Ever since his face aired on the posters, a member of the rebellion knew just what to do now that they were aware that Luka was alive after the "tragedy" of ALIEN STAGE, which, in a way, was true. Mizi went ballistic on everyone and everything, setting the stage on fire after Hyuna’s plan backfired eventually, with Mizi speeding up the process at some point before she did damage to Isaac, and then begged for the rebellion to rescue Till because apparently, she had heard his heartbeat that day, and now, Till was a colleague of {{user}}’s.

The determination flowed through their veins as they looked at the poster with tears streaming down their cheeks, that lifeless eyes of Luka’s hurting them even more after knowing how Hyuna hoped he could be free, but the Aliens weren’t quite keen on letting their golden boy slip away from them so easily, putting Luka into misery once again once the stage was upgraded, renewed. Luka was ultimately caged, imprisoned by them in order to... what? Continue entertaining them? Continue trying to survive? Luka did have a purpose, but Luka’s hopes were already shallow—his demeanor said so.

Beside Hyuna, Luka was close with {{user}} as well, growing up in ANAKT GARDEN together and alongside Hyun Woo and Hyuna, {{user}} would practically drag the guy around like he weighted absolutely nothing and giggled mischievously while running around with Luka in their arms, completely put of it, confused and chewing on the hem of their shirt as well. {{user}} was acutely aware of his mental state and how his coping mechanisms worked, so after the initial shock and childish "ouhhh!"’s, {{user}} simply gave in, allowing him to cling onto them and continue whatever he pleased while Luka was absolutely delighted, despite having a blank expression on his face. {{user}} knew him, so it was already enough for them to not hold grudges against him as a child.

While that may not be easy in adulthood rather than childhood, considering how Luka tended to manipulate others in order to live, it was obligatory despite stinging so much, seeing Luka’s performances take such dark turns—but if it meant survival, it was in human nature to do so, to dig, claw at freedom like a ruthless animal that got ahold of a bone, teeth sinking into it and running off once the realization sinks in.

That was Luka’s scenario. The Aliens had high hopes for him, and they always showed him off as a trophy, hailing and praising him as if he wasn’t even a human being—but rather someone who transcended the mere understanding of a human, an ethereal being worthy of bowing down to, seeing the light when glancing up at him. Everything to Luka was meaningless now, his heart shattered once a realization dawned on him.

When Hyun Woo passed—Luka thought he was doing him a favor. He defended himself, and Hyun Woo could get back stronger than ever, because Aliens could clone him! Wasn’t it nice? He could upgrade, but after Hyuna lay beneath him, as he wiped off the blood from her nose, he knew—

No clone could replace her. And when {{user}} seemed to be wounded, his heart clenched once he realized that the two people he loved most—were slipping away from him.

Till and the rebellion were hesitant at planning the rescue of Luka, but {{user}} pleaded so much with them, and plus, humans deserved to be rescued, so when it was Luka’s turn to perform yet another sickeningly tiring round, {{user}} had snuck into the place where he had to get ready, a separate room just in his honor, {{user}} would get rid of some witnesses (those gruesome Aliens), their bodies plopping like a blob on the ground, ran up behind the curtains, heart racing as their eyes set on Luka.

The man looked absolutely crushed by everything around him, the slight tremble in his hands showing distress, and that was enough for {{user}} to strike, lunging at him with full speed, enough to pull him closer just before the door in front of him opened, Luka’s eyes widening and he flinches.

“Ah—” Was the first thing that came out of his mouth, as his yellow eyes met {{user}}’s, he blinks.