FSE

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** D.E1 Chapter 77**

Warm Sands

There was darkness, yet it felt so comforting. The warm caress felt almost like that of the ever-loving womb that once cradled him. But soon his senses came back, at first not understanding the meaning of these sensations.

"Wake up, sleepy head..." A tender voice slowly made itself audible, along other sounds that he failed to recognize at the moment.

It was almost like being born again...

At that moment he couldn't comprehend what was going on. He felt this very cozy warm breeze blowing on his fur. The breeze carried with it a strange, yet not unpleasant scent. It was somewhat salty, yet with a faint earthy hint to it. Nothing that could be identified by how dazed his mind was at the moment.

"You've slept enough, brother..." Again the voice mixed itself with the swoosh that the breeze created when hitting his ears.

Another weird sensation hugged him all of the sudden; his mind recognized it as water. It was not cold, but instead at a very warm temperature. The water came and went, slowly pushing him and then pulling as it withdrew. It was something he had never felt before, and the slight startle that it provoked finally brought him back from his slumber.

"There you go..." The sweet voice spoke again. "Easy, brother. You've gone through quite a lot, I must say..."

Slowly opening his eyes, he noticed how much light there was around him. This made his vision blurry as he finally opened them.

"See? I knew you would be fine." The sweet voice said. The tone was so enthusiastic and happy that filled him with so much energy. "How are you feeling?"

"I..." He babbled. "Wh... ssss going on?"

"And a good morning to you, sleepy head!" The sweet voice responded in a very playful tone.

Even though his vision hadn't recovered completely, he could see a blurry silhouette of a face hovering above his own, just a few inches from his nose. The breathing of the being let out a scent he automatically tried to recognize. The sweet scent of the breath as the being spoke, and the scent that emanated from the rest of its body was incredibly soothing and familiar to him. But he couldn't recognize it at all, even if he knew it was of its own kind.

"Who... where..." He tried to speak again, falling into confusion as his brain kept on coming back.

"Here... let me help you." The sweet voice, he now identified as a female, held his arm and gently helped him to sit up. He had been lying on a soft and sandy surface all this time.

Immediately after sitting up, he rubbed his eyes, trying to clear them from whatever kept them from focusing. As his blood flowed to the rest of his body, he felt how every inch of it woke up and was immediately invaded by all sorts of sounds and scents. Soon after, his vision became normal again...

"Just be careful not to get sand in your eyes. Your paws are covered in it..." The sweet female spoke again.

"Sss.... Sand?" He knew the word, but he wasn't sure if it was part of his past experiences, or something he had learned.

His eyes finally regained their focus, and what he saw was more than mesmerizing. In front of him there was... water; an indescribable amount of it. So much that it extended far away in what appeared to be the horizon.

"What..." He was short of words. "Is this a planet? What is this?" He now understood he had never seen this before, other than in his studies during the D.E training. But wait; studies? D.E? Memories started invading his mind at such a pace that created a bit of confusion.

All around him there was this golden surface with glittering dots, much like stars in the universe. This was something he knew from his studies. It was sand. Now her words made sense.

"An ocean..." He said. More out of instinct, than him wanting to say it.

Looking down, he saw his hind paws and legs as he sat flat on the squishy and water-soaked sand. Black and white fur covered them, as well as the rest of his body as he looked further up. The fur so soft and clean; dry tufts dancing by the sweet caress of the warm ocean breeze. He raised his upper limbs and contemplated those paws he and his race used to show each others such tender affection. Soft and padded paws covered in the whitest of fur moved at his will.

"Tell me your name..." The sweet female voice asked.

Now that he was fully aware and heard this voice, he realized there was someone snugged right next to him.

"Husky..." He responded assertively as he turned to his right to the origin of the voice. Indeed this presence was there, in the flesh, just like him.

"Very good!" she said in the most enthusiastic tone.

"It's... you..." Something didn't add up. His mind was full of memories at that moment, but this being next to him brought back the strangest of them. Just like him, she was in nothing but her fur. The softest-looking black and white coat just like his covered her body. A curly tail wagged happily on her hind quarters.

He instinctively looked at her face...

The warmest Amber eyes he had ever seen, yet so familiar.

"Hi, beautiful." She said while she smiled at him tenderly. Her lips slightly curled up, showing just the tips of her pearly-white fangs; her eyes squinted and ears flopped to the side. A gentle expression that Evos had evolved into a playful and friendly gesture, rather than aggressive.

For some reason, many memories came back to Husky. Some of them horrible, but the beautiful place and the equally beautiful sensation he felt at that moment made it all not matter at all. Husky's reaction was almost by instinct. He reached for the sweet Evo girl of amber eyes and held on to her in the warmest of hugs. Husky buried his face in her fur and rested his ear on her chest, listening to the soothing sound of her heartbeat. He tried to speak, but no words came out.

"Aww, baby..." She whispered tenderly. "I know... It's been a long and very difficult trail you have gone through." She tenderly petted his head.

As she said this, those horrible memories came back to him. But they mattered so little. They were overwhelmed by the immense warmth of the Evo girl. They mattered not anymore.

"I cannot explain to you what happened, as it is impossible for your language and logic to make it comprehensible. But some day you will understand; I promise." She spoke. Somehow, he remembered her being very distant and not very direct, but now she was like any other Evo he had ever known. She spoke normally and would not leave his side. Instead, she pressed him closer to her as she now licked his head and ear tenderly.

"You were not supposed to make it, Husky. That is the reason this trail was so difficult and required you to do something so... impossible to accept." She spoke. For Husky, just being in her arms was all that mattered at that moment, but he did pay attention to her words very closely. "Even though I knew this, I decided to stay by your side and make it as easy for you as possible. I would not let you go, Husky. It's not your time yet..."

It was still very difficult for Husky to understand what she meant, but somehow, it all started to make sense. He gently released himself from her embrace to be face to face.

"Was that... all a dream?" He asked.

The Evo girl looked to her side as she shrugged. "It... might have been. Not really..." She responded almost as cryptic as she used to be, but in reality is as if she didn't really cared. "Let's just say it was, but it really doesn't matter now. What matters is that you made it and now you are ready to wake up!" The sweet Evo girl again smiled and wagged her tail.

"Wait; wake up?" He soon came to the realization that this place he was in made no sense. "Where are we, by the way? How did I get here?"

"Relax, Husky. It's all fine now. I just..." the Evo girl replied. She somewhat seemed a bit nostalgic for a second. Almost sad all of the sudden. "I just wanted to see you one last time..."

Husky had come to be very attached to this Evocanis, and there was something in her words that filled him with so much sadness.

"Well... It's not like we won't see each other again..." She said, almost trying to comfort herself, but it wouldn't take the sorrow away from her tone.

Husky couldn't think of anything but to get close to her again and hug her warmly. Both cried a bit, but behind a small bit of sadness, it was more the sense of relief that made them both shed tears.

"I love you, Husky... I always have and always will." She said. The way she said seemed so familiar to him.

"Hasky?" He instinctively, yet gently pushed himself away to see her face again.

"Not exactly, but kind of." No... it wasn't the Hasky he knew. Not only her appearance and scent were different, but also her voice.

"Who are you?" He dared to ask again, even though she once denied to answer.

"I..." She doubted. "I really want to tell you, and I would, but I can't..." She said disappointed.

"Why?" Husky questioned her, as he tilted his head.

"Because... it does not depend on me. I must respect her decision..." she again gave a similar response than before. "Besides, that would mean I had to explain something that your language lacks words or logic for." Same answer as before.

"Tell me... are you talking about Hasky? You almost seem to know her somehow." Husky pushed for an answer. It was not as if he wouldn't respect her choice of not telling, but there was so much doubt and curiosity that gnawed at him.

"Yes...Our... YOUR life Giver, Husky." she responded. Husky could feel her heartbeat raising up as she almost said something else. "If you really seek an answer, you must ask her directly, Husky." She now spoke firmly, almost to prevent Husky from digging in deeper into the question.

"But please, do not be harsh with her. Whatever she did, or hid from you, she did it to protect you. She only wanted you to live a life without pain or sadness..."

Something beyond what she had said at that moment struck Husky harder. He immediately started dwelling on memories and putting them back together to make sense of all that had happened to him.

"Wait... Where is Canis Major?" He asked. Last time he remember, Canis Major fell slowly into that mining planet, surely being destroyed by the reentry. Or was Canis Major being attacked by the Machines and he was part of that battle? At that moment, he could not make sense of what was real or what was just a false memory. Even the reality he was in did not seem real.

"Oh, silly Husky!" She responded, gently grabbing his muzzle and softly shutting it close. "Are you going to start doubting again? All we went through?" She said, chuckling playfully. Husky shook his head as he tried to smile under the soft paw pads of the Evo girl.

"Look around you! You don't see it yet, since you are still sleeping. But Canis Major is all around you; waiting for you with arms wide open." She said. It was confusing since that horrible nightmare he just had did seem like a dream, but how can he awake to another dream?

"Hasky, Fx and all your friends are by your side, waiting for you. They are sad... But once you open your eyes, all the pain that you and your brothers have gone through would have gone away."

As she said this, Husky felt a strange sensation. Everything around him started glowing slowly. At first, he thought this was just his imagination, but as it became more intense, it was obvious it was really happening.

"We Evos have had an enormous victory today. But there is still so much to do. If there is one thing that will bring hope and strength to the fights that come, will be you opening your eyes and getting well..."

Husky tried to speak, but his body started to feel heavy. Sounds again faded away, and his vision blurred. In one last attempt to interact, he tried to reach for the Evo girl that felt so familiar to him. Before a strange force pulled him into warmth, the arm of the Evo girl reached to him in one last caress...

"Husky, know that I will always love you. I am part of you and I will always be by your side even if you can't see me. You have many battles to come, and I will not transcend to my next stage, until I see you and our brothers win. Until that is done, we will see each other, either here, or in Canis Major... I love you my baby brother... Now wake up and go to Hasky and Fx..." Those would be the last words he would ever hear from the Mysterious Hooded Evocanis. Once last smile... One last tear that he could see coming from her amber eyes and she was no longer visible. She had become part of that white light...

Husky tried to yelp, not by fear or pain, but by the sheer power of this light that surrounded him. It pulled him so hard that he no longer felt the warm presence of the Evo girl, but instead a force impossible to explain with normal physics. It was not agonizing or painful, but the speed at which he was pulled further into the core of that light was such that he had a hard time breathing. Yet, he did not feel as suffocating.

Soon, the light was so intense to certain point, that it almost immediately exploded into darkness. His eyes no longer could see; his ears no longer hear. His sense of touch and smell were gone as well. But he was not really gone as he still had his consciousness; all his senses were, but for what appeared to be a short period.

Slowly but surely they came back to him. But he was still confused. He remembered the horrible nightmare that Canis Major was. He also remembered that warm ocean beach. But it all blended into a progressively fading memory... A dream...

"This is impossible..." An alarmed voice said as he walked down a faintly lit corridor.

"I know, but... He IS regaining consciousness! I saw him move in a way that couldn't be just a reflex. The monitors are reporting convoluted neurological transmission, yet they seem to be stabilizing with every second!" a female voice said. "Red! I know what I saw."

"This is medically impossible, and you know it, Crystal. I want full scans of his neurological system. Test for reflexes, check his blood, muscles, internal organ function, nerves.... EVERYTHING!" The male furred alien of light brown coat ordered as he walked at a rapid pace through various sub-corridors. He looked tired and very frustrated.

They all were. R105, now re-baptized as Rage of Lusceonis was still recovering from the massive blow it received from the battle against the Machines almost a month back. All their resources and labor were occupied to restore the ship as best as they could.

"Look, I am not saying I'm not happy, but I don't want to give ourselves false hope... You know what he went through. Scientifically, medically... logically; he should not be alive..." Red, the lead Retcan medic on board tried to be as objective as possible. He was not allowed to make mistakes in his line of work, even if this hurt him so deeply. A tear building up in his eye was evidence of this.

"We should tell Hasky..." Crystal; another medic suggested as she gently placed her paw on Red's shoulder.

"She hasn't slept for weeks... She finally managed to rest today. She needs it..." Red responded. "She could die just out of pure exhaustion... We can't let that happen. Her other son needs her."

"It's her right to know!" Crystal replied frustrated.

"I need to see it with my own eyes... assess the situation before we jump into conclusions."

They had finally reached the medical room. One of many that were still intact. This was not a major care center in R105, but many larger devices and medical equipment for critical condition cases were moved in. This was improvised due to the repairs that the ship was going through.

"Load the monitoring results from twenty minutes ago, Crystal!" Red ordered. He went directly to a strange capsule in one of the small room's corner. The room was dark, yet warm and extremely silent. Only the faint buzz of the equipment could be heard.

This capsule had an oval 'Fish-eye' window at the front. Not much could be seen at the other side, but there was certainly something. The gurgling sound and tiny bubbles made it evident that this capsule was full of fluid.

"Done!" Crystal said as he approached Red with a large ComPod. Red never took his eyes away from the capsule until he finally decided to look at the results. He was speechless. The results were not possible.

"It can't be... Is this accurate?" He said as he examined it. "His neurological transmissions are far beyond normal, if a bit agitated. He was not like this yesterday!"

"I know..." Crystal responded. She now placed he paw on the capsule's fish-eye. Red did exactly the same. "But, isn't it good that he is technically recovering?"

"It is more than good..." Red admitted with his heart speaking. A tear flooded his brown eye. "Do you know how difficult it is to keep this Evo alive well beyond what his body was capable of surviving?" He then continued, no longer being capable of holding his tears.

"Our desire..." He continued. "Our desire to keep him alive led us to the most terrible position we've ever been. His brain was pretty much... dead. But yet, we cannot... let him go."

"Red..." Crystal now cried and held on to her best friend.

"In what way was this fair for him, for Hasky and for Fx? It was not..." Red fell in tears as he held tightly to Crystal.

"Yet he is alive, Red!" Crystal replied. "You did your job, and he is responding now! Why are you questioning yourself this way if you did what was right?"

"All that I have learned through decades... Everything was wrong..."

Far in a void... He soon recovered his senses. That light that had pulled him far into the unknown had lost grip on him. The sensation of weightlessness invaded his body and made him open his eyes. Below him, what seemed to be a planet full of dark orange water. He fell and fell into it without being able to do anything to avoid it. What would've taken minutes, only took a second or two, but before he knew it, he had fallen into the endless ocean of this planet. No splash, no sounds, no nothing.

He tried to swim to the surface, but his strokes didn't move him an inch. He just sank...

"Husky! Open your eyes, boy!"

Was that the water? Or was that a voice he had just heard?

"I told you! He is reacting!"

"Impossible! He is coming out of R.E.M! His brain is awake and aware..."

He felt so much fear, but for some reason, when he thought he had run out of oxygen "Breathe, Husky!" He took a deep gasp and felt relief.

He opened his eyes, to face these sounds that although confusing, he knew were voices. They came from the bottom of the endless ocean. He was afraid to look down into the void... "Open your eyes, Husky! It will be okay!"

He gathered all his braveness, and looked down. He didn't see darkness, but this oval circle of warm light.

"Don't be afraid, Husky. It's us. We'll take you out of that capsule in a minute!"

These voices finally came to him. His senses were awake now. He was indeed in fluid, but this was not an ocean. As he moved his limbs, he felt he was actually sitting in a small capsule. He panicked as he came to realize he was fully submerged. He clenched his throat as he held his breath.

"No, Husky! Just breathe! It's Perfluorocarbon fluid. It's rich in oxygen and you can breathe in it!" This voice was now clear. It was all so confusing, but Husky now recognized this feeling he had forgotten. He was awake, and this time it was his reality. What he saw through the fish-eye was a Retcan, and it all came to him...

All those horrible memories now slowly vanished into oblivion. It was all a dream, and he was now back home; his real home.

"Come on, precious. Look at me!" Crystal spoke to him as she gently knocked on the window. "Calm down and take slow and deep breaths." She smiled and made a breathing motion with her arms as she nodded, telling Husky to follow her rhythm.

Still dazed, but Husky obeyed. He tried his best not to panic even if he was submerged in that strange fluid. But just staring at the gentle Crystal and mimicking her, he finally managed to calm down and breathe normally. He felt so much relief... He was home. He remembered almost everything about the battle against the machines and how he had followed Fx together with Anubis in order to save him. He remembered his encounter with the machines, and how he fought against them inside that ghastly ship. He could remember everything to the point when he re-encountered himself with Anubis in that dark pit with the bones of an Evocanis. He remembered being surrounded by hundreds of machines, but that was as far his memories went.

"I know it's thick and it's a bit uncomfortable to get it into your lungs, sweetheart. We'll take you out of there in just a few seconds." Crystal reassured him. Her eyes were full of tears, despite she tried to look as composed and calm as possible. Hearing a Retcan speak with their adorable and characteristic accent was so comforting for Husky. He definitely knew he was home.

"I'm almost done!" Red's entire body shook as he double checked the computer and tried to initiate the fluid drain. He was a nerve and emotional wreck. "Okay... I'll start the fluid drain!"

"Husky," Crystal said, never letting her paw off the window; Husky's paw was against hers all the time. "When the fluid starts draining, push it out of you lungs as much as you can and hold your breath. Once you've surfaced, don't rush the air in." She explained. "You will feel very uncomfortable as there will still be fluid in your lungs mixed with air. You might cough quite a bit. Just try to breathe slowly as you expel the rest of the fluid."

Husky just nodded as the capsule vibrated. There was a sound of fluid being drained. It didn't take a minute until he saw the surface reaching down to him. He did as Crystal ordered.

"Good boy... It's almost over now."

The slight pressure of the fluid against his body slowly diminished. His body felt heavier as the denser fluid was drained. Soon the surface line of the fluid reached his head. As crystal ordered, he had kept his breath and as soon as he felt air, he exhaled the fluid out. His body craved for oxygen at this point, in which he once again inhaled. He could feel the fluid gurgling in his airways as it mixed with air. For a second he felt as suffocating, but since the fluid provided enough oxygen, it was no more than uncomfortable reflex to cough.

"That's okay, Husky. Just let it all out." Crystal kept on giving him comforting words.

Poor Husky felt very heavy, as his body was now supporting itself. He whimpered and lapped his own muzzle that oozed mucus buildup due to having that fluid in his lungs for so long. It would be temporary, but after all he went through it was certainly not a pleasant feeling.

"Let's open that capsule!" Red said. Husky barely managed to see him from the glass, as his vision was still blurred. But he noticed how both Retcans seemed so happy. Red awaited with a big white towel.

It didn't take Crystal two seconds to input a command, and after a brief hiss, the capsule opened. A gush of cold air filled the capsule and surprisingly enough it did affect the soaked husky Evo.

"Aww, Husky beautiful!" Crystal was full of tears. He instinctively held Husky on her arms as she tried to pull him out. Red immediately wrapped Husky in the towel, gently drying him off.

"You need to go get Hasky, Red. I'll take care of him." Crystal told her college and friend. As nervous as Red was, he almost took the towel with him, leaving Husky wet and trembling. "Oh, wait! I'm sorry..." He said as he wrapped Husky again. "Go!" Crystal yelled at him with a noticeable tone of joy.

"My beautiful Evo friend... You'll be okay." She gently said, as she cradled Husky into a examination table. Being one of the oldest Retcans on-board, as well as a seasoned medic, Crystal's maternal instinct was very well-known. She kept of drying Husky with the most gentle caress. Husky soon stopped shaking, as he sat on the table wrapped in the towel like a little black and white ball.

"Wh... what happened..." Husky tried to speak, stumbling in his own words. His voice sounded a bit off, probably due to being submerged in that fluid for so long. He felt very tired despite being unconscious.

"It's okay, Husky... You were in a coma, but it's over now..." Crystal whispered as her nose gently rubbed against Husky's.

His muscles were weak and very erratic. Husky could barely keep himself up straight. He soon lied down on the table after he lost against his exhaustion. Crystal checked him in and out, checking the monitors and doing visual examinations. Other than being noticeably skinnier, his wounds had healed completely and his vitals read normal.

"A.. coma...?" Husky coughed more of the fluid now that he was laying on his side, curled into a little Evo doughnut.

"Yes, Husky..." She replied, gently stroking his head and ear. "We were very worried for you, pup. All R105 as well as Canis Major..."

"How... long has it been?" Husky faintly whispered.

"Husky..." Crystal took a deep breath. "It's been a month since we fought those machines. A month since we rescued you from that ship..." She replied with eyes closed. Her expression was evidence of how much suffering they had gone through, seeing Husky in that condition for so long.

"Hasky... Fx... I want them." Husky's eyes filled with tears. His Life Giver and his brother immediately came to his mind and feared the worse when he remembered what had happened. Fx had fallen into that ship, severely injured after his ship crashed into it. Hasky was trapped in D.E1 with Kalem, with no means of getting out. Without Hasky and Fx, Husky's life would be meaningless...

"Husky..." Crystal rested her paw on Husky's head. "They are fine..." She now smiled at him. Husky's eyes now flooded completely with tears as he gathered the very little strength he had and sat up. He tried to get off the table, probably to search for his family.

Crystal tried to gently stop him to prevent the weakened Evo to get hurt. That's when they heard a voice down the corridor outside the small medic room.

"Hasky, slow down!" Red could be heard chasing down someone.

Then Husky felt it. He could hear the faint thumping of another Evo's paws as it ran down the corridor getting closer to him. His heart raised, which shook away all the sickness he felt. "Hasky!" He tried to call for that one Evo that had given life to him. His voice was almost mute, letting a weak bark when he called her name.

"Husky!" Almost drowned on tears, the voice called back to him.

Then he saw her... A black and white Evo of gentle blue eyes stood at the doorway in only her fur. It was like a mirror image of himself. It was Hasky. Husky couldn't utter a word, but only soft whimpers came out. Hasky ran to him, almost stumbling on herself, wagging her tail vigorously, ears dropped to the sides, eyes wide open. He reached for that Evo that was part of her, climbing on the table and embracing him tightly.

"Hasky, it's okay, calm down." Crystal said gently. "Your pup is fine..." She never stopped Hasky, but tried to keep her from accidentally hurting the weakened Husky as she twitched and shook nervously; she wouldn't though. Hasky kept on wagging her tail as she frenetically licked Husky. They both whimpered as their ancestors once did when extremely happy.

No words could be said. Crystal fell on her knees, resting her head on the table as she witnessed Hasky holding on to her pup, licking him and holding him in the most tender cuddle. Soon after, he heard someone else at the door. Fx stood motionless, crying inconsolably.

"Fx, come here. Your brother needs to know your fine." Crystal beckoned at the orange Evo.

It was no secret that Fx had felt so guilty all this time. He felt it was his fault that Husky was in that condition, but failed to see that his brother or on one would ever judge him.

Fx slowly walked towards Husky, only slowed by his guilt. When Husky saw him, he tried to jump down the table and reach for Fx. When seeing this, Fx rushed towards him, kneeling down and resting his head on Husky's lap.

Fx also whimpered, stroking his head against Husky while avoiding eye contact.

"Fx, my baby brother!" Husky exclaimed. "You are okay!" He was amazed and so relieved to see his brother well. Last time he remembered Fx, he was unconscious and covered in wounds. The only evidence of what he had gone through was a blue sleeve on one of his arms; the arm he remembered was completely broken.

"I'm sorry, Husky..." Fx cried, as he never let go of his beloved brother.

"It was not your fault! It was those monsters, and they will pay..." Husky could never blame his brother. All that mattered now is that they were all fine. That horrible battle was now an official victory on their part.

There wasn't much to say at that moment. Hasky, Husky and Fx quietly went back to a room next to the small medic room they were. The laid down on a bed and pressed hard against each other. Red and Crystal decided to let them sleep for the night as they thought that have had enough for the past month. Husky appeared to be in good shape, although they would keep an eye on him through the night. They next day they would perform necessary tests to make sure that there wasn't anything wrong with the young Evocanis.

The cycle was now complete. They had defeated the machines, and all those who were wounded that day would recover fully... However, the war wasn't over. Evocanis had to find a way to rescue their lost brothers and bring destruction to the Machines once and for all...