I stared at the chain in my hand, a little distracted from my normal duties. I was supposed to be figuring out a way to teleport a peanut across a small room, but instead, I was thinking about this pendant. It had been days since I had purchased it, but I had not the courage to give it to it's rightful receiver. By now, I had completely talked myself out of it. Why had I kept it hidden on my person since the ordeal? I had not the slightest clue.

"Doctor Richtofen!" Suddenly, I heard the crackly voice of a frustrated Schuster. "Come hither!"

I rushed over to the man, sticking the necklace that I had bought for Eliza into my pocket.

"Maxis requires you in his lab..." He let out a sigh and wiped his brow. "It would seem as though he has something to discuss with you. Not that this surprises me!" He rolled his eyes and began to tinker with the teleportation device, while I hurried out of the room.

Thank goodness Maxis called me when he did, I didn't think I could stand another second in there with Schuster.

"Dr. Maxis?" I stepped into his personal laboratory, where he stood in a white lab coat and blue gloves. Strapped around his neck were a pair of safety goggles.

He wheeled to face me. "Ah, Richtofen, my boy." He greeted me, pulling off his gloves and relocating to my position. "We have something to discuss." He brought me deeper into his lab, picking up a small vial of blue liquid on his way. He stopped, holding it up as it glowed vibrantly. "Doctor Richtofen," He began, taking on a serious expression. "Behold... Element 115."

I examined the tiny bottle of this blue substance. "Element 115?" I questioned.

He nodded, a sly grin stretching across his cheeks. "Edward, this is what we've been waiting for! This is the answer to all our problems! Forget the Ultrafluid! With this tiny vial, we can make all of our weaponry the best in the entire world, we can even master the art of teleportation!"

My eyes widened at Maxis' excitement. "But, how can that be? What could this element possibly give us?" I scratched my head, a bit skeptical.

Maxis smiled, shaking his head. "Oh, Richtofen... I cannot wait to find out. Further testing should reveal it's power. But I know this is it. I know this is what we need to finally gain an advantage over the American army!"

Could 'Element 115' really be as powerful as Maxis believed?

"If you say so, Doctor Maxis..." Something about this whole ordeal gave me the chills. Performing such tests with a substance we know very little of could hail some very disturbing results.

"I'd like to discuss more with you, however, I have a meeting to attend. Say, would you care to discuss this over dinner? I shall tell Gustaf to prepare his finest."

I had nowhere to be, so I consented to dinner, to be had around six.

Later that evening, I returned home to Eliza, who had her face buried in the book we had been reading. Noticing my arrival, she came to me, nodding politely.

"Good evening, sir, and welcome home," she voiced.

"Good evening, Eliza." I replied. "I have good news. You will not have to prepare dinner tonight!" I smiled, taking a seat on the couch to rest my weary legs.

"Hmm?" She furrowed her brow. "Why not?" She gasped and cupped her hands over her mouth. "Oh, was the chili that bad?!"

I laughed light-heartedly, though she seemed serious. "Please," I began, "you know it was delicious."

I noticed her pinkish cheeks as she smiled cutely.

"So, you must be eating elsewhere."

I nodded a bit tiredly. "Maxis has invited me over for dinner. It seems that he has discovered some type of new element that will unlock many secrets." I wasn't sure why I was telling her this, perhaps just to hear her wonderful voice a bit longer.

"Oh?" She seemed very interested at this point, surprising me a bit. She decided to take a seat next to me on the couch, causing me to take my arm off of the back. I tensed at the way she turned her body toward me slightly, crossing her legs to listen.

"Yes, Element 115, he calls it..." I casually began to tell her what Maxis had told me.

"So..." She asked when I had finished, "Do you know if they will be testing this on any human subjects?" Her face became troubled.

I wasn't sure of this answer. "Perhaps Maxis will discuss that tonight... But I hope the answer is no."

Eliza remained silent for a few seconds, looking off into the distance. "So do I..." She trailed off, her face becoming suddenly sullen, as if something bothered her. It bothered me too... even if the people being tested on were volunteers, there was something immoral about it.

My servant stood up and began to tidy the area.

"You don't have to do that all the time, you know." I picked up the book Eliza had been reading, and flipped to the chapter I had left off on.

I looked at her, and she had a puzzled look upon her features.

"Do what, Mr. Richtofen?" She grabbed the broom, and I chuckled kiddingly.

"What you're doing now. You don't have to clean all the time, the place looks great. Surely I don't make that big of a mess!" I lay across the couch and watched her walk around the room.

Eliza scoffed. "You'd be surprised..." She laughed a bit and shook her head.

I smirked at her joking manner, simply thankful that she felt this comfortable. It was such a pleasant change from the Eliza that was afraid to even say my name in the wrong tense.

"Well, at least I don't bicker at poor adolescents," I teased.

She gasped and put her hands on her hips. "He was late! I should have done more than that... That was months ago, sir. I'm quite surprised you even remember that."

"I remember everything about you." I said kindly, blushing a bit when she stopped sweeping and curiously looked at me with her aqua eyes.

"Oh really..." She peered at me, an unreadable emotion behind her expression. "What's my favorite color?"

I smirked. "That's an easy one. Rainbow, because you can't simply choose one color."

The girl seemed taken aback as I divulged this knowledge, so she asked me another question. "Okay then, do I like dogs or cats?" She began to sweep again.

"Dogs," I replied. "Big ones, especially." I smiled, and never took my eyes off of her moving form.

She sighed, realizing that she hadn't stumped me. "Lucky guess. Fine. What's my favorite song?"

My expression changed, because I wasn't sure. I didn't recall her telling me this one!

"I... I'm guessing it's Dances of the Moon. You seemed to love that song when we danced..." Mentioning this caused me to blush at the reminiscent tune of the ballad. I could feel Eliza's warmth even as I sat there on the couch, as if we were dancing now.

She looked at me, but her smile faded. I saw so much thought behind those windows of hers, as she analyzed me from afar. I never knew what she was thinking, but that only caused me to try and find out. Eliza looked deep into my eyes, titling her head slightly. All at once, she looked at the ground, setting the broom against the wall. She nodded subtly.

"You win again, Edward." She spoke softly, as the corners of her mouth titled upwards slightly. "I believe I'll retire now, be safe." She exited the room.

"I will." I assured.

I smiled, just hoping that she was content, and buried my face in my book, awaiting departure time.

Since Maxis did not live far away, I walked to the home. It had been only a week or so since the façade. The wind this October eve was cool, and I could sense that I would need to upgrade my coat soon. Luckily, my thickening mustache kept my lips warm, but my ears were chilled!

As I continued to walk, I noticed something on the sidewalk, casting a shadow from the bright evening sun. I walked closer to the object and examined it. It seemed to be furry, and I was small in size, with two big black eyes and a sewn on nose.

"A teddy bear?" I mumbled to myself, bending down to secure the object. It was soft in my hands, and it's beady eyes reflected innocence. I smirked a bit and crammed it into one of my large coat pockets, barely able to fit it. I wondered where this plush toy came from, perhaps I could find its owner somehow.

Finally, I arrived at Ludvig's doorstep. A butler came to the door when I rang the bell, inviting me in to the lobby of the massive house.

"Doctor Maxis shall be down shortly." He said, smiling. He led me to the huge dining table, where there were candles and beautiful plates of china. I took a set at the table, and the butler left me.

Shortly after, Maxis's somewhat haughty self stepped into the room, dressed nicely. "Edward, welcome." He smiled and took a seat at the table. "Forgive me for my lateness. I had to attend to some business."

"It's not a problem, sir." I smiled.

He nodded and called to his chef. "Gustaf! When will dinner be ready?"

Gustaf scurried into the room, stirring a large bowl of an unknown substance. "Give me 15 minutes, sir." He made his way back to the kitchen.

Maxis sighed lightly. "I suppose that gives us time to talk, then." He sipped the wine that sat on the table, as I picked up my glass. "Element 115. I still cannot believe it exists!" He shook his head in disbelief.

"How did you discover this element, anyway?" I chatted, making idle communication. An element that could unlock all of our military secrets? It seemed so impossible!

"Well, we had received word that the Japanese had discovered a source of an unknown element on the edges of Northern France."

"The element can be found in this very country?" I marveled.

"Yes! Isn't it fascinating? I sent a few men, along with some scientists to investigate the area. What we found there was... Incredible to say the least. A gigantic meteor, glowing with the blue liquid. The whole sky around it seemed to be illuminated... Almost as if the element had some sort of effect on the atmosphere itself!"

"You're kidding..." I was nearly speechless, at the way Maxis described it. It sounded miraculous.

"Nein, I kid you not! I myself have seen it." Maxis leaned forward in his seat, toward me. "You must understand, Edward... If we-"

"DADDY!!!!!!"

My eyes widened as a loud, high pitched voice rung into my ears, startling me.

Maxis leaned away, his eyes also wide. "Oh nein..." He trailed off.

On spur of moment, a short figure scurried into the room, a flash of blue speeding toward Maxis.

"Daddy!!! Teddy is MISSING!!!"

The little dark-haired child tugged at Maxis's coat, and he rubbed his head with his hands.

"Not now, Samantha..." He tried pushing the girl away, to no avail.

Daddy? Does this mean... That Ludvig Maxis is a FATHER?!

"Daddy!!! It's Teddy! We have to find him!"

Maxis sighed and looked at me. "Edward, meet my daughter, Samantha."

I looked at the girl, whose long hair waved down her back. Her bright greenish eyes were filled with tears for her missing 'Teddy'.

"Nice to meet you, Samantha!" I had no clue that Maxis had such a young daughter, she seemed to be no older than five or six. What a revelation!

"Where did you see Teddy last, Sam?" Maxis rose for his seat, bending to tend to the girl.

"I had him at the lab today, but then I came home, and now he's gone!" Tears began to flow over her eyes.

Teddy... Hmm. Like a teddy bear, perhaps?

Maxis looked frustrated. "Samantha, go to your room. I will help to find it later, but right now-"

I interrupted Ludvig's words, taking the teddy bear I had found earlier from my pocket. "Sam, is this your Teddy?" I held it up to her.

She wheeled around and her eyes grew. "Teddy!" She exclaimed, snatching the plush bear from my fingers and hugging it securely. Her big eyes looked to me. "Teddy Eddy!!!" Samantha suddenly threw her arms around me, hugging my lower half tightly.

I couldn't help but smile at her. I instinctively wrapped my arms around her tiny form gently. She giggled and grinned up at me widely.

"Alright, Samantha. Off to bed." Ludvig pulled her from me subtly and hurried her toward the back of he house.

He sighed when he came back into the room. "I'm very sorry, Edward. Samantha will not be a bother again."

I was still so surprised. I would never have guessed that a man of his age could have such a young child. Perhaps the stress of running Group 935 had taken a toll on his appearance, making him look older that he truly was.

"It's quite alright." I assured. "It's very odd to finally meet your child... I never knew you were a father."

"I like to keep her a bit of a secret." Maxis said, as Gustaf lay down many plates of food.

"What ever for?" I nearly raised my voice, appalled. "She seems very sweet."

Maxis looked down at his plate solemnly. "Those who head our secret organization would frown upon anyone in charge who has... Other obligations."

"Even family, sir?"

"Even family." He confirmed. The rest of the dinner was filled with idle chatting, but a sense of heaviness lay over the whole event.

Later that night, I left Maxis' home with remaining energy. We had further discussed Element 115 and the Ray Gun project, but the only thing that I was still thinking of was Samantha. Was she confined in his home? Surely she was allowed to play outside.

I had been here for many months now. Never had I even heard talk of this little girl. I wondered if the other members of Group 935 even knew about her.

I reached my home quite late, but nonetheless retreated to the study to find the book I had been reading.

"Fiancé of Fire," I read to myself, smiling. I had just gotten to the good part, and couldn't wait to continue reading.

I took it to my bedroom for maximum comfort, reading its contents by a dim candlelight on the nightstand. Vince Sega had only just confessed his love for the princess, and they were making plans to run away, in the face of adversity, where they could not be with one another.

"We have to run," He said to her, his voice sodden with the crackling of guilt. "You know it's true."

She knew it was the only answer, but she didn't want to believe it. "There must be another way. My father's condition is worsening by the day, and I am his only heir to the throne..." the princess's voice was hushed by the prickling water in her eyes. This home... It was the only home she had ever known. Leaving it behind would kill her inside, little by little.

"I know..." Vince whispered softly into his lover's ear, wrapping his strong arms securely around the girl's waist, in an attempt to soothe her woes. "We have some time... we can think about this." To see her like this pained him. He wanted only her happiness... but were his own wishes clouding his judgment? He couldn't do this alone. He needed her full cooperation, also he wanted her all to himself.

"Vince..." Jemma mused. She sighed, a tear dropping to the ground. "I-I... I truly do love you."

This was music to his ears. "I love you, too. I love you more that life itself," the man breathed against the girl's trembling lips. All at once, his lips covered hers, causing them both to close their eyes and lean into one another. They began to speed up, their lips enthralled with one another, Jemma's fingers intertwined with her man's light hair. Vince backed the princess to a mattress that conveniently lay on the other side of the room, and they both crashed upon it.

His hands moved quickly, yet smoothly, travelling down her waist, and soon beginning to creep under her long, flowing dress.

My eyes widened as the tone of the book took a slight turn, and immediately began to make me blush. I felt really strange reading this part, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the words on the page!

She moaned lightly at his touch, her cheeks turning the color of the roses Vince had given to her. She had never felt this way before, so trusting of a man. She wanted everything that he offered, and soon her worries began to melt into nothing. Her inner goddess erupted as she bent down, kissing the man's neck, earning a quiet whimper of lust from his throat. She moved with her lips, trailing them down the nape of his neck, to his chest. Sega impatiently began to unravel her garments, sliding her dress over her head, and revealing a side which he'd never seen, and that Jemma herself had just discovered.
He liked what he saw, and he assured the woman that she had nothing to be shy about. The two wrapped themselves around one another, removing clothing piece after piece, until their limbs were bare, and they were rocking side to side in the depths of love and lust.

This theme continued for the rest of the chapter, describing each moment of their session in mature detail. I had never been exposed to this sort of literature before, something new like this was interesting to me. I was sure, though, that my face was a tomato throughout the entire scene. I was simply glad that no one else had to know that I was reading this...

Strangely, I rather enjoyed it.

After finishing that chapter, I lay down, still thinking, and regretfully, imagining all that had happened in it. With the events of the day, and the way I felt right then... I was frightened by the dreams I was sure to experience that night.