To Leave For Paradise

Tid-Bit landed the limousine on top of a rooftop in The Central Plaza of Pandora, everyone quickly getting out to check on Avis, who was bleeding out. Tika pulled out her Lance and overheated her gun-lance to cauterize her wounds. She let out a loud screech as Vinea used a vine to wrap Avis's wounds up.

"She s-smells like chicken." Vinea joked, trying to lighten the mood as Tika began checking her wounds. Vex rested against the hood, looking at Zamtika with a confused look. "Why did you cauterize her wound?"

"I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing, okay?"

"But you have skipped first aid day for a "Biz-ness" emergency?"

"Uhm... I watched a movie on doctors, I know enough." Tika said with a dismissive wave, only to get a few glares from Senshi and Vinea. Senshi, who was standing on top of Ven's corpse, asked; "W-Will s-she l-l-live?"

"I dunno... We could always try the sub-minds, right?" Tika said as she grabbed Devouring's heart off of Avis and tried to transmute Avis's body back to normal. The heart began to beat to life and began shifting her form, only for her wounds to remain.

Everyone looked confused as Tika tried again and again, but Avis's missing limbs wouldn't regrow. "Uh... You think it's broken?" Vex asked as she walked over, grabbing the heart and cutting off Vinea's vine arm. She activated it, transmuting Vinea's vine back on. 

"Do... Do we need her arm and wings?" Vex mumbled to herself before being cut off by an electronical cough. "No." Tid-Bit said through the car's radio. Senshi jumped slightly, asking the same question from before. 

"Not at this rate. Avis's limbs are permanently lost. Panila's heart is to detain. She can even do this to concepts. Healing Avis won't work unless you know anyone who can cure curses." She explained with a cheery honk of the horn. 

Vinea asked the more important question, leaning in the limo. "How long we got?"

"The Sub-minds will slow her bleeding, but you have about... Hmm... I would say a day? Losing an arm plus wings is a very painful way to die." Bit giggled, causing Vinea to punch the radio. "Don't laugh! This is serious," He turned back to everyone with a nervous look. "Anyone got ideas on who can help?"

Senshi and Vex shook their heads as Fox motioned a sigh, using Blue to speak. "I think I know a... Person." Tika quickly glared at him, speaking in a stern voice. "I am not going to find that... Thing for help. Avis can die before I go to it."

Vinea didn't care, instead asking Fox bluntly; "I don't care. Where are they?"

He motioned a sigh as he pulled out his digital note pad and pulled up a map, tapping the screen with his tablet pen. "Pandora's Melody?! You want us to go all the way to Pandora's Melody?!" Vinea said with a frustrated growl. Senshi looked confused, scratching her antenna. "W-W-What the h-hell is Pandora's Melody?"

Tika sighed and rubbed her temples. "It's the "Humans" city in the sky. A place where "monsters" aren't allowed. Even if we wanted to, we won't get in the city." Vinea chimed in with; "Well, they let anything that is pretty much human. So giants, angels, the occasional demi human and all things like that."

"So not us." Tika sighed, staring back at Avis before grabbing Tid-Bit off the limo. "Zamtika Misa, I have grown quite fond of this bird. We are going to Melody." Fox said with Red, not budging on his resolve. "Well, you do that then. I'm not going back there. Have fun with Splice." Tika growled, stuffing Tid-Bit into Ven's chest.

As Tid-Bit's heart began to beat, Ven's robotic eye glowed a light pink as he wearily shot up awake. "Holy fuck, there's only darkness. Just a void, don't kill me again." He muttered to everyone's confusion. He looked around confused. "Uh... What happened while I was dead?"

Everyone parted to the side, revealing Avis's unconscious body. "What in Mollia's name happened?"

After a few minutes of being caught up, Ven considered his options before letting out an electronic sigh. "Well. Looks like we're going to Melody." He said with a smile, causing Tika to let out another growl, grabbing him by the shoulders. "You hated that place! Why, even after 300 years, would you go back?"

"'Cause I ain't letting my friends die. Something you don't seem to get." He smirked, causing Vex to snicker slightly. Zamtika shoved him away as she turned around. "Shut it, Vex. And Ven... I didn't want to kill yo-"

"Stop. Stop that. I blame you. You killed me and somehow saved the world. And now, now we're saving a friends life. So don't be a little bitch and be the stupid, unkempt, self centred oni I loved." 

Tika sighed and turned back to face him. "Fine. But if this blows up in your face, I'm getting me and Vex out of there first." She smirked, putting her hand out to shake, which he gladly took. Vinea was checking his phone before letting out a surprised yelp. 

"Y-Yeah, guys. We have a problem." He quickly showed his phone, playing a news broadcast of Biz and all of her mercenaries being captured and sent to detainment. Fox almost seemed angry, but was calmed by Red and Blue wrapping around him like a scarf. 

"Shit... That's bad." Ven mumbled before turning to Avis. "Well, we know our goal. We can deal with Panila and Dreamy later. So let's go to the city in the sky. Plus, you and me can go home." He said with a grin, though everyone seemed a bit nervous about everything going on. 

Vex and Tika put Avis in the back of the limo as everyone soon got inside and drove off to the Plaza's train station. They left the limo in an alley, with Fox lighting it on fire to cover there tracks. They all watched in quiet contemplation as Vinea realised he left his food inside. He didn't stop complaining about it as they all waited at the station for the train to arrive.

"Oh yeah, did you know Mementis and Moria run the train here?" Ven said to Tika, who looked slightly surprised. "Really? I thought they were..."

"Dead? Yeah. They're undead."

"Ah... That's pretty nice actually. Maybe we can get the old gang back together?" 

"We'd still be missing Vitis."

"What about vine kid? He kinda looks like her."

"He's her grandkid."

"Her fucking WHAT?"

The two began laughing loudly, as they got weird glares from people passing by. After a bit more chatting, the train finally arrived as the duo conductors/drivers stepped out, taking their allotted break. Ven yelled out to them with a chuckle. "Lanky! Shortie! We need a favour!"

The siblings looked over to see everyone and quickly rushed over with beaming smiles, the two yelling in unison; "Zamtika is alive!" They chuckled, quickly rushing over. Ven quickly began catching them up on their need to get to Pandora's Melody. They both gave a slight grin as Moria giggled. 

"We caaaan get you there. We even know a train line that leads right to it. But it'll cost ya." She smirked as Mementis said flatly. "You have to agree to a rematch fight along with Tika while we ride."

"Hells yes! Tika, did you get Heartbreaker for me?" He grinned as Tika awkwardly reached into her bag and pulling out the ruined pieces of Heartbreaker, causing Ven's smile to fade into a horrified expression. If he still had blood flowing through his veins, his face would have been drained of it. 

"H-H-H.... HEARTBREAKER!" He yelled in pure sadness. The siblings awkwardly shuffled back to the train doors. "Uh... We'll j-just take you to Melody for free. N-No fight required. W-We'll challenge you next time." Mementis smiled, letting everyone on the train, with Fox and Vinea carrying Avis inside. 

While sitting in the old, yet still held together subway cart, Vex was sat next to Senshi as Ven was lying defeatedly on a few chairs as Tika, Vinea, Fox and The duo conductors were chatting away in the driver's cart. "So... How are you, centipede?" Vex asked with a smile. "G-G-Good. Y-You?"

"Yeah. So, I got a question."

"G-Go o-on."

"Is Ven my dad?" She asked flatly, causing Senshi to let out a confused insect like chattering. "I-I don't k-k-know? Y-You d-d-do look pretty similar. And a-act similar... A-And use t-the same weapon... But m-my guess is no." She smiled, crawling on to Vex's lap as the train jogged about as it travelled, knocking Senshi back into Vex's stomach. 

"Well, you're pretty smart. So I'll just take your word for it, bug."

"Not a b-b-bug." She sighed, confusing Vex. "But you're small, have a centipede body and cute lil' antenna?" 

"F-First of all, Centipedes are arthropods. A-And I'm a p-person! I-I just chose to remain s-small. I-It's comfortable."

"Yeah..." Vex said with suspicion before laughing. "I bet you just like big guys, right?"

"W-What!? N-N-No! I-I don't l-like big guys!"

"Big girls then?"

Senshi remained quiet as Vex looked a bit confused before her rabbit ears twitched, accidentally scraping her antlers against the bag storage. "You're a little lesbian!" She yelled with a triumphant tone, seeming to enjoy being right. Ven threw his heart at Vex as it slowly dragged itself back inside by the tendrils. "It doesn't matter if Senshi likes girls, what matters is that she's smart... And owns a shrink ray."

Vex was quickly distracted by Senshi's sexuality to Senshi's scientific knowledge. She gave Ven a tap of her many legs, which Tid-Bit translated to morse code, revealing Senshi thanked him. He sighed and went to check on the unconscious Avis next to him.

"Thanks for saving me, Avis. I owe you one." He smiled, giving her a pat on the head as Tid-Bit checked her vitals. "She's got about twenty hours left. I do hope you can save her." Tid-Bit said in a cheery voice. Ven sighed, leaning back in his seat. "You need to get better at tone, Bit. You sound so cheery about this."

"But I am an AI? I have no real need to show emotion. I'm not a living being. And neither are you anymore. So why do you care if she dies? Do you still feel emotions?"

Ven seemed to think for a moment, scratching his ears before sighing. "Well, you know my emotions are fake. Every bit of happiness, every bit of anger, sadness. I think the emotions, but I don't feel them. But I know what I should feel, so I act like I should."

"So why do all this?"

"Because I still have ethics. I'm not letting a friend die for me."

Tid-Bit nodded her head in understanding. "Do you think I could be human?"

"Yeah. You're already pretty sentient to me. So, yeah. You could be human."

"No, not like that. I mean before being Eden."

"Before Eden?" Ven asked with a confused look.

"All the sub-minds have a basis for their powers. I.e. their powers come from a person who had that heart power. But... I don't have one of my own. And I'm not you. So who was I?"

Ven looked dumbfounded, before trying to think. "Well, you were the main thingie for Eden, right? So what if whoever Eden was based on is you?"

Tid-Bit looked puzzled, pointing to Ven. "So you're saying I'm whoever Eden is? That could be it. I suppose I'll know when I'm back as her. When I finally get to rest."

"When we both get to rest. Though, I do wanna try fighting Eden again. Just to see if I'd win." He smirked, lying back down as he stared at the ceiling, Tid-Bit sitting next to him. "So then lets do it. Before I lock myself away and you die, let us battle until you do perish." She smiled. 

"Alright, it's a deal. I have so many fights I owe people." He snickered, glancing at Mementis and Moria in the next cart over before glancing at Vex, who was rambling about all her ideas for weapons. "You reckon Vex should know I'm her dad?"

"I think you should at some point before you die. It would be nice for her to know."

"Yeah... But boy is that going to be awkward as hell. Mollia help me." He groaned.

After 3 more hours of travelling, the train finally pulled in at the station. With everyone getting off together. Vex stretched her legs as Tika had Avis over her shoulder. Mementis and Moria walked out with them as they stared at the empty desert before them. "Well where's the city?" Vex asked with a confused look around as Fox pointed upwards.

Everyone glanced up to see a gigantic floating white base that spanned on for what seemed like forever. A city sat on top of it, beautiful in its majesty and looking more technologically advance then whatever Pandora's Tears could only dream for it.

The Duo conductors put on some face masks and hoods, covering their undead features. "Since you guys are gonna need a way back, we'll be waiting in the city for you." Mementis said as he handed Ven a face mask. "You'll want to keep your face hidden. No one really likes the undead." Moria giggled, skipping off with her scythe.

Vinea sighed and said with a slight smile; "I guess I can visit grandma while I'm here. I think she'd love to meet her "cowardly" partner." He laughed, making The rest of the Rabbit's foot Mercenaries to freeze up. Tika asked the question; "Wait, Vitis is still alive?"

"Uh, yeah? You know humans who served in any form of military get the best medical care, right?"

All of them shake their heads no. Vinea didn't feel like explaining the whole thing but Fox used Blue to say; "You're saying this to people who haven't been here in 300 years." 

Everyone all collectively sighed as Ven and Tika opened a portal to the city, everyone stepping through to be standing at the edge of a road to stare down at the empty desert below. Vex turned back first with an awestruck look. "Woah..." 

Senshi let out an insect like chattering of delight and surprise.

Fox and Vinea were rather unfazed by the sight, having booth been to the city many times before. 

But the Rabbits Foot mercs all looked stunned at how much their old home had changed. It went from a sprawling dump to a beautiful cityscape with the sun showering them for the first time in a few of their lives.

"Damn. Home has changed a lot." Ven muttered.