Disclaimer: I do not own Guilty Gear or its characters.

A/N: Character thoughts will be in italics

Needing to Live

Chapter 9

Bad News

The commander of the IPF was deep in thought as he stood looking out his window at the IPF headquarters. He was so deep in thought that he did not hear the tapping at his door until the third time.

"You may enter."

His office door opened as one of his lieutenants entered. "Sir, I have news to report concerning Captain Kiske."

The commander sighed as he slightly lowered his head. He, not the whole force, needed Ky at the moment but there had been no word from him yet. The commander looked back up at the lieutenant before he spoke. "Please tell me that either Kiske is here or is on his way here right now."

"I'm sorry sir but I can't."

The commander slowly shook his head in disappointment. "Then what news do you have lieutenant?"

The lieutenant grimaced a little before he delivered the news on Ky. "Sir the news I bring is bad."

The commander looked at him confused now.

"Sir as you know Captain Kiske was at one of the posts in China because of his investigation of the Assassin's Guild. Approximately seventy-six hours ago there was a massive power spike close to the area where he was stationed. Upon analysis we have determined that the readings match what we have on record for Justice."

A feeling of foreboding gripped the commander and a look of dread crossed his face as the lieutenant continued speaking.

"We had some of the officers search his office for a clue as to where the captain might be and they discovered that he had received a message from Venom, the leader of the Assassin's Guild, demanding that the captain come to a location that was within the area of the Justice's power spike. Judging from the time the message was received, if the captain went the location he would have been there when the spike occurred."

"Are you telling me that the Assassin's Guild is working with Justice?!" the commander shouted angrily.

"We cannot confirm that sir. A team was sent to investigate the area and they reported that there had been a battle. A battle which caused massive destruction to the surrounding area."

"Damn!" the commander yelled as he slammed his fist into his desk causing splitters of wood to fly into the air. "That monster Justice went after Kiske before he even knew she was back. This is just great." The commander was silent while he let his anger ebbed away. "Tell me," he began in a calmer tone "How is Kiske now?"

The lieutenant swallowed hard before responding to his commander's question. "Sir," he began in a strained voice, "As of right now no one has seen or heard from the captain in three days."

XXXXXX

Hidden deep within the mountains lay a place long forgotten by the hands of time. In this area sat a vast lab, or what remained of it. At the time of its creation it had been state of the art but all that remained was a dilapidated ruin. Few people had ever heard of the place and even fewer remembered it. But there was one person who did, and it was from this place that he watched the world.

Inside the lab were old lab tables and testing equipment. Scattered about were old documents and charts that had not withstood the test of time. There was one thing that had lasted through the ages. The only part of the lab that was not covered in layers of dust. It was a chamber that stood in the center of the room. Though no longer functional, the chamber was kept looking new. The chamber held something akin to sentimental value to the master of the rundown facility for it was the chamber that produced the first gear.

All was quiet throughout the lab except for the faint strumming of a guitar. I-No sat across an old lab table in the only room that still retained power playing her guitar. "I'm bored." She groaned as she turned to look at the cloaked man sitting in the back of the room gazing into what could best be described as a crystal ball. The ball had no real form. It was something that he created under his own power.

"When are we going to get out of here and do something fun?" I-no continued

The cloak he wore hid his entire face in darkness so I-No couldn't tell if he even turned his attention to her when she spoke. "I-No," came his voice from the darkness, "be patient. It seems we are about to have some company here."

"What did you say?" I-No said shocked

At that moment a ring of energy appeared. As the ring lifted a figure began to materialize until it ascended all the way and the full form the commander gear Justice could be seen. Justice's gazed shifted over the room until it stopped on the figure robed in black. Justice managed to take one step before the woman garbed in red jump in her path.

"Who the hell are you?" I-No asked menacingly while readying her guitar, Marlene, to attack.

"Do you honestly believe you could defeat me with that?" Justice said mockingly

I-No may not have cared for much in the world but she did love her guitar and insulting it, or her as she called it, was as good as signing your life away to her. "Bet you didn't know those would be your last words you metallic freak." I-No said preparing to blast from Marlene.

"I-No stop that immediately." Came the voice of her master.

"But…" I-No began but thought it better not to argue this time.

"This is no enemy. This is my daughter."

"What?!"

"Yes, this is my first child. Her name is Justice."

Understanding reached I-No's mind as she realized what he was talking about. "Oh so this is the big bad Justice I've heard so much about. Well I must say that she certainly does have the overly evil look going."

"I see that the level of people you surround yourself with has not increased much father." Justice said uncaringly looking away from I-No.

"I am glad to see that you have returned to the land of the living my child. But I must ask how it is possible?"

"Though humans are foolish creatures, they do occasionally have their uses. They cloned some of my DNA to return me to life with the hopes of being able to control me for their own purposes."

"I take it they were unsuccessful."

"Very much so. They learned quickly that I am a slave to no one."

"So what brings you all the way out to such a remote region such as this?"

"Is it so strange that I would want to visit you now that I am newly returned to the world of the living?"

"…"

"Astute as ever father. I came to inform you of my return and to tell you that I intend to carry out my original plan."

"Do you mean to create a world only for gears?"

"Yes. I will erase humans and only gears live and I reign supreme." Justice said clenching her fist for more emphasis. "Father will you stand by my side and help me?" Justice said extending her hand to her creator.

He sat in silence before giving his answer to the question. "I am truly sorry my child but I do not follow that path any longer. I have long since retired from the world and merely observe now. An endeavor such as yours I cannot help with."

"I see you have not regained any of the resolve you lost during the war." Justice said slowly retracting her hand. "I suppose I will have to do this by myself."

"Why, so you can die like last time."

Justice turned at the sound of the new voice in the room and saw that Raven had entered. "I see some pest are harder to get rid of than others." Justice said coldly.

"And some get stomped out by a fire wielding barbarian." Raven returned mockingly.

"I may have lost last time but it will be different this time." Justice said angrily.

"That remains to be seen now doesn't it?"

"Tell me this Raven," Justice began slowly approaching him, "How can a coward who has never been on a battlefield or even witnessed a real battle mock me."

"You would dare call the great Raven a coward because I didn't participate in some foolish war that you were doomed to lose from the beginning."

"Not only are you a coward," Justice said noticing Raven's anger beginning to show, "But in this world you are the only life form I have found to be more pathetic that humans."

Raven was anger had peaked at this point and he was eager to show just how untrue the gear commander's words were. "If you think me a coward, I can prove to you just how wrong you are by taking you from this world again." Raven said almost shouting. Both warriors readied themselves for coming battle.

"That is enough!"

"But master…" Raven said turning to look at him.

"A fight between the two of you would be pointless. You should learn to hold your tongue better Raven."

Raven could do nothing but look menacingly at Justice. He could almost see the mocking grin behind the metallic armor.

"It doesn't matter. You will still fail." Raven said as he turned and began walking away. "Oh and Justice, try to stay alive this time." Raven said as he seemingly faded away into darkness.

Your time is soon coming Raven. Once I have crushed the guilty one you are next. "Now that the fool is gone father, back to the issue. I ask again that you help me in my conquest."

"My answer has not changed. I only observe now."

Justice shook her head slightly disappointed but not all that surprised. "I see that some history does repeat itself. Just as before then father, I cannot guarantee your safety once the bloodshed starts."

"…"

"Farewell then father." With those final words Justice teleported away in the same ring as before.

"Aren't you mean. Letting your child go off to battle alone." I-No said smiling

"It is a necessary. Justice must learn to stray from the path of hate."

"Do you really believe that she can beat that muscle bound monkey now?"

"Though she is more powerful than ever, it still remains to be seen if she is a match for Frederick."

"It really doesn't matter to me who wins. It should be a fun party to watch though." I-No said already anxious for the battle.

XXXXXX

"Just tell me what I want to know and I'll let you go." Sol Badguy stood over a young officer looking down at him rather annoyed. The poor man was too terrified to even begin to form words.

It had all started as Sol trying to find out where Ky was located. How was he supposed to know that Ky had an order out to arrest him on sight? And who knew that burning down the door to a police office would make them so angry. Sol had ended up nearly dispatching a whole police squad. Now he was left with one conscious man from which to get the information he wanted.

Sol's annoyance continued to grow as he looked down at the petrified officer. "Look kid," Sol said holding up his hand surrounded in flames, "I don't have full control of this right now and if you don't tell me where Kiske is it just might go out of control right now."

The man's eyes grew even wider if that was even possible. He pushed with every ounce of will he had to form the words that would save his life. "C-Ch-Ch-China! He's there on an investigation."

"Where in China?"

"Station number 37! In eastern China. Please don't kill me!"

Damn. China's a ways to go just to find him. Aww what the hell, I might be able to pick up some bounty money along the way. Sol stepped away from the man and left him in a crying heap on the floor. Sol walked away as casually as if he was taking a stroll lost in thought on how he could occupy himself during his trip. Those stupid pirates hang around there so I might see Dizzy.

For some reason not even known to him, he held a certain fondness for the young half-gear. Maybe it was because she was what he wished gears would have turned out like or maybe it was something more…

XXXXXX

Argh, where am I and how did I get here.

XXXXXXX

A/N: Here's a little update for you guys. It was longer but I decided to use some of it for the next chapter instead. I'll try to update quicker with the next chappy. R&R and leave any suggestions if you have any. Thanks to everyone who reads or reviews my story.