[i][b]Alignment[/b] walks through the mass of people that explore the vast amount of stands and shops in search of items not from their realms in the [b]Interdimensional Market[/b]. He holds his basket filled with a pile of colorful fruits and crystals tightly with his right hand while carrying the droid heads in his left arm. The [b]I.M.[/b] felt more packed than it usual. Alignment heard more chatter in the air and saw more business being done between a variety of consumers and providers. There were children running around and playing with each other and adults exchanging witty lines of dialogue, though [b]Alignment[/b] never really found any of them funny. Despite the large crowd that he wasn’t used to and the struggles that he was currently facing, [b]Alignment[/b] felt somewhat happy. The wonder and diversity of the [b]I.M.[/b] gave him a sense of gratefulness for being able to see so many unique things. Even though he was not a religious man, he felt blessed. While drunk on the atmosphere of the area, [b]Alignment[/b] makes his way to his destination. [b]Päto’s Wares and Machinery[/b]. It was a shop he had not visited since he was reunited with [b]Balance[/b] and captured by [b]Contrast’s[/b] mercenaries. He goes through the door and breathes in the scent of oil and gasoline. His old friend, a short old man named [b]Päto[/b], sits at the counter in the front.[/i] [b]Päto[/b]: “Ah, you’re alive! Good to see you again. I had thought you were in trouble when you and your lady friend disappeared last time we met. What happened.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “Sorry to worry you, buddy. I had a run-in with some thugs that were working with a former acquaintance of mine. It got pretty violent...” [b]Päto[/b]: “Oh, I don’t doubt that. There was blood all over the floors when I came back. Some of my items were broken, too.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “I’m sorry, Päto. I’ll be sure to pay you back, but right now, I have a request for you.” [i][b]Alignment[/b] sets the droid heads on the counter. [b]Päto[/b] squints at them in confusion.[/i] [b]Alignment[/b]: “Since you’re so good with machines, I was hoping you could extract some data or memory from these droids. I found them digging holes in my area and I was lucky enough to have some folks that could help me dismantle them. I tried getting some information out of them myself, but they weren’t really being... compliant.” [b]Päto[/b]: “Well, I’m not really familiar with this technology, but I’m sure I can figure it out. I think I could reprogram it so it can answer your questions.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “I would like that very much.” —— [i][b]Alignment[/b] watches [b]Päto[/b] carefully take apart the heads of the droids. His finesse and skill with all sorts of machinery, even things he had never seen before, was something that Alignment admired about the old man.[/i] [b]Päto[/b]: “Well, I’ve gotten to what appears to be their memory chips. They seem intact, so the changes I have made should work. However, it looks like it needs some sort of power source before it can function.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “I’ve got that covered.” [i][b]Alignment[/b] reaches into his pocket and takes out another black crystal he got from his student, [b]Giant[/b]. He then hooks it up to the wires sticking out of one of the neck of one of the droids.[/i] [b]Päto[/b]: “Wait, don’t put it there like that!” [i][b]Alignment[/b] feels a surge of electricity through his hand from the black crystal. He quickly retracts his hand and holds it.[/i] [b]Päto[/b]: “Don’t stick any weird objects near an electrical current!” [b]Alignment[/b]: “Odd. I did it before and I was fine.” [b]Päto[/b]: (mockingly) “‘I did it before and I was fine’. You were lucky that time. Let me do it.” [i][b]Päto[/b] adjusts his rubber gloves and hooks up the black crystal to the head of the droid. The crystal begins to glow blue, as does the eyes of the droid.[/i] [b]Droid[/b]: “S-S-Statement: Powering up. Alterations detected.” [b]Päto[/b]: “Ah, it seems to be working.” [b]Droid[/b]: “Statement: Memory chip alterations temporarily allowed. Azure Crystal preparing to reset settings to their default forms soon.” [b]Päto[/b]: “Oh.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “Then I’ll have to make this quick. Why were you digging in my home? What is your purpose?” [b]Droid[/b]: “Recitation: This unit and the other units of Research Squadron #294 were on a mission to observe and analyze the realm designated as ‘Gray Sector’. Because there was already information collected about its surface, we were sent to observe the underground section of the realm. Relative Statement: Required information of Gray Sector received. Assimilation has been done.” [b]Alignment[/b]: “Assimilation?” [b]Droid[/b]: “Definition: Assimilation is the absorption and integration of people, ideas, or culture into a wider society or culture. Explanation: Gray Sector, its resources and its inhabitants have now been assimilated into the Grand Colony, including the crystal deposits that have been found underground. In other words, Gray Sector itself is no more.” [b]Päto[/b]: “Wait, isn’t Gray Sector your home, Alig—.” [i][b]Alignment[/b] immediately runs out of the shop towards the [b]Gray Door[/b]. He pushes through the crowd of people that stands in his way, ignoring their protests and responses. Fear and anxiety fill his mind. Meanwhile, a hooded figure sees him run across the area. It was the same hooded figure that [b]Proximity[/b] saw before she left the [b]I.M.[/b]. The figure recognizes [b]Alignment[/b] and follows him. This is what it was waiting for. [b]Alignment[/b] reaches the door, inserts his keys, and rushes through it to get to his home, only to find... nothing. Everything he once had, everything he worked on and everything he tried so hard to restore to his destroyed realm was gone. It was even more barren than when it was after the reckoning of [b]Paradisum[/b]. He dropped down to his knees in sorrow and disbelief. He ran his fingers through the cold, gray dirt that wasn’t even dirt anymore. It was just bland, empty grains of matter. [b]Balance[/b] was nowhere to be seen. Thus, [b]Alignment[/b] wept alone.[/i] [spoiler]RPC and the Stories are going on a small hiatus. I’m going to focus more on Alignment’s backstory through a new series called [b][u]The 8 Principles[/u][/b]. This is so I can give more context to what has happened so the upcoming Stories will make more sense. I hope I can make more chapters of T8P at a faster rate.[/spoiler] [spoiler]Fades Away[/spoiler]