Remnants

Scatter 1-6

Resonance

Author's Note: Word of warning, this chapter is raw. Like RAW as fuck. Like only a single read and spell check RAW. So expect more mistakes that normal.

You know what always bothered me? That all the Mechashift weapons we see are always hand made. I mean you would think that those kind of weapons would get mass produced? I don't mean the shrinking blades that the thugs in the first episode use to be clear, I mean like the high impact sniper scythe that is the only true Waifu :P

So I've been considering killing this story, because of all the errors and faults I find with the earlier writing. Because I spend so long on each chapter, I find looking back at these older chapters to be extremely disquieting. So I will change this story's summery if I end up deciding to murder this story here.

Ruby was running up the side of Beacon Academy's impressive central tower. The once pristine campus was in ruins from the attacks from the Atlas Military, Creatures of Grim and even the White Fang terrorist organization. Each step had roses materializing behind her as her semblance drove her body forward. On her back, her high calibre Sniper-Scythe was stored.

Her feet pressed against luminescent glyphs. Each glyph was formed by pair of concentric circles and a series of markings radially around them. Ruby gave her partner Weiss Schnee a parting glance. Weiss' semblance might have been powerful and variable, but the heiress didn't have the strength left to power the runes long enough for both of them to make it to the top of the tower.

The top of the tower. Ruby focused on the trial ahead of her, trying to project confidence. Pyrrha was up here, and she needed Ruby's help. Sound of clashing and heated combat echoed down from the lip of the tower and caused Ruby to push just a little harder with her speed. Her body burst from the edge of the tower, only to watch in horror as an arrow stuck her friend straight through the heart.

Ruby's ears flattened against her head as she watched in horror and disbelief as her friend's Killer walked up and pressed a palm to the side of Pyrrha's head. Terror froze the young huntress as Pyrrha's body was cremated from the inside out. Ruby fell to her knees as ash flew from where her friend had only been a moment ago. Agony shot through her as she hugged herself and screamed.

[Destination]

[Agreement]

[Limitation?]

[Radial]

[Agreement]

Power welled up in Ruby's body as she unleashed a burst of white energy. The killer spun around in shock and was frozen. The power continued to spread out from the young faunus, stopping all that it touched. Grimm, collapsing masonry and terrorists alike. None of this mattered to the young girl, who just remained there and stared at the sparse remains of her friend.

Hours later, the girl's uncle arrived to find her still there, staring at the small pile of ash left behind. Despite his best effort, the girl remained unresponsive. Whether with jokes, bribes or pokes, the young huntress in training was unresponsive. He continued his efforts until the earliest rays of the sun was peeking over the horizon. Reaching down, the old man hefted her onto his back and disappeared over the edge of the tower.

I stood there, staring at the strange scene that had just passed. Another person was beside me, but they didn't speak and I was too tired to even try. I had been doing something important, but I couldn't quite get the energy to care. The sun continued it's rise, and I moved to the edge of the large tower to watch it. The other observer followed.

The sunrise was beautiful, a deep orange and red that stained the sky. Heat bloomed across my face as I let myself relax. It's been forever since I saw a sunrise. I should try to do this more. Bellow, I saw the uncle and Ruby, moving away from the sphere of stilled matter. Ruby, wearing an almost exact copy of my own costume, using my own cape name.

My eyes snapped up to the sky above. It was dark, but growing lighter by the minute. Several lazy clouds floated away from the rising sun. In the distance, a large city had burning buildings and destroyed blocks of buildings. It reminded me of something, but for the life of me I couldn't remember. Maybe I had watched some movie or something?

- nimbus of destroyed buildings-

Either way, it didn't matter. I sat down on the edge of the tower and continued to just watch the sun's slow, steady trip upwards. Several of the blackened griffins flew across the sky towards the city. The darkened Creatures of Grimm were actually quite interesting, now that I took the time to actually study them. Almost entirely monochromatic, the creatures had lithe muscular structure and distinct bone plates.

Several deafening cracks filled the air as the griffins were shot down before they could reach the city. As they fell down, not a sound released from them. The creatures misted apart into a black fog long before they landed. I sighed as I flopped backwards to stare upwards at the early mourning sky. Even the sun didn't lend me that much energy.

The observer was still there, but they moved to be just out of my field of view. When my eyes moved just right, I saw part of her sleeve. Or was it pants? I suppose it doesn't really matter. The clouds were fluffy and light. It seemed like a rather odd contrast for what just happened. I guess that's the irony. For all the tragedy that happened, nature just remained nice and beautiful. I wish Dad was here with me. I miss having those picnics that we used to have with Mom. Just another thing that we lost.

The sound of claw scrapping on masonry echoed up the tower. The noise was low, but was growing closer every moment. It had this primal quality, kind of like how certain buildings feel old beyond just it's appearance. Several moments later, some creature pulled itself over the lip of the building. Using large, black furred limbs, the lycan leapt into the air.

The creature was large, easily the size of a small vehicle. It had bone splinters shooting through it's for arms. The rest of it's body had small bone nubs pushing through the flesh. The beast's skull like head looked past me, staring towards the centre of the floor. I ignored the stab of familiarity the Grimm shot through me. Howling sprang through the air, as something crashed into the ground. I suppose the Beowolf had hurt itself attacking the killer.

I closed my eyes. The sun's heat felt really nice. Almost like that feeling of just lying in bed after a long day. The air was crisp. Not that cold, but that nice smell you only really get in fall. It was nice to just lay down and relax. Beacon's tile floor wasn't a great bed, but it would do...

It was cold again. I was on grass and leaves. My eyes blinked open as the sound of hustle carried themselves to my ear. Carefully, I dragged myself up to sit against a tree. The leaves were a deep green, with a shape most similar to those huge maple trees. The sound of life echoed around me. An experimental sniff revealed the scent of a crisp fall.

Two teenager came walking through the forest directly to my left. As I moved my head, the other presence stayed just beyond my field of view on the right. The first teenager to walk through the dense forest was one I recognized. Pyrrha Nikos, a several times over champion of some tournament and skilled huntress.

The one following behind her wasn't someone I've seen before, but I recognize him all the same. Jaune D'Arc, huntsman that would go on as leader of the 13th regiment of the future unified hunter task force. He was much younger now than when he reached his peak.

[Prior: {Bond: Shard}]

Another memory tickled, but I shoved it aside. The presence had moved somewhat, but it was still floating just on the edge of cognition. Either way, the younger Jaune D'Arc was recovering from some form of attack that left him with a light injury on his face. I blinked as the conversation was oddly muted. The general gist seemed to be about the power of the soul.

Then Pyrrha said the one thing I could hear clearly, "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee." Ah, so that's how it works. I guess I was just over thinking the problem.

Pyrrha's soul travelled across her arm and flooded Jaune's body with power and strength. His own soul took that offering and used it to manifest itself as a protective barrier. The duo both glowed with the inner light of the soul. Unlike Pyrrha's soul, Jaune was soft. He had yet to truly ignite his soul with intent and power. Until then, he wouldn't have the fullest power to bear as a weapon.

Odd, now that I really think about it. I started with manifesting my soul and ignited it at precisely the same moment. I can't think of any rational reason for that to happen. Yeah, now that I thought about it, I can remember learning that igniting one's semblance normally took years of effort. I was in my second year at Mantle's Atlas Academy I believe.

Wait, that's not my life...

This time I was more lucid when I came to. Lucid enough to wonder what was going on anyway. I was on some form of sandbar in Vacuo. The desert kingdom was always sweltering hot, but somehow the sensation felt muted, distant. Like I was feeling it from a mile away instead of living in my shoes. To my right, as normal, my ethereal companion stood. As is their habit, they are remaining just out of my field of view. Just close enough to be by my side, yet not so close as to interfere with me.

Down bellow, in the low range of sand between the sandbar I was on and the next held a group of young deathstalkers and a Team RNJR of the lost Beacon Academy. The combat was vicious, as several large calibre firearms barked out in defiance against the enemy of Fanuskind. The lacking of heavy armour more common to the older members of the species, the deathstalkers died in a single shot.

As my counterpart released our shared high impact sniper rifle against the grim, the other three members of her team were not idle. Once again, Jaune D'Arc was left without firearm. However, using his shield let him use the tremendous power of his semblance against the creatures. Each strike he caught on the white shield reflected back to bisect the Grimm.

The other half of the team was formed of Nora and Ren. Nora's weapon was a grenade launcher merged with a war hammer. Despite her slight frame, she swung Magnhild with herculean strength. In her wake, the flattened Grimm dissipated into their traditional black smog. At her side, the Yin to her Yang, was her partner Ren. In his hands, our Stormflowers flowed with an eerie grace that I had yet to obtain. With skill in blade and soul, he tore the Grimm asunder.

The fight ended just a quickly as it was fought, the forces of Grimm being expended against the titanic defences of soul itself. As Jaune led his teammates forwards towards the city of Vacuo proper, I careful strolled down the sandbar. Rather unlike my fellow huntresses and huntsmen, I did not have to fight to keep my balance. It only struck me as odd when I looked back to see no trace of my passage.

[Recollection]

Ah, my companion was so kind to remind me that these events had already passed. They seemed slightly different now. Almost more solid and together then they were before. Perhaps due to the stabilizing energy of Aura that now surged through them. It's healing properties weren't it's strongest attribute, but quite useful all the same.

I quickly caught up with the shades of myself and my close friends. Odd that I didn't remember this quite as clear as I should, but likely some form of injury like what happened to my sister Yang. I never had the most abundant Aura levels like her, so it was more likely. So that's why my companion had to remind me of my past in this manner.

We were getting closer to Vacuo now, in sight line of it actually. Ren spoke then, still oddly muted, but much clearer than the past recollections my companion showed me. He spoke of distances and false images. Likely something about being misled. I was quite a bit more naive when I was young, although I do miss that form of energetic life.

Jaune spoke again, "Don't worry Ren. We will walk a thousand miles if that's what it takes."

"Yeah! This is nothing. Think about the Grimm we'll get to crush!"This time I heard Nora speak, her face showing a radiant smile. It seems I had shaken the last of the lingering distance between myself and my memories. Even now, the heat felt miles closer than it did just moments before.

"Guys, don't forget to drink plenty of water. Don't need you to get dehydrated." It was my shade that spoke this time. While I was younger, it seems that I was already a maternal figure at this point. Considering that I was their leader outside of combat, I guess that made some sense. Jaune handled the combat tactics better than me anyway. I was more inclined towards strategy and logistics anyway.

"Yes, as you've reminded us the last twelve times." Ren wasn't outspoken, but I missed his deadpan voice so much. I wonder what happened recently that I missed this so much. I hope he was okay.

"Well forgive me for caring." The shade of me gave a small playful huff and got a small laugh out of her companions. Despite of Pyrrha's painful lost just a couple of months before this memory, it seemed that we had coped well. Perhaps it was the friendship that made it easier. It was something I wish I had more of when Mom died.

We had managed to make it to the front gates of Vacuo by the edge of dusk. The security checkpoint was tighter than the one from around either Patch or even Vale itself. Although, considering the recent fall of Beacon I couldn't really blame them. Actually, considering how Cinder manipulated the events around the Vytal tournament, it made more sense for them to be wary of Beacon students.

The advanced scanners functioned off a complex board of dust crystal fluxing with electricity between the separate nodes. It was far more elegant than electron based computation because it could run more than two values in a "bit" and more than one operation in a "cycle". It used something similar to entanglement to force values to change when one node signals. So in one cycle, the single node can force as many as eight operations and parse as many as two hundred and fifty six separate values.

[Pride]

They let us through the checkpoint without much more threat than usual and the team's shades split up to go on and accomplish separate tasks. With my own shade, I watched myself go on and purchase over the counter dust as apposed to growing my own. After all, we were in a time crunch. As I walked up beside my own shade I heard a voice calling out to us.

"... Ruby Rose." However, it didn't appear that my shade could hear the sound. Almost as if the sound itself was beyond it's notice. The sensation of rocking back and forth shook through me. The sound of howling winds screamed past my ears. My body felt cold and empty, worse than any Aura exhaustion I've had before.

"Are you awake Ruby?" The masculine voice called again. I felt my body collapse and my eyes drifted shut. I felt strong arm holding me close. Blood was in my mouth and I couldn't feel my face. I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't muster the energy. My Aura was regenerating, but it was draining almost as fast. My lower body tingled with that pins and needles sensation I sometimes got when I fell off my hanging bed back at Beacon Academy.

"Mefaguhh..." I managed to make some sound, but not anything actually resembling words or even language. My throat complained about it's misuse as pain racked up and down my body. I felt the arms holding be tightly slightly, like Mom used to when I had nightmares. It felt safer than I have in a while.

"Just relax. The worst is over now. I'm getting you medical attention now." The voice replied. I wonder who it was. It had to someone whom had fought along side with, because otherwise they wouldn't have been so nice with me in this injured state. Could it be one of Shade Academy's Professors?

[Host: LightTravell_Control]

My companion tried to speak to me again, but this time they were much farther than before. Almost like we were literal planets away now. Nothing but the barest hint of familiarity and comfort made it through from their communication. Nevertheless, I tried to send a sensation of gratitude through the link that bonded us together.

[Acknowledge]

I hope that the sensation of gratitude I got was from my companion, but now I was too far to be sure. I kinda miss that closeness now. It was still gratifying to know that I always had someone right there to hold be up and keep me moving. However distant though, now I know they have my back from afar so that's a nice consolation prize.

Next time I gained full lucidity, I was lying down on a fluffy bed in a room with a reverberant feel. My shallow breath stirred the air and echoed pitifully around me. The room felt rather small, but with my eyes refusing to open properly, I have no way of being sure. Over my body was a rather heavy blanket, keeping me delightfully warm.

My arms were leaden and my entire body was numb. All my energy was tapped right now. Not even my Soul had anything left. My mouth reluctantly opened to release a rather loud yawn. My jaw felt bruised, from how the pain radiated as it moved. However, I already felt my Aura flowing to my face, so at least I was recovering. I hadn't been this dead tired since, well, the Fall.

As my mind gently recovered from my rest, I became more aware of my body. I had one of those plastic tube things in my nose, to help with breathing I assume, and an IV in my left arm. My right had a plastic heart rate sensor on it, with the slightly uncomfortable feeling associated with them. Over my left leg was a hard cast. I was hoping to avoid broken bones, for some reason Aura would heal those kinds of injuries last.

So where was I? My memory was hazy on the details leading up to my injury. I was fighting, but for the life of me I can't remember what I was fighting. My heart skipped a beat as I tried and failed to remember the previous 24 hours. I remember hanging out in Vacuo, in some cafe or another with that guy Monty. I think he offered me a bagel?

Some sort of alarm went off, so I assume some sort of Grimm or White Fang attack occurred. Knowing me, I was likely using my semblance to get to the front line and help. Was it Salem? No, it had to be White Fang, Salem was still in the Darklands, right? My head throbbed as I vainly tried to tear through the veil of painkillers that rested on my mind.

A door opened and I heard a small, feminine gasp. Before I could get a word out, the woman's heavy footsteps flew off into the distance towards my right. I guess I wasn't supposed to be awake right now. Some of my very limited aura must have subconsciously drifted towards my ears, because I could now just barely make out hurried conversation. Something about me, obviously. I tried to make out the date, but the conversation didn't seem to steer in that direction.

"What's happened?" A voice to the left of where I mentally placed my door asked. It took a moment, but I recognized the deep voice of Armsmaster. "Ah, you've seemed to regained consciousness. Miss Rose, this is Armsmaster of Protectorate ENE. You've been injured and are currently at the Protectorate Temporary Medical Centre."

I tried to reply, but I just ended up coughing for a good couple of minutes. I guess Armsmaster must have left to get water or something, because I felt his cold metal gloves, well technically I think they count more as gauntlets, pushing a cool glass into my right hand. Wait, when had my right hand moved? Either way, I gratefully drank the miraculous cold liquid.

"You were incapacitated during the engagement with Echidna and were later retrieved by Legend. You've been in medical care for the past 72 hours, with no parahuman aid given as your were under some form of regenerative power." Several things seemed to clear up in my head. Events that were just single disjointed moments of sensation seemed to align properly in my head.

"I'll allow the medical staff to continue to brief you." Armsmaster left after his piece was done. Did I miss something? Was someone else in here angrily waving him out? Perhaps some form of message was relayed to him and he couldn't spare the time to properly excuse himself? That last one was most likely. Honestly after an Endbringer fight, I'm surprised he even had time to say as much as he did.

Several doctors came by later, or I guess one doctor and some nurses, can't really tell without being able to open my eyes. About my eyes, it seemed that they got damaged in the conflict. The doctor I was speaking to was quite evasive about it, saying that my regeneration should take care of it. I tried to correct them, I really did, but it seems like I didn't manage to phrase it right. They just said I could use the medical facility as long as I needed to recover.

I felt exhaustion creeping at the edges of my mind. I was so tired. I could always correct them later. It's not like I was under any specific time crunch. Anyway, it's not like I was the only one to get hurt. I'm sure that which ever healing parahuman they have is busy healing other people. Heavens know I don't need help to stabilize. Aura really is wonderful.

It felt like I just blinked and time flew forward, but of course, I couldn't even open my eyes. My arms weren't quite so dead and my soul had finally made back more energy that it was spending to heal me. I shifted slightly and thankfully the muscles didn't complain too badly. Slowly I tensed by back, before releasing the pressure. I almost hissed in delight as several kinks came undone.

Metal clinks echoed in the room, so someone must have been here. I softly spoke, because who knew what time it was? "Hello?"

"Ah, so you're awake too?" A masculine voice replied back to my left. I didn't recognize his voice.

"Hello again. I'm Ruby, you are?" I tried to inject some peppiness into my voice, but I'm fairly certain it didn't work.

"You can call me Hyper. Tinker with Toybox. Came by to pick up some tech off of a colleague in Brockton when all this went down."

"Um, why haven't you left yet? I mean, like gone home or back to headquarters or whatever." Wait, no, that sounds super rude. "Not that you can't stay here, but nothing is really left or anything..." Oh my God, kill me now.

"I would love to, believe it or not, hospitals are not my idea of a good time. But in the confusion, I got hit by one of the "parahuman clones". Lost my leg, but thankfully it was a thermal based projectile, so I didn't start bleeding out." I felt my shoulder's tighten as I pictured the macabre scene of Yang's brutal dismemberment.

Wait, did I even meet Yang?

"Um, sorry about that. Should have been more sensitive..." I managed to get a coherent reply out, a small miracle with the way my mind was whirling. And throbbing, don't forget the throbbing.

Hyper just laughed. It was one of those light little chuckles actually, like I do with Zwei when he does something cute. "Don't worry about it, I would have question too in your position. I can't recognize your name, but you must be another independent like me to land here."

"Here?" I manage to keep track of the conversation, but I couldn't say how, what with the intensity of my thoughts. I could clearly remember creating Crescent Rose from scratch, back at Signal Academy, but then I also made her in my basement while hiding from Dad and Yang. But why would I hide from them...

"The masked section of our quaint little hospital here. Normally Protectorate heroes are brought to another area. So what's up with you then? If you don't mind me asking of course." He asked me a question, so I tore myself from the mess that was my memories to try and answer him. No need to be rude after all.

"I can't quite remember. Something to do with my eyes." That scared me a lot more than my long term memory being foggy. See, from my admittedly shaky understanding, when you were on drugs you were in different mind state that prevented you from access memories from your 'normal' state, as in those you had before you were on the medication. But if I couldn't remember something that recent I might actually have brain damage. At least short term memory loss. At least my companion was trying to help.

[...]

"Well shit. Hope it's not brain damage. Not a lot of healers that can help with that." His voice was slightly less cheery now, but I don't know if he actually care or was just unsettled. "Well, if they left you alone this long it can't be that bad I guess."

The silence between us went on for a while. I didn't really mind. It helped me get my thoughts in order. I don't think I lost my memories, because all the big ones were there. It's just like all the connections between them got cut? It was a jumble of disparate moments with not proper form to them. Like I could go from a memory of that recital at elementary school straight to fighting Grimm after the fall of beacon with no memories in between. How would I even know if I lost a memory?

"So, eh, what kinda cape are you?" Hyper's voice seemed uncertain and hesitant.

"A tinker, I build collapsible weapons."

[Annoyance]

Well technically, that wasn't the whole truth. I could do a lot more than just collapsing with Mechashift weapons, but that was a whole lot of usage to fit in a tiny moment. Not to mention all the things I can accomplish with dust computation and devices or advance robotics or body armours. I mean even the most outdated Atlsian tech outshines all the civilian offerings.

"Well, want to talk shop? Not like there is anything else to do right now." His voice did a complete 180 and was super excited and cheery. Almost Hyper really...

Oh God, Yang is getting to me!

"Actually what time is it? Don't want to wake anyone up."

"Only like eleven. So yeah, I work with trans-dimensional spaces. I basically take what makes up the barrier between this world and the next and do this magic folding bullshit to make more space where none existed before. It's has a benefit over Dodge's stuff because it can create more R three space were none was to begin with."

"So you make pocket dimensions? Not really sure how you would benefit from working with me. I mean, I guess they would be nice so I can use more of my own weapons, but I'm not quite certain what you would gain"

"It's not about gaining anything. Just talking for talking sake. I can't really make weapons either, so it'll be novel." He spoke again, this time slightly more composed but no less excited.

"Um, well I guess I use superdense exotic alloys," I began, "they allow me to create a light motion frame that is strong enough to hold the combined force the weapons would place on the frame, while giving me a good base to build my hinges around." My brows furrowed as I tried to word my thoughts.

[Apology]

"The hinge is built around odd interactions with the exotic material. I can't properly verbalize why it works. Too much of the design is based on principles that don't have proper English names. I guess the material intangible reverberation allows me to create non physical connections between the different moving pieces similar to quantum entanglement? It's really not something that has words for it unless you just say magic bullshit..."

Hyper broke into deep guffaws that startled me. "Magic bullshit!" He continued to laugh. "That is the single best explanation for parahumans ever. Period." He took a couple deep breaths and tried to stop from laughing. From the giggling I was hearing, it didn't help. "Well I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. Most tinkers actually don't know why their Tech work."

"Wait what!" I almost shouted in surprise. "But, but how! I mean, they built the stuff. They have to understand how it works." Several groans sounded around me, but I really didn't care at this point.

"Outside of you, the only others who have mentioned having an actual understanding of their technology has been Dragon and Masamune. I can't say how it is for other tinkers, but when I work I just kinda feel how the pieces need to go together. Like, just pure intuition. I haven't the damnedest idea why I need to put a connection across two points, just that I have to for it to work."

"I mean, I can kinda build around it like a black box. If I know that this particular device does something than I can use that to support another device I might build. Then again, that is kinda why Toybox was formed. To get around the black box phenomena, I mean. Well, that and make money to build more things, but that's to be expected."

"That sounds really nice actually." I could see myself doing that, just working on new weapons all day? I loved working on Crescent Rose and this would be really similar. I felt my blood rush just a little faster as I thought of all the cool weapons I could work on. Yeah, I think that would be an easy life. My smile faltered a bit, as I reminded myself that I couldn't just stay in the forge all day. People needed my help after all.

"Yeah, it's what motivates most of our members. I just like working on making things, so this is kinda like my engineering degree plus one." Hyper seemed to slow down a bit, almost like he was recalling something far off.

"So you have a degree?" I tried to not sound to surprised. I didn't want to hurt his feelings after he was so nice to me. A yawn almost crept up on me, but I butchered it. Hyper wasn't boring, and I didn't want to give him that impression.

"Don't sound so surprised, almost the entirety of Toybox has one degree or another. Sort of a hidden benefit of joining us, a full tuition scholarship to most Science, Business and Engineering programs. Most members report that the increased knowledge base helps them build new tech around their 'Black Boxes'. "

"Wait, how many people are in Toybox?" My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to make sense of things.

"Thirty nine Tinkers with twelve members of support staff, like marketers and finance people," Hyper coughed before continuing, "Of course, we are always looking for more Tinkers, so if you're interested I can see how quickly we can induct you."

"Maybe, I want to know whats going on with my head before I make any decisions." My head was throbbing again, although maybe it's more accurate to say that it rose back to the forefront of my head. It's like when someone mentions that you are breathing, once you pay attention to it, you can stop.

"My apologizes, I actually forgot. Would you like some quiet?" Hyper's voice wasn't as boisterous as before, but he didn't actually seem that upset.

"A little would be nice, I am a touch tired." I couldn't keep the yawn out of my voice.

"Well, here's hoping to a swift recovery then. Good night." Hyper's voice sounded really far off now. Almost a world away now. I was sinking deep into something, and I felt a warm embrace.

[Greetings]

'Ah, hi' I sleepily replied to my companion.