The work crews scrambled over the partially constructed skeletal shape of the newborn machine like ants swarming a defenceless bird. The countless scaffoldings that surrounded it from all sides, even covering the top of the project gave it a very grim look. A look only reinforced by the countless tubes and pipes running from sockets in the roof, walls and floor, they snaked across the floor, under the legs of the multitude of working humanity, crawled up the scaffolding and connected into ports in the side and bottom of the construction. The sound of drills wafted through the cavernous chamber. The chatter of worker the mutliverse over, the cursing as a tool was dropped, the thumps and bumps as they slowly affixed various items and systems onto the main body. The harsh sound of welding pierced the atmosphere, here and there, another coating of something was being added to the main body of the project. It looked flexible and foam-like, but the way it was carried made it look extremely heavy.

The smell of oils, and burning and freshly worked metals were all strong in the air, as Rossiu strode from the nearby elevator. Surrounded, as always, by a flock of guards, reps, techs and other hangers-on. Most of them were unused to being in a workplace like this, and several wrinkled their noses or screwed up their eyes as the smell struck them. To Rossiu, it was not unpleasant, bringing back the days of his youth. He liked this place, in a strange way, it had a purpose that the rest of his life seemed lacking. He may not have been able to find out what caused the Anomaly, or the best way to deal with it, but here, he saw all of the workers steadily moving towards one goal: The completion of his project. He took a good look at it now, on the approach from the elevator, it looked very impressive. The three mighty landing struts outstretched, the scaffolding marred the effect slightly, as did the half-completed look of the thing, but he knew they were making very good time. He had devoted all of the city's resources to this, the secret project that had begun shortly after their jump to this place. It was a magnificent work, suitable for the future history books. It would look ugly when it was done, haste does not allow for beautification, but it would be functional and that was all Rossiu asked of it. The engines had been a real problem, so he was told, and the thing had not been designed to survive for any length of time, at full capacity it would hold enough supplies to feed its crew for around a month. Nowhere near enough to keep them moving at their own speed. This would have made the entire project virtually useless, if it were not for one thing.

" Ah! Rossiu, you look much older when you're tired."

Leeron was hurrying across the floor to them, his purple outfit a stark contrast to the dull grey of the workers surrounding them. He was waving, but he too looked tired out. Rossiu found himself feeling a strange kinship with the man, they had both been working near constantly since they arrived in this strange place. The structure taking shape behind them was Leeron's designs, combined with the latest and greatest in cutting edge technology.

The man reached them, shaking Rossiu's hand, he said, " But you certainly look very distinguished nowadays, if you weren't already taken I'd invite you to dinner."

Rossiu waved away the other man's words, " How is construction going?"

Knowing Rossiu's rush, Leeron did not take offence at the rude gesture. " Well, better than I expected." He said, his tone starting to take on that serious tone he only used when working on new projects. " The armour will take several months to install and build, the engines wont be finished for about four weeks, the computer core is finished and nearly ready to be connected."

Rossiu cast his glance up at the half-formed ship that was slowly being assembled, it was a massive, squatting thing. Nominally based on the Citadel of Terra, it was much smaller and with a far lower tech base, it was nothing compared to the original. Rossiu could have likened it to one of the lower class of ganmen fighting full power Gurren Lagann, but even that was giving it far too much credit. In battle, this would be nothing more than a glorified meatshield. Still, it might prove vital to the survival of the human race. Not just this, but its brothers that were being constructed all over the planet. Not one of them was finished, this one, the closest to completion, was still months, if not years, away from actually flying. Still, it would be a test bed for the technology that Rossiu intended to turn to war if he was forced to.

" The faster than light drive?" He asked, this was important to the extreme, without this, the ship would never be able to fulfil its purpose.

Leeron answered promptly, " None-functional. None of our pilots could generate the amount of power required. To be honest, it would take someone of Simon's stature to even have a chance of doing it."

Rossiu cursed inwardly, but there was still hope to be had, " You said you have another option, did it work out?"

Leeron nodded, " Sort of. You see, I original planned a sort of domino effect -- a group of them would be able to achieve a high Spiral rating than any could alone, but I had to scrap that when it turned out not to work. However, after the faster then light device failed, I turned to working on it and I think I've figured out a way."

" That sounds promising." Encouraged Rossiu, his eyes still taking in the massive form of the ship.

" I have modified it, using ganmen technology, as well as some new ones, the device can..'' hook up'' with a powerful Spiral being, once that is done, it will be able to follow said being, expending the being's energy to use it's FTL."

" Good." Said Rossiu, spirits recovering. " But if that is the case, if the Spiral being doesn't move with it, the ship will stop?"

" Yes. However, if there was a massive beacon of Spiral Energy -- Gurren Lagann for instance -- and if it travelled with them, then there is no reason an entire fleet of these ships could not travel at FTL speeds."

" But that would require Gurren Lagann." Mused Rossiu, " Which would, in turn, require that Simon be fit to pilot it." He felt a minor jolt of regret that he had not thought of Simon sooner, but he had much work to do. Apparently, Simon had suffered some kind of brain damage. He was not expected to wake up. They would have to find a new pilot for Gurren Lagann.

" When will it be ready to fly?"

" At the most basic level, with no armour, most of its systems not installed, and without the power to get into orbit? Maybe a month, the others will be much longer."

Rossiu nodded, he knew that this was lighting fast by the standards of space-craft construction. They had to design it as they went along, but it was not fast enough. If there was another raid, it would be much sooner than a month. Still, there was little he could really do.

" Keep me informed."

Leeron nodded, "Always."

__________________________________________________________

I dig every day, all day.

The tunnel was damp with the recent rain, the fragile earth giving way beneath his drill. The small boy wearing the blue coat continued forwards, years of practice meaning he slid across the earth like a fight through water.

Sometimes, if I dig a lot, the chief will give me some steak. If I don't dig, then I'm punished.

The drill he was holding effortlessly tore through the earth, lengthening the tunnel quickly. The boy didn't need to check to know that he was far in advance of anyone else, he always was. A tiny drop of moisture struck his head. He paused for a second. It had rained up on the surface and now the liquid was seeping down. He quickly starting digging again, the punishments were painful, and he had no wish to go through them again. The strange star burned into his forehead itched, but he ignored it.

So why am I digging? Why do I spend my days toiling in the darkness? Do I want the steaks? Is that why I outwork everyone else? No... the steak isn't nice... it tastes horrible. So are the punishments what motivate me to work faster than the others? Maybe, but I don't really think so. If I were honest with myself, I would admit that I'm missing something... I don't know what it is, it feels like I've lost a tiny part of my soul, and no matter where I look, it is always missing.

A torrent of the liquid burst through the damp room, taking him in the head. He cried out in surprise and panic. Quickly, two disturbing facts became clear to the boy: 1: This water was warm, not cold as rain-water should be, and 2: it was red.

His scream echoed through the tunnel.

_____________________________________________________

" S-Simon...."

Yoko sat quietly on an uncomfortable chair on the edge of the room. Simon's bed was a forest of monitors, computers and screens. His blood was being tested, his breathing measured. His brain-waves monitored. To Yoko, it made him look so weak, pale. It. Just. Didn't. Make. Sense. Simon was one of the most healthy men she had ever known, he was a Spiral for God's sake, how could he just fall into a coma like that? But he had.... He almost looked naked, without his usual aura, his commanding presence. He seemed bare and without defence.

" Simon." She said, " I don't know if you can hear me, but don't give up, OK? You'll beat this..."

Viral put a steady hand on her shoulder. Yoko had never really liked the Beastman, worked with yes, but liked was a different thing all together. Still, she was glad of his support now.

" Simon, don't give up."

_____________________________________________________________

Demos was in pain. He had been in constant pain since his return from the mind of the pilot, Simon. His muscles wanted to spasm, and only his iron will kept them in place, his head felt like it was being set alight, but he kept a lid on it. Psychical pain, he could handle, but there was another side to this assault as well. It was mental, tearing down barriers he had long since put into place.

Just what was this power? He wondered, as he sat in the room that served as his quarters. what kind of eldtritch might could reach through the Warp and do this to him? His body crackled with invisible flames, his mind was in agony, but he knew what he had to do: Kill Simon, then this would all be over. He prayed that they would arrive soon, it seemed that the Great Warp was amiable to their desires, as the tides of un-reality were pushing them in the direction of false-Terra. He swore that he would kill Simon himself, that was a sacred promise, made on the name of his God. He would not fail a second time.

With the ease born of centuries of practice, he loaded his Bolter. The snarling Daemonic face a mirror of his own inner rage. He would not fail again. The powerful Psyker reached out with his mind, feeling the ship around him like a living creature. The minds of his battle-brothers were sharp and hot, easily located. Burning points of controlled anger, burning desires to rend and tear. So few of them were like himself, many wanted to destroy but so few wanted to learn, to grow better and become stronger.

" Spiral Power." He said to himself, as the burning intensified. He knew damn well what was causing it, though he tried not to bring it to mind.

There was being a war waged for his body. The Spiral energy had corrupted him, it still lingered, tainting his once-holy form. Now, the Warp was struggling to regain control, Demos focused on the power within himself, opening his bewildering array of mental fortifications to the Warp that surrounded them, practically drinking in the writhing energy, it was dangerous even to one such as him. The Warp was ever unpredictable, it could aid him one minute and kill him the next, but he would rather die at this point than to lose the blessings of wise Tzeentch Demos had always been lucky in that respect. He had served the Lord of Change for as long as he could remember after the fall, where others gained strange, and often startling, mutations that were of limited use. Wings, claws, and the like. All of them were useless, for the one thing they did not improve was the mind. It seemed then, that his God shared Demos' opinions. To look at him, you would see an Adpetus Astartes, certainly mutated -- the spines sprouting out of his back a sure sign, but not massively so. You might even hazard a guess that he had not been in the employ of the Dark Gods very long. In fact, Demos has extremely heavily mutated. It was simply that his own changes didn't show on the outside. If anyone ever tried to use his geneseed to create a new marine.... there was no telling what sick creature would be created, but Demos hoped some day to find out. However, the most heavily influenced part of his body was his brain. It had been opened to the Warp, changed to better direct its flow and power, to surf the tides of un-reality like a skilled champion. Demos had better control than nearly all of the others who followed his God. He would not allow all the hard work, the sacrifice, both metaphorical and literal., to go to waste. He would purge his body of the power called ''Spiral'', and he would do it now.

Pain flowed through him like lava as he forced his mind to open wider to the Warp, this was suicide, he knew, even he could only handle so much raw Warp-Energy, and he was a sitting duck with no defences like this, but it would be better to fall prey to a Daemon, than to live on a living insult to the power of Chaos. Agony burned his body as the two rivals -- Warp energy and Spiral Power, went to war for control over his soul.

_______________________________________________________________________

Kamina did not pace. He couldn't because without a mind powerful enough to give him form, he was but an insubstantial ghost in the Warp. For the same reason, he could not see, hear, feel or taste. He could, however, sense. Nevertheless, there was a definite feeling about him that suggested that if he could have paced, he would have done so.

" Time is running out." Said Lord Genome, or rather, didn't say. For there was no sound made,and no ears to hear it. However, the shape of the words echoed in Kamina's mind, it was enough to allow them to communicate.

" Enough standing around." Growled Kamina, in the same fashion, " Simon's not waking up and the Chaos Marines are getting closer. Rossiu means well but if he tries what he did with the Anti-Spirals, they'll be unprotected in the Warp and we all know what that means."

" If we move too fast we risk drawing attention to ourselves, that is something we cannot handle until Spiral Matrix reaches one-hundred percent power. I don't need to remind you that while we are still powerful, we no longer have access to the raw Spiral energy we once did. A sufficiently powerful Daemon would be able to defeat us. You were only able to defeat that Chaos Marine by leaching Simon's own stock of Spiral Power."

Kamina let loose what would have been a roar of frustration in any other place. " Then what can we do? I'm not gonna just sit back and let the Dai-Gurren Brigade fall apart!"

" Simply wait for the Spiral Matrix to finish, then the real game begins."

" You think this is all a game?! Careful, I don't think it'd take much for you to slip back into your old self, Genome."

Lord Genome ignored the barbed retort, knowing that Kamina was extremely unused to sitting out a situation as he was now being forced to do. He felt the pulsating presence of his charge, the Spiral Matrix. It was as ghostly and insubstantial as them... yet it was also different. It glowed with a bright inner light, It had life of a sort, and it could be seen! Or rather, a mental picture of it could be seen. It looked very much like a Core-Drill, save that it was coloured gold and hollowed out so that it could fit over a Core-Drill like a snug shell. Complex circuits of energy waved and glowed inside the Matrix, and it was giving off a green light.

" Besides, you know the Chaos Marine has tainted Simon's mind. If it is to be defeated, Simon must cleanse himself, he must do it alone without help, or we risk more than just our own existence.

Suddenly, Lord Genome cried out, and would have staggered, had he a body to do it with. Kamina also felt the sharp pain and gasped.

" What the hell just happened?!"

" The Spiral Field protecting Earth has been punctured." Answered Lord Genome quickly, feeling the gaping wound in reality.

" That means that --"

" Yes, that Earth is no longer protected from the influence of the Dark Gods."

Kamina made to move back into the world of mortals, but Lord Genome stopped him.

" We cannot aid them now, Kamina. We must repair the Spiral Field before anything worse than Daemons makes it through"

_________________________________________________________________

15 minutes ago:

The Earth was surrounded by the chaotic, multi-coloured Warp like a single jewel of cold sanity in a hot, insane universe. If one had the eyes, they would have seen a glittering field of green energy standing like a silent sentinel between the boundaries of Gods and men. It seemed to pulse, to grow and weaken, fuelled by every being on the planet below. It was a massive, blazing wall separating the space of the damned, from the lands of those who might still be saved. Yet, it was like a single candle to the monstrous presence of the Warp. A spluttering candle, rapidly weakening. From the moment that Earth had arrived in the Warp, the Dark Gods had taken notice, indeed it had become something of a competition to see who could crack through first and lay claim to the planet below. Khorn the mighty, with all his legendary subtleness, sent wave after wave of red-tinged Warp energy against the barrier. Smashing his assaults to pieces again and again, but always there was a new one. Nurgle, beloved of his followers, waited in the wings, observing, searching, waiting. He knew that all things weaken over time, and this wall was no exception. He would have his world, now or later it didn't matter to him. Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways, always insidious and cunning, had attempted to sneak an agent in, one who would carry the taint of Chaos to the masses. So far, it seemed to be working for though said agent had been repulsed, Chaos was slowly taking root amongst the lower orders. Lastly, alluring Slaanesh gloried in the emotions that were creating the barrier. The youngest and weakest of the Gods, Slaanesh was nevertheless sure of his ability to break through. It was, after all, built upon emotions, and emotions were his playthings. It was thus, that slowly, fighting all the way, the Spiral Field started to buckle, there were no holes in it as yet, but each of the four Gods readied his legions, his Daemons, it was only a matter of time now.

__________________________

10 minutes ago:

Something was wrong with the sky. A simple observation, but one that was bringing out all the people in Kamina city. The clouds were being blown away, but there was no wind, there was a feeling about the place, and up above, the sky was not the blue of day nor the black of night, it was blood red. People lined the streets, pointing, talking, fears leapt from person to person. It was a demon, it was the devil, it was another raid, the Anti-Spirals had done it, it was Spiral Nemesis. Panic replaced fear, then terror overtook panic. Hardly anyone ran, because there was nowhere to run to, all over the planet it was the same. When it started to rain blood, things only got worse.

Rossiu stood on the balcony overlooking the city, shielded from the blood-rain, he nevertheless felt deep in his bones that something was terribly wrong. He turned to one of his ever-present aids, " Get on the line to the military now, I want the Grapearls ready to deploy at a seconds notice."

The man hurried off, Rossiu knew he should have done it himself, but he couldn't bring himself away from the bleeding sky, it was haunting, terrifying, yet something in it was...alluring. He couldn't tear himself a way. A small part of him was screaming that this was wrong, that this was dangerous but that part was slowly being overwhelmed by the beauty of the event.

_______________________________

7 Minutes Ago:

Leeron sat in the half-darkness of the control room, the green lights of the buttons and stat-read-outs illuminated his features in a way most pleasing. But enough of that, he had much work to do.

" Grapearl squads, roll-call."

Almost at once, the radio spat static, then two familiar voices said in sync, " Squad one reporting for duty."

Gimmy and Darry He thought, why am I not surprised that they're the first to respond.

" Copy that." He said, his use of militarized slang letting them know the situation was real, " You're assigned to guard city-section G-thirteen. Spread out and provide cover, we don't know what will come through, so we'll need to be ready for anything."

The rest of the squads quickly sounded off as well, Leeron gave them their direction curtly. He felt that they were missing a vital part of their defences -- Simon and Gurren Lagann wouldn't be taking place in this fight. While the Grapearls were powerful, and he'd designed them himself, he was not egocentric enough to think they could compete with Gurren Lagann on anything but the most basic of levels. Still, they would have to use what they had and prey that it was enough to turn aside whatever new threat fate had in store for them.

________________________________

5 Minutes Ago:

Yoko peered through the window of the clean-smelling hospital room, Viral joined her as together, they looked out at the red rain.

" This doesn't look good." Viral announced, " Last time something like this happened, it was the Anti-Spirals."

Yoko frowned, " Yeah..." Now she had the urge to go out and figure out what the hell was happening, but a single look at Simon's sleeping form was enough to blunt that urge. She was needed here and now, whatever was happening out there, she was sure Rossiu could handle it.

______________________________________

3 Minutes Ago:

" Darry, what's the status on the team?"

" We've taken up position around the section, we wont let anything through, Leeron."

" Good, hold there no matter what. This section is the one with Simon's hospital in it, don't let anything happen to him."

Darry's voice was hard and edged with determination when he spoke again, " I guarantee nothing will get past us!"

Darry moved his Grapearl into a better position, the giant hand-gun overlayed his screen with a targeting rectangle. Motion detection was on, all systems running hot. " We wont let anyone get past us." He said to himself.

His twin, Gimmy had her own Grapearl standing next to his, her gun drawn as well. He trusted her with his live, and knew that she felt the same way he did. They wouldn't let Simon down. The other three members of their team had taken up positions around the city-section, careful to keep the roads free and not to squash anyone.

Darry could feel that something was coming, it echoed in his soul, he felt slightly sick, but not like any way he had ever felt before. He tightened his grip on the controls, swearing to himself that if Simon were to die, it would be over his own cooling, dismembered, body.

_________________________________________

1 Minute Ago: Impact.

When it happened, it happened suddenly, the invisible green shield around the planet shimmered, then it give off searing illumination, and a tiny lance of darkness forced itself past the barrier, like a spear ripping through flesh, like an arrow cutting into a wounded target, like the wraith of a God, the tendril of Warp energy crackled and danced as it rushed downwards like a fork of the most evil lightening ever seen. The Spiral Field reacted to contain the outbreak and limit the power of the Warp, but it was far too late to stop it totally. To the people of the city below, it must have looked like some kind of orbital attack, as its great speed cleared the distance between orbit and Kamina city.

Like some fiendish incarnation of electrical power, it homed in on one of the taller buildings, striking its tip with a single finger of pulsating Warp-power. At once, all the people inside the building screamed, some in pain, others in joy, they died screaming, the sheer power of the Warp coursing through the building, earthing itself in their mortal forms and ripping their souls from their bodies. The building itself, lasted little longer. Not made to contain the raw, seething energy of un-reality, it buckled and bent, exploding outwards as if stocked to the brim with high explosives. Nearby buildings took the hits, falling themselves or catching a light as the Warp arced from one to the next. Hundreds died then, and that was just the arrival of the enemy. The survivors hid where they could, in buildings or in cars on the street. For a few lengthy minutes it seemed that it could even be over, but then, a harsh light spewed from the slagged foundations of the first building. Everyone near it was driven insane with lust, anger, hatred, love or joy. Inexcusable acts were committed under the power of the Prince of Pleasure then. Those fortunate enough not to be too close to the light were tempted with visions of their deepest, darkest desires no matter how perverted or morally unsound.

Then, the light pulled back like a thing alive, and for a second, it seemed that it might be retreating, but there was no such luck. It gathered together, pulsating sickeningly as it formed into a humanoid shape as tall as any Ganmen. Slowly, the light danced and whirled in a dazzling display of beauty and grace, yet all the while, something was taking shape within. It started with an arm, muscles bulged and it looked like it belonged to some sort of ape, it ended in ta wicked looking claw, then a twin joined it and they connected to a massive barrel chest. The head was like that of a mythical creature, a cow or bull head, with human eyes, yet they were dark as crystal, a crown of horns jutted cruelly into the air and its mouth was filled with razor-sharp teeth. From the waist down, it's legs were shaggy and hoofed. The Greater Daemon threw back its bestial head and roared, " I live! All hail the Prince of Pleasure!"

The emotions of the surrounding humanity whipped it into a frenzy, it could feel fear, pain, agony from those wounded, it roared again, no words this time, but a bestial scream of lust that struck cords with all present. The air around it shimmered as it exerted its influence, to bring out all that humanity struggled so hard to contain. There was much work to be done, knew the Daemon, even as it set out, as it walked, the humans nearest to it were overcome with lust or hatred. It was a pleasant back-ground feeling for the Daemon. Until that is, a force struck strong enough to blow chunks of its flesh from its bones, the beast staggered, shocked more than hurt, the beautiful pain thundered through its body, the flesh reforming even as it savoured the exquisite pain.

The Keeper of Secrets locked its cold, brilliant eyes onto the face of its attacker. A giant mech, painted blue. It held some kind of gun, but the thing had done nothing more than minor damage. A smirk slowly worked its way across the Keeper's face. Ah, what a welcome! Here was fresh prey. It could feel the fear from here, it tasted so good, it made the Keeper lust for more, to hear the agonized screams of the tormented pilot, to see the subtle play of muscles and blood, it growled. A low, seductive sound, bringing to mind all the lusts and wonders capable of being experienced by a human.

_______________________________________________________

Darry was shaking, hands on the controls were sweaty, he couldn't help it. It wasn't fear -- much, but that thing seemed to radiate a bewildering amount of emotions, his knees were shaking, his bowel knotted.

" W-what is this thing?" He asked in a weak voice.

" Grapearl squad one, come in." Said Leeron from control, " Reinforcements are on the way, hold it there until they arrive."

Darry nodded, the voice bringing him back to reality, he was thankful to see that his twin, Gimmy had already ordered the rest of the squad to close in, they had already raised their guns. Darry's own weapon locked onto the monster's face with a beep.

" Fire." Roared both Darry and Gimmy in sync, their hands jabbing down on the button.

The five Grapearls were deadly in their attacks, each one held a handgun like weapon, which will not capable of a great rate of fire, was fully capable of obliterating any Ganmen. The weapons launched their lethal payload. The Keeper of Secrets roared as chunks of flesh were blasted from its form, and its blood fell down to mix with that already rained from the heavens. Darry nodded to himself, noticing that while the weapons were doing damage, none of it was fatal. One of the other pilots -- a new recruit by the name of Yaon, also made the same conclusion. Save that he decided to do something about it. His grey, mass-produced Grapearl leapt forwards, powerful legs easily propelling the mech at the wounded foe. There was a brief flash of light as Yaon holstered his gun and drew out the blade carried by all Grapearls for close combat. Yaon was good, Darry noted almost without meaning to. He controlled his mech well, in a few years he would almost certainly be officer materiel, his well-disciplined strike aimed for the throat, in the logical assumption that a humanoid beast would have the same weaknesses. The red light of the sky reflected off the blade as it ploughed towards its target, Darry saw that it would be an expert cut, probably severing the neck all together. Then, it went to hell, there was a sudden blast of.... of emotion? Darry didn't know how to describe it, only that it was inviting, powerful, deceitful and, to some dark part of him, delicious.

Yaon was unprepared for this and it caught him, he froze, only for half a second but it was far more than enough, faster than any beast its size had a right to be, the Daemon's twin pincer/claws closed around the arms of the grey Grapearl, before Darry or the squad could do anything more, they closed, there was a flash of electricity, twin explosions, the dis-armed mech staggered as it fell, Yaon trying to exert some small measure of control, for a second it seemed that he might just do it, but then a powerful tail tipped with a stinger ripped through the chest of the Grapearl. Darry was speechless, it had happened in less time than they could react in!

Even as he urged his mech forwards, the Daemon ripped Yaon's Grapearl apart. As if savouring the man's terror, Darry didn't hear his twin's cry not to be stupid, nor the calls of the rest of the squad. One thing focused his mind like crystal: Someone had died, someone under his care had been murdered, it didn't matter to him that it was done in battle, that Yaon had struck first, it was still murder. With a dark rage in his heart, and passion burning in his veins, Darry launched himself at the Keeper of Secrets, his blade arcing for the thing's neck. It turned, and its eyes seemed to lock onto his. He cried out as a wave of what could only be called lust washed over him, to his own horror, his body responded, shock froze him as it had done Yaon, and again, the greater Daemon of Slaneesh lashed out, this time against the heavier armour of his customized Grapearl, Darry cried out as he was thrown forwards, a massive dent in the armour and several systems going haywire. The Grapearl skidded and smashed into the smoking hulk of a ruined building, rubble cascaded over it and by the time Darry could look up, he saw that the rest of the squad had engaged the Daemon hand to hand.

What happened? He asked himself, shaking his head, he switched out most of the damaged systems, the thing's attack had done a load of damage but none that would impair function for some time.

He rose, pushing the rubble of him.

" Leeron." He growled, " What's happened to those reinforcements?"

No answer. His com system must have been damaged in the initial attack. Suddenly, a burst of flames marked the death of another of his pilots. Darry watched as the sad remains of the Grapearl hit the ground. Anger overcame him once more and he rejoined the fight.

The Keep of Secrets, was fast, lithe and strong, it was able to avoid most of the cuts and slashes of the opposing Grapearls. To it, this fight was little more than a game. Oh it could have won right away, could have used all its power to overload the mind of these mortals with sensations, but this way was better. This way it could to experience all of the emotions that rushed through the enemies that had dared strike at it. It had enjoyed the deaths of the two pilots, the one called Yaon had known it was coming, had wept tears as his controls caved in around him in a blessed moment of pure agony. The second, Markom, has been more surprised by his death, but the second of searing pain as the explosion ate away at him coupled with the overwhelming sense of failure more than made up for the briefness. Now, the first one was getting up again, the Keeper could feel his anger, it drank it up like the finest wine. It was going to enjoy its stay here.

It staggered back, more shots stitching across its chest and face, blood splashed outwards and it rejoiced in the pain, for that too was emotion and thereby worthy of the Prince of Pleasure. A blade was thrust through its chest from behind by the first pilot, the Keeper lashed out with its mental powers.

Darry grinned as he embedded his sword in the thing's chest, blood washing along the blade like a crimson tide. It was all over... now it was all --He screamed, a wall of emotions striking him like a solid object. Unbidden, visions rose up in his mind, A million scenes of lust and love played before his mind, he cried out again and again, feeling it all, Darry wasn't to know his Grapearl had stopped moving, wasn't to know that the Daemon was closing its claws around the neck of his mech.

" Darry!" Cried Gimmy, whipping out her own weapon and aiming for the arms that were holding her twin but it was no use, any damage was instantly healed, with reptilian patience, the Daemon ignored the desperate attacks of Gimmy and the other Grapeal pilot.

Darry looked into the eyes of death itself, they were black, emotionless, like those of a shark or pit-bull. Being this close to the Greater Daemon was not good for his mental health. its emotions radiated outwards and Darry was being forced to receive them, he felt sullied by the savage joy, the sharp bursts of excitement as the others peppered it with shots. He cried out, gripping the controls and forcing the Grapearl to fight back. Its mechanical hands came up and tried to force the claws apart but it was no use, then the tail came up, the stinger lanced into his mech, propelled by muscles and the iron will of the Keeper. It punched through the armour as if it were nothing and Darry suddenly knew exactly how outmatched they were.

Once, the barbed limb buried itself in the chest of the Grapearl, Darry was jolted badly, hydrolics were shot and the strength of the mech waning. twice, primary power was knocked out, explosions rippled through the mech, systems flared on and off, a warning horn blurred. Darry saw Gimmy rushing forwards but he also saw she wouldn't get there in time. three. Secondary power took a hit, the lights and controls died one by one, leaving Darry in the dark with the image of the Daemon's face burned into his mind. four, the left leg was almost totally severed, the arms were now hanging lifelessly. five, the muscular tail smashed into the side of the Grapearl again, this time the armour bent with a horribly screech, luckily it had already lost all power, otherwise the wound would have resulted in an explosion strong enough to threaten Darry. It released him at the same time, the force of the blow sending the powerless Grapearl tumbling through the rubble of the city that they had once protected. It came to rest up against a ruined skyscraper, Darry quickly tried to re-activaqte but his Grapearl was dead, all systems were down with no power what so ever. The throw had ended him some way away from the Daemon, so its influence was massively weakened.

" Just what is this thing?" He demanded, " It took down a top of the range customised Grapearl in just five attacks! Damn it, Leeron, we need that help now."

To the Keeper of Secrets, Darry's frustration was but another facet of its worship of Slaneesh, it would leave him now until the end of the fight. It could just imagine what kind of torment would rip through the pilot's soul as he saw the rest of his team butchered like cattle. Another mech struck it in the head with a shot, it staggered back, hope dawned but it died stillborn when the Daemon simply powered itself forwards, leaping faster than they had anticipated, hope turned to horror then, as it buried it's claw/pincers in the chest of the attacker. The Keeper soaked in the man's horror as he realized what was about to happen. His Grapearl exploded, killing him instantly. Now the Keeper turned its attention to the last Grapearl, the mind there was clearly female. It grinned, it was going to enjoy this part.

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I dig all day, every day. Sometimes I'm soaked in water from heavy rain above-ground, other times, its not water. But I still dig, I still search. What am I missing? What am I looking for? I don't know what it is.... but I have this feeling that I should.... I do known one thing, and that is that if I ever see, it I will recognise it.

The boy wandered along the tunnel, searching, palming through the dirt in the hopes of finding something, the thing he was looking for, but as always, it was not there. Despair threatened to claw away at him, but he fought it back. If it wasn't here, he would just go on searching, he would keep looking for eternity, if he had to.

Suddenly, he felt an urge... a pull, without thinking, he took his drill and changed the direction of the tunnel.

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Gimmy cried out, the back of her Grapearl slamming into a building, knocking it down, she had about a second to hope that it had been deserted when the fight began before the Daemon was on her. She tried to focus, to fight it off, but she couldn't, perverted images were sent flowing into her mind in a never ending barrage. Most featured her in some way, she cried out for them to stop, but they didn't. The Daemon heaved her into the air and tossed her Grapearl again, as if it were but a doll.

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" Lord Genome! They can't win this... they need my help."

" No, Kamina. We must repair this Spiral Field, is anything else trying to make it past you onto the Earth?"

" Yes, but none of them have the guts to take me on! You have the time you need, but you have to use it. Fix the field now!"

Genome didn't notice that the glowing form of the Spiral matrix had vanished, he didn't have time, he was bending reality just to keep the Spiral field in check. Anywhere else, he couldn't have done it, but the Warp was like a play-ground to one such as him. However, it was still a challenge. A challenge that if he did not win, then humanity would be doomed.

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The boy was digging fast now, something was up ahead! He could feel it, energy pulsed through him as he neared it, he didn't notice it but his drill wasn't the only thing removing dark now, the tunnel was growing, widening. Then, he came upon his target at last. It seemed so many years had he been searching for this, but he knew with an amazing sense of purpose that this was it, this was what he had been searching for.

It looked like a face, out of stone, a name sprang to his lips, but he knew not from where it had come, " Lagann..."

He reached for it like a man might reach for an old friend... but was thrown bodily against the wall with a thud! Pain flashed through him while he picked himself up and looked again. Now he saw that there was one last barrier between Lagann and himself. A strange, star, formed of glowing red energy, even being near it was enough that he felt scared witless, he knew without checking that it matched the one branded on his forehead. The star began to glow, brighter and brighter, a figure stepped out of the eye-melting glare. Clad in power-armour, the Astartes giant towered over the young boy.

It levelled a loaded Bolter at his face.

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Gimmy shrieked in anguish, more images flashing before her mind, all of her doing the most disgusting things possible, she couldn't look away, and her Grapearl was being beaten to a pulp, the left arm hung limp and useless. The Daemon grinned down at her, to it, this was the greatest pleasure it had partaken of since its arrival. It decided that it would not kill her just yet, that it would dig her out of the ruined body of the mech, then, it would give her the Daemoness that would surely follow soon in its wake. Her agony would be sweet and prolonged. But it was time to finish this fight, and then to kill its target.

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The bolter barked death, Simon threw himself backwards but he knew it wasn't enough, he was therefore quite surprised to find himself still alive several seconds later when he opened his eyes.

A figure was standing between him and the Astartes. She was beautiful, like an angel. A black body-suit, white hair cascading down her back as she held her hand up to the attacker, like a guardian angel she stood between him and death. He knew her, but her name was hard, so hard to say. He had thought never to see her again, but this... this was impossible, wasn't it?

" N-Nia..."

She turned to him and smiled, as if they had only been separated for an afternoon! " Simon."

The boy's mind rang, and he turned away from her, the last piece of the puzzle falling into place with a final click, " Yes, I'm Simon!"

The boy turned away, the man turned back. The fully grown Simon, wearing his sunglasses and cape smiled thankfully at Nia. " You came for me."

" Of course, you saved me from the Anti-Spirals I had to return the favour."

Suddenly, a dark beam of light lanced from her hand, striking the Astartes, shattering him into a million pieces.

" Now go, Simon. Speak of this to no one. I mean no one."

" Nia..." He wanted to embrace her, to thank her, but what he said was on pure instinct without any thought, " I thought you were dead."

Her smile wilted, her sad face seemed to glow to Simon, " I am. Not like the others, truly dead."

" Then what are you doing here?" Asked Simon, walking towards his wife.

" I am but a memory, a last guardian, Simon. I am here, because you have always carried me with you."

She pointed to the star, " But I can go no farther than this, break through the last barrier, Simon, your friends need you more than ever. Remember that I will always be with you in here." She gestured at his heart, " Like your bro.

" I...I.. Thank you, Nia." Said Simon, not wanting to leave. But he knew that he couldn't stay.

" The taint will try to prevent you from leaving." She continued, " if you reach the surface you will have won free of its control, but if you let yourself be bound and controlled, then not even I can save you."

He nodded, " Than you, Nia. I'll always remember you..."

She smiled, " And I you. Now before you leave, one last gift."

She tossed him a small item, he looked at it closely, " What is it?"

" Its the Spiral Matrix, it was created by my father, the proto-type is from the first Spiral War but you have the finished version. I don't have the time to explain what it will do, but trust me when I say you'll need it."

" Thank you. Now I have to go."

She nodded and silently watched him leave. As Simon approached the star, it began to burn brighter again but he wasn't scared now. He held the Spiral Matrix, a token given to him by his love. He could feel it, it was alive with power, crackling, living power. In his other hand, the Core-Drill appeared in a flash of green. he pushed it up against the Chaotic barrier, funnelling his energy into it.

" For my bro." He said at last, the faces of all his friends flashing before his mind, " For everyone who needs me, I... I will not allow myself to let them down."

He turned it, there was a searing blast of green light and the barrier shattered, Lagann lay before him now, he turned to see Nia one more time, his chest was heavy with things unsaid, but he couldn't afford to wait. He quickly took up his position in the small mech. Inserting the Core-Drill, he felt the power rush through him.

Lagann activated, and leapt into the air, almost at once, tendrils of dark energy sought to hold him, but he slipped away from them, moving as quickly as he could. he danced, left, right, down, up, he couldn't let them catch him, not after so much had happened! Bro, Kittan, everyone who died fighting the Anti-Spirals. Everyone who fought for a better future! I wont let your deaths be in vain! I wont let the Dai-Gurren Brigade die! Spiral Power pulsed outwards from him and Lagann was consumed, Gurren Lagann launched out of the storm of green, drills slicing and cutting even as he rose. A massive tendril loomed out of nowhere and smashed into him, he fell and the others entrapped the limbs of the mech.

" No! I can't let this happen!"

There was another flash of green light, a thousand drills pierced his surrounding, and the tendrils fell back into shadows. he rocketed upwards, gaining speed as he went, there! Another barrier, the last barrier, he knew.

He grinned now, ", Giga-Drill Breaker!"

There was a twisting, writhing mass of energy as Warp fought Spiral.

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10 Minutes Later:

Gimmy screamed again and again as the images replayed, the emotional impact of each event being increased by the Daemon. She experienced every minute of it, the screeching sounds of steel breaking echoed but she couldn't hear them anymore. The Keeper was intent on digging her out of the Grapearl, its fingers clawed through armour and circuits.

" Soon." it growled to her, " You will know pain and excitement and lust and all the million other emotions I have shown, soon you will feel everything I revealed to you!"

A hand clamped down on it's shoulder and it was hurled away from the downed Grapearl. it smashed into the ground hard, digging itself out, it saw a red mech standing over it, looking angry.

" Don't count on it." Hissed Simon angrily.