I'm terribly sorry for the six month delay in updating this story…there were many complications. But, I've finally updated. BTW, I'm almost done with this story. Thank you for being patient.

They were custom made…my twin swords. I had spent two days working with an expert weapons designer from Edge. Her name was Cecilia Valentine and she ran a small weaponry in the bright part of Edge. For once in the past few months, I had been allowed above ground. To my dismay, I had to wear a 1st class SOLDIER uniform. Does the foolishness ever end?

Cecilia had designed them to specifically match my strength and fighting styles. They were both handmade and of the finest quality materials. I was specific saying that I wanted sword-gun hybrids with as little decoration as possible. I said this after noticing the intricate artwork, engraving, and embossing that Cecilia's hands had done to the expensive guns she sold in her small shop. I simply needed the weapons as soon as possible.

Nero had simply ordered weapons Cecilia had already made. He ordered four matching sub-machine guns that were lightweight with little kickback. I asked him why he chose four and he went silent. His ruby eyes squinted with pain. I can always tell when my brother was in pain. This time, it was clear that he wouldn't tell me why. Somehow I got the feeling that he was under threat not to tell me. This was just another coal to heap onto my blazing fire.

I had almost forgotten about my ordered weapons because of the pure psychological torture I had been put through in the following week. It all began when Nero didn't show for our morning run.

I waited for an hour for him in the great hall simply pacing back and forth growing more nervous with each step. I waited another hour and still, no Nero. Where could he possibly be? Nero was not one to sleep in late so something had to be wrong.

I turned and darted from the hall, passing a small crew of second class soldiers. Their heads turned, wondering what the rush was but who cares. This bad feeling growing inside me must be explored.

I must have searched every place I could think of in Deepground for there were only soldiers, officers, and Restrictor…no Nero. I even checked the storage rooms and medical chambers. Nothing. Surely he wasn't out on a secret mission. Restrictor always informs the tsviets of any secret mission.

Finally, I ran into that cur, Restrictor for the second time. "Where's my brother?" I demanded, not jumping around the bush. Restrictor's mask only stared back at me. I hated not being able to tell what that man was thinking or feeling! He cocked his head and rested his vile hands on my shoulders.

"Your brother has been falling behind as far as my tsviet standards go and I don't believe it's his fault necessarily," he said.

"That wasn't the answer I was looking for. Where is my brother?" I snarled, ripping away from his hold.

"You're so impatient, Weiss. That will be your downfall," he said. I was ready to throw a punch at him after a few moments until he said, "Nero's is undergoing surgery."

"What kind of surgery?" I demanded immediately. I wasn't waiting. This was one moment where it didn't matter how patient I was.

"He's receiving surgery that will alter his muscular system and nervous system to be able to run the new wings he'll receive. It's a new type of weapon we want to try and"

"Try?" I snarled harshly. "Try? You don't know how this will come out?"

Restrictor sighed heavily. "No, but I can assure you that every measure is being taken to ensure that the transformation is successful. If it is, Nero will bear a pair of steel alloy wing that he will be able to move with his own nervous system. They will function as a second set of arms and swords."

I was livid. I didn't care how much it would "improve" my brother. He was fine the way he was and now…now he may not survive. "You fool!" I screamed. "Do you not realize how delicate a human nervous system is?" I lost all control and I rushed at him blindly and without thinking even the slightest. I threw every pound of my body at him to no avail. He easily sidestepped the clumsy rush and jabbed his elbow into the back of my neck. The powerful blow to my spine rendered my limbs frozen and useless. Due to this, I could not stop myself as I crashed to the cold cement floor.

"Weiss…I had hoped it wouldn't come to this…" Restrictor said with a disappointed sigh. "It broke my heart to find that you had been planning a rebellion. Such a shame."

"Who told you?" my wolf-like voice growled. I didn't really need Restrictor to answer…I already knew who it was…I just wanted to hear it from Restrictor's own lips.

"Rosso seems to be the one I can trust around here. It seems that you got rather far in your scheme," Restrictor taunted. "Too bad you won't be able to carry it out."

He knelt by me and my mind screamed for every inch of my body to move, but it refused. The masked man pulled a small vial from his cloak and opened the top. Grabbing my hair, he held it roughly under my nose. "Weiss, I hope you rethink your motives and position." The smell was nauseating and made my eye heavy as lead. It was a fast acting narcotic.

Rosso…I'll never forgive you, traitor! You understand? I'll never forgive you!