"Alright, rise and shine everyone! Time to get to work you lazy bums; I've been on the job all night, now it's your turn!"

Psyche's call was answered when the entire crew walked onto the bridge, Gamma and Omega out in front.

Omega yawned and rubbed his eye. "We're not all machines who don't need sleep, Psyche."

"Tell that to Upsilon." Gamma glanced over at him, holding a briefcase. "You haven't been with him long, but I've never seen him rest."

Omega was nudged in the back by Upsilon, who had brought his shield with him. "I would rather you not call me a machine, but I do take advantage of my conditioning."

Upsilon sat down and went to repairing his shield, Rho and Epsilon moving past him.

"Wait, you haven't fixed that?" Nero asked.

Upsilon placed a hand in the shield, it separated into a three fingered hand. Moving it with some difficulty he gritted his teeth. "The Caster shell from Gene damaged the inner circuits to Panzerfaust." He rumbled, becoming more and more angry. "I should have been done… '

"And you will be done by the time you get there." Helen talked him down when she came in. She stopped behind his seat and gave him a soft peck on the cheek, softening his demeanor. Epsilon turned away so no one could see smile.

Rho tapped Gamma's case. "Well anyways, what's in there?"

"Me and Nero woke up early to put this thing together." He opened the case and pulled out a modified Caster; stretched out and reinforced, the stocky frame now included a shoulder stock. "We modified it into a carbine. It's a little heavier, but it's semi-automatic instead of breech loaded. With some luck, it should accept a magazine of four shells; any more and even this won't handle the strain."

"Why hasn't this been tried before?" Helen said.

"Caster technology is old and rare," Nero picked the discussion up. "I don't know if they can be repaired, much less new ones made. The only reason we could is because we could create another one if we failed."

"Speaking of that," Omega swiveled his chair around. "How did you two even come up with this plan? How did you even believe it would work? Why did it work?"

Gamma looked out at the stars, spotting a bright one and pointing at it. "Notice that one?"

"Yeah, you called it the 'Star of Misfortune'."

"It earns that name. You see, for gods and demons, happiness and luck are much like matter and energy, transferred from one person to another. Hild's curse forced the Star of Misfortune to follow us around, but even that can be an advantage. I had expected Gene to show up once we attacked Fred Luo because that was the worst possible outcome I could think of. That is also why I sent Upsilon Helen, and Nero; their precision and knowledge would keep everything under a reasonable amount of control."

"That's…almost diabolically clever. Is that why you're the leader?"

"My noggin has a good idea in it every other week."

"Now entering Tenrei orbit." Psyche said as they overlooked the planet, its four ringsframing the swirling clouds and landmasses.

Epsilon marveled at the sight. "Gorgeous…"

"A resort planet should be." Gamma said. From the corner of his eye he saw Omega open his mouth. "No, we are not here to sightsee; we have to get what we can and leave. That means you too Psyche."

"And I just made myself at home."

Omega flipped his arms up in protest. "On that note, we should find some swimwear." Everyone looked at Gamma when he said that. "The employees can be grabby."

A trolley filled with warm water up to its windows rolled into the station from a mountain ridge. It stopped and opened its doors, washing the occupants out.

"We hope you enjoy your stay in Hagone Hot Springs!" The announcer at the station welcome them as they got up off of the ground and went on their way.

"Shouldn't the water drain from the bottom of the trolley?" Epsilon asked, tightening the strings to his blue trunks.

"Tenrei isn't a reasonable place." Nero said as he squeezed his violet robe out.

"Most tourist traps aren't." Helen added. Her red one piece swimsuit stood out and drew eyes, despite showing little of her albino skin. Behind her was Upsilon, pulling the cases that held their armor and weapons. his chest was bare and everyone saw a patch of mottled skin reaching under his left arm to his sternum, as white as Helen's. It had the opposite effect, repelling people away from him. Neither result concerned them.

"So," Rho said, looking out at the mountains. "Where's the objective?"

"Two places," Gamma explained, taking off his cap. "First one's a temple; there will be two priest within, they'll be easy to beat."

"Why does it feel like the second one will be more difficult?"

"The second one is on Mount Nantai, buried deep into the snow in dormant lava flows. Traps litter the way up and its well guarded when you get in."

"Temple first?"

"Both at the same time. Murphy's Law is still in effect, and there is a lot that needs to happen. Also we'll need the memories of each priest."

"Who are the targets sir?"

"Please don't call me that Upsilon. You'll deal with Ark Manaf and Hadul at the temple to get the Ninth and Thirteenth Shells. Since only women can ascend Nantai and confront Urt for the Fourth Shell, Helen will have to go by herself."

Epsilon clutched his necklace. "Can't someone help?"

"Depends," Nero answered. "Are you any good at table tennis?" He was met with silence. "Thought not. Helen, Johann, once again we leave a important task in your hands."

"We're the best humanity has to offer," Helen boasted. "There's no way we'll lose."

"Watch our back, and we will succeed." Upsilon said, picking up the packs with their gear, leaving the rest with them and going on their way. Gamma reached into one of the bags and pulled out his communicator.

"How are you doing Psyche?"

"Cramped."

"Sorry. any visitors for us?"

"The Outlaw Star is in port, Victor."

"Faster than I remember." Gamma thought.

"Also, another ship has landed close to Nantai; fitting the description of the Shangri La."

Gamma screamed inwardly at the news, outwardly he shook his head. "Guys, get changed. It's going to be a close shave this time around."

"So what else is new?"

From the outside, the people visiting Hagone looked upon a stone temple, an ancient relic in the modern age. Within however, it had become a warzone, piles of rubble everywhere. Upsilon held the beaten form of Ark Manaf to the ground and looked into his eyes to see his memories. He had already done the same to Hadul and this was no less difficult.

"A pity," He said, sifting the memories around. "That I could not fight you in your prime." He turned away from them and grabbed his backpack containing the rest of the texts needed to make Caster shells. Before he could exit, he found an unwelcome sight in the face of Gene, Aisha, Suzuka and Jim.

Upsilon gave a quick glance at each of them and spotted a wooden handle in Suzuka's hand. "Of course you got to keep that, who was going to stop you?" His head tilted slightly as a question came to mind. "How many people have you killed with a weapon made entirely of wood?"

Suzuka drew her sword. "How many? I don't count; there's always one more."

"Hmm. Interesting worldview."

Gene pointed at Upsilon. "Cut the crap! All I want to know is what you're doing here!"

"That no longer concerns you." He saw Jim just behind the rest of the group. Instantly he found an escape route, slightly bitter at what he had to do. "I have what I need; although I would have liked to stay and know you better." The Panzerfaust opened up and it flew off of his arm, wrapping around Jim's leg. He was dragged back with it and when the shield reaffixed itself Upsilon hurled him at Suzuka, sending them both tumbling. Before the others could react, the heard the tapping of metal behind them from Gamma and his team.

Urt sighed, content with her life. Since the time that Gene came there in search of the Galactic Leyline, she could sense that the mana had shifted considerably in the galaxy. Perhaps now she and her partners-she laughed at the word 'partners'-could finally do everything they wanted. Even starting the next great age of magic, perhaps! But until then, she thought, there was no problem with relaxing for now. She left her study for her own personal bath but saw a terrible thing.

Blood smeared the floor to the bath, compelling her to hurry. When she opened the doors, it was filled with the bodies of her apprentices: mangled, lacerated, but still alive. In the bath was Helen, finishing placing her armor back on, the shaped metal shining on her moist skin. She took notice of the shocked priestess and her eyes flashed red for a split second. When Urt's face tightened in pain, Helen smiled.

"It wasn't hard to get under your skin. Also I apologize for the state of the bath." The water had been stained with wispy pink strands. "I'm not exactly a vain woman, but I'd like to stay professional."

"What have you done!" She shouted.

"What I've always done; whatever I want." Helen said. "You on the other hand, can't stop me and save them, and we both know what you'll do." She ran past Urt, leaving her to tend to her students. Once out of the mountain, she looked down at Hagone, and felt the cold wind on her body.

"Maybe a bath up here was a bad idea." Helen thought aloud as she walked through the snow. "But then again, frozen water is better than frozen blood." She pulled out her communicator to report to the others that she was done, but she noticed a shift in the snow right before a black canine drone burst out to ambush her. Helen dodged it, the drone responding by firing a laser from where it's face should have been. Her armor deflected most of it, allowing her to slash its flank, causing sparks to fly. The drone limped, keeping its damaged side away from Helen. It perked its head up and Helen turned to see that it was looking at its master.

His yellow eyes were sunken into a dark face with a scar running down the left half of his lips. His hands were in the pockets of his red trenchcoat and black hair fluttered in the wind.

"Well I'm surprised," He said with amusement. "You shouldn't have survived that."

"From what I hear," Helen said back. "You should be dead too, MacDougall."

"Maybe that's true." He admitted. "But I'm going to make the most of this, no matter where it takes me."

He pulled out a staff as long as his forearm, the front of it widening out into a very familiar barrel. Despite the danger of going up against a Caster, Helen held her ground. Soon the crunching of snow getting closer led to Upsilon showing up to aid her.

"Did you have fun?" Helen asked him.

"I decided to share." Was his response as the crew of the Outlaw Star trudged up behind him, and the crew of the Argo behind them. Ronald MacDougall's focus, however, was only on one person.

"Starwind!"

Gene was in awe at the sight. "No way…you're still alive?"

"I'll show you what happens when you cross the MacDougall Brothers!"

Epsilon turned to Gamma. "Upsilon and Helen will be caught in the crossfire!"

Gamma got to his knees and sifted through the snow for something. Nero followed suit and quickly they both found a thick rope. They looked at each other and then pulled it before either one could talk the other out of it. A snapping sound could be heard by everyone just before they were swept up by an avalanche. Barreling down the slope at high speeds Gamma called out to anyone who can hear him.

"So what was the plan again?" Omega screamed.

"Escape! Urt rigged the place to collapse in this fashion! We'll wash up somewhere in Hagone, hopefully away from them!"

"Or, since this place is a dormant volcano," Rho rebutted, getting hotter every second. "We'll fall into a pool of lava."

Gamma saw his logic, and then he saw the lava pool they were headed towards.

"You spent all that time telling us that we were perpetually unlucky," Psyche said. "Then you made a plan that had a chance to go spectacularly wrong! Sometimes I worry about you, Victor."

"Well, it was nice knowing you guys." Helen's compliment was the last thing they heard when they fell into the lava. It wasn't as hot as they thought it would be; in fact it was quite cold. Crawling onto a grassy shore, Gamma opened his eyes and saw that they had just come out of a lake. Also they were now in the middle of the forest in someone else's backyard.

"Great, we're not on Tenrei anymore," He thought, rubbing his eyes. "Most likely not even in the same universe."

"Look, they've arrived!" The unknown voice chimed in with his tinny voice, causing Gamma to look up and see a floating log scanning him with a single optic lens. Its only defining feature being a blue symbol on its front.

"They are all here, and even more!" Said another log with a red symbol as the rest came out of the lake. As Gamma's head became less fuzzy he remembered these machines and smiled.

"Azaka, Kamidake; has there been any mail for us?"

"Victor…" Gamma turn to see Nero and the rest looking at him with dumbfounded expressions. Nero, who also knew where they were, decided to express his opinion on the matter.

"I hate you. I hate you so much…"

Well, I guess if they made it this far, they deserve to know the truth.

Authors Notes: Well with this done, it marks a full year that I've been writing this story! Didn't think I'd make it this far; thank you all for reading!