Before Rift Apart (Complete)

Matters of Honor

Location: Zordoom Prison, Planet Viceron; Verdagris Sector

Two days since Rivet's copy had been trying to interrogate Rivet for information on the Resistance. This copy now referring to herself as "Angela". Angela walked up to Rivet's cell and demanded to be let in by the sentry bots. They opened the door and let her inside, Angela walked in and found herself face to face with Rivet. Angela tilted Rivet's head up to make Rivet look at her. She was surprised to still see defiance in Rivet's eyes, despite the blood, bruises, and multiple shock wounds. Rivet was certainly making a show of it. She cannot possibly be in good shape after two days, right? "still pretending to be unbroken? what can possibly be holding you together?" She asked. Rivet glared up at her.

"what's holding me together is MY brother. He certainly wouldn't want me to give in to such evil..." This response was infuriating to Angela. She smacked Rivet across the face hard. Rivet was hoping she knew what she was doing by angering her copy Angela. She hoped to make her realize absolutely none of this would bring Layden back. Which was a painful thing to know, she knew as well as anyone could ever know how much she wished her brother was alive and well again. "this changes nothing... you can't get to me, I don't care what you say." Angela said. Rivet spoke up again. "look at you, what you're doing. Do you honestly think Layden would approve?" Angela stared for a moment,

Rivet was right, but Angela was still full of resolve and counters. "He doesn't have to know what I did, once I have him back, It'll be time to start over again." Rivet shook her head. "Layden will go back to trying to take on the Emperor, and if you'll recall... That's how he died. The robotic maniac you're trying to please literally killed Layden! Layden started the very Resistance you're trying to make me give up! What makes you think Nefarious will simply give him to you?" Rivet felt her chest collapse in on herself slightly, not from injury, but from her being forced to realize things. It hit Angela too. "he's all I had..." Angela said.

Now it was Rivet's turn to be extremely hurtful, not physically, but with words. "No! He was all -I- had! Don't get yourself twisted with me! -I'm- Rivet! You're just some cheap copy made to do the Emperor's dirty work on a false promise that Layden would NEVER approve of! He isn't coming back! Even if Nefarious could bring him back, look what he did to you! You think he won't do the same to my brother? Do you even remember him?" Angela becomes angry by this point. "why else would I be trying to get him back?!" Angela asks, figuring the answer should be obvious.

"Good, now what if you got Layden back and he's not what you remember? Would it still be worth it?" Angela looks at Rivet, ready to strike her again. However she knows Rivet is correct. She would much prefer Layden was the person she remembered. "You -might- have a point... but me and Nefarious have a deal." Rivet, not caring anymore rolls her eyes. "You can't SERIOUSLY believe he will do that, not after all the proof I've mentioned." Rivet says. Angela glares. "what proof? You haven't given me anything." Rivet sighs, annoyed. "the proof is your own memories. Stop denying yourself a truth you already know!" Rivet yelled.

Angela looks at her, the truth slowly creeping on her as Rivet desperately looks at her. "Remember how we felt when he died? Do you remembering seeing it? Do you?!" Angela continues to look at Rivet, and then she nods. "I remember..." Angela says. Rivet nods in return. "I nearly approached the path you're on... While trying to figure myself out, and how I'd live without him. I blamed him for dying, I was angry, but you and I both know that this isn't the life he'd want for us... And vengance, isn't enough. Living on hate and adrenaline..." Rivet Wondered what Layden would actually say, but couldn't think of a thing.

Rivet's words however, had the effect she was hoping for, albiet it wasn't obvious. Angela simply looked at Rivet, and then walked out. Before the doors closed, Angela briefly looked over her shoulder, which caught Rivet's attention. She looked on as the doors shut between them. Rivet, now alone finally slumped over, trying to hold herself up from the restraints for hours on end was fairly exhuasting. She sighed while finally feeling relaxed, despite her situation. Left along with her thoughts, she began to wonder just how she could keep dealing with these situations and recover.

Angela on the hand was thinking of something quite different. She was considering how she might confront Nefarious. Though her mind had doubts. What if Rivet was wrong? Angela shook her head, no, Rivet wasn't wrong. Her argument was valid. It still made Angela burn inside that Layden will always be Rivet's brother and never Agnela's, she missed him just as much. Was it wrong to have a -cheap copy- care so much for a lost loved one? Angela didn't think so. But if Rivet was right, Angela knew she couldn't afford to be wrong.

Zordoom Prison Cell 19, Block A, Rivet's P.O.V.

After a short nap I snapped awake and looked around and sigh. "just a dream... shame." I muttered to myself. I struggled in the restraints, wishing I had a weapon or a friend on hand. It feels doubtful that I got through to Angela, seems all I did was piss her off. "Way to go Rivet! piss yourself off, yeah that'll show the world. Stupid, stupid, stupid!" I groaned and closed my eyes. It was stupid. I mean, only days ago she just tried to kill me. My thoughts started trailing off, forgetting about this cold cell I was in.

Now I was back on Corson V, in the old park with my brother before Nefarious destroyed it, turning the area into his tower of power tripping. Layden was just staring up at the sky. Always wanted to be some kind of adventurer. In an instant my imagination was interrupted by the sound of the door opening, Emperor Nefarious walks in with Angela in tow. "this can't be good..." I said aloud. I looked up briefly, and while I wanted to act defiant, I knew full well what he did with his prisoners. So I looked away and pretended to be scared.

The Emperor bought, but Angela knew better. However, she didn't give me away. I simply stared at her while he gloated about my defeat, which was far easier than he expected. Eventually, he walked out, and Angela gave a half smirk and walked out. I knew then, that she had some kind of plan...