quite noble, you see aim to connect the three rings, not just by being able to travel across, but by syncing up the times,”

“Why?”

“I am not at liberty to divulge that information,

Let’s just say it is to ensure that all humans are unified,”

“You plan to take over everything “ Apollo reads between the lines

“Surely not, we only care about gaining resources, especially the ones found on third ring,”

……

Apollo gives me a puzzled look which I try to return

(All this for resources? No, this man is choosing his words extremely carefully, there has to be more to it)

“I can tell you are doubtful of me, so I shall answer a few more of your questions before I go and let you think about it,”

“What did you mean when you said people like me,” Apollo starts off

“People of your heritage, of course, your mother probably died giving birth to you and your father disappeared, correct?”

“How….?”

“You–”

–CRASH!

“You thought I was actually done attacking!?” Lyra cackles

Her hands coated in a layer diamond ice, forming into deadly claws, the girl has unexpectedly charged at the android knocking him against the wall

“Lyra wait!” Apollo calls

“No!

Don’t you see he is just trying to manipulate us?

Remember the last person who was polite and answered any of questions!?”

Whamp!

The girl smacks her claws hard across Alexander faces causing his soft skin to peel off revealing piece of a metallic bone

“It was the queen!” Lyra continues

Whamp!

“And she was just fattening us up fro , for ten fucking years!

This guy is no different, fuck him, fuck his answers fuck his ring fuck his politics fuck his noble goals!”

“Get off of me you wretch!” Alexander screams pushing away the girl

“Do not make me incinerate you!” the androids hand peels back as his right arm transforms into a buster,

Thump!

Glacial spikes emerge from Lyra’s knuckles, using it the girl send it through the right shoulder of the man,

“Fuck your technology too!”

“If I could feel pain I’d be screaming out,” Alexander holds his surprisingly bleeding shoulder,

“I shall take my leave here, I didn’t not have data on Lyra being a physical attacker, or I would have expected that from her,” the android slips a familiar looking ring off his detached right hand and with his teeth places it on the opposite hand,

(That looks like the warp rings from Sweepstake City)

“Don’t think you’re getting away that easily!”

Bash!

Bash!

Crash!

Smash!

Grabbing Alexander by the head the girl immediately begins to drag it along the submarine’s walls

“Lyra enough!” Apollo holds her back,

“Th…..this….this….” Alexander’s voice keeps disconnecting and reconnecting,

“This will never happen again,

Apollo, Lyra and especially you Kage,

Enjoy your time as much as you can,

Because when you return to the first ring,

You will be at a point of no return

Have as much fun as you can possibly have now, before it all comes to an end”

Swish!

Alexander’s ring begins to glow until it manifests a swirling light that swallows him up

……

Kage Lyra and Apollo stand staring at the empty space where the cybernetic man once lay Unbeknownst to them that this meeting with Alexander would mark the start of something—

—No, rather it was the beginning of the end for them all.