Hal looked at her.

"If you can help Hazel, I would be eternally grateful." he said.

"...I can see her soul, really." Zeke mumbled.

"It's not fractured... but it's cracked." he continued.

"A shame... she's a beautiful soul, too." he went on.

"If her mind were helped... perhaps her soul could finally start to heal as well." he sighed.

"That was... uncharacteristically poetic of you, Zeke." Hal commented in response.

"...I get it from my Mother." Zeke admitted sheepishly.

"Yes." Hal replied.

"However, YOU must eat first." he told her.

"It will take me a little time to gather all you have requested." he went on.

"During that time, you may as well eat." he reasoned, looking her up and down.

"You look like you need it." he commented.

"Something tells me you haven't been given quality food in a while." he then mumbled.

"Zeke?" Hal said.

Zeke nodded in response.

"Come on." he told her.

"Let's head to the cafeteria." he said further.

"And you will stay close to her until such time she requires you to leave for this ritual." Hal added.

"Right." Zeke nodded.

Hal was silent, before thinking about it.

"...duly noted." he said.

"I will take that into consideration." he told her.

He had a very unique idea, now. And her statement about fully being within Vanessa's grasp again gave it to him.

"Come on." Zeke said again.

"I'll page you when we're ready." Hal told Zeke.

"All right." Zeke replied.

"Let's get you some food." he told Ayla.

"Wouldn't be very good at my job if I always assumed the worst." Hal replied with a smile, as the two of them left.

"He's a good boss." Zeke told her as they walked.

"He knows everyone deserves a chance." he went on.

"Possibly even Chris." he then said.

"Though he WILL need to attempt to atone for his actions." he warned.

"...and that's not counting those he wronged in the past wanting any payback..." he then muttered.

"All there is to do is wait and see." Zeke told her.

"After this is over, we'll see." he went on.

The two of them then made their way to the bustling cafeteria, where Zeke took her to where to order.

"What's y'pleasure?" the male there asked.

"Just a berry smoothie for me." Zeke replied.

"And you?" the man then asked Ayla, as she saw various dishes spread out before her, behind the glass.

"Good question." Zeke responded.

"As it stands, he'll probably be put to death." he told her bluntly. "From what I know, he's responsible for a LOT of pain, misery, death, etc." he reasoned, shaking his head.

"However, his case WILL be examined first." he then said.

"If it turns out he was tricked or manipulated, that will be taken into consideration." he continued.

"If he willingly helps out with THIS problem, that will look good for him." he told her further.

"And if he's willing to help us fight against Vanessa, then that will look even BETTER." he went on.

"So, really? Death, but he has the power to potentially change that."

Zeke raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?" he asked.

"Is that so." he said.

"....that's actually quite frightening." he then commented.

"You must have some real horrors in your past." he went on.

"...which is a shame." he added.

"Hm." Zeke muttered.

"I see." he said.

"Well, the both of your cases will be looked at." he told her.

"A decision will be made from there." he went on.

"...wait." he then mumbled.

"Wait, hold on." he said further.

"Who's Azari?"

"...." Zeke was silent for a moment.

"...actually..." he said.

"Wait..." he muttered.

"No, nevermind. I... sorry." he apologised.

"I have some thoughts whirling around in my head and I need to organise them." he told her.

"I'm sorry to hear about your brother though." he then said.

"To think him too far gone must be... a hard thing to realise."