Anne pulled back her ponytail, fighting the headache she felt brewing in the back of her skull as she looked into the floor length mirror in front of her. She used some of her own hair and looped it around, securing it into a style she hoped would disguise herself long enough to force her way past the guards. Part of her doubted it would take much effort to do so, seeing as how they should have bigger things to worry about than a security breach like herself.
"Anne?"
"Here, Viral. Throw something on so we can get out of here."
His footsteps grew louder as he approached, and she sat down on a bench, leaning over to act like she was tightening her boots. Leaning forward helped a little, but Anne suspected she was still very much hydrated. A glimpse in the mirror while she was getting dressed showed her how close to death she had been. She looked horrid. Dark circles under her eyes, skin hanging where it had once had full flesh beneath it, a slightly yellow tone to her complexion.
Viral came around the corner, bare-chested and buttoning the pants he'd apparently just thrown on. Anne's eyes widened for a moment, and she barely managed to stand up and head over to the bathroom in the back and grab some tissue before a thin trickle of blood escaped her nose.
"Are you ok?" she heard him call.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said nasally, her fingers pinching the flesh just below the bridge in an attempt to stop the bleeding. "Hurry up and get dressed. And find me some water, please?"
She ran the faucet for a moment, wiping at her nose to make sure none of the blood was showing before taking a deep breath and leaving the washroom. Like she needed another reason to lose more bodily fluids. His timing could really….really use some improvement. It was only after looking around the corner of the entrance to make sure he was at least mostly dressed that Anne finally came out, returning to where she was sitting and picking Cherise up to stick her under her military cover. She waited for Cherise to get settled before looking over at Viral.
"Ready to do the impossible?"
"Always," he smirked before coming up beside her, his hair tucked underneath the cap he wore. Anne stood in front of him a moment, resisting the urge to tuck a loose tendril back in place. Instead, she turned towards the double doors, avoiding looking at him as she reminded herself they had bigger things to concern themselves with.
"Now, how do we get out of…"
A cloaked figure materialized before them without so much as a sound. Anne tried to remember if she had even blinked in the time it took this stranger to appear, and she felt her muscles tense as her body prepared for fight..
"I shall assist," said an all too familiar voice.
Anne had enough time to shiver before Viral put himself between her and the Anti-Spiral Emissary, the creature never moved. The shiver erupted into ice in her veins when laughter filled the otherwise quiet room, the first sign of any emotion from it, and she had a feeling none of it was a laughing matter for her.
"Even if you should want to fight, I will not engage you here," it intoned, any sign of amusement gone from its voice. "As I said, I am here to assist."
Taking a few steps out from Viral's protecting form, Anne faced the Anti-Spiral with as steady a voice as she could muster. "And why should we believe you? We certainly have no reason to trust you or anything you would offer."
"Our predecessors did not anticipate the tenacity of will that Spiral beings possess. The previous leader did not understand how to truly make you feel despair so deep that you will never rise again. However, we of the new generation do."
Anne felt her breath catch as it took a step forward, bracing herself.
"We will take ever asset, every weapon, every trump card you believe you have and crush them into oblivion. And we shall begin with Gurren Lagann. I will transport you to the Ganmen. You two shall pilot it. And then, we will destroy you and the one weapon that you believe will save you."
Before Anne could even think of a response, the Anti-Spiral began to dematerialize in front of her. It only took her a moment to realize that she, too, was disappearing, pixel by pixel.
Viral wasn't sure what to do when all three of them started to cross dimensions, but the haunting words of the Anti-Spiral echoed in his mind long after he realized he and Anne were both in the bay area for the Ganmen. True to its word, it had placed them in a corner of the bay, within sprinting distance of the mech so many had been trying to keep her away from. He looked at Anne, her face pale as she trembled slightly. If the damned creature had really wanted to best them, it would've made sure Anne never got sick in the first place. He reached out, grabbing her firmly by the upper arm and letting go when she started, looking around.
"Are you ok? It didn't do anything to you while it transported us, did it?"
She shook her head slowly, calming down although her color did not change. Her hand went up to her neck and she pulled out the drill core, soft green light pulsating from it, matching the beat of her heart. Anne gripped it firmly in one hand before looking over at him.
"I won't let them beat us," she said softly. "I can't…"
"Enough talk," Viral snapped, unsure just what was grating his nerves more at the moment. By Spiral, he hated to see her like this, unsure and vulnerable. It brought out every protective instinct in his body. A body that may not be able to protect her as well as it once did, he forced himself to remember. He had to watch his back as well as hers on this battleground.
Deafening noise filled the room as a large explosion hit nearby, forcing sprinkler systems to go off and the lights to die.
"Now," he heard Anne hiss before feeling her move past him, racing towards Gurren Lagann, the green light escaping from her hands. He followed after her, bumping into a few people who ran around in panic, not stopping to see if any damage was done. He had one goal, and one only. Anne reached it quickly, racing up the side of the large mech with ease that came from something she'd practiced since childhood. He couldn't help but smirk a bit as he heard Lagann open before getting into Gurren himself, quickly ripping off the confining jacket and hat before throwing them out to fall where they may. Anne's face popped up on the screen in front of him, and for the first time in a while, he thought he saw a hint of a smile on her face.
"Ready to kick some ass?" she asked.
"Like you had to ask."
"What the hell?"
Rossiu appeared in a corner of the screen, and he heard Anne let out a particularly nasty curse. He'd forgotten that the communication system of Gurren Lagann was also linked with those of the high command when the mech was docked on earth. Oh well.
"We're going off to save the world, so don't give me any of the red tape, political bull," Anne said. "And that is all I have to say to you."
Rossiu blinked a few times before a look that managed to be both resigned and amused at once crossed his aging face.
"Then I will say 'good luck' and sign off. Thank you, Anne. And take care of her, Viral."
A twinge of guilt managed to wedge itself into the other emotions he was dealing with, and Viral only hoped that he could continue doing just that. Rossiu disappeared, leaving only Anne to fill up his screen for a moment before he saw her throw in her drill core, feeling the mech come to life beneath him as Anne poured a seemingly impossible amount of energy into it System checks began to flash over the screen, pushing Anne to a small corner before the screen cleared, showing the outside finally. People were scrambling to get out of the way of the mech as it started to move towards the bay door. Viral put his hands on the controls, preparing himself for whatever may come, when he immediately felt the difference.
The metal hummed beneath his fingers with a deep, steady warmth. It tingled through his arms and he felt something within him respond. Leeron was undoubtedly going to have a field day with this latest tidbit. His body was definitely reacting to Anne's Spiral energy. But the real question was how to make it work to their benefit.
Her father had once told her that in the midst of battle, a true warrior pushes everything out of his mind and focuses on nothing but the task at hand, whatever that task might be. Distractions were fatal. Distractions were what kept graveyards full. Even as Anne recalled those words and knew what she had to do, the devastation before her drew memories of her first encounter with the Anti-Spirals. True despair, it had said. Anne regretted being so privileged and sheltered. Maybe then she could handle all of this a little better.
Sirens wailed as bodies sat motionless on the streets before her, buildings disappearing in clouds of smoke and ash as weapons were fired on both sides. She managed to take a breath and collect herself before launching to the skies, joining the fray that couldn't have been going on for longer than thirty minutes and had already destroyed most of the city.
"Come on, Anne," Viral said. "You've got to focus. Gurren Lagann can't work without us both in this, and you know it."
That was all it took to pull Anne out of herself and into the present. She looked around for the nearest threat and found herself staring at the same Ganmen she had faced on Kritolin. Her body tensed for a moment before it threw the first blow. Grateful for her reaction time, her hands threw up the controls, blocking the blow and countering with one of her own, throwing more of her energy into Gurren Lagann.
"Even your attempts at self-preservation only hurl the universe more quickly towards its demise."
Anne couldn't give it the satisfaction of acknowledging it, shifting one arm into the massive drill and aiming at the chest of the Ganmen. It blocked with a drill of its own, and Anne struggled to keep her mind on the fight. A sparkling of gunfire danced along the dark metal of it as other Grappearls started to enter the battle, trying to help.
"Everyone, back off!" Viral shouted, opening the com to the surrounding mechs a moment too late.
Anne felt an all too familiar energy signature as the Gurren Lagann she faced erupted into drills, taking out several of the Grappearls that surrounded it in one move. She heard herself growl as she threw Gurren Lagann at the mech, dodging the erupting drills as it removed its glasses and flung them forward, slicing several drills before embedding itself into the enemy's chest. She got within arm-s length of it and threw in an uppercut, knocking it into the air and grabbed the mech, taking it far above the airspace surround the town.
"If you thought as much about the universe as you did the conditions of those around you, you would come to the same conclusion. It is only logical."
"Screw logic!" Anne shouted as she pushed her mech upwards, throwing punch after punch, landing only a few as the mech countered one after the other. "Life isn't about logic! It's about love and sacrifice, about friends and relationships. The life you live is no life at all!"
The dashboard before her erupted into green light as she threw both arms of the mech together, merging them into one huge drill, thrusting it towards the mech, who grabbed at it, trying to stop it from reaching its target.
"I won't let you take away the things I love!" she yelled, feeding all of her emotions into Gurren Lagann, feeling it respond to her.
The drill started to glow red with the friction the Anti-Spiral Ganmen was putting on it, and Anne felt a moment of panic.
"Stay calm, Anne! Fight!"
The dashboard grew brighter as she heard the screeching destruction of the mech's hands, the drill reaching its home within the chest of the dark shadow of her own treasured Ganmen.
It just laughed, even in the midst of the waves of lightning that danced along the shell, telling of its impending demise.
"Shall we meet in space for our next encounter? If you are still willing to fight."
As the question formed in Anne's mind, the Anti-Spiral pointed towards the ground, and Anne's heart crumbled even in the midst of the explosion, close enough to rock them slightly.
"Anne? Anne! Damnit, Anne, what is it?"
Her hands fell from the controls and she only vaguely thought that she hoped Viral could land them safely. On the ground below them were the remains of Dayakkaiser.
It took Viral a few moments to recognize the Ganmen since it had been ages since the last time anyone had seen it. He'd thought it was sitting in a museum somewhere, but he realized that was probably just a replica. As soon as Gurren Lagann touched down, he heard Anne scramble out of the seat above him. He'd only managed to leave the mech himself when he saw Anne already at the husk of the Ganmen, missing both arms and one leg with multiple cracks in the heavy metal.
"Dad? Dad?"
Viral raced towards her, getting to her just in time to catch her as her knees gave way, a coughing fit shaking her in his arms.
"I'm sure he's fine," he tried to assure her.
"You don't know that, Viral! You don't, and I need to find him!"
"Anne?"
Both of them looked up to find a blood-covered Kiyoh standing just beyond the remains of a building, her arm in a sling and her silvering blond hair black from the ash that covered it. Anne broke free from his arms and he hated himself for the twinge he felt seeing her run up to her mother, but he didn't let it keep him from following closely behind. She placed a hand on her mother's good arm, Kiyoh looking exhausted.
"Where's dad? Why were you two fighting?"
"Why were we fighting?" Kiyoh asked, a slight laugh in her voice. "The same reason you were, of course."
"Then dad?"
"He's being treated over here."
Only then did the woman seem to notice Viral was nearby, and she waved him over. Together, they rounded the corner of the building where they saw a makeshift first aid tent thrown up, people running around in mostly hushed tones. Kiyoh led them inside and they headed straight to the back. Viral recognized Dayakka's green hair from where he stood, and Anne broke away from them, racing to his side, a hand grasping at his as she knelt down.
"Dad," she said softly, and Viral's heart ached at the pain in her voice.
Dayakka's eyes opened and he grimaced before smiling at her.
"Great job out there. I was wondering when you'd show up," he rasped.
"I got here as quickly as I could," she told him. Viral could smell her tears from where he stood, some space away from the family. "But you…are you ok?"
"I'll be fine, my little lady," Dayakka said affectionately, reaching up and stroking her hair.
"Fine? You call being paralyzed fine?"
All eyes turned up towards the corner of the tent where Kittan stood, arms crossed as he glared at first Anne then Viral. Viral mirrored his stance, crossing his own arms and relaxing his legs, ready to move into action if necessary. Anne's head whipped up as she looked back and forth between those gathered.
"Paralyzed?" she asked, her voice barely heard.
"Yes, you heard me," Kittan kept on. "Paralyzed."
"It's not that big of a deal," Dayakka quickly said, "and the doctors don't even know if it'll be permanent."
"But they believe it will be, so Dad will never be able to walk again."
Anne stood up, slowly letting go of her father's hand as she faced her brother.
"And you somehow want to blame me, don't you?" she snapped, her voice a low whisper. "Maybe if you hadn't locked me in my apartment and left me for dead, I would've been here sooner, and Dad wouldn't have had to fight!"
"You did what?" Kiyoh asked, her voice filling the area and drawing a few eyes.
"It was at the President's recommendation," Kittan said. At least he had the good sense to look slightly sheepish, although the look didn't last long. "An action that would not have been necessary if Anne had simply done what she was supposed to do."
"I'm supposed to fight, and you can go to hell if you think otherwise."
"I'm sure you'll beat me there," he replied, his lips curling into a snarl. "I don't doubt they have a special place for people with your inclinations!"
"Silence!"
Dayakka's voice boomed, and even Viral was shocked at the volume the usually quiet man managed in such an injured state. The feuding siblings quieted, and Viral finally noticed Kinian sitting on the ground, a bandage over an eye as her eyes flitted back and forth between everyone. Viral met her good eye for a moment, and the precocious child just shrugged as though she wasn't that surprised. He held back a chuckle.
"I don't care what problems you two might be having, but now is not the time," Kiyoh said, coming up to stand next to her husband. "Right now, your father needs your love and support. More so, Earth needs you to fight together, not each other. Nothing could be important enough to interfere with the greater goal here."
"That's because you don't know," Kittan murmured.
"Know what?" Dayakka asked wearily. "Is everything alright, Anne?"
Anne said "yes" the same time that Kittan said "no."
"Now is not the time!" she said, and Viral felt the panic as clearly as he could smell the tinge of fear coming from her.
Kittan's eyes narrowed for a moment before opening wide in understanding. He looked straight at Viral, and the smile that crossed his face was not one that he found comforting at all. It reminded him of the Anti-Spiral laugh.
"He doesn't know, does he?" he said, his shoulders shacking in silent amusement. "Oh, this just keeps getting better and better."
"Kittan, shut up," Kinian finally said, her voice gritty. "Stay out of her business."
"I wish I could, but if she is really so adamant about piloting Gurren Lagann, if we Spiral beings are going to trust our freedom and future to our dear, sweet Anne, then her business is our business, don't you think?"
Kiyoh squeezed Dayakka's hand, and Viral couldn't help but realize how much this arguing was tearing at the two of them. Anne turned slightly to glance at Viral, a pained look crossing her face, and he found himself stepping towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Anne, I don't care what it is you need to tell me," he told her. "It won't change how I see you or how I feel about you. I hope you know that I am as fond of you as I would be my own child."
As the words left his mouth, he knew they were the wrong ones. He could feel the pain deepen and the hurt start to surface even before her eyes watered, the blue reflecting perfectly in their depths. Anne stood up, throwing off his hand as she reached over to grab her parents' joined hands.
"These are the only parents I want or need, Viral," she told him, her voice trembling with emotion. "I don't need another father. That's not what I want from you. That's not…it's not how I want you to see me at all! Damn you, Viral…"
Just as her tears started to fall, she reached out to grab his hand as well and the drill around her neck flared green, lighting the entire tent. Viral felt Anne's energy flow over his skin the same way he'd felt it resonate when they were in Gurren Lagann. But it didn't stop there. He felt it flow into him, through his body, and everything became sharper, clearer, more vibrant in his eyes for a moment. Just as quickly, the energy left him, and he heard Dayakka gasp loudly. The man tossed in his bed for a moment, groaning as though something had happened to him. Viral tried to break away from Anne's hand, finding himself unable to and fearful for what he might have just done. Eyes flashed back and forth, looking from him to Anne to her drill to Dayakka before the light died down and the man stopped thrashing.
"Anata!" Kiyoh cried out, looking at him. "Please, say something! What happened?"
Dayakka's breathing slowed down, and he looked around for a moment as though trying to find something. With a quick moment, he threw back the covers and sat up, swinging his feet over the edge of the bed. Viral and the others watched as he tentatively put one foot on the ground, standing on one and then the other.
Anne turned to Viral, her eyes wide, and Viral couldn't even keep track of all the emotions he felt and sensed from her.
"What the hell was that?"
"That," they heard Leeron say from where he stood in the middle of the tent, "is evolution doing what it does best."
Viral started to let go of Anne's hand when he felt the world turn on its head, and he was fairly sure he heard her call his name just before he blacked out.