Chapter 854: ..No Matter What

"So... this is your real mom?"

"Diana Ross is my real mother, Alice Prime."

"You know what I mean, you freaky whitey dicky."

"..."

Once everyone was able to calm down from Riley bringing in hordes of undead, the space station once again became busy as Diana and the others continued calculating and figuring out how to completely control multiversal travel — making their search more efficient.

And while the others were doing that, Riley was just floating in front of Alice's crystal grave, which he had also brought with him along with the themarian zombies... who he was keeping somewhere in the base.

He wasn't the only one that was doing nothing, however, as Alice Prime left the others since she didn't really understand a single thing of what they were talking about. And as a matter of course, she came to find Riley and just floated next to him; her eyes, almost as if looking into a mirror as they reflected her variant's face.

"Damn... she looks like a more mature version of me," Alice Prime squinted her eyes as she started floating to the side as she scanned Alice from head to toe, "Is she? A more mature version of me?"

"She is not, Alice Prime," Riley shook his head, "I was told she had always been child-like with her tantrums, and like to cause all sorts of problems to the point she had to be put in prison, where she also caused a lot of trouble. And then even after giving birth to me, she still continued the same pranks until her mind started her descent to madness."

"...I just asked if she was more mature than me," Alice Prime could really only glance at Riley and giggle, "I guess all of the Alice in the multiverse are just as fucked up as I am. Do you think there's actually a version of me and your real mom out there that's all serious and not as fun?"

"I do not believe so, Alice Prime," Riley shook his head again, "Since your mother has a deep and direct connection with all of her variants, I believe they have all raised you the same way."

"You mean neglect?" Alice once again let out a small giggle as she bumped Riley with her shoulder, "Anyway, do you ever think about how fucked up all the shit that has been happening lately?

"Yes," Riley nodded as he started descending, "But the things that are happening now have always been happening, Alice Prime. Only, the people involved have changed."

"Where are you going?" Alice glanced at Riley as his feet landed on the floor. She did not, however, follow her and remained floating in front of her variant, "I thought we were having a heart-to-heart conversation. I want to know more about your real mom."

"Then I am not the one you should be talking to, Alice Prime," Riley walked away while shaking his head,

"I barely knew her."

"Wh—then who should I talk to!? Charlotte's a no-go."

"Empress," Riley shrugged, "I believe she and biological mother were friends during her time in the Hope Guild."

"That... enchantress and I were friends in your universe?" Alice Prime's eyes turned wide as she quickly flew in front of Riley to look at him if he wasn't lying.

"Yes," Riley nodded and did not stop walking, making Alice Prime float backward.

"Tell me more!"

"No," Riley shook his head before bringing up his phone to Alice's face,

"One of my clones found another one of us."

***

"Oh, was I talking to your clone all this time?"

Unlike with the others, Riley did not really have to search for the missing person, as Delivery Man was in front of him as soon as he entered the portal. He was wearing some sort of oxygen mask, perhaps due to the nature of the world he had been trapped in.

Del was with Riley's clone, who just shrugged his shoulders as soon as he saw his creator emerge from the portal. And without even saying a word to him, the clone immediately went back to the space station, leaving him and Del behind.

"Shall we go back, then?" Riley did not really think much of it, however, as he just gestured to Del to enter the Portal. Del, however, only tipped his cap and smiled.

"Care to walk with me for a bit, Mr. Riley?" Del said; his voice slightly somber as he also gestured to Riley, almost as if welcoming him.

"..." Riley did not really say anything and just looked at the view behind Del, only to see a very large dome on the horizon — surrounded by nothing but a sea of gray and red sand for miles and miles. He then glanced back at Del, before just gesturing to him to lead the way.

"Thank you," Del let out a small chuckle as he started to walk toward the dome; both their feet, leaving prints on the sand beneath them,

"The clone told me you have found the others?"

"I believe only Cherbi, Pirate Queen Xra, and Aerith are left, Del," Riley nodded as he walked beside Del.

"Then you found your sister, that's good," the smile on Del's face returned as he looked at the ground while walking, "All this time while I was in this place, I kept wondering what happened to all of us — I tried finding you and the others here too, but I realized you weren't here. Because if you were, well... I wouldn't really need to find you."

"I have tried ordering and using your services, Delivery," Riley sighed while shaking his head, "But your app and even your website could not be accessed in all the universes I have been to."

"I... see," the smile on Del's face grew slightly wider as he heard that. The two continued to talk about how things have been, and even mundane topics about anything, really. And as they reached closer to the dome, Riley realized that inside it was a city.

"The last remaining city in the Earth of this universe," Del looked at the colossal dome in its entirety, "Perhaps may even be one of the last cities in the entire universe."

"Hm. For them to be able to create something like this in a dying universe is an incredible feat," Riley let out a small hum as he looked through the window gaps, only to see some sort of gigantic tree that seemed to be in the very center of the domed city.

"Did you notice something, Mr. Riley?" And perhaps for the first time, Del took off his cap as he stood in front of Riley.

"That you took off your cap, Del?" Riley blinked.

"No," Del chuckled as he shook his head, "That I exist in this universe even without anyone using my service."

"Oh," Riley looked at Del from head to toe, "Do you know why, Del?"

"I have absolutely no idea," Del sighed as he glanced at the dome, "But it doesn't matter. I have met new friends here, new people... and although every day, I fear that I might just disappear again...

...only wake up in front of people whose name and address are the only things I will ever know."

"..."

"But it hasn't happened. For once in my life...

...I have a life."

"But not for long, Del," Riley let out a small breath as he looked at the fractured moon painting the sky above the dome, "The celestial bodies of this universe are all dying."

"I do not have a concept of time, Mr. Riley," Del once again smiled, "These last months may as well be an eternity for me, it is the longest I have ever been... awake, with the same beautiful faces greeting me. And the next day, they will still be there."

"..."

"I very much like it here," Del closed his eyes, "It may be gone tomorrow, maybe even today, or maybe even in the next few years, or maybe when I am long gone. But it won't matter to me because they're all the same — not enough... time. It would have never been enough."

"I believe you are the second person who have told me the very same thing, Del," Riley looked at Del, before glancing at the domed city again, "You wish to stay here then, in this dying universe?"

"Yes," Del opened his eyes and looked Riley in the eyes, "It is only now do I realize how truly precious life is, Mr. Riley. Because for the first time...

...I am actually alive."

"Hm."

"I see now why the others are willing to do anything to try and stop you from destroying everything, Mr. Riley," Del let out a long and deep sigh as he also looked at his home,

"Life... only makes sense when you're actually living," Del chuckled, "It is what is around you that makes it precious. And perhaps they feel the same."

"I do not quite understand that, Del," a small smile also crawled on Riley's face as he stood beside Del, "But are you sure of your decision?"

"Yes," Del nodded, "I want to live here, no matter how short it will be...

...No matter what."

"Very well," Riley turned and looked Del in the eyes... before stretching his hand to him, "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Delivery Man."

"..." Del's eyes widened as he saw Riley's hand reaching out. But with a slightly chuckling breath, he shook Riley's hand... before handing him his hat,

"Thank you for using my service one last time, Mr. Riley Ross."