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PART 6 RECAP:

Chancellor: I haven't the foggiest idea what's going on here... Nevertheless, I cannot defy this woman. She just seems so...regal. Murdaw's keep is far to the south-east of here... Follow the eastern mountains south, cross the checkpoint, and continue further east.

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And on they went. At least, after some parting words to the soldiers & citizens... As well as some ill-advised ribbing from Ashlynn.


Did something happen in the throne room last night? Captain Blade looked shaken up.

Ashlynn: Only thing that happened was some guy turned into a lady... What!? It's not like anyone would believe us anyway!

Wha? What're you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be with His Majesty right now? Don't waste time talking! Go catch up with him!

Ashlynn: If only he knew – the King's right here with us!

That king of ours... He set out for Murdaw's keep the instant he got Ra's mirror... The man's work ethic is impeccable!

Ashlynn: Tee hee! Are you getting all this, King?

I know His Majesty isn't one to waste time, but you'd think he'd at least say goodbye before he left...

Ashlynn: The King barely had time to, um, change, let alone say goodbye. Tee hee!

Welcome to Somnia. Stay out of trouble.

Ashlynn: Tee hee! The lady in the back look like anyone you know?

Well, His Majesty's finally set out. It's do or die time over at Murdaw's keep. Murdaw's keep is far to the south-east of here... All I can do is pray he made it there okay.

Ashlynn: I'm pretty sure the King hasn't gotten there yet. Tee hee.

Strange is the only word for it. They say that His Majesty set off to fight Murdaw last night... But when did he leave? You'd think I'd notice a guy with a crown leading his soldiers out of town...

Ashlynn: I don't think she'd notice even if the King were in the same room as her. Tee hee!

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Urrrgghh... This woman was going to be trouble...

The group stopped by the Inn, having never slept the night before.


If His Majesty has left, that must mean he finally found Ra's mirror. I hate to be a pessimist, but how can some chintzy little mirror defeat a Dread Fiend?

Carver: I can think of a lot of uses for that mirror. We can blind Murdaw, or hit him over the head, or, uh... See, two uses!

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Don't forget turning Murdaw into a woman! Maybe he'd keel over and die from embarassment... THREE uses!


Master Keating, the guy in 'dis room, pays me a freakin' fortune to protect him. Don't try anythin' dumb.

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Master Keating!? So the Chancellor in the throne room last night WASN'T the Dream World Keating?

Rex went upstairs.


Chancellor Keating: Wah hah hah hah! I'm so rich, I could buy this entire nation tice. Thrice, even! You common folk are worth less than the gold in my teeth. My bodyguard makes more in a day than you will all year! Wait a minute... Have we met somewhere before? ...No? Huh. I guess all you poor folks look alike. Wah hah hah!

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Well! THAT confirmed a few things!

First of all, the Chancellor by Captain Blade's side was NOT Keating's double. That was good to know; Rex had wondered why he was so much more honorable.

More importantly, Keating was never loyal to Somnia! He just didn't want to hand over the reigns of power! If Rex HAD possessed Prince Sleipnir's memories, Keating would have tried to discredit him some other way. Yet another reason to prevail against Murdaw. Rex had unfinished work to do.

But for now...


Milly: At last, the time for battle is upon us. Still, the idea that King Somnus might somehow be Murdaw has shaken my desire to fight...

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Even so, it had to be done. The group entered Murdaw's Underkeep with Queen Apnea in town.




Carver: Keep your eyes peeled, people! Murdaw ain't above hittin' us from behind!

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Good point! Fortunately, the monsters weren't too tough. The only enemies of note were blue versions of the flesh and marble creature the group had fought in the Cave of Amor. They didn't seem to have the mesmerizing dances that one had, but they made up for it with deadly flames; the kind that made the Babygoyles seem tame in comparison. The group avoided most of them, and the rest of the monsters were fairly standard; in fact, they slew most of them without needing a drop of magic from Milly! This was good; Murdaw was going to need all the firepower they had...

The group went deep into the catacombs, and eventually happened across a set of double doors. They entered, and found the inside of a castle, with 16 torches casting light into the room...


Queen Apnea: Hold a moment. Our nemesis is a trickster. Though he may not appear in his true form, he is Murdaw nonetheless. Do not be fooled by his traps. I would like you to carry Ra's mirror from now on. Keep it at the ready.

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Apnea handed Ra's mirror to Rex.


Queen Apnea: Let us be off, then.

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After that...


Ashlynn: I think I'm getting...a little tired...

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Blast. Ashlynn wasn't holding up as well as Rex had hoped.

She was their newest member, and unfortunately, their weakest link. She didn't have the quick thinking Rex had, she didn't have Carver's natural fortitude, and she didn't have Milly's iron will. She was... normal. A talented magician to be sure, but she hadn't been through what the rest of them had. Not in terms of "kill or be killed". All workable problems, but... She was also remarkably immature. Her snarkiness didn't just extend to jests at the Queen's expense. She also questioned nearly every one of Rex's orders. It was a maddening trait of hers... Especially when most of her questions could have been answered just by following the blasted orders!

Thankfully, Murdaw didn't have anything too diabolical lined out for them, despite Apnea's words. The only puzzle was a basic dark room, with invisible floors and enemies that could see in the shadows better than they could. Pitfalls dotted random spots in the floor; Evidently, the monsters were there to distract them; make it harder for them to find the safe path.

They had the opposite effect. Ashlynn simply illuminated the room with an orb of fire. The floors were still invisible, but the group could see what was safe simply by seeing where the monsters stood. The group navigated the dark room, took a few stairs down, and found HIM at last. Murdaw, sitting on his throne room, staring them down... Milly put on the Agility Ring, took some Magic Water to refill her magic, Ashlynn took the Medicinal Herbs that were left, and the group walked forward.


Murdaw: Well, well. Back to try and slay me again? How splendid! Normally, I relish such diversions, but right now destiny calls. I have a world to rule, you see... Your destiny calls, too, you know. It is your fate to serve me. Now bow before the mighty Murdaw...or die!

Rex: Make me! Make me bow down to you!!

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Murdaw opened his mouth, and shot a spray of fire over the entire team! Rex and Carver stood firm, and Milly had started a healing spell just before the flames hit, but Ashlynn was flattened! Milly threw some token ice spears at Murdaw, then attended to Ashlynn; it was up to Rex & Carver! Rex threw his Boomerang, and Murdaw blasted it out of the air... But that distracted him from Carver! Rex struck Murdaw with a Sap spell, and Carver charged forth! Carver raised his blade, and threw a deathblow at Murdaw's head!

...But halos of blue rose up around Murdaw. His flesh hardened to scales, and he caught Carver's weapon by the blade. He held Carver still, gathered scarlet energy in his other hand, and fired it into Carver's chest. Carver was sent into the air, his limp form bouncing off the wall. Another blast of fire came, except Murdaw wasn't aiming for them. He struck the brick and mortar in FRONT of them, and covered the group in smoke. Rex heard the sound of another Buff spell, and then...

"GATHER ROUND ME! C'MON!!"

That was Rex's voice... But Rex hadn't said anything! Milly and Carver found Rex amidst the smoke... And Murdaw's flames swallowed them whole. They fell to the ground, and writhed in fire. Murdaw had indeed "made them bow down to him". He'd beaten them in less than 45 seconds, and hadn't even moved from the blasted throne. Murdaw laughed. His voice boomed through the room, and he prepared two more orbs of fire in his palms. He strolled toward the three, rose his arms...

And then a small fireball hit him square in the face! After that was two, three, four, five... a veritable hornet's nest of flame peppered him from afar! It was Ashlynn! The only person who hadn't jumped when "Rex" said jump! Her refusal to fall in line was what Rex had hated most; Yet, it had just saved their lives.

"Impudent whelp!" Murdaw screamed. He threw the orbs he had been carrying, each one big enough to devour Carver completely. It consumed everything Ashlynn had thrown... Ashlynn dodged the first, but the 2nd hit her head on! She had survived, somehow... but she lay crumpled on the floor, whimpering.

"Milly, get Ashlynn. Carver, WITH ME!"

Rex fired a Sap spell, and his Boomerang, one after the other. The spell softened Murdaw's hide, and the blade sank into the side of Murdaw's throat. It didn't go deep enough to drop him, but it made his Flame Breath harder to use. Murdaw turned around to Rex & Carver, and charged them. He was 8-9 feet tall, and fat enough to fit two Carvers, yet moved with startling agility. Carver drew his blade back, and Rex took out his Bamboo Spear. This was it! They were running at the wall!

Rex jabbed the spear into Murdaw's gut, with little success. Murdaw grabbed Rex's face in a meaty fist, lifted him off the ground, and threw him toward Carver. Carver just barreled through; He shoulder-checked Rex's flying body out of the way, and made to strike Murdaw the exact same way he had attempted to before. Murdaw responded in kind, preparing to catch Carver's blade like he had before...

And then it happened. More rings of golden light came from behind Murdaw, and enveloped his skin. His hand, and the rest of his body, turned dry and flaky; like the dandruff in one's hair. Carver came down and sliced Murdaw's fingers off!

Murdaw gurgled, the boomerang still lodged in the side of his throat. And then stakes of ice slammed into his back, and before long, Murdaw had lost control. No more spells, no more fire breath, no more tricks. He didn't even attempt to get out of Milly's way. He just wasted energy flailing his arms in Carver's general direction... Rex too, once he'd cast some healing on himself.

It was an amateur move. Murdaw wasn't used to being hurt, and he was making that very clear. He'd gone far too long without a serious challenge... And there was no way in hell Rex was leaving him the chance to learn from this!

The next two minutes were ugly. Rex, Carver, Milly, and Ashlynn beat Murdaw into a corner. They blasted him, tore at him, slashed at him, stabbed at him... It was open season. They were about to kill him, when Murdaw opened his mouth, and sent them all flying with another blast of flame. His throat had recovered just in time!

He removed Rex's boomerang, and slumped against the wall. He did not presss his attack. Instead, his body became opaque... shadows enveloped his form...


Murdaw: This... This is not my destiny! You think I am defeated? You don't know the meaning of true defeat! I'll teach it to you when next we meet!

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N-No!!


Rex: Coward! Stand up and FIGHT!

Murdaw: Until then! Blah hah hah!

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Murdaw had nearly disappeared! He was getting away!


Queen Apnea: Now, Rex! The mirror!

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And Rex acted! He placed the mirror in front of Murdaw.


Murdaw: Blah hah hah! Brought me a gift, have you? ...Wha!?

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Murdaw's body disappeared! A spire of alabaster light exploded beneath him, and bathed the room. When it had all gone, and Rex had recovered his eyesight... There stood a man.


Queen Apnea: S-Somnus!

King Somnus: Apnea! Oh, Apnea, my beloved! By the Goddess, how in the worlds did I wind up in here?

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Well, the mirror hadn't turned Murdaw into a woman, but it HAD turned him into a man! Just the man Apnea was looking for, in fact!


Queen Apnea: You were Murdaw, my dear... You played the role of the Dread Fiend in this world.

King Somnus: What? Me, Murdaw!? It sounds preposterous...yet I know it to be the truth. But why...? How...? My mind... Everything is just a blur right now. It's as if I'm still dreaming... Yes! That is it! I must be in the dream world, yes? That would explain everything! Am I right, Apnea? And your companions... I suppose they are denizens of the dream world? Now that I have a good look...that young fellow resembles our son, does he not? Uncanny!

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Interesting... His father was one of the few people that did NOT immediately mistake Rex for Sleipnir.

In any case, some soldiers arrived.


Captain Blade: There you are! I feared for your safety, so I led a platoon of my own here to the Underkeep. Is this really Murdaw's lair? I have seen no sign of him anywhere...

King Somnus: Well! If it isn't my faithful Captain Rusty, flying to my aid as usual!

Captain Blade: Ugh, that name again! How many times do I have to say it? My name is... Wha? Y-Your Majesty!

King Somnus: Indeed. I must apologise for all the trouble I have caused you. But this is no time for idle chitchat. There is much work to do! Escort myself and my queen back to the castle at once!

Captain Blade: Y-Yes! Right away, Your Majesty!

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Somnus & Apnea walked a few paces, then turned back to face Rex and his friends.


King Somnus: I suppose both Apnea and I owe you all a great debt. You must visit us at our castle later. You will be richly rewarded!

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And then they left.


Carver: Well, that was weird. Is it just me, or do ya get the impression we didn't really beat Murdaw?

Rex: Hate to say it, but, I think you're right. Everyone else we've met has a double... Only fair Murdaw does, too.

Milly: Well, we can't stay here forever. We should go, Rex. Let's follow the King and Captain Blade back to Somnia.

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Milly warped the gang out with an Evac spell, and Rex returned them to Somnia with his Zoom.


Oh dear! I think I've been standing her for too long. I can feel it in my hip bones. And my knee bones. And my shin bones. And, well, all my bones!

Ashlynn: You know what they say. If you don't give your bones a break, they might just break on you! ...Well, I say it, anyway.

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Ashlynn was growing on Rex. As much of a handful as she could be... She DID bring a youthful, peppy dynamic to the party, apart from Carver's awkward witticisms. Plus, she DID save all their lives. That was certainly worth something.

Not that one would know it, from how dour Somnia was.


Welcome to Somnia. Stay out of trouble.

Carver: Huh. Things seem pretty quiet around here. I imagined once folks heard we beat'[sic] Murdaw, they'd be in a tizzy 'n everything like that. Why aren't they throwin' a Murdaw Deadication or a National Peace Feast or, I dunno... Somethin'!

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It wasn't just the common soldiery, either.


Chancellor: Ah! Finally, you're back! Do you know where Captain Blade is!?

Rex: Uh... Wait, they're not back yet?

Chancellor: Well, they certainly aren't here!

Rex: Weird. Then again, Somnus has JUST returned from being Murdaw, so maybe...

Chancellor: Wait, there's more? Murdaw was King Somnus all along? Talk sense, will you! Are you serious?

Rex: W-Well, yeah. I mean, he wasn't THE Murdaw, but...

Chancellor: Gahh! I did not understand a single word you're saying! Did you sustain a head injury in battle!? I only know one thing for sure: they aren't back yet. Perhaps they stopped at an inn? Or took a detour?

Rex: Exactly! So what's our next move?

Chancellor: All we can do is wait. You'd best rest here until they return.

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So to recap... One look into Ra's mirror transformed the young King Somnus into a mysterious woman named Apnea... Another look turned the dark tyrant Muraw into a second, much older King Somnus... So everything SEEMED to be working out.

Still, where could they be? And what of Captain Blade, who they both referred to as 'Rusty'? His numerous questions unanswered, the chancellor endured a long, sleepless night...

When he woke up, there was no Somnus. There was no Apnea. There was no Blade.


Chancellor: Well, I am officially on my last nerve... We have waited all night with no word whatsoever. I have no other option but to consider them all missing. I implore you, search for their party in my stead... We had best keep this situation secret from the rest of the castle for the time being.

Carver: Hey, what's goin' on here, aye? Didn't the King say he had a reward waitin' for us when we got back to the castle? And hten he heads for the hills when we come to collect. Ya think he's playin' us for suckers?

Rex: Carver, he's rich. He doesn't need to do that.

Carver: Eh? I like ya, rex, but sometimes I just don't get ya. Yer too trustin' 'n everything like that. It could get ya in real trouble someday.

Rex: Maybe. Let's not jump to any conclusions though. I can't think he'd leave his own home...

Ashlynn: Wait! That's it! I think I get what's going on! The King told us to come to his castle, right? Well, I don't think he was jerking us around. He was talking about HIS castle! You follow me, Rex?

Rex: ...Yeah. And we're in the castle, so...

Ashlynn: Seriously? Hellllooo! He was talking about his castle, but not necessarily this castle. Don't think one-dimensionally! There's more than one Somnia Castle out there, right? So let's try going there, Rex! Sheesh. What would you do without me?

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Rex smiled, in-spite of himself. Her mind was as sharp as her tongue. She'd be an asset for sure.... Maybe just not as a front row fighter. There was something to be said for a reserve party, too. After all, her hanging back was the reason they'd survived today...

So, Rex and the party did as Ashlynn said. They went to the other Somnia, and found a far more pleasant kingdom than the one they'd been to last. Ashlynn was right; This IS the one the King and Queen had returned to!


Milly: The town seems filled with happy voices and gleaming auras. It's nice, isn't it Rex?

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Indeed! Then there was more good news!


The good times are back in Somnia! The King's awake again and that grasping Chancellor Keating has left the castle in disgrace. Maybe now that fine, upstanding Captain Rusty will have his unfairly tarnished reputation restored...

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"I can see CLEEEARLY now, the RAAAIN is GOOONE! I can see ALLLL obstacles in my WA-"


Hang on! I know you lot! Aren't you the troublemakers who scammed their way into the castle?

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...Oh. Oh no.


We've been waiting for you to make another appearance! March this way!

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...Well! That wasn't good.

The group marched inside, to the jeering of many guardsmen.


It's you! The famed fakers! I hope you'll enjoy playing dress up... IN THE DUNGEON!

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At least one was crying, too...


Thanks to your shamefull shammery and flagrant flimflammery, C-Captain Rusty h-has...has... (sob)

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That miserable cretin... Keating actually did it. He actually murdered Rusty. Nothing else could have prompted that reaction... And Rex gave him the excuse he needed to do it.


Get in there! Chop chop!

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...pathetic. Rex felt pathetic. He needed space, he needed time... He stumbled into the cell in a daze.


King Somnus wants to grill you later to get to the bottom of why you would impersonate his son.

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And that was the question Rex could never answer, no matter how many years had passed.

Sure, he wanted to help the King & Queen awaken. Sure, he thought Madame Luca could help them. And sure, he thought he needed their help to find Ra's mirror... But he'd been so stupid! How could he not have seen all the ways it could go wrong!? How could he not have seen the obvious alternatives!?


Until then, you're going to sit there and think about what you've done!

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Not just in the jail cell, either... Actually, they didn't spend long in the cell at all, for the guard came rushing back almost immediately.


I-I'm terribly sorry! I should never have locked you up! Please find it in your hearts to forgive me! When I told King Somnus that you were in custody he screamed at me to bring you to him right away! I can't work out just what's going on. Who in the world are you...?

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Good question. Who WAS Rex, exactly? Was he the villager known as Rex, or Somnus & Apnea's son; Sleipnir?

The group was summoned to the throne room.


King Somnus: I apologise for my guards' incompetence. It was not my intention that you should be incarcerated here.

Rex: Sire, it's not his fault. I...

King Somnus: I have heard the tale of how you disguised yourself as my son. And yes, I see now that the resemblance is striking. Uncanny, in fact... In my dreams, too, there was on who looked like you. One who saved me... I have summoned you here to humbly ask you to enlighten me.

Rex: What do you want to know?

King Somnus: I want to know the truth. In my dreams, I was Murdaw. Then someone came before me, standing side by side with my Queen. Was this really you?

Rex: Yes, sir.

King Somnus: It was you! I knew it! Yet now you stand before me in the flesh. I no longer know where my dreams end and where reality begins... I remember that fateful day like it was yesterday. I was aboard our fleetest vessel. The time of the final battle with Murdaw was at hand... Then without warning, I was enveloped in illusions, engulfed in confusion... How I returned to my castle, I do not know. But when I awoke, I, I... No... It is too terrible to recall! I had somehow become Murdaw! It was you who saved me from that nightmare. It is you to whom I owe everything. If it were not for your courage, I would still exist as Murdaw. And as Murdaw, I would still be inflicting untold pain and suffering on the residents of that dream world.

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The king rose from his throne, and pinched his brow.


King Somnus: (sigh) I am sorry. I am still adjusting to this new reality. I must go outside to feel the cool breeze on my face. I have a request to make of you. Please come and see me outside.

Rex: My lord!

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The king went outside, and Rex made to follow him. Before he did...


Queen Apnea: I shall never forget that night when my gravely injured husand was carried back to the castle. That night I had a terrifying dream. I saw the inhabitants of the dream world groaning under Murdaw's oppression, just as in our world... But in my dream, I felt a most peculiar sensation when I gazed at Murdaw. I didn't understand it, but now I believe I may have sensed the anguish of my husband, helpless and trapped in that evil form. I felt myself being sucked into that dream world, deeper and deeper, so deep I could not escape... Why I became King Somnus in that world, I have not the faintest idea. The mystery still weighs on my mind. All I know is that with the mercy and the grace of the Goddess, I am myself once more. And of course, I am forever indebted to you, Rex.

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Her voice got caught on that last word...


Queen Apnea: Sleipnir, if only you knew. For you are our... No, never mind. I must not speak of this now. Please take care on your journey.

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Silence hung in the air. Rex DID know... On some level, at least. He didn't feel it in his heart, however. Tania was his family, and he belonged to the people of Weaver's Peak. That was his reality.

Rex went to King Somnus, along with his friends.


Milly: It's such a wild story. The Queen turning into the King in the dream world in order to rescue her husband... It seems the bond between them was so strong, they were able to understand each other's hearts in the dream world. How romantic...

Ashlynn: Love can be more powerful than magic...

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Milly sniffled, and Ashlynn smiled dreamily. Rex couldn't help but perk up a little himself. Rex enjoyed listening to his friends. Whether it was Rusty's death, the Real World Murdaw, or his identity crisis... They made everything better. Rex could always count on that.