By: Ann Lowe
Prologue © 11/27/03 -- 11/27/03 (seven hours later)
Author's Notes: Yeah. . .the Prologue is a "what happened before the fic that won't be shown in flashbacks" kind of thing. n.n The Prologue and "First Chapter" (you'll see why it's in quotes) are kinda confusing. I promise you'll understand, though.
Disclaimer: I do not own Megami Kouhosei. I claim no rights whatsoever. I'm just using these magnificent little characters in a pitiful effort to boost my own. . .slightly lacking. . .ability to write.
Warnings: Yaoi, Yuri, Angst, Death, Blood, Angst, Language, Inner Monologue (yes, those deserve warnings), Angst, Death, and Romance if you dig for a long ways and use a microscope. The Prologue is a backer -- not meant to be romantic folks!
Story Teaser: In the end, love did not suffice. They saved humanity, and thus were given a second chance; who but the most ignorant would pass it up? G/E, H/Z (Reincarnation with a twist.)
Chapter Teaser: In the final battle against Victim, who will be the Victor? To ask a question with a less obvious answer (I'm not that evil): what will be the sacrifice for that victory? Will the chosen be able to bear it?
*~*
"Crap! Gareas, get out of there!"
"Shut up, kid!"
"Gareas, 12 Victim 3 o'clock! 7 at 5 o'clock! Shit, they're everywhere!"
"I know that, Leena! I'm not blind!"
"There's another flock coming from 11 o'clock at 20 knots."
"Damn it!"
"You're gonna wanna hit the ones from 3 o'clock first!"
"I know, I know!"
"Assist Aracd with the 5 o'clock when you're done!"
"I'm trying to get done!"
"There's anoth--holy shit, what the hell is that?"
"What?!" Gareas shouted, hearing Leena's frantic cry over the link-com. Spinning around, he saw nothing. "What the hell are you shouting about, Leena?"
"You can't see it, but it shows up on the radar like a freaking meteoroid! Erts is trying to get his sights on it, but all the cries from the Victim are screwing up his attempts; we all need to freeze for a second," Leena shouted into the com, sounds of frantic searching going on in the background.
"I've found it," Erts calm voice echoed over the system. "Garu, try 6 o'clock, 500 kilometers away."
"On it," Gareas spun the Ingrid 180 degrees and shot in the direction Erts had specified.
"It's not vying from its path; Garu, it has to know you're coming, be prepared," Erts warned before going back to telepathically searching out the Victim.
"Send us the vid-file of that monster when you see it." Zero's voice came over the system, only slightly strained despite the struggle going on.
"Yes, yes, kid." Gareas had to hold himself back from rolling his eyes at the screen-link.
"Gareas," a private link came up. "He may be younger than us, but he's also hundreds of times more skilled than we are. You need to be respectful and refer to him as the First like the rest of us," Aracd intoned before cutting the private link.
"Erts doesn't call him the First. . ." Gareas grumbled roughly, turning back to his duty. Though, I suppose I should respect him at least a little, he thought with a mental sigh. He was good enough for Teela to retire and give him her Ingrid. And, of course, the little voice in the back of his mind had to put in the one thought Gareas had been trying to fend off. Ernest would respect him.
Flying through the hordes of never-ending Victim, Gareas felt a sinking feeling arise from the pit of his stomach.. Passing it off as mild anxiety, he pushed on faster. When he finally reached the point Erts and Leena had spoken of, he froze in his tracks, his eyes widening.
"Oh Mother Goddess. . ." Gareas breathed, staring slack-jawed at the monstrosity in front of him. Perhaps the size of two hundred regular Victims, Gareas didn't know what to even call the enmity before him. It took him nearly thirty seconds to clear the fear from his mind and send back the visual report on the creature. Another thirty seconds for a return file to reach him.
The former Candidate and current Observer, Clay Cliff Fortran, appeared on the screen in front of him.
"Elidd-san?" He asked, pushing his glasses further up his nose.
"Yes," Gareas replied, remembering to act professional.
"We have classified the Victim before you as the Mother. Tracing the energy pathos from the Victim, we noticed that all the ones we've seen thus far have been connected to this Mother Victim. The Mother Victim is not linked to anything, but doesn't seem to be using the energy it's receiving, either. It seems as though it's saving it for something, so we assume that there is yet another Victim that is in charge of this one. Though, we only assume that there is one more powerful Victim. We don't believe there are any more than that." Clay pushed his glasses up again. "All these findings point to one thing: the end is coming. For either them or us, the end is coming. We must defeat this Victim today, Elidd-san. Must. I cannot stress how vital to the survival of mankind this is."
"Understood." Gareas nodded his understanding.
"Please wait for backup from the other Ingrids before battling the Mother, Elidd-san," Clay added, looking Gareas in the eye. "Reckless behavior could mean the end to humanity, not just one person. Over and out." And the screen disappeared before the now trembling man.
"I know. . ." Gareas muttered to himself in a low, pained voice. "I'm sorry. . ." Closing his eyes, he regained his composure. "I can't lose. It is my promise to you, Ernest. I won't lose; I haven't stuck around this long to see humanity fail now," he growled. Looking to the right, having heard a low noise, Gareas saw the First and the rest of the pilots coming towards him. The First's face appeared in front of him.
"We need to test the strength of the Mother. Gareas-san, you are to attack from the angle that you're currently facing it from. Aracd has twelve o'clock, Force has 3, and I have 9. Erts will monitor the Victims activity and brain patterns."
"Understood," Gareas nodded and the screen vanished. Numbers flashed on his screen and he waited for the Go.
San. . .ni. . .ichi. . .and he went.
"Aaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeee!!!" Speeding with all the power Eeva Leena possessed towards the Mother, Gareas fired round after round at the monstrosity before him.
"Stop!" Gareas froze as Erts voice came over the system, crackling. Gareas' eyes widened. Crackling? Reneighd Klein controls the communications between Ingrids. . .how can it be crackling?!
"What's wrong?!" Zero's voice came over the com, fully understandable. What the hell's going on?! Gareas spun his Ingrid to face Erts'.
"It's not attacking! Repeat, the Mother is not attacking!" Clay's voice added to the melee.
"Shut up, Fortran!" Zero shot out, repeating, "What's wrong?! Erts!"
"Th-the Mother. . .she's speaking to me. She says-" He cut off.
"What are you doing, Eeva Leena, continue attack! What's wrong, Erts?!" the First seemed to have finally lost his cool.
"Understood," Gareas forced out from between grit teeth and returned to firing upon the Mother. Erts told us to stop. You may be good, but you're still a kid, First!
"No! Gareas, Force, Aracd, Zero, get out of there!" Erts screamed, but it was too late. The Mother suddenly swelled to massive proportions, colors racing across her exterior. Gareas felt a pulling sensation running through his blood seconds before a gaping hole formed in the middle of the Mother, dragging him inside.
*~*
Zero just stared at the place Eeva Leena had been, seconds before. "What the hell just happened?!" Oh Goddess, this can't be happening. What's happening. . .?
"Goddess damn it, Zero! I told you to pull back!" Erts enraged voice filled the space around him, coming from all directions. Erts is pissed at me? What have I done!
"I know you did! What just happened?!" Zero turned around to face Erts. The Mother had gone still again.
"I'll explain later!" Erts voiced suddenly gushed out. "Everyone, retreat! Get as far away from the Victims as you can! Get back to GIS!"
Not risking anything else happening, Zero took off towards the station, the others following his lead. Three-quarters of the way there, everything started to shake.
"What the fuck?! This is space! Why are we shaking!!" Aracd's voice came over the system.
"Keep moving!" Erts yelled, but they paid him no heed. Turning around to see what was happening, the four remaining goddesses saw a sight at once both appalling and breathtaking.
One by one, the Victims all started to glow in a brilliant silver light. Zero had to almost shield his eyes at the strength of the glare. Silver lines started speeding away from each Victim towards the Mother, and as each beam hit her she began to glow as well. Too entranced by the show before him to realize the potential danger of the situation, Zero just stared wide-eyed.
When the Mother finally glowed as fully as her Children, Zero really did put a hand up to shield his eyes. Then everything went red.
In one earth-shaking explosion, the Mother Victim, and her Children in turn, shattered. Like spider-webbing glass right before it breaks, the silver essence of enmity cracked and split all along every connection and connector, finally soaring into oblivion. And the Mother and her Children were no more.
"Great Goddess. . ." Zero heard himself breath into the emptiness of space. Snapping himself back into consciousness, he pushed Erts earlier command. "Return to GIS! I repeat, all Ingrids return to GIS!" He yelled before pulling a one-eighty and flying back towards the lander.
What have I seen, just now? Zero asked himself. Is it the end of Victim? He almost laughed at the idea. No, of course not. I'd never be that lucky. But what happened to Gareas? Where is he? It's probably too much to hope that he's still alive. Probably too much to hope that the Ingrid even made it out alive. He sighed. I hope you are all right, Eriya, he thought, closing his eyes, as he made the final lock back into his station at GIS.
"ZERO!" he heard Kizna yell the second he stepped foot outside Kurai Haikyou.
"I'm fine," he sighed, then smiled. "I promise."
"Baka!" she yelled, hitting him over the head. "Listen when Erts tells you something." She looked over her right shoulder to where the second Ingrid, Eeva Leena, should have been and stopped smiling. "You should speak to Leena. And quit your Teela impression for at least thirty seconds while you do this, okay?" She looked at him with pleading eyes, and he conceded.
"Yes, Kizna," he said in a small voice, then headed over to where Leena was sitting and staring at her console. When she didn't notice him come up next to her, Zero placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. . ." he murmured, squeezing gently. "It was my fault. I will understand if you don't forgive me anytime soon."
"No. . .if Garu really didn't want to do it, he wouldn't have. You know him!" Leena smiled falsely, standing up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make a report on Eeva Leena's disappearance." And she walked away. Zero sighed, then spotted Tune running a final check on Reneighd Klein.
"Tune!" He yelled, running over to her. Tune looked up in time for him to come to a halt before her, not panting, but stopping for a breath nonetheless.
"Yes, I'll speak with Leena. She shouldn't be allowed to file her own nails in this condition, let alone write up a report," Tune said in her soft voice.
"No, that's not true. Let her give the report as her form of closure. Just be there when she breaks down; you of all people knows most how she feels right now." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Talk to her. I promise the alarm will sound if there's an attack before you're through," he smiled. "Now, I have to speak with Clay. See you, Tune!" he called over his shoulder, running off towards the Observer's Deck. Reaching the Deck, Zero immediately spotted Clay in a heated debate with Saki, his fiancé.
"Ingrids don't just disappear, Clay, the Mother must have absorbed Eeva Leena!" Saki growled.
"I know they don't just disappear! However, all traces of Eeva Leena vanished the second the machine did. We were able to trace the essences of the minor Victims giving their life forces to the Mother, but we couldn't trace the Ingrid. I don't know how that works, but that's just how it is!" Clay shot back.
"Oh, you're impossible! If the Mother absorbed the machine, it's possible that she took its essence into herself and destroyed it."
"But that would have taken time. And the essence disappeared the second Leena vanished."
"The Mother could just have been that powerful."
"Then why did it explode?"
"The Ingrid didn't agree with it."
"Then the Ingrid's essence couldn't have disappeared and we would have been able to trace it!"
"Maybe the Goddess inside the Ingrid didn't agree with it."
"Maybe you should try tracing Gareas' essence," Zero supplied from where he was leaning up against the wall. Clay and Saki both turned to see who was talking and headed over once they recognized him.
"You know, we haven't tried that," Clay nodded slightly and pulled Saki and Zero with him to the console. Pulling up the data on Gareas during the fight, he placed a black screen behind it and traced where Gareas' essence was inside of himself during the fight. Locating it, he activated the fight simulator and set it so that the essence pace traveled the same speed throughout the whole thing.
The essence, represented by a red splotch that traced itself out into a line in a maze of white personal barriers on a black field, originated in the place of Gareas' heart, slowly making its way straight out of his chest and spiraling around him. As they reached the point where Leena disappeared, the essence suddenly changed rotation and started unwinding itself. Once it had reached the core once again, it flew directly into the hole in the Mother.
Clay had not really expected this to work; Zero could tell. When Eeva Leena's essence, also on the screen and represented by a lighter red line, disappeared, Gareas' remained. Worming its way around inside the Mother, it reached her core at the exact instant the Mother stopped moving. Zero was only somewhat shocked to notice that the Mother's core was its heart as well. Coinciding with when the minor Victim started to glow, the essence started to expand outward. As the essence of the minor Victim hit the Mother, they created green splotches on the screen -- the color representing Victim in general.
As the expansion of Gareas' essence hit the Victims' essence, the two colors seems to war with each other, red winning in the end in each and every battle. Finally, all of the Mother was illuminated on the black backdrop of the screen in a brilliant red color. The essence winked once and the Mother exploded, the red essence disappearing and leaving the exploded pieces and essences the green color of Victim.
"Well, I'll be damned," Saki breathed, turning to look at her fiancé. "What did we just see?" she asked in astonishment while Clay just shook his head.
"Gareas kept his promise to my brother," Erts said, walking up behind them. "He promised he wouldn't allow humanity to be wiped out and also that no one else would be sacrificed if he was there to stop it," he smiled a little. "I told you that the Mother was talking to me, didn't I?" This question was directed at Zero. "She said that in order for humanity to survive, humanity had to want to survive. Then she smiled and started collecting energy. Something inside Gareas realized this and it took measures to stop it. What you call the "essence" of people is, in reality, nothing less than their souls. Yes, even the Victim have souls," he smiled again. "His soul wrapped itself around him during the fight, like, if you watch the other battle files you'll realize, it always does. But it knew his promise, and it knew the depth of his promise. It took the protection away and drew the Mother's attention to itself. The Mother didn't realize this was just a trap. Gareas himself didn't realize he was doing it until after the fact. When the Victim opened its mouth to destroy him, Gareas' soul lashed out and into the Victim, powered by Eriya, the Goddess of Eeva Leena. That's why the Ingrid completely disappeared; Eriya knew that this was what she had been created for and did it without a second thought. She first contacted Teela, however, with a final message. That's why, Zero, Kurai Haikyou stopped moving temporarily, if you even noticed in your shock. Heltage heard the message as well, that's the only reason I know of it. Gareas' soul went straight for the Mother's core, devouring her as she would have him. When it reached the core, that's when Gareas' consciousness returned. He became himself and did what came naturally to him: destroy thine enemy before thine enemy destroy thee. He fought and won. Gareas was killed in doing so; yet, at the same time, he wasn't. His soul and essence flew on to the Victim General," he smiled at Clay and Saki. "I hope you don't mind that I named it myself; General seemed appropriate." he shrugged. "There. Now you know what happened."
"So you know exactly what the last Victim is?" Clay pressed on with his usual curiosity.
"No, the General isn't the last Victim, but it is the last one we'll have to fight. I traced Gareas' soul myself to deliver Eriya's message to him and learned a few things in the process. The General will attack any minute; he's on his way as we speak." Erts raised his eyebrows, becoming more and more out of character with every word and action he put out. "I suggest the two of you," he motioned to Clay and Saki, "get back on the job, and you and I," he nodded to Zero, "get back to our Ingrids."
"I'll take your word," Zero said, still processing all of this information. So this is it, is it? The end of everything. He couldn't help it -- a smile found its way onto his face. It's the end and I'll soon no longer be duty bound to stay alive. It's the end so I can end.
"All right, let's go." Erts walked across the Deck and out of the room.
"See you later, Fortran, Saki," Zero nodded to both of them and followed. Later has no limit.
Back on the Ingrid launch, Zero reached Kizna just in time for the emergency alarm to go off.
"Zero! Great timing! Get ready to launch, okay?"
"Already on it," Zero said as he got into his Ingrid. Somehow, everything had a sense of finality to it. I wonder why. . . Zero thought to himself wryly. It's the end. Maybe the end of me, too. But not until the General's gone and dead. No one else will be killed by these bastards if I have anything to say about it, he concluded grimly, settling into the flow of the Ingrid.
"Ready?" Kizna's voice sounded in the Ingrid.
"Ready," Zero nodded. Even though she couldn't see him, she could view his muscle patterns and would figure it out through them.
"Kurai Haikyou, launch!" Zero felt the familiar launch patterns and then he was in space.
"The General is heading towards us at 750 knots; he should be arriving in approximately 5 minutes," Erts voice filtered into the Ingrid. "Force, Aracd, please move 90 degrees to my right. Zero, 90 degrees to my left. The General is headed straight towards Reneighd Klein, you'll be able to hit from all sides. Aracd, when the General is level between yourself and Zero, move to its rear and destroy it."
Nice, how you say it's targeted Reneighd Klein and not you. Unfortunately, no one here is so unobservant as to not pick up that switch, Zero thought with a smile, despite the topic.
"Hang on," Aracd's voice broke Zero's thoughts. "What'd this "General" you keep speaking of?"
"Oh yes. I keep forgetting it was only Zero, Clay, and Saki who I informed. Clay?" Erts asked the air.
"Yes?" Clay answered within seconds.
"Could you please inform Aracd and Force, in as short of terms as possible, of what the General is?" Erts asked politely.
"Of course," Clay replied shortly and the silence on the line informed both Erts and Zero of his affirmative action.
Roughly four and a half minutes later, they saw the General. Five times the size of the Mother and covered in tentacles, the General was a thing of nightmares. Working on instructions alone, Aracd, Force, and Zero completed the maneuvers Erts had told them of and were landing strikes on a creature struggling to attack one of their comrades.
"This thing is huge!" Aracd shouted, stating the obvious to keep all of their minds off the horror in front of them. Despite this valiant attempt, the other two attackers were still scared out of their minds.
It took Zero at least ten minutes before he realized they were getting nowhere. For every tentacle that they destroyed, a replacement showed up not thirty seconds later. Gareas, how did you do this? he thought in aggravation. Teela, give me the answers! This is what I was destined to do; my blood screams it. Feeling like a fool for actually expecting an answer, Zero attacked with aggravation, delivering an attack somewhere near twenty times the usual force.
"Zero! If you use your EX at random, you might hit one of us!" Force's aggravated voice filled his ears.
That's it! Zero froze in mid-strike. My EX! Gareas' EX alerted Eriya to his need. He slumped visibly when he remembered something. But I don't need my EX to communicate with Teela. Dammit! Racking his brain for an answer to this, Zero came to only one conclusion: I have to use my own power. Teela told Hiead and myself when we first advanced to the Top that we were just like her. All three of us have two EX abilities. Speed is one, I know that. So what is the other?
:: You know what it is. ::
Sure, now you answer me. Zero scowled when he heard the Goddess laugh at him.
:: I can't just give you all the answers, Rei Enna. ::
You haven't. Hell, what answers have you given me?
:: Plenty. You just don't notice them. ::
Oh, that's helpful. Name one.
:: Yes, I realize you're trying to trick me, :: she chuckled. :: But I worked through Hiead. Everything he told you about yourself came from me. ::
Really, now? And why did you tell him straight-out the answers to things and not me?
:: Because from the moment he realized he loved you, Hiead knew that you would move on to be a pilot and not him. I knew you would all along. He came to me and asked me if he was correct. I didn't answer him. Then he asked me about you. That I answered. ::
And you never deemed it necessary to tell me this before?
:: No. ::
Oh, that was nice of you.
:: You're distracting yourself from the battle. :: Zero looked up in time to notice a particularly deadly-looking tentacle rushing his way. Using his EX to evade and get further away, he resumed the conversation.
Right. Now what does this have to do with what our other EX is?
:: You're the one that brought up the subject. ::
. . .Damn.
:: You know what it is. ::
No! No, I don't! When Zero heard no answer, he knew Teela was gone. Well, crap. He closed his eyes and let himself float. An image that hadn't plagued him in a long, long time appeared before his eyes. He smiled. Hiead. . .you know the answer, don't you? Even through his smile, the first genuine one he'd had in a long, long time, he felt a few tears run down his cheek. A long-lost scene floated to the surface of his memory and began to replay itself.
"Hey! Quit it, asshole!" A seventeen-year-old Zero wiggled in the grasp of his silver-haired assailant. "We have to be to lunch in twenty minutes!" He blushed slightly when a throaty laugh vibrated warmly against his back and shoulder.
"We don't have to change for it, do we?" Hiead asked, pulling Zero back to lean against his chest, wrapping his arms around the other boy from behind, effectively stopping him from getting away.
"Well, no. . ." Zero felt the heat rising in his cheeks.
"Then what's the rush?" Hiead purred, walking them both backwards until the backs of his thighs hit the edge of the bed.
"If we start anything now, we won't be done until after lunch!" Zero growled, struggling a little once again. A warm mouth on the side of his neck trailing down to his shoulder effectively silenced him. For the moment.
"Mmm. . .so?" Hiead breathed into the curve of his neck.
"We-well, I'm hungry!" Zero stuttered, knowing he was losing but not wanting to give up. Feeling Hiead lightly bite his neck, he realized that had probably been the wrong answer.
"Yes, Rei, prove my point," Hiead continued kissing and biting the side of the only-slightly-smaller boy's neck, letting his hands start to wander.
"Oh, for damn," Zero gave up and laced his fingers through Hiead's, wrapping them around himself. Taking this, correctly, as the Go sign, Hiead pulled his hands out from beneath Zero's and slipped them underneath the boy's shirt. Running them up his chest, he only stopped when the emergency alarm went off.
Dazed from the mentally and physically exhausting act of foreplay, it took both boys several seconds to realize what was happening, and by then the voice over the intercom was on her third and final repeat.
"Once again: instructors and Top Candidates, please report to the Pro-Ing bay."
"Goddess damn it," Zero muttered, tucking his undershirt back into his pants and straightening the top piece. Hiead chuckled.
"Calm down, Rei," he muttered, pulling Zero against him again, this time facing him. "We'll have more time later," he said, then kissed the top of his head.
"Yeah, yeah," Zero groaned. He looked down. "At least I'm not. . ." he trailed off and wiggled his eyebrows. He ducked and laughed when Hiead playfully swung at him. "All right. . .time to go back to being genki."
"And time to go back to being an asshole," Hiead grinned and stretched his arms over his head.
Zero rolled his eyes. "We've been dating slash sleeping together slash making out for the last year. You've been slowly improving. Even to the general public."
"Damn." Hiead smiled as he caught the punch Zero threw at his head. Letting go of the other boy's hand he gently slid his hands over the sides of Zero's face and caught them in his hair. "I'm just kidding. It's good to know someone loves you," he murmured, slowly leaning forward, but keeping eye contact all the same. He kissed the other boy slowly and gently, not even running his tongue over his lips like usual. Zero wasn't sure whether Hiead was really apologizing or just attempting to give him the urge to screw protocol and his boyfriend. In two very different meanings of the word. When he broke the kiss, Hiead pulled Zero up against his chest, wrapping his arms around him and kissing the top of his head again. "I love you. . ." he murmured into the other boy's hair. Zero let his arms slip around Hiead's waist and smiled into the crook of his neck.
"And I love you," he said with a small sigh. "But we have to go now." Hiead groaned.
"Just had to remind me, didn't you?" he asked playfully, reluctantly parting them.
"Yep," Zero nodded sagely. "C'mon, Mr. Asshole, let's go."
"Yes, my liege," Hiead said, bowing regally to his lover.
"Bastard," Zero laughed as he opened the door out into the hall.
When the two reached the Pro-Ing bay, Azuma was there waiting, but he was the only instructor.
"You're late, boys. Your repairers already have your Pro-Ings up and running. Get in them!" Azuma yelled, throwing his clipboard at Zero, who quickly ducked out of the way and into his Pro-Ing.
"Yeah, yeah," Zero replied, sitting down as the hatch closed.
"Understood," was Hiead's answer, doing the same.
"Pro-Ing ready for launch!" Kizna shouted, hands flying across the console.
"Ready for launch," Ikhny said, smiling slightly at Kizna's enthusiasm.
"Launch!" Azuma yelled, and ten Pro-Ings did so.
"All right! You missed the briefing, so I have to tell you!" Kizna's voice came over the com into the Pro-Ing. Zero nodded. "You, too, Hiead. We all know Ikhny-chan's speaking skills."
"That's not nice, Towryk-san," Ikhny's soft voice echoed in the Pro-Ings. Hiead and Zero knew it was a private channel when both Kizna and Ikhny had a link. That meant Hiead was free to be un-asshole-ish. Both Kizna and Ikhny knew about their relationship -- having both walked in on them at one time or another -- and were best friends to boot.
"We're ready for the information," Hiead chuckled, knowing Zero was too busy grinning to answer.
"All right. This isn't a test -- we're actually going to be fighting. On the outskirts, yes, but we're the only defenders until the Ingrids arrive from GIS," Kizna said in a serious voice. "There's roughly fifty Victim, with a Victim leader somewhere within the mass. It's carefully concealing itself within its minions and we can't spot it. And it's roughly three times the size of the regular Victim, if the Observed information is right."
"Well, crap. How long until the Ingrids get here?" Zero asked, letting the ever-cheerful façade drop as well.
"Only about fifteen minutes. They heard about the attack before GOA did -- they have better equipment than we do," Kizna replied.
"That's good," Hiead nodded. "How long before the Victim themselves get here?"
"Roughly five minutes."
"So we only have to fight them for ten minutes, really?" Zero asked.
"Yep," Kizna sounded somewhat relieved. It seemed she'd needed some sort of friendly recognition of this fact.
"Well, I think I see them," Hiead said, breaking the mood. "They may be a bit early."
"What? No! That's not-- SHIT!" Kizna shouted! "Instructor!" they heard her yell to the Instructor in the background. "There are more! There's another group of Victim!"
"WHAT?!?" Azuma's enraged cry was loud enough to vibrate even in Zero and Hiead's ears. "Where the hell are they? They're not on the scanner!"
"Hiead, where are they?" Kizna asked into the headpiece. If Azuma -- or anyone else -- thought it was strange that she was addressing Hiead, they didn't comment.
"I'd say about 200 kilometers away, going at twenty knots," Hiead answered, concentrating on the distance. "At ten o'clock from your position."
"No," Zero cut in. "They're only 150 kilometers away. They're headed here at twenty-five knots, that's why you misjudged," the last bit seemed to be directed to Hiead.
"Are you sure?" Azuma's voice confirmed that the private link had been removed and both Zero and Hiead could be heard loud and clear.
"Yes," Zero replied, double-checking and nodding.
"How many, would you say?" Azuma's voice had a weird hint to it, but both Zero and Hiead were able to pick it up.
"Uhm. . .a hundred," Zero said, voice not quite certain.
"Hundred-seventeen," Hiead cut in.
"Are you sure?" Zero asked him, turning his Pro-Ing to face the other boy.
"Completely. I wouldn't misjudge something twice in a row," Hiead nodded.
"All right," Azuma said thickly. "This is bad. We're going to need a miracle to get out of his."
"Don't say that!" one of the other Senior Candidates shouted.
"If you want to be pansied, be my guest. I'm only giving you the Goddess-forsaken truth!" Azuma bellowed at him and there was no further comment.
"Well, there has to be a way," Zero broke the awkward silence. "And I'm not "pansy-ing" anyone," he added, just to piss off Azuma.
"I'm sure there is. If you're a damned Goddess!" Azuma seemed to have caught the insult.
"No! There's always a way! I'm not an optimistic person, Instructor, but even I believe in human perseverance," Zero growled.
"We just have to attack. We'll think of a way while we're doing so," Hiead said, a note of finality that Zero'd never heard before in his voice.
Sending the secret code for a private link to Kizna, Zero asked Hiead, "What do you have planned? You're up to something, Goddess-damn-it, and if it involves you getting hurt you can chuck it!" He said in a low voice.
"Ikhny, cut the line," Hiead said in a strangely peaceful voice. Ikhny only hesitated for a second before doing as her Candidate asked.
"DAMMIT!" Zero shouted, luckily into the -- now solely his own -- private line.
"Calm down, Zero," Kizna said in a low voice, and Zero could tell she was trying to stop Azuma from noticing. "You can't do anything to help anyone if you're all worked up. Now is the time to fight, not fret."
Acknowledging the wisdom and truth in his Repairer's words, Zero nodded, concentrating on the flock of Victim and noting when Kizna cut the private line.
"Twenty seconds till they reach us!" Kizna yelled to all the Candidates and Repairers.
"Other Candidates that are past their first year are suiting up to assist you," Azuma said calmly to the Top.
"Understood," Zero intoned, still concentrating totally on the task at hand.
"They're here!"
Not that the Candidates really needed to be told. The swarm of Victim surrounded them within seconds of arrival. Luckily, they were far enough away from GOA that the Victim would be distracted enough with them not to try to do two things at once.
Even fighting with all the strength, power, and prowess they had, the Victims were advancing past the Top. When the other Pro-Ings came out five minutes later -- after the first flock had arrived as well -- things were looking hopeless. The yearling Candidates were no help.
Zero, in his concentration, almost didn't hear the com-link crackle, signaling a private line. Activating it, he ventured a word. "Yes?"
"You need to get the rest of the Candidates to retreat, Rei," Zero froze mid-swipe as he heard Hiead's voice.
"All right," he answered in a soft voice, having given up trying to stop his lover. Temporarily cutting the private line, Zero shared Hiead's message with the entire group.
"What the hell are you doing, 88?" Azuma shouted. "You can't do anything alone!"
"I'm retreating too, old man!" he shouted, hoping to distract Azuma temporarily with the insult, so the man didn't ask what the hell he was thinking and figure it out.
"What did you call me?" Azuma roared. It had worked. Pulling the private line back up, Zero gave the affirmative.
"Thank you, Rei," Hiead said softly.
"Don't thank me for killing you," Zero replied, softer even than Hiead's breath. Zero could feel tears forming on the edges of his eyes.
"You're not killing me, Rei. Never blame yourself for anything I do. I have the consciousness to decide for myself how to live my life. . .and how to die," Hiead said the last bit more softly that the first, more informatory, bit.
"Well, it sure as hell feels like I'm killing you!" Zero felt his voice choke and the tears start to run, but somehow couldn't bring himself to hate Hiead for making him feel weak.
"I know, love, I know. But I've said it before: only one of us can move on. There is only one Zenoah Ingrid. Nothing else would be good enough for either of us."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Zero sobbed gently into his hands, curling himself into a fetal position subconsciously.
"Humanity must live on. I will save the savior, and you will be that savior. I have done my duty," Zero looked up in time to feel Hiead's EX activate. . . and to see the explosion.
"You have to know the enemy to defeat the enemy," Hiead's voice was still speaking to him, even as a chain of Victims exploded before him.
Zero knew what had happened. Hiead had found the Victim leader, but Pro-Ings are not powerful enough to destroy an advanced Victim. The only way was to self-destruct in contact with the leader.
"You will end it, my love; you are the savior of humanity. You are humanity, Rei. That's why I love you." And the line went dead.
Zero opened his eyes, dispelling his love's face image from his mind. I was hysterical for a total of three hours afterwards. Then I made myself forget and I haven't thought of it since. I suppose, in making myself forget something like that, I changed my own personality. I'm still always happy, but now it's always a lie, instead of just most of the time. Then I became a pilot. Zero smiled. Sometimes I wonder if I didn't become a pilot for you, instead of for humanity like was my original goal. Then something else passed across the edges of his mind. Something Hiead had said.
"You have to know the enemy to defeat the enemy."
"That's it! That's the other EX! We know the Victim!" Zero whooped, forgetting that all the other pilots could hear him.
"What are you talking about, Zero?" Kizna practically yelled into the line. "You've been drifting away from the battle for the last fifteen minutes! Get back in the fight!"
"Kizna! I got it! I know how to defeat it!"
"Well, that's just great. Don't say it, do it!"
"Forgive me, Kizna!" Zero yelled one last time, before speeding Kurai Haikyou towards the General.
"What?! Forgive you for what?!" the tangible panic in Kizna's voice only forced him to go faster.
"I'm sorry!" he yelled as his EX activated and the Victim opened it's gaping mouth to devour the young Zenoah.
You were right, Teela. I knew it all along.
:: Of course you did. You're a brilliant child, Rei. But once you get inside, I can't talk to you anymore. I'm sorry. ::
Don't sweat it. I'll be fine. Promise. Zero could practically feel Teela smile.
:: Goodbye, Rei-kun. ::
Goodbye. . .Teela. And he was in.
It took him several seconds to reorient himself inside the General. Opening his eyes, Zero almost regretted going in.
The inside of the Victim was like nothing he'd ever seen before. Or worse yet, something he had seen before. Everything was black, but placed around the space there were white objects -- walls he assumed. "The inside of the General looks just like the essence reader," he mused to himself. Looking down at his body, he noticed he was all different shades of blue. "Well, I guess now I know what my essence color is."
Remembering he was here for a reason, Zero activated his EX and raced around the corners, searching for the core. Surprisingly, he met no opposition. Then he remembered viewing Gareas' attack on the core. There was nothing there to oppose him until he actually took the core. "Kinda stupid, isn't it?" he asked the space blurring past him. When he reached the core -- an easy task -- he smiled at the green color. "One has to wonder exactly how they created the essence program. Or maybe the inside of the General appropriates itself with what I find familiar," he mused aloud as he took the core. To his surprise, he received a response.
"Smart little Zenoah, aren't you?" a deep man's voice sounded, reverberating off the walls around him. "We, what you call the "Victim", have no real shape. We look exactly you want us to look."
"Polite, aren't you?" Zero grinned wryly.
"Blunt, aren't you?"
"It's a talent," Zero shrugged. The man chuckled. "So, am I correct to assume that you are the "General"?"
"Yes. And destroying me won't be easy, I'm afraid to say."
"Didn't think it would be. Have you, per chance, seen a red fellow around here? I think he showed up a few hours ago?"
"Ah, yes. He's fighting off my assistants for you."
"And here I thought he didn't like me. Huh."
"Intriguing."
"Now, however, I think I should get moving. I do have to kill you, you know."
"Aagh!" the man's voice roared and then disappeared. Zero chuckled.
"Now, to expand." Focusing his energy on victory, he felt himself absorb the Victim.
Settling to absorb as quickly as possible, Zero pushed his soul to its breaking limits. He was expanding for a minute and twelve seconds before running into opposition. Pausing, he raised an eyebrow at the man in front of him. He looked about eighteen and was colored green. Zero knew he wasn't the General, but that he was just a minor Victim.
"Prepare to die!" the Victim shouted and charged at him.
"Wow, I have to defeat you by hand? Interesting!" Zero shouted as he dodged the attack and activated his EX -- if he was dead, there was no reason for him to save it. Zero only had to land five good punches before the Victim vanished. "This is like a video game!" he groaned. "How stupid!"
"Stupid, you say?" he heard a voice chuckle as four more Victims emerged.
"Maybe I shoulda just started expanding after beating that other guy."
"Maybe."
"Ah well," Zero shrugged before charging at them. He had two down before getting hit. And it hurt; oh holy Goddess, it hurt. "Shit!" he rasped out, only barely keeping from doubling over.
"Do you understand now? Not everything is peaches and cream."
"Yeah, yeah." Zero threw out between clenched teeth. He charged the two remaining Victim and destroyed them before they even had time to react.
Taking the previous hint and expanding as rapidly as he could, he made it another minute before finding a set of twelve Victim.
"This is getting ridiculous," he groaned and charged. As he was destroying the fifth Victim, three came up from behind him. "Fuck!" he shouted and put up an arm to block before hearing them yell and fly across the space into oblivion. Looking over, he saw the red embodiment of Gareas.
"What took you so long?" the older man asked with a grin.
"Ah, you know, didn't have a promise to keep or a willing Goddess," Zero shrugged while destroying the remaining four.
"Ouch," Gareas grinned. "Follow me." And Zero did.
They made it almost five minutes before reaching an even larger group of Victim.
"Well, shit," Gareas groaned. "I thought I cleared this route! Bastards, destroying my handiwork!" he yelled before charging into the melee. Zero just grinned and followed.
"How much further?" Zero asked as they finished.
"Only about three minutes. But I must warn you," Gareas looked him in the eye. "The General is waiting for you."
"Why the hell is he just waiting for me?!" Zero yelled, frustration finally hitting a high.
"Haven't you realized?" Gareas asked, grinning at him wryly. "This is just a test on the strength of humanity. The "Victim" don't want to share the universe with anyone unworthy. Something to do with their religion," he shrugged. "If we win, we live. If we lose, we die. And only you can fight him."
"Oh, wonderful," Zero growled.
"Just go! I'll hold off any more Victim -- they can't pass this point."
"Thanks, Gareas," Zero smiled at him.
"Eh, just keeping a promise. Now go, dammit! I wanna get on to the after life!" Zero nodded and went.
As Gareas had said, he reached the end three minutes later. And, also as Gareas had said, waiting for him there was a man of about twenty. Long black hair and green eyes gleamed over a smiling mouth. "So you're here at last, Zenoah boy?"
"Yes. I suppose I have to fight you now?" Zero glared dryly.
"Yes, you do."
"So. . .he died for a test. A Goddess-forsaken TEST?" Zero grit out angrily.
"Yes. But he knew it was just a test. And the Goddess sympathizes with you, Zenoah boy."
"What the hell does that mean?!"
"You'll see sooner or later," the General said and charged. Zero barely had time to dodge before a round-house kick flew at his head, hitting him square on the temple and sending him flying. "You didn't think this would be easy, did you?"
"No. And you've already asked me that," Zero said, standing up and brushing himself off.
"Then fight me!" the man charged him again. This time, however, Zero was ready for him and dodged all of his attacks, making it to the other side of him to breathe.
Dammit! I can't get anywhere just dodging his attacks! I have to fight back. . .but how? Zero sighed to himself. Oh, what the hell. . . and he charged the man.
Obviously, the General had not been expecting this and was caught off guard, earning a punch in the face and a knee in the gut. Zero barely had time to dodge the elbow headed for his back before the man's foot hit him in the face and sent him flying backwards again. This time, however, Zero was afraid. He could feel his EX fading out. Oh, flying fuck. Calming himself and pushing his last reserves of EX to their limits, Zero charged again, dodging the first two strikes, landing a kick, taking a punch to the stomach, and making a final kick to the man's head before his EX completely died and he was thrown into a corner, first hitting one wall and then the other before the ground. Lying face-down on the ground, he put his hands on either side of his shoulders and attempted to push himself upright. Only with all of his strength was he able to stand. I'm dead. And if I'm dead, humanity's dead. A picture of Hiead appeared before his eyes. I won't let you down! he screamed at himself, pulling forth energy he didn't know he had and pulling himself completely upright. He couldn't move from that spot, however, even with all of his last reserves added to his adrenaline and physical ability.
Oh, Goddess, help me, he closed his eyes briefly before steeling himself for the attack he knew was coming. The man charged him then, and Zero didn't even have the energy to raise a hand in defense before he was thrown backwards. I guess this is it, he sighed, and closed his eyes, only to find himself caught in mid-air by warm arms.
:: Hey, you, what are you doing? :: a painfully familiar voice echoed in his ears.
"Huh. I really must be dead," Zero mused to himself, then found he was still in pain, and still couldn't move.
:: Yes, technically you're dead. But you still have to beat this guy. :: Hiead said gently, wrapping his arms around Zero from behind.
"And how, pray tell, do I do that when I can't even move?" Zero asked sarcastically.
:: Don't bite my head off, Rei, :: Hiead said with a chuckle. :: I'm here to help you. ::
"How?"
:: I, being two years dead and not the "savior", can't fight him. But Kuro gave you, Teela, and myself the same EX for a reason. You, to beat the General, Teela, to help you on your way, and me, for this reason right here. :: Hiead turned Zero around so they were facing each other. :: Rei, you can use my EX. It's the only reason I have it and I'm sure as hell not going to be using it. Being dead and all. ::
". . .what?"
Hiead laughed. :: You really are stupid sometimes aren't you? :: Hiead really didn't give Zero a chance to respond before he leaned down and pressed his lips to the other boy's, prying his mouth open with his tongue. As they kissed, Zero felt his energy returning, as well as his EX. Well, Hiead's EX to be precise. . . he thought softly. When they broke the kiss, Hiead smiled gently at Zero. :: Love you, :: he murmured, then disappeared. Zero sighed, then turned and faced the General, who was just staring in confusion.
"How did you accomplish that?"
"I honestly don't know, but one might assume that it's the bond he and I share. We have the same EX, and we share the same mind, body, and soul. You might say Hiead is my other half. And you can, of course, share with yourself," Zero smiled pleasantly, then attacked. Somehow fueled by the knowledge that Hiead was with him, even if just in energy form, Zero was landing punch after punch and dodging everything thrown at him. Finally, it ended.
His adrenaline from seeing Hiead fading quickly now, Zero threw all of his power into a single punch, slamming his fist into the General's face, sending him flying backwards to hit the floor, bounce, then slide a ways. He didn't get up. A woman's voice suddenly filled the air.
"You've won, Zenoah boy. The bond you and that young man share. . .do others of your kind have that sort of relationship as well?" she asked.
Zero let his mind wander to all the happy couples he knew. Yamagi and Roose, who had gotten together days before being told they could never be pilots; Force and Aracd, the strangest couple he knew, but also one of the happiest; Clay and Saki, certainly a strange duo, but affectionate nonetheless; Kizna and Ikhny, whose relationship wasn't quite at a more-than-friends level, but Zero was sure it would get there. . .And then there was Ernest's love for Gareas. He was so in love that he would die in order to not lose the one he loved. And Gareas would die just to keep a promise to his best friend. Sure, Gareas and Leena were sleeping together. . .but there was no love. Affection, there was certainly, but no love. Not the pure, heaven-sent love that he and Hiead had once had. Zero smiled. We still have our love.
"Yes. There are many with relationships like Hiead's and mine. I pity the human who never falls in love," Zero smiled sadly, letting Hiead's image play across his vision.
"Then you may pass on. Be with the one you love," the woman's voice was kind, and Zero felt his pain fading. He looked down and saw that he was fading. Slowly becoming nothing.
"Thank you, Teela," he murmured before finally disappearing all together.
"You're welcome, little one," Teela smiled gently as she materialized, looking around the now-barren battle place. "See you in the next lifetime. I hope your second try is successful. Be happy. . .little one."
*~*
Author: And that's the end of the Prologue! Yes, the Prologue. The real story is quite a bit fluffier. The prologue can stand alone, if you were wondering. But after that angst, I know I'd want some WAFF. Plus, this story is written for GAREAS AND ERNEST. Since Ernest's dead, their relationship is a bit hampered. Heh-heh. I really wanted a Gareas/Ernest fic one day, so I decided to write one. *shrugs* Now, a few little notes about the story (PLEASE READ THESE, THEY'RE KINDA LIKE DISCLAIMERS!):
The pilots. I know everyone's wondering why I chose the pilots I chose. Well, here's my original explanation (in the notebook I planned this story in):
"Pilots: Zero (of course), Gareas (he'd never let Ernest's sacrifice be in vain, so he'd keep going until the end), Erts (we need a telepathist and Ernest and Erts don't have any more little brothers. . .I don't think. . .plus, I don't think he'd die), Aracd ('cuz he's cool), and Force ('cuz he's the next best after Erts and. . .if I wanna put him and Aracd together, he can't die or disappear)."
Yeah. . .weird reasoning. . .but hey! I'm a weird person.
Calling the Victim leaders the "Mother" and the "General", and calling the minor Victims the "Children". Well, General is self-explanatory, but "Mother" and "Children"? Well, they're called victims. Men aren't usually considered victims. Mothers and children are. Plus, there was on Victim controlling all the rest. The Mother of them all! I love double meanings.
Kurai Haikyou as Ernn Laties' new name. Well, "Kurai" is forlorn, and "Haikyou" is apostasy (or the name for someone who has denounced a specific set of beliefs, for those who don't know the word). Kurai is how Zero feels when he finally becomes the Zenoah pilot, and Haikyou is his tribute to Hiead. I thought it was mildly creative. . .u.u;;
Mixed English and Japanese: if you don't like this, TELL ME. "Baka" and such are all so common I figured they wouldn't matter. . .and then the suffixes are normal too. But if you don't like it, tell me, I won't do it ever again. PROMISE! ^-^ I could translate a lot more phrases into Japanese, if you think I'm just trying to show off my Japanese knowledge by using them. I hate it when people just have random phrases in Japanese. I realize I used to do it. Then I stopped. It pissed me off, so I figured it might piss other people off. Heh-heh.
Idea of essence/colors: Well. . .I kinda stole this idea (that everyone has a little link-ish thing to everything else) from the Ender Series by Orson Scott Card. I forget the name of it right now, but I know that I majorly changed it. They didn't have it mean their soul in those books. Now. . .the colors. Gareas is red because his personality is too huge for it to be green. u.u;; Eeva Leena is light red 'cuz he's the pilot. The Victims are green because Gareas has a connection with them (how else did he draw himself in?). The background is black 'cuz I have my computer on "High Contrast Black" and the Word background is black with white writing. So there's the black and white. (Weird reasoning, eh?) Zero is blue because of his eyes. If I would have mentioned Hiead's color, it would have been silver. For DUH reasons.
Hiead calling Zero "Rei": well. . .if they're together I think he'd do that. That's all there is to it. :P I think Zero'd love him enough to tell him his real name and that Hiead would respect Zero enough to use it.
The second EX: Well, if you read the manga (or read Kay's summaries because you're just gonna wait till June and buy the English version) or watch the anime, Teela, Hiead, and Zero all seem to have some sort of EX dealing with the Ingrids. Well, I just sort of expanded off that. You see, Zero was exactly right, per se, when he said that they knew the "Victim", but that will be explained in the story later. (And if it's not, you can bug me about it.) The real EX is that they know PEOPLE. Not just he enemy, not just the Ingrids, they know people.
Teela asking about the relationships: Sorry, but I don't think she'd know about how deeply connected everyone is. Sure, she knows people, but she doesn't give a damn about how they feel for one another – that's not her job. Anyway, that's my reasoning on that. See, this stupid story has WAY too much thought. u.u;;
Stay tuned for Chapter One!
Chapter One Teaser: Four-parter! ^-^ Gareas, Ernest, Zero, and Hiead all have to be reborn, hm? Well, how do they get to where they're going? Who are they born to? What is the plot of this fic? Oops, sorry, that's not till Chapter Two. More background information in the four-parted Chapter One. Sorry. It'll be a lot like this one in my means of giving out information. I promise it'll be amusing.
Oh yeah. . .please review? Please? I thought this prologue was pretty good (it took me seven hours to write). . .do you? Wow. Fourteen pages, five inches in size 8 Tahoma font. Gotta wonder how long that is on FanfictionNET. *shrugs* See you in the next Chapter!