Disclaimer: I do not own the Xenosaga series. Or the Warhammer 40,000 franchise.

'Thoughts'

"Words"

Xenosaga: Es Lasst Sich Nicht Lesen

Chapter 9: The Song of Nephilim

by: Nim Maj

After reaching the bridge, Shion handed over the copy of the data to Captain Roman. "I present to you the memory bank data from the Anti-Gnosis Humanoid Weapon System KP-X, KOSMOS. Protection level AAA with no possibility of alteration."

"Memory bank data accepted." was Roman's reply. "Please remain within the Miltian star system until you're cleared of all charges.

Shortly after…

"Phew, well I am sure glad that escapade's over and done with!" was Mary's relieved comment.

"You don't look very happy." Shelley noticed.

"Huh?" Jr. said distractedly. "Yeah. You could say that… I still can't believe it…" MOMO looked decidedly uncomfortable. Fortunately, the elevator appeared with more passengers.

"We've got another friend of yours to release too." came Captain Roman's voice from the lift.

"Oh! Master Gaignun!" was Shelley's response.

"Master Gaignun…!" Mary exclaimed as they both ran and hugged Gaignun Kukai. Katsu only nodded in his direction. Jr.'s response was a "Hey."

"You've done well…" Gaignun commented.

"Ah, no big deal… But it sure brought back a lot of bad memories." he said. "Hey Shion… that girl… She called herself Nephilim right?"

"Uh… yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, but…" she trailed off.

"Hmmm."

"What's… wrong?"

"Well, if that girl is somehow connected to what I'm thinking of… Then things are gonna get real busy real soon." He answered cryptically.

"Anyway, Katsu, take a break. We'll get back to you on your new job next time."

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't mention it. Good Job by the way."

A while later, Katsu was in his quarters on the Durandal just dozing off. All of a sudden he heard a strange haunting tune. "Hmmm…? What's that?" The music was soon followed by an explosion and a general alarm. Getting up, he quickly made his way to the bridge meeting up with the others. The bridge was a hive of activity.

"Large-scale gate-out. Repeat, large-scale gate-out. The U.M.N. geodesic structure is being forcibly replaced!!" came the panicky cries of one of the 100-series on the bridge.

"The Gnosis!?" Jr. asked.

"Jr.! The Federation ships..!" MOMO warned him. More Gnosis also chose this time to gate out, filling the local space. At this point Shion finally reached the bridge.

"The Gnosis are closing in! Four minutes to contact with the Foundation!" reported a 100-series.

"The civilians! Start evacuating them immediately!" Shelley ordered. "If all else fails, we may have to abandon the Foundation. Is that acceptable?" that last question directed to Jr.

"I'll leave it to you. Evacuate all the civilians into the Durandal!"

"Acknowledged. I'll make the announcement."

As the evacuation started, Shion perked up. Turning to Allen she asked, "Where's KOSMOS? If we activate the Hilbert effect it could buy us some time for the evacuation!"

"Shion, did you call for me?" KOSMOS asked as she arrived.

"KOSMOS, are you ready?"

"Yes, I am ready."

"Reports of Gnosis sighted in colony precinct 32!" said one 100-series.

"They've also penetrated precincts 18 and 27!" reported another.

"What?" was Jr.'s startled reply.

"The Hilbert effect!" ordered Shion.

"Affirmative. Activating Hilbert effect." As she said this, KOSMOS' visor slid down and the blue wave engulfing the Foundation and most of the local space signaled the activation of the Hilbert effect.

"This should keep them from materializing inside the colony."

"In any case, we have to hurry up and get everyone on board." chaos suggested. "If we don't do something, the Gnosis are going to take over the entire metropolis."

"I'll help with the evacuation!" MOMO volunteered

"I'll go as well" Ziggy spoke up.

"I'll help organize the evacuation. I don't have an effective and familiar weapon. I'd just get in the way." Katsu added.

After shaking her head, Shion walked up to KOSMOS. "KOSMOS, we're counting on you."

"I am happy to be of service."

"Good."

After clearing most of the attacking Gnosis, Shion was leaning out of an escape craft. "MOMO! Hurry up and get in!"

"I'm okay! I've got to help treat these injured people. This person's bleeding heavily…"

"All right! We'll come back you soon!"

"I'll watch out for her Miss Shion!" Katsu called to her.

As they were making their way to the next evacuation point, MOMO turned around and noticed someone.

"Daddy?"

"Hmmm? MOMO?" asked Katsu when he noticed MOMO stop.

"Daddy!" MOMO cried out as she ran to catch up wither father's doppelganger.

"MOMO!" called Katsu as he ran after her. "What's wrong?"

"I thought I saw my Daddy! I have to find him!"

"But isn't he already dead?" Katsu said as he caught up to her and started following her.

"I have to know! I'm an Observational Realian remember? He matches everything in my records!" said the distraught girl.

"Hmmm." Katsu just stayed silent after that. 'Something just doesn't add up'. thought Katsu. 'I better keep an eye on her just in case'

After rounding a last alley, they came to stop in a dead end.

'Uh oh. I don't like the looks of this' "MOMO…" began Katsu before he was interrupted.

"What's this? I came looking for ma pèche, and I find her with an eager fool?"

"Who are you? What do you want.?" questioned Katsu suspiciously. He eyed the white haired man in a white and black outfit with a near transparent cape with a feathery wing design.

"I came for ma pèche! My dear sweet MOMO. Ahahaha!!"

"You won't have her." Katsu said, finality evident in his tone.

"Ah! A brave knight then? Or a foolish knight! As if you had the strength to stop me! Your resistance is amusing!" the wing-caped attacker stated.

"Katsu!" MOMO said worriedly as she hid behind him.

"Nevertheless, I will hinder you, no matter the cost to myself. I told the others MOMO would come to no harm."

"Then by all means try! Ahahaha!" Moving quickly, Katsu was soon on the receiving end of a fist to the gut followed by a headlock.

"Guh!"

"What inspires such futile heroism, hmmm? Let's find out!" And with that, the attacker plunged his arm into Katsu's back, his hand coming out of Katsu's chest, and multicolored light erupting from the point of contact. "Ahhhh!!" Katsu screamed in agony.

"Such sweet pain! Ahahaha!" forgoing the mental intrusion, the attacker basked in Katsu's pain.

"Katsu!" cried out MOMO as she watched helplessly.

"Guh!"

"What do you have to say now noble fool?" inquired the assailant with a cruel smirk on his face.

"Agh... your mind...to my mind… my mind... to yours!" Using the pain as a mental focus, Katsu launched his consciousness into the link that bound them.

"What?!" Katsu's captor called out before they were both engulfed in multicolored light similar to what was around the hand earlier.

A mental war had begun.

Albedo found himself inside a barren landscape with a thunderstorm raging overhead. "Hmmm, a mindscape? Very well, brave knight, I'll play your game. Hehehehe. You just may turn out to be more interesting than I thought." KABOOM! He was quickly sourrounded by 4 flashes of lightning that left 4 monstrous daemons behind.

"Blood for the Blood God!" roared the Bloodthirster as it charged with its axe raised.

"You will bow before the might of the God of Change!" said the Lord of Change as it charged up spells to hurl at Albedo.

"Fear the might of the Prince of Darkness!" yelled the Keeper of Secrets.

"Despair has come for you!" said the Great Unclean One, lifting its bloated and disease-ridden arms to strike.

"Interesting indeed." Commented Albedo as he smirked and took all the attacks. "What fun! Ahahahaha!"

Looking on from his vantage point on the neighboring hill, Katsu was focused on the ongoing fight between Albedo and the 4 Greater Daemons from the Warhammer tabletop game figurines he collected. "Hmmm, seems like he can regenerate. I shudder to think what he can do in real life." Katsu mused to himself. Looks like I'll have to beat him in a way that leaves nothing to regenerate from." After a few more moments of thinking, he stood up with a plan in mind.

Energy blasts pushing away the Bloodthirster yet again, its toughness evident, Albedo was having the time of his life. Never before had he encountered such resilient enemies. "Is this all you can do corrupt knight? I honestly thought you could do better!" he taunted. Soon however the entire world was shaking. "What now, hmmm?" he looked around and noticed the daemons also looking confused. Suddenly the earth below him burst open and out came a gaping tooth filled maw. Jaws closed on his body, surprise evident on his face as the rows of teeth impaled him in multiple places. "Tricky bastard, heh." Albedo coughed out. The mouth then began to chew and swallow, viciously and systematically slicing Albedo's body into smaller and smaller pieces.

Katsu's plan was to strike fast, hard, with total surprise, and from an unexpected direction with no chance for recovery. As soon as Albedo's body entered the stomach, digestive fluids swarmed over him and began to dissolve him. Then everything went white.

As the light faded, MOMO's worst fears were confirmed when the white-haired man slowly knelt and laid Katsu's body on the ground. As he looked up she stared in fear of what she might find: The eyes of a crazy monster who attacked her friend.

"MOMO-chan, we might have a problem."

A/N

This is the redone Chapter 9. I moved part 2 to Chapter 9 part 1 since it was a really short chapter and I didn't like it. This way the flow of the story is faster.