Needle and Thread

Half-Blood Prince

[@2D3D4D]

That night in the TARDIS garden, they regrouped and put together a plan.

"Priority one is Lyra," Roxy said.

"Agreed," Benny added. Andesine nodded. "And not just because she's our friend. If we're gonna get out of this little pocket universe alive, we need her powers."

"You mean, if we're going to save this little pocket universe," Andesine replied. "There's no way we can just leave all these people to die."

"Technically, they won't die," Benny replied. "They'll be in a lot of pain for a while, but once time ends--"

"Are you saying we should just leave them here?!"

"No, of course not, it's just--"

"If there's a way to save everybody, then I'm for it," Roxy cut in. "I don't want any more deaths."

"I agree," Ananda said.

"I get it," Benny said. "I'm just saying that we need to focus on one thing at a time."

"I don't think that's what Lyra would say," Winter muttered.

"You've only known her three or four months," Benny snapped. "Why can't you people see sense?"

"Sense? You wanna talk about sense when Lyra's missing?! When millions of people are in trouble?!" Andesine said.

"I'm not saying it's wrong to do that, I'm just saying that it's never been done before and we could die! The chance we'll succeed is so small, it's ridiculous."

"How can you be so cold?" Roxy asked. "These are real people. Families, children-- we could make a difference here. Like in books."

Benny watched Roxy. He knew that the most logical and safest answer for them was to just grab Lyra and get the heck out, but it looked like everybody else was too altruistic to do that. Plus, Roxy's PTSD might get set off by the guilt of leaving them all behind. He sighed. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'm just trying to get everybody else out alive. Well. Almost everybody."

"Maybe we can find a way to save Nereida," Winter said. "Y'know, get the boss out of her."

"No," Benny said. "There isn't."

[$^$]

After a period of silence, the conversation started up again, this time turning to how to defeat the boss.

"I think we should focus on stats and stuff, like you normally would in a videogame with party members," Winter said, looking nervously around the control panel where his friends were gathered.

"Yeah, except since we're trying to save Lyra, we're going to end up with one shot and one shot only," Andesine pointed out. "Not to mention that two of us aren't gifted with supernatural powers."

"Yes. Not to mention we must account for blackmail," Ananda said. "Nereida has all the leverage right now. We must do something to ensure that she cannot hurt Lyra."

"Technically, the death wouldn't be heroic or just, so she wouldn't really die," Benjamin said. "It would hurt, but she'd be fine."

Everyone seemed to be suddenly giving him a look as though he'd just suggested that they all murder their soul mate and use the blood to paint white roses red. Even Ananda, who Winter had thought was nigh incapable of giving such eye-maulings, looked angry.

He realized that he was doing it too and coughed, embarrassed. "Uh, we need to think about the mental effects of what Nereida could do, too," he suggested.

"I know," Benny mumbled. "Sorry... it was just an idea."

"I don't care if it was even the vaguest hint of a thought," Roxy snarled. "I'm not letting anybody get hurt."

"Nobody's going to get hurt, as long as we work together," Benny said quickly. "You can't go after her yourself, Rox."

Roxy looked at Benny, looking suddenly startled, and Winter noticed a faint redness seep from her eyes. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and she sighed. "I won't. I know. It's just... God! I don't... Lyra..." She looked up. "Whenever my brothers teased me or stuck gum in my hair, she was there to help me back up. She punched my oldest brother in the balls, and.... when I got teased in seventh grade,she got into a fight and got a black eye for me and-- Benny, I just can't stand the thought of her being hurt."

Winter was suddenly and fiercely reminded of his mother. He felt as though someone had just hit him in the solar plexus. Ananda noticed his expression and laid her hand on his, smiling.

"You okay, Winter?" Benny asked.

"He's fine," Andesine said.

Suddenly, the TARDIS rocked to the side, nearly falling over. In a flash, Ananda was at the window.

"Oh, my. We must leave!"

"What is it?" Benny asked.

"Nereida, who else?" Andesine shouted, clinging to a railing as yet another explosion moved the time machine even closer to falling over.

Winter could do nothing but watch as Benny made his way over to the controls and ran his hands over the keyboard, muttering. Finally, he began turning knobs and flipping switches until the explosions stopped and the TARDIS began to bob and weave as if it was in a current.

[<3 <> <3< c3<]

Roxy was exhausted. The rush of energy that accompanied her Ravenium high was gone, leaving her feeling the effects of using all that magic. She was pretty sure that if she used any more, something bad would happen. What, she didn't know.

She walked over to Benny. "You weren't serious, were you?" She asked. "About letting Nereida kill Lyra?"

"I'm just thinking of the most logical way to get shit done," Benny replied shortly. "I know that it's not the best thing for Lyra, but right now my goal is to get us all out alive. Can you flip that switch there?"

Roxy flipped it. "I'm sorry. I guess I just don't get it. How can you be so calm after Nereida...?"

"After what?!" Benny spat.

"After she betrayed us," Roxy whispered.

"She did not betray us!" Benny roared, and Roxy squeaked a little and stepped away. "She was scared. She was scared we would abandon her and leave her alone! I thought you'd understand that, but apparently you don't. She didn't have a choice!" He slammed his hand down on a button and stepped away from the control panel. "We're setting down in five minutes," he said. "I'll be... wherever. I don't know."

Roxy watched as he left, her mouth an O of surprise. "I'm sorry," she whispered, after he'd left. She felt Ananda and Winter watching her as she almost went after him, then sighed and turned in the direction of her room. There wasn't anything she could do.

[@2D3D4D]

Benny found himself in the giant library Roxy had made. He walked around, following the signs until he got to the medical section. His fingers skipped lightly from volume to volume until he finally found the one he'd been looking for. It was the same book as the one he had at home, the same one he knew inside and out. He sat down in the middle of the aisle, then laid down, turning his face to the mosaic-covered ceiling. The book sat on his chest, weighing down his body the same way the past three months were.

He shouldn't have lost his temper. It wasn't like Roxy was the only thing that was unstable. He had to be the voice of reason for the group or it would dissolve into chaos and they'd never get anything done. There'd have to be some major changes before they could defeat the Universe Boss...