Chapter 10

"We're in!" Attia yelled and Captain Lane pulled the Interceptor up into a climb accelerating away from the town below. She reached out and opened the pouch on Arnette's vest and grabbed the paper she had put there. Without a word she moved up into the copilot's seat and gave the information to the pilot.

As planned he had brought the transport low just above the roof and flown by at a slow speed allowing all three to jump in the open door as it passed by. It was all one fluid motion that allowed them to extract quickly. Whoever heard the sound of the transport would see nothing by the time they tried to find its location as it was already gone.

"Get it?" Cassie asked as Varen sat down in his seat. Arnette did the same without saying a word looking around nervously.

"We got it." Varen answered. Kyoichi nodded happily and gave a thumbs up.

"Great! Where we heading?" He asked.

"Midland. Will take a little to get there, but there's enough night left to get this done." Varen answered.

"Tell them." Arnette said making everyone look at her. Varen glanced at her looking into her eyes for a few moments.

"We don't have much time; by morning they will be after us looking for blood." He said.

"We knew they would come after us, what's going on?" Cassie asked.

"Not just us, they are going to come for anyone who's ever met us. Tell them." Arnette repeated.

Varen gritted his teeth pushing the blade through the man still staring into his eyes the whole time. General Renalt's eyes opened wide and he reached up grabbing Varen's collar. His breath came out in gasps as he clung to the fabric of Varen's shirt.

"You…just killed everyone you've ever loved…" Renalt choked through the pain. A smile crossed his face as his body went limp and his eyes closed. Varen let his control on the weapon go and it disappeared into the air as he stood up.

"He's dead." Arnette said unable to move.

"We need to go." Varen answered walking past her.

"Come on!" Attia shouted breaking her free from her stupor.

Everyone on the transport listened as Varen explained what had happened. After he was finished no one said anything for a long time trying to digest the information. Arnette put her head in her hands shaking her head back and forth. Attia climbed back into the transport section taking her seat with everyone else.

"He was the High General of Asakura right?" Abel asked.

"That's right." Varen answered.

"He admitted what they did up there. You did what you had to." Ticy said.

"Ticy, attacking Chevalier to free a captive is one thing, but this is the death of a High General. This can't be swept under the rug and they will use this against us. We assassinated the High General of Asakura. You just declared full on war with Chevalier." Arnette explained looking at Varen.

"So he should have left and let him live? What would have changed if he had? They would still hunt us. They wanted Chiffon and all of us dead. It was only a matter of time." Attia argued.

"I know, I know. I'm not saying it was wrong. Just in shock is all. There really is no turning back now." Arnette said leaning back in her seat.

"It'll take a couple hours to get to Midland. Everyone should try to rest." Varen said. Everyone nodded trying to get comfortable in their harnesses to find at least a small amount of sleep. Arnette's heart was still beating fast as she leaned back closing her eyes. What Chevalier had done deserved retribution. She did not deny that, but seeing Varen kill Renalt so coldly left her afraid of the future. She was beginning to think that it might fall on her to save Varen before he falls too far.

Arnette shivered feeling rain on her body. She looked around seeing something that had become all too familiar for her. The broken remains of what had to be West Genetics. How many times had she seen this before? She took a breath accepting the vision for what it was. Across from her inside a section of broken concrete she saw herself and Varen talking. A small, but brief smile crossed her face as she watched.

She had seen this one before. Of all the visions she had experienced, this one was borderline happy. Whatever fate had befallen West Genetics in this vision was always a mystery, but she knew that it was here that she felt bits of happiness. Soon, her alternate self would ask Varen to marry her, and he would agree.

It was a sad happiness watching as it played out in front of her. She knew it wasn't real, but it didn't stop her from indulging in the fantasy. It was the one vision she never wanted to end, but always did right after he agreed to her request. Ignoring the rain, she watched as everything played out exactly like it always did. She listened as Varen agreed to marry her and prepared to wake up like usual.

To her surprise it continued and she did not wake up. It caught her off guard as she now began to see things that hadn't been seen before. After he agreed to her request she watched as the two people, one of which was her, drew close to one another and kissed. Arnette's mouth opened wordlessly as she continued to watch intently.

"It's never gone this long before." She jumped and nearly fell to the ground hearing a voice behind her. She spun seeing Varen standing nearby leaning against a section of broken wall. She turned her head back towards where her alternate self and Varen were kissing and then back at him who stood nearby. It was the first time she saw two of him in one place.

"You…can see me?" She asked tentatively and Varen chuckled walking up next to her.

"Yes, I can see you. Sorry, but I wanted to test something with you and it looks like it worked." He explained.

"Test what?" She asked still very confused.

"Before Chiffon died she explained a little about these visions. These…dreams some of us seem to experience. I am to blame for them. It has to do with the stigma cells in my body. I can reach out and connect with people subconsciously. I don't know exactly how it all works, but it seems that it opens a connection between us in the form of these dream like places. Why it brings us to places like this I don't know." He explained.

"You can connect with me? In my sleep?" She asked and he nodded.

"It would seem so, yes. Not just you though. I think I could do it with anyone if I concentrate enough. With you, however, it happens almost naturally. I'm sorry for not telling you before I tried it." He apologized.

"So, you've seen this before?" She asked embarrassed.

"I have, just never this long. Maybe because I initiated the connection this time as opposed to it happening accidentally." He answered.

"Accidentally? I have been seeing things for a long time Varen. Not just now, but countless times." She explained and he shrugged.

"I know; I saw them too. I didn't know how much you were seeing or to what degree. Chiffon said this was part of who I am. Once she gave me her stigmata and turned me into a true Limiter it unlocked this dormant portion of what I can do. She said it was a way to communicate with those who carry stigmata. I just don't know how to fully control it." He answered.

"So, why do we share so many visions then? Attia is only sparingly and no one else seems to have ever mentioned anything." Arnette asked. Varen sighed and rubbed his head with a hand.

"Well, to be truthful I think about you a lot. Up in Spireach, and ever since we came back you were on my mind more than normal. I know I upset you about defending the E-Pandora. I really hurt you and Attia. Before that when we confronted the Novitiates I always remembered how close to death you were on our first mission together. Now, I know you have been trying to be the voice of reason and caution. Without Elizabeth you have been trying so hard to keep things together while the rest of us fell apart. None of that went by unnoticed and because of it all I'm sure it caused you and I to have these visions far more frequently." He explained to her.

Her heart was beating harder than normal as she listened. It took all her strength to not smile widely hearing that he thought of her as much as he did. She knew they were friends, but never though that she was anything special. Now, for the first time she felt like she was something more. She glanced back at their alternate selves and her eyes went wide as she saw herself shove Varen into broken building and begin passionately kissing one another.

"Oh my god!" She cried out turning bright red and turning away. Varen looked away as well clearly embarrassed.

"Well, that was new." He said trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere. She grabbed his arm and pulled him around the corner of the building they were near so they were out of sight of whatever was happening in that room.

"I cannot believe…" She stammered unable to finish her sentence.

"Embarrassed?" Varen asked and she looked at him angrily.

"Of course! What the hell was that?" She yelled pointing back in the direction of where their alternate selves were lost in each other.

"It's just a dream. Nothing to get worked up over. I'm fully aware you could never do something like that anyway." He said trying to ease her mind. He cringed when he realized it had the opposite effect.

"It doesn't matter! We should not be seeing something like that, and what do you mean I could never do that? I could if I wanted to!" She yelled and he stepped back fearfully.

"Alright, alright I get it. Sorry I upset you." He apologized.

"You can start this whole thing. Can you end it too? I would really like to leave at this point." She asked sadly.

"Yeah, I think I can. I'm sorry Arnette. I mean, I'm really sorry for anytime I've let you down or haven't been there for you." He said making her look up at him.

"What?"

"I've disappointed you more often than not. Tonight, with Renalt was no exception. I know you're scared about everything. I don't want to hurt you." He said and whatever anger and embarrassment she felt vanished.

"It's alright. I know you're trying." She answered shyly.

"Thanks. Well, I'll let you rest. You shouldn't have any further visions after this. I think I can control it enough to not disturb your rest anymore." He said.

"Wait!" She cried reaching for him causing him to step back in surprise.

"What's wrong?" He asked seeing her face panic stricken.

"Please, don't close me off completely. Now that I know what's going on and why this has been happening I don't mind it. So please…please don't leave me." She pleaded. Varen felt a pain in his chest seeing Arnette in a way he hadn't before. She worried a lot, and was always concerned about everyone's wellbeing, but through it all she was always strong. Arnette was a fighter who never backed down, but now he saw just how fragile she could be. In that one moment he realized just how alone she felt.

"Ok, I won't." He answered. Relief crossed her face as she nodded in approval. He reached out and touched her arm lightly. As soon as he did her vision blacked out leaving her in a void. Fear creeped into her mind as the blackness began to take shape around her. The fear grew as she once more saw something similar to what she had feared most.

Alone she stood amidst a world of flames. Countless buildings around her burned brightly against a crimson sky. She sucked in her breath realizing that she stood upon a ground made of human bones. Ahead of her a mound of skulls rose out of the ground upon which she had previously seen Varen standing the last time she had this vision. This time, however, he was on his hands and knees bleeding from numerous wounds.

Standing over him was a girl clutching a katana. Long black hair fell down around her head covering much of her face making it impossible for Arnette to see anything. Her clothing was similar to that which Chevalier Pandora wore, but it was all black and carried no identifying insignias or rank. Arnette cried in horror as the girl impaled the blade through Varen's back dropping him to the ground. Her face slowly turned towards Arnette where she now could see blue glowing eyes peeking out between the strands of hair.

"Found you." The girl whispered wickedly. All Arnette could do was scream.