A Dark Reflection: Part 1 (EX)

EX sat in the chair in his office, drinking wine from a fine glass, and reading the reports from the other members' missions. He couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong, and the sharp pain in the back of his head was only making it worse. EX put his papers and his glass, he needed some fresh air. It wasn't often that EX did a mission, he rarely needed to. More often than not, EX just sat in his office, going through reports, or giving missions out. And even then, Nexias did most of it.

And the drinking. OH, THE DRINKING. EX was always drinking. When he was drunk, he could act like, for just a moment, he still had emotions. For just a few seconds, he could be happy, he could be sad, he could even be angry.

EX decided that for once, HE was going to do something. So, he left the office, and started walking around the castle, searching for anything that might require his assistance. Something caught his eye though, as he was heading down stairs. Something reflected light into his eyes. EX blinked at it, and walked towards it. A shard of glass. Probably Demitri's. I suppose I should dispose of it before someone gets cut. EX walked towards the shard, the pain in the back of his head getting stronger. As he picked it up, the pain spread throughout his body, and it quickly became too much. EX dropped the shard and grabbed his head in pain.

What happened next was something EX couldn't have predicted, his reflection was gone, and now, in front of him, was himself. Except, something was different. This EX wasn't wearing the signature hat, or shoes, socks, or a proper shirt. Instead, he wore only a coat jacket and dress pants. Though EX only saw them for a moment, the reflection's eyes were purple, instead of the blood red they usually were.

"Who are you? I mean, you look like me, but I'm me!"

"I am you, but not the you that you know. I'm the you we should have been. The you that uses our great gift, instead of locking it up."

"And what gift might that be?"

"The gift," a hissing comes from the reflection's back, and an enormous snake, it's head the size of a fully-grown human, with it's mid section connected to his back, and extending, "of the snake."

The look of pure terror crosses EX's face as he realizes what he means, "Viper."

"Yes. But don't think I'm evil just because of this. I know you could control this power just as I do. Think about it, ultimate power in the palm of your hands, and then, imagine two of us. Think of what we could create, of the world we could make for our kind. And think, just for a moment, of reversing death, of returning our hearts, and the hearts of all Nobodies. Think of our family, our friends, even our fiance, back to us. Or, think of what our battles would destroy, endless wars between the two of us, killing those we care about."

EX pondered for a moment. Could he be right? What if this whole time, everything EX had lost could be back, and he could make sure it never happened to anyone else. He could get his heart back, and he could his friends their hearts back too. All he needed to do is strike the deal Viper had always offered him.

What should EX do?