>Sir? SIR! DOCTOR VAUGHN!
>CERES! CERES! BETHANY! GET IN HERE! HE'S WAKING UP!
>What?! I'm coming, I'm coming!
>...Ceres? What... happe-
*Vaughn pauses, the memories flooding back into his mind.*
>Oh... Oh, my God. It... please tell me it was a dream. Ceres, please. Tell me it was just a dream. Tell me they're not all...
>Doctor Vaughn... I'm sorry. You're the only survivor.
*Vaughn's face contorts in grief and pain, before his eyes suddenly shoot open.*
>That means it's still out there. Fuck, it's still out there! We have to- to-
*Vaughn starts to struggle to the side of the hospital bed, attempting to get up, but Hoshikaze stops him*
>Doctor Vaughn, NO. You may be awake, but you're still extremely hurt. You are in no shape to even sit up, let alone walk.
>But I can't! That thing's still out there! It killed them all! I can't just let it go! You don't understand what that thing is! It was locked away for a reason! It's-
>A lava monster containing and controlled by a gemstone from Mars with mystical energy you haven't been able to figure out.
>Ceres, how... How did you know that?
>One of those aliens was here. The rabbit that blew up Curiosity. She was apparently visiting a friend, just here coincidentally. I grabbed her, questioned her. Turns out this thing is made from the malfunctioning energy of a shard of a giant purple gem from Mars that was brought to Earth. It apparently kidnapped the chimera.
>...wait. Say that again?
>Not that, moron! The purple gemstone... You're saying it arriving on Earth is what created that thing?
>I believe that is what the rabbit was implying, yes. Why?
>no, no, no, no, no... It can't be...
>All of it... all the death... all of this could have-
>WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? YOU WANT ME TO SHUT UP? YOU WANT ME TO LIE HERE AND LET IT HAPPEN? I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNOWS WHAT THIS THING IS, CERES! THIS IS MY FAULT! I'M THE ONE WHO GOT THAT FUCKING GEM SAMPLE SENT DOWN TO EARTH! I'M THE ONE WHO BROUGHT IT INTO ETLAC, WHO FIRST OBSERVED THE CREATURE'S FORMATION! FORREST IS DEAD! JAMESON IS DEAD! EVERYONE IS DEAD, BETHANY! AND IT'S MY FUCKING FAULT!
>Get out, both of you. I... I need some time alone.
>But Doctor, we need to evaluate your vitals, your injuries. You just woke up from a coma, we have to-
>I SAID GET THE FUCK OUT!
>Come on, Mitsuri. It's not worth it.
*Ceres and Hoshikaze step out of the room. Ceres glances back one last time before closing the door behind her, leaving Vaughn alone in the room.*
>(on the edge of tears)...what have I done?