Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

As Helios strolled through the quiet streets of Radiant Garden, the sun had dipped low, casting an orange-pink glow over the city. He was lost in thought about his recent encounters with Isa, Lea, and Cid, considering how his new bonds were slowly tying him to Radiant Garden, when something small and fast barreled into him. A soft gasp and a stumble, and he looked down to see a little girl sprawled on the ground, looking up at him with wide, teary eyes.

The girl was young, with striking violet-blue eyes and dark red hair, the kind of hair that looked like fire in the waning light. She wore a simple white shirt with tiny blue flowers and a delicate pink skirt that swayed with every movement, complete with large, round shoes that seemed to swallow her small feet. She looked ready to cry, her lip trembling as she rubbed one scraped knee.

Helios recognized her instantly. This was Kairi, one of the Princesses of Heart, the same girl who would one day be closely tied to Sora, the keyblade wielder whose journey would eventually intersect with Helios's own. Knowing how much of an impact she would have on future events, he knelt down beside her, extending his hand in a comforting gesture.

"Hey there, are you okay?" he asked gently.

Kairi sniffled, looking up at him with watery eyes before nodding, though her voice wavered as she answered. "Y-Yeah. I'm okay… I just wasn't looking where I was going."

Helios offered her a reassuring smile, taking her hand and helping her to her feet. "That's alright. You just have to be careful, or you might end up hurting yourself." He brushed a few specks of dust from her apron. "Are you lost? Do you need help getting home?"

Kairi shook her head, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "No, I know where home is," she said softly, her small voice sounding both determined and shy.

"Well, that's good to hear," Helios replied, his tone light. "Just be careful on your way, alright? It'll be dark soon."

Kairi gave him a grateful smile and nodded. "Thank you, mister." She started to turn, then hesitated, looking back. "Um, sorry again for bumping into you!"

With that, she started running again, this time more cautiously, her little feet pattering against the stone path. Helios couldn't help but smile as he watched her, and when she looked back once more, he raised a hand, reminding her with a grin, "Watch your step!"

Once Kairi disappeared around the corner, Helios continued his walk back toward Merlin's cottage, but Kurai's voice sounded in his mind almost instantly, its tone tinged with mild reproach.

"You simply let her go?" Kurai inquired, a touch of disappointment evident. "That girl is a Princess of Heart. Why not make a stronger connection to the girl of light? It could be… advantageous."

Helios shook his head slightly. "Kairi might be important, but she's pretty useless until the endgame. There's nothing to be gained from her right now. Besides, a connection to her Nobody, Naminé, would be more useful in the long run. Besides, Kairi's just a kid. I'll gain nothing by cozying up to her now."

Kurai hummed thoughtfully, though there was a note of quiet approval in its silence.

As Helios resumed his walk, he mulled over the fact that Kurai was talking to him this meant he was free to act. It was a rare opportunity, and it gave him the chance he needed to make his move. He stopped a few blocks just short of the cottage and glanced around to ensure no one was near, then opened a Dark Corridor, stepping through its swirling darkness and arriving instantly at the very laboratory where he and Cid had recently repaired the computer console.

The room was dimly lit, with only the soft hum of machinery to break the silence. The computer console loomed before him, its screens dark and waiting. Helios moved swiftly, searching for any blank drives or storage devices. His eyes fell on a sleek, unused hard drive on a nearby shelf—perfect for what he needed. He quickly connected it to the computer.

The screen flickered to life, prompting him for a password. Helios smirked, typing in the password he knew well: the names of the seven Princesses of Heart, carefully entered in a specific order. It worked, and he was granted full access to the system.

His fingers flew across the keyboard, locating and initiating the download of the program he sought: Space Paranoids. Originally designed as an operating system created by ENCOM and adapted by Ansem the Wise, Space Paranoids was used to store vital data for Radiant Garden's maintenance as well as Ansem and his pupil's personal research. But it was much more than just a system—within it, Helios knew, lay the means to access all of Ansem and Xehanort's most sensitive research, including data on the creation of Emblem Heartless and other secrets stored within this digital world.

As the files transferred, he looked around, ensuring that he remained undetected. With the hard drive slowly filling with data, he knew he'd be standing here for a while, vulnerable to being discovered. He held his breath every time a distant sound echoed down the corridors, his mind sharp and senses heightened. After nearly an hour, the final file was copied, and the transfer was complete.

Helios immediately disconnected the hard drive, checking it briefly to ensure the files were intact before accessing the computer's security systems. He brought up the footage from the lab's security cameras and meticulously deleted every frame that showed him, making sure his presence remained a secret. Satisfied, he powered down the console, restored everything to its original state, and teleported back to the spot he had been before entering the Dark Corridor.

As he walked away from the scene, feeling a surge of satisfaction at his successful infiltration, Kurai's voice sounded again, brimming with curiosity.

"What exactly did you take from that place, Helios?"

Helios glanced around, still alert despite the success of his mission. "A program, and some rather interesting research data. Space Paranoids holds more than just maintenance information—it's a record of Ansem's research, the same research that eventually led to the creation of Heartless. That data alone will be invaluable."

Kurai's voice was silent for a moment, then it spoke again, intrigued. "And what purpose does that serve in your plans?"

Helios smirked, enjoying the opportunity to explain his foresight. "It's a part of the bigger picture, Kurai. If I can understand how Emblem Heartless are created and use that knowledge, I'll have more control over the darkness when the time comes. Besides, having Ansem's research is a major advantage. No one else will have access to what I now possess for quite a while."

Kurai hummed with approval. "Ah, a calculated move indeed. Information is always an asset that could prove quite useful in the days to come."

As Helios approached Merlin's cottage, he took a steadying breath, shifting his expression to one of casual calm. He couldn't afford to raise suspicion if there were any lingering wards or spells that might detect his dark magic. Satisfied with his facade, he entered the cottage and settled down at Merlin's computer to review the data he'd stolen. It was funny that a wizard had such a thing but he did; most likely Cid installed it despite his reluctance.

Over the next few hours, Helios meticulously combed through the files on the hard drive, organizing and skimming through the vast database Ansem had compiled. It contained everything from blueprints for various machines to formulas and logs, the latter detailing each experiment with unsettling precision. Some of the entries hinted at Xehanort's hand in certain experiments, and though Helios already knew what this research would lead to, seeing it documented in such clinical detail made it all the more real.

"Fascinating, isn't it?" Kurai's voice murmured, its tone sharp with intrigue. "This Ansem's work is quite ambitious, bordering on the monstrous to his fellow man. Yet he and his apprentices plow forward with little regard for the consequences especially since they're being manipulated by this Xehanort person. Once they succeed their creation will be a beacon drawing the darkness here."

Helios nodded, acknowledging Kurai's point. "Power and knowledge often blind people to the cost of their actions. But that same blindness can be useful to us. If we play this right, this information will give us an edge."

Helios's gaze drifted to a particular file labeled "Project Grid." He knew it was the bridge to the digital world Ansem had copied and altered, a world that held its own dangers and opportunities. However, accessing it would require specialized equipment that was located in the castle's deeper laboratories.

"Once I can build those machines, we'll have the means to enter Space Paranoids itself. A virtual space in which I can alter the programming as I please; it might be useful as a headquarters," he mused aloud.

Kurai responded, its voice smooth. "Indeed. A digital world would be quite a fortress in which most wouldn't be able to access."

Helios shut the hard drive down and tucked it safely into a hidden compartment beneath a floorboard in his room, a precaution he deemed necessary. His gaze shifted out the window, where the night had fully taken hold of Radiant Garden. With Merlin gone, he had managed to take another critical step forward in his plan.

He would need to start earning some money to buy something like a chest in which he could place the hard drive in. While it was somewhat hidden he would feel safe until he placed it inside a chest and locked it with the keyblade. Doing so would seal it away until opened by another keyblade. He leaned back, closing his eyes briefly to gather his thoughts. Each piece was falling into place, yet he remained mindful of the dangers.