ATE: Sorry for not updating in so long. Thing is I was waiting for my new laptop that I got for my b-day last week on friday and I love it! Sadly, the code for locking into my home's local network was misplaced so I've been going over to my friends house in order to write this chap and they were kind enough to let me use their local network connection there. So now, to make up for the long wait, I'll give you a long chap to read. Enjoy!
Declaimer: I don't own Xenosaga or Valkyrie Profile 2 Silmeria. I do, however, own the characters that are new to the story.
Chapter 13
(Jr.'s POV)
I stood on the Bridge of the Durandal with everyone else as we had witness the appearance of the Rhine Maiden and other ships not too long ago and managed to destroy all those Gnosis that had previously surrounded the Kukai Foundation like an ocean. Like everyone else who had just seen the weaponry of the ship I too was staring in amazement and shock.
"The Rhine Maiden…" I heard Shion say. "So she's operational now…"
"Chief!!!"
Suddenly a screen appeared with a girl wearing a red Vector uniform like Shion on the other end.
"Miyuki? Where are you calling in from…?" Shion asked.
"Woo hoo! Pretty cool, huh?" That girl, Miyuki, said as if not hearing what Shion said. "Did you see the Rhine Maiden? I am sooo glad I requested that transfer to Second Division! If I didn't, I never would've seen this beauty in action."
"Second Division? What're you…"
"I'll tell ya later. Is KOS-MOS there with you?"
"Huh?" Shion looked confused as she looked over at KOS-MOS. "Yeah, but…"
"Okay, I'll send it over then."
Suddenly a case with the Vector symbol appeared on the ground and Shion went over to it, kneeling down to open it as Allen came over as well.
"Miyuki? Isn't this…?!"
"There's some type of force field concentrated near here." Miyuki said. "There's a very high probability that it's what's attracting the Gnosis."
"A force field?"
"Right. The observational guys said whatever it is, it's definitely something man-made. Anyway, we can find the origin of this field if we link up the Dämmerung's mainframe with KOS-MOS' D.S.S.S. sensor." Miyuki explained. "It appears as though the enemy's using some kind of cloaking device to conceal itself right now, but there should be a wrinkle or two in the surrounding space, though. We figured that if we can tear those open, we'll be able to find out what we're dealing with."
"Is that why you gave me this PT cartridge? I mean… Do you have any idea what this thing is?"
"Of course! …Or so I'd like to claim, but I actually just transferred in, so I'm not really sure." She said, rubbing the back of her head.
"Look, Miyuki…" Shion began, sounding serious. "This cartridge is a weapon! It sets off a phase transfer that destroys everything in the area. It may be localized, but you could vaporize an entire star with this thing if you wanted to. You'd have to be insane to try using this in a populated area."
"Shion…" KOS-MOS said.
"What is it, KOS-MOS?" Shion asked as she looked over to the android.
"By limiting the phase transfer mass, I can activate the device without impacting either the Federation fleet or the Kukai Foundation."
"You can do that?"
"Affirmative. This is one of my many functions."
"Even the Rhine Maiden's got a limitation to how much she can fire." Miyuki stated. "Let's take out the source before the Gnosis overwhelm us!"
"But…"
"Shion… This is the Song of Nephilim." I stated. "There's no question about it."
"The Song of Nephilim?" Shion asked. "What is it?"
"The single worst creation that ever resulted from Joachim Mizrahi's research. It was the Song that destroyed Miltia and summoned the Gnosis. We've gotta stop it before everything goes out of control."
"Out of control…?"
"And we still haven't found MOMO and Ayame yet. We've gotta move!"
"I know, but…" Shion looked to KOS-MOS.
"Any sign of MOMO or Ayame yet?" Ziggy asked.
"We're still scanning, but we haven't located them yet." A 100-Series Realian answered.
"I see… We've got to make a decision, Shion." Ziggy stated. "We can't hold out against another Gnosis attack."
"…All right." Shion said. "Let's see what we can do."
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From the Bridge we watched as KOS-MOS floated to the position where she would use the weapon.
"Listen to me, KOS-MOS." Shion said. "Try to keep the phase transfer mass as low as possible. All we need is the locus of that force field."
"Affirmative." The android replied. "Setting transfer mass to 0.11 MPT. Transfer time set to 4.8 times ten to the negative thirty-eighth. Loading cartridge."
KOS-MOS loaded the cartridge into her gun and it suddenly transformed into a really, really big gun.
"Sweet! I sure wish I had a gun that big!" I thought.
"That's just what you need, Jr." I heard Gaignun say telepathically.
"Bypass between D.S.S.S. and mainframe secured. Opening multidirectional scan." Miyuki said.
"Distortion detected at direction 8-0-1-8, near the U.M.N. structure. It is currently emitting a weak column pulse." KOS-MOS said,
"That's it!" Shion exclaimed. "And your line of fire?"
"Line of fire, clear. Awaiting orders."
Shion turned to Shelley.
"Shelley, are the anti-electromagnetic shields ready?"
"Preparations are complete." Shelley said. "You may fire at will."
"Roger. KOS-MOS, fire the phase transfer cannon!"
KOS-MOS fired the phase transfer cannon and a blue light exploded and suddenly the Song of Nephilim appeared.
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Inside the Song of Nephilim Albedo stood in the area where his throne was. In his arms was MOMO and not too far away from them laid Ayame on the ground unconscious from what happened earlier.
"They're earlier than I expected." Albedo stated. He placed MOMO on what appeared to be a table(?) of light. "I think I'll have a look around…for that key that sleeps inside you."
He ran his hand across her cheek and face until he held his hand above her head and a light emitted from his hand, MOMO whimpering in pain as he started absorbing the Realian's power.
"Nooo…stop it… Get out…out of…my body…" MOMO whimpered as she started to cry. The bracelet that MOMO was wearing was shown and she saw a flashback of when Jr. gave her the bracelet. "Jr.… Ziggy… I'm…scared…"
Just then Albedo stopped his absorption process when he realized something. He looked over at Ayame's unconscious form laying on the ground, grinning as an idea suddenly came into his head.
"Yes! What a wonderful idea! It's just perfect!"
Albedo abandoned MOMO, who fell unconscious from the sudden halt of his absorption process, and made his way over to the unconscious Ayame who was oblivious to what was about to happen.
His grin got wider as he knelt down and placed his hand over Ayame's head. A light emitted from Albedo's hand and, just like with MOMO, caused Ayame to whimper in pain as well, her blue eyes wide open and having a dazed look in them.
"This will be a wonderful present for Rubedo." Albedo said. "Oh, just wait until he finds out, mon iris. I can just imagine his reaction now! It will be priceless!"
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(Jr.'s POV)
"I knew it…" Gaignun said when he saw the Song of Nephilim.
"It's exactly the same…" I said. "Nothing's changed at all."
"So that's…the Song of Nephilim… Dr. Mizrahi's… Miltia's…" Shion said.
I continued to stare at the Song of Nephilim, clenching my fists as I remembered what it was responsible for doing during the Miltian Conflict. It caused all those Realians, the U.R.T.V.s, and Albedo to all go insane!
"Help us…Jr.…" My eyes widened. That was…!
"MOMO…" I cried. "MOMO and Ayame are inside that thing!"
"Are you certain?" Ziggy asked.
"Scanners!" Mary yelled.
"100-Series Observational Unit prototype MOMO and Ayame tracked and located!" One of the 100-Series said. "They're in the middle of the distortion caused by the phase transfer."
"MOMO and Ayame… What're they doing in there…?" Allen asked.
"Damn it!" I slammed my hands down on the console in front of me in anger at that revelation. "It's him…Albedo! I felt his presence…the moment I heard MOMO's voice…" What did that bastard want with them?!
"Ah…Albedo." I heard Gaignun say. "That explains what that unsettling feeling was about. Not to mention why they're there."
"What do you mean?" Ziggy asked.
"Those girls MOMO and Ayame…not only is MOMO a specialized Realian, but also the repository for the late Joachim Mizrahi's records. Albedo and the U-TIC Organization want that information. They wanted it for a long time… But I don't understand why they would want Ayame or what for…"
"Albedo? Who's that?" Allen asked.
"My dark half…the part I've tried to hide away…" I answered as I rose up a little.
"Dark half?"
"Jr…" Ziggy said. "Get this ship, closer to the Song of Nephilim."
"Whaat?!" Allen cried. Sheesh…! Could that guy be any more of a wuss?
"It isn't necessary to get too close. Just lend me a shuttle; that'll be enough."
I watched as the old man walked over to the elevator and I suddenly realized what he was going to do, so I ran over in order to block his way.
"Hold it!" I said as I got in front of Ziggy. "Where do you think you're going? I'm going to save MOMO and Ayame… No matter what!"
"And it's my responsibility to protect Ayame, too! I promised her…!" I thought.
"Don't bother." Ziggy said.
"What did you say?!" I yelled. The old man was starting to piss me off, big time!
"When someone close to you is in danger, you lose your objectivity. And it almost always ends in tragedy. I've…seen it happen too often."
I glared at the old man in my anger! "Oh, what, so I'm just like them now?!"
"Aren't you? This Albedo person… When you finally confront him, do you think you can keep your head straight?"
I was suddenly frustrated at that stupid old man! He's giving me a lecture about keeping my head straight in a situation like this! I suddenly thought of what Albedo may be doing to Ayame and looked to the floor as I tried to calm down from the anger that seemed to be boiling up inside me.
"If you honestly say yes, that's all I have to say. But if you can't…"
I looked up at Ziggy, glaring at him.
"You're really something, you know that?" I said. "You think you're such a hardened soldier compared to me. Tell me then…how can I become cold and detached like you?"
I watched as the cyborg narrowed his eyes at me.
"Only allow yourself to think of numbers and battle strategy." He explained. "Don't let your mind wander to the faces or voices of those precious to you…even when it seems cruel not to. Too intense of an interference will overwhelm and ruin everything. That's what I've learned over these past hundred years."
"The day numbers and battle strategies replace people…it'll be game over, cyborg." I said coldly. I hated the idea that Ziggy would ever suggest such a thing.
"Jr.… Remember to stay focused, no matter what he does to MOMO or Ayame. Only by doing so will you be able to save them. Listen to my advice. I know what you're going through."
"You wish! You have no idea what I've been through. And I don't plan on loosing anyone I care about again!" I thought.
I started to walk towards the elevator and rode it down in order to cool off for a bit. As it made its way down, I suddenly saw something!
I suddenly found myself standing in a dark void, the darkness seeming to stretch endlessly as I looked around the place. Suddenly a bright white light appeared in front of me and I held my arms in front of my eyes to block the light. The light dimmed down some and I was able to move my arms away from my eyes and I saw someone!
Standing in front of me was a girl with long silver hair flowing passed her knees that glowed like the moon, bright sky blue eyes that seemed to glow, and wore a long flowing long-sleeved white dress that covered her feet.
Coming from her back were large wings made of light that shone with a light silver blue light (AN: Think of the wings from Valkryie Profile 2: Silmeria, when either Alicia or any of the Valkryie sisters do their Soul Crushes during battle). Around her body was a glowing aura of white light, giving the impression that her body itself was glowing. Overall, the beauty of the girl was one that would have been entirely from fantasy.
"You must save them…" She said, her voice familiar yet musical at the same time, and her eyes seemed to be pleading to me. "Please…save MOMO and Ayame…"
My eyes widened at what she said.
"Wait!" I cried. "Who are you? How do you know about MOMO and Ayame?"
Just then the girl started to fade away. I started to run towards her in a mad dash.
"I said wait!" I yelled. "Tell me who you are!"
I suddenly found myself still standing on the elevator platform and saw that it had already reached the lower level. Just who was that girl? I walked off the platform and decided to take the subway to the Park Area.
I soon got there and entered the area, making my way over to the bench on the right side of the room. As I sat down on the bench, I couldn't help but remember something.
"Ayame always came to the Park Area…" I thought. "She always sat on this same exact bench too…"
I can still remember the first time she came here when I was showing her around the Durandal after she had just woken up as if it were yesterday. I couldn't help but give a small smile at the thought.
"This was her favorite place to be. She really loved it here."
I can recall when I had found her found her sitting on this bench asleep that same day after I had showed her around. I can still remember that I had decided to sit next to her and watch her as she slept. I had noted how her hair had been hanging in her face when her head was hanging in her sleep.
But the fact that Albedo had taken both her and MOMO really made me angry. I had to save them. Both of them!
I decided to leave the Park Area and go back to the others were waiting for me.
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I soon got back to the bridge where everyone was in fact waiting for me. I spotted Gaignun standing near the console. We knew that MOMO and Ayame were both on the Song of Nephilim but we had no way to get there.
"Dammit!" I thought.
"The Foundation has its hands full dealing with the waves of Gnosis. We cannot move from our current location." Gaignun explained. "We'll need a ship with sufficient mobility in order to get past the Gnosis and dock with the Song of Nephilim."
"The Durandal's landing shuttle won't do. How about the Elsa? Is it operational?" I asked.
"Yes." Shelley replied. "I checked its status just now, and fortunately, it seems to be unharmed. Shall we relay a message to Captain Matthews?"
"Yeah, go ahead. Damn, that feeling I got from him…that bastard was trying to access MOMO's subconscious. We don't have time! Let's go old man! chaos!"
"Wait, Jr., let us help too!" Shion said.
"Don't be ridiculous!" I said. "You gave any idea what kind of place that is?! Do you know what that lunatic is like?!"
"Please! Let us go with you."
"Shion…"
"…" She was quiet.
I sighed, knowing that she wouldn't back down. Damn, was she persistent? You know how that saying from the time of Lost Jerusalem goes: 'the more, the merrier.'
"All right." I said. "But you better not let your guard down, even for a second. There's no room for mistakes in there, got it?"
"Yes." She answered.
With that we all made our way to the Elsa that was in the docking bay. We went to the Bridge, where we found Captain Matthews, Hammer, and Tony doing nothing.
"Going to the Song of Nephilim, right?" Matthews asked.
"Where else do you think we need to go?" I answered with a question. "You do realize that we have to save MOMO and Ayame, right?"
"Just so you know, I don't intend to leave the Song of Nephilim until we've rescued MOMO and this Ayame girl. You better get ready!"
"Then let's go to the Song of Nephilim already!" I said.
"Man, I can't believe I'm stuck doing this. You better fork over a lot of hazard pay!"
We then left the Durandal via the Elsa as the Foundation and everyone else were trying to fight off the Gnosis. As we got closer to the Song of Nephilim, I couldn't help but start to get slightly worried about what may be happening to MOMO and Ayame.
"Captain!" I heard Hammer say. "There's an opening to the side where we can dock!"
"All right! Bring us in, Tony. Be careful." Matthews said.
"Roger!" Tony said. "Closing in and approaching the…"
"Wait!" Shion suddenly said.
"Huh?"
"Tony, can you show me the top…?"
"Shion wants to see the top of the Song of Nephilim?" I thought. "Why would she want to see that?"
"What? You want me to go around the top? Tony asked.
"Please, just circle around the top!"
I could see that Tony was thinking about what Shion was asking before he finally made a decision.
"All right… But once around is all you're getting." He said. "Who knows what's up there?"
"Thank you." Shion said.
Tony flew the Elsa towards the top of the Song of Nephilim and we all saw the top as he flew around it in a circle. Shion was quiet as she stared at the top. The Elsa then flew to the side where we docked the ship at the entrance.
Everyone filed out of the room and I was about to leave the room with the others to go into the Song of Nephilim.
"Yo, Little Master!"
I turned to Tony who had his head turned to me.
"Yeah, what is it?" I asked.
"By any chance, is this Ayame chick…you know, hot?" Tony asked.
"Uhh…exactly why would you want to know?" Why was he even asking me this question in the first place?
"Oh, no reason. We could use the information to help you guys look for her. In case she somehow gets on this ship without you knowing."
"You don't have to worry about her, Tony. Cause if anyone's gonna find her, it'll be me."
"But is she hot?"
"Don't worry about it Tony. You'll meet her eventually, I'm sure."
It was with that that I decided to leave before Tony suddenly decided to stop me again.
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As we entered, I instantly noticed how cold it was and could help but shiver. But then I spotted MOMO lying unconscious on the ground and immediately ran over to where she was.
"MOMO!" I knelt down next to her as I shook her in an attempt to wake her. "MOMO! MOMO!" I watched as MOMO woke up. "MOMO! You all right?"
MOMO didn't say anything and looked at me, but I felt the blood drain from my face when I didn't see a single hint of recognition in her golden eyes.
"Don't tell me…we're too late…?" I suddenly felt angry when I realized that this was Albedo's doing! "Damn…that bastard! He's taken her consciousness! I'm gonna make him pay for this!! Hold on, MOMO! I'll make you whole again!"
"Jr.! What happened to MOMO?" Shion asked.
"That monster Albedo's gone and reversed the spiritual link…" I said.
"Reversed the spiritual link?" Ziggy asked.
"It's the opposite of what Gaignun and I do when we communicate telepathically. But by seizing someone's consciousness, you can delve inside the other person's mind and drag out whatever memories you feel like taking."
"You can't be serious!" Shion stated. "That means MOMO's mind is…"
"Yeah… It's best for you all to go back. I'll handle this on my own."
"It'll be better this way, too…" I thought as I started making my way passed everyone.
"Wait! It's too dangerous to go alone!" chaos said.
I stopped when I heard chaos say that and just stared at him.
"Sorry." I said. "This is between me and him… All right?"
"But still…"
I then spotted MOMO walking over to me and I couldn't help but feel sad as I looked at her.
"MOMO… You…wanna come with me?" I asked.
MOMO nodded.
"I'm going, too."
I looked towards Shion.
"Shion…"
"Don't you remember what you told me?" She asked me. "This song…it's responsible for destroying Miltia and bringing the Gnosis into this world… If this has anything to do with that place that I know of, then…this involves me as well…"
I then realized that I didn't see Ayame anywhere. If MOMO was here, she should have been here as well.
"MOMO, have you seen Ayame anywhere?" I asked, feeling slightly hopeful.
I watched as MOMO shook her head. I felt the slight hope I had disappear only to be replace with worry.
"Maybe we'll find her while we make our way through here." Shion said.
We continued making our way further into the Song of Nephilim. At one point we had to fight a Gnosis called Rianon SE in the second tower, which took us a while to kill.
"Damn, we're wasting too much time!" I thought. "And we still haven't found Ayame yet!"
We soon made it to the third tower and took the elevator down to the lower area, but we stopped when we saw that MOMO stopped moving.
"Umm… I am not feeling well, so please exclude me from the battle members. Thank you." MOMO said.
"MOMO, are you okay?" Shion asked.
"Yes…"
"What's up with MOMO?" I thought.
We continued moving and entered through the large door in front of us. Inside we found Albedo sitting on a throne.
I caught a glimpse of Ayame lying against the side of the throne, her cheek against the cold surface while a pained expression graced her face. Upon closer inspection I noticed slight bruises along her neck and I instantly felt anger flare up inside me. That bastard!
"Albedo… YOUUU…"
"Please spare me from any trite lines like, 'You're still alive?' Life and death are merely empty words lacking any power over me." He said. Albedo used his free hand to stroke the side of Ayame's face and my anger increased at the sight. "By the way…did you ever bother telling the girls? Do they know that we're monsters, both you and I?"
I then noticed that Albedo held MOMO in his arms and my eyes widened.
"MOMO?!"
"If that's MOMO, then who--?!"
Suddenly I felt hands wrap around my neck from behind and realized I was being strangled and lifted up, my hands reaching up to pry the hands that were choking me as my eyes welling up with tears from the lack of oxygen.
"I want the me that's inside you…" The voice of 'MOMO' said from behind me, who was still strangling me.
"M…MOMO…?" I struggled to say, still trying to pry her hands off.
I suddenly noticed that the hands seemed to change dramatically from the way they felt. There was no doubt about it! This definitely wasn't MOMO!
"MOMO?!" Shion cried.
"That's not her." Ziggy stated. "That's…"
"Free from the bonds of flesh… A pure consciousness has no true form." Albedo said. "All that exists is the longing for reality."
The lack of oxygen was really starting to get to me! I needed oxygen NOW!!!
"Get off me!!" I yelled, using my power to emit flames to free me from the person that was strangling me! I really didn't want to use them, but what choice did I have?!
I heard something hit the ground and knew that it was my strangler. Then I heard the real MOMO whimper in pain.
"Did you see that, ma pêche…?" Albedo asked. "You're witness to his true nature right now…a consciousness desperately struggling to stay alive. Such a pitiful sight. This is unseemly, Rubedo."
"Jr.…" I heard MOMO say.
Just then I watched as Albedo started to absorb MOMO's power and it made me furious.
"Albedo! Get your stinkin' hands off of her!" I yelled as I drew one of my gun. "Or else I'll…"
Albedo looked up at me from what he was doing.
"Hmm? You'll do something…if I…do this?"
He then continued to absorb MOMO.
"You mother…!!"
I fired my gun at Albedo's right arm, but it disappeared for a moment and then reappeared. Dammit! I forgot he could regenerate! Albedo started laughing.
"What pain…so sweet…so alive! Pain is such a vital part of realizing one's existence…" He said. "Try to remember, Rubedo. What it takes…what you must do… Or…have you lived in peace for so long that you've completely forgotten?"
I started aiming my gun at Albedo again.
"I don't give a damn about what you have to say! Just give them both back!!"
"I don't think so… I'll just take what I want to proceed with my plans… And along the way, I'll make you remember…who you really are…"
He continued to absorb her…again!
"Shut up!" I growled. "I don't need some freak contaminated by U-DO to tell me…"
"Jr.…?!" I heard Shion say.
"Contaminated?" He asked. "Not quite. More like…evolved. I experienced but a fragment of my true power that day. The waves that inundated my body are now a part of me! I've reached a higher stage of existence compared to you incomplete mortals." He went back to absorbing MOMO. "I am the alpha and the omega of perfect consciousness!"
I could feel myself shaking from being terrified by what that monster was doing. I tried so hard, but I couldn't stop shaking. What if he did something like this to Ayame?!
"S…Stop it…"
"Mmm…Ah, this is nice… Don't you want to give it a try?"
"MOMO!!"
I fired two rounds at Albedo, hitting him in his right arm and head. They both disappeared and, of course, reappeared.
"Impossible… Is that nanotechnology…?" Ziggy asked.
"No. Nanomachines can't work anywhere near that fast, and besides… Not even the research laboratories have models with head-regenerating capabilities yet." Shion said.
"He's a U.R.T.V." chaos said. "Just like Jr.…"
"What?!"
"U.R.T.V.s… They were created for the express purpose of eradicating U-DO."
"U-DO…?"
"Rubedo… You still don't remember? Or could it be…fear… You're frightened, is that it? Am I right? I can't blame you." Albedo said. "The only thing that matters to you is yourself. Rubedo…so cruel… And yet these girls clings to you so dearly. Isn't it pitiful?"
I saw the bracelet that I gave MOMO drop to the floor and I stared at it for a while before looking back up to Albedo, who was still absorbing MOMO.
"One more layer. Just one more layer, and then I'll have everything inside of her. I'm sure you know what that means, Rubedo. Now then, I wonder how much more she can take?"
MOMO started panicking in fear as she was being absorbed by Albedo. I couldn't take it anymore! He's making me even more angry! I was now in a rage!
"Noooooo!!" I yelled.
I activated a blast of flames from my body and knocked Albedo into midair and caused him to hit the wall and fall to the ground. MOMO and Ayame were both free from him and had ended up a distance away from the throne and closer to us. We all ran over to them and I knelt near both of the girls in order to see if they were okay.
"MOMO!! Ayame!! Are you both okay?!" I asked as I checked them.
Both MOMO and Ayame were unconscious, but the latter's face didn't appear to look as painful as it did earlier. They were going to be alright!
I heard Albedo laughing maniacally and looked up to see that he was getting up while covering his right eye.
"I see… It all makes sense now…" He said.
Albedo's A.G.W.S. came down and he jumped on top of it.
"But now…Rubedo, how about we enjoy a moment or two together." Albedo got inside the A.G.W.S. "Come on… Our time has arrived!"
We were soon forced to fight Albedo's A.G.W.S that was called Simeon. It was a good thing that we got MOMO and Ayame out of the way before the assault, since the A.G.W.S's attacks were hitting near us. We soon defeated the Simeon and Albedo got out of it.
"Ah, Rubedo. You're getting closer to your old self." Albedo said, "But you're still not quite there yet. You were much stronger than this back then, weren't you?"
Albedo activated dark flames from his body.
"Damn you, Albedo!" I growled as I held my right arm, only to let go. "Don't get cocky!!"
I used my powers and it caused red flames to emit from my body and both mine and Albedo's flames hit each other, but neither passed any further. I shouted as I struggled to control my power.
"What's wrong, Rubedo? You can do better than this. Come on, show me what you've got."
"Jr. no!!" I heard chaos say. "Don't do it! Don't play into his hand…or you'll…"
But I wasn't listening. I tuned out the rest of the world and focused on Albedo. That monster caused harm to both MOMO and Ayame and I wanted to make him pay for what he did!
"Come on, Rubedo! Just a little more!" Albedo taunted. "Just a little more and your dreams'll be fulfilled! Come on, come on, come on!!"
I became more aggressive at his taunts. I could hear chaos' voice, but I continued to tune it out.
"Don't do it!"
I suddenly saw an image of that girl I had seen earlier on the Durandal standing in front of me, her glowing sky blue eyes pleading to me again.
"You need to control your power! If you don't, everyone in this room will get hurt!"
Suddenly mine and Albedo's flames were decreased in size by a light and I saw that it was MOMO using her power.
"What's happening?!" Shion said. "MOMO…?"
"MOMO…" It really was MOMO!
I quickly looked back in front of me only to find that that girl wasn't there anymore. I looked back over to MOMO.
"You've…taken so much from me." MOMO said. "But…I… I was given a part of you too. A part of you is now within me! So, now…!"
"So, now…?" Albedo mocked, only to laugh soon after. "So, that's why you're doing that?"
"Why do you hurt everyone? My sisters, they all loved something they saw in you. Even after all that you put them through, they still believed in you. How…how can you desecrate their feelings – their hearts?!"
Albedo laughed maniacally. "Desecrate? Your sisters? Look around you."
That was when I noticed all those corpses of the Kirschwassers on the ground.
"How horrible…!" I thought.
"Who's the flower that blooms from those corpses? That's right… It's you…pêche. Everything is just as Mizrahi – your dear Daddy – wanted it to be."
"Daddy…?"
"That's right. Isn't it, Rubedo?"
I shook my head.
"You bastard…" I growled. "Say any more and you're… You're gonna…"
"…pay for this!" Shion said. "Those girls weren't toys for your enjoyment! They were all individuals with will of their own! Yet you…"
"Still spouting that self-righteous crap?"
"Huh?" Shion said in confusion.
We were all looking around the room when suddenly a bright light appeared from the ceiling.
"The new guy?" Albedo said.
Soon a hooded man wearing blue appeared out of nowhere and floated to the ground next to Albedo.
"Stop screwing around." He said. "Hurry up and get the job done. Don't waste your time on these fools."
"Give him this message: It belongs to me!" Albedo said as he walked over to the Simeon that had just came down.
"Hold it!!" I shouted.
I tried to stop Albedo, but a force field near the hooded man knocked me back.
"Where do you think you're going?" The hooded man asked. "Hey, why don't you do me a favor and let him go for now. I'll do my best to keep you entertained in the meantime."
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Simeon flew away and outside of the Song of Nephilim, Albedo was thinking of something and he soon saw people as bright round areas appeared until a bright one appeared as well.
"So this is the Y Data…" He said.
"I do not exist for your pleasure…"
Suddenly the android he had seen earlier appeared in his vision.
"You call this protection?" He asked.
Then he saw an image of the woman naked and covering her breast.
"Wha…?! You…!!"
The image soon faded and Albedo ended up staring out at space.
"He really didn't want anyone going in there… Oh, well…that just makes it all the more interesting!" He started laughing. "Very interesting."
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We continued to stare at the hooded man in blue that was in front of us, while I, on the other hand, was glaring at him from where I was kneeling on the ground after being hit by that stupid force field. It's his fault that Albedo managed to get away!
"Who…are you?" Shion asked.
"Who? What does it matter? Or…do you need a name to describe me?" He asked. "A definition by words is merely a means to deceive oneself. It's meaningless before the truth. What matters is how you perceive things. The slightest shift, then life and death no longer have any meaning."
"Huh…?"
"You don't get it?"
I started to get up from where I was, still glaring in anger at that hooded bastard.
"Well, how about I show you…"
"Get out of the way…" I growled once I got to my feet.
"Hm?"
"I said, get outta my way!!" I yelled, extremely furious!
"Ah…you've got guts, boy." The hooded man said. "Why don't you make me move? Shouldn't be a problem for a U.R.T.V., now should it?"
Another person that was trying to make me angry. That's the third one today, too! I'll make him pay for letting Albedo escape!
"You're damn right!"
The hooded man transformed into a Gnosis that was called Ein Rugel, which after we defeated it turned into another Gnosis called Doppelwogel. A few minutes later we defeated the Gnosis and suddenly mist surrounded the area and then it eventually disappeared to reveal the hooded man in blue. He didn't seem to be tired, but everyone else (including me) was tired from the fight.
"It's useless. The laws by which we are governed are just too different." He said. "Isn't that right, boss?"
None of us responded. What they hell was he talking about?!
"Well, then… I think our friend has already left. And it's about time for me to make my exit. I have a busy schedule to keep…" He turned around and started to walk off.
"Wait!" Shion yelled, causing the man to stop. "What are you trying to accomplish?! Why did you come here?"
"You wanna know?" He asked. "Then come to that time, to that place… You know what I mean…"
"Huh?"
"I'll be waiting for you, Shion."
The hooded man suddenly disappeared before our eyes. Just what was he?
"The Song of Nephilim has ceased all functions." KOS-MOS stated. "The Rhine Maiden is clearing away the remaining Gnosis."
"I see…" Shion said. "Jr., are you all right?"
My head shot up from looking at the ground I sat on in order to look back behind me to see everyone.
"Y-yeah… And you guys?" I asked. "Man…who was that? He has an aura of incredible power…"
"I don't know… I don't…understand any of this…"
"Let's go back, Shion." chaos said.
"Yeah…"
I started to get up from the ground and looked in the direction of where Ayame laid against the wall where we had placed her earlier. I walked over to her and stopped when I was only a few feet away from her.
"We can't leave her here…" I thought. "I would probably never live with myself if we did."
I felt a hand being placed on my shoulder and looked up to see that it was Ziggy's doing.
"I know what you're thinking, Jr." He said.
He took his hand off my shoulder and walked over to Ayame. To my surprise, he knelt down at her side and picked her up, carrying her bridal style. I couldn't help but stare at the old man in shock at what he just did as he started walking towards the door. He then stopped only to turn to face me with what I could barely make out was a questioning look on his face.
"Aren't you coming?"
I shook my head to clear my thoughts as I finally got the meaning of what he was saying.
"Yeah…"
"Idiot! That's all you can manage to say when you've just witnessed Ziggy doing the most unthinkable thing in the universe taking place right in front of you?" I mentally scolded myself.
I ran in order to catch up with the others so we could get back to the Elsa. We soon got on the Elsa and made our way to the Bridge (Ayame still being carried by Ziggy), Where Captain Matthews, Hammer, Tony, and Allen were waiting for us. I saw Tony's eyes lit up when he spotted Ayame and that was when I mentally hit myself when he started to come over to Ziggy who still held her.
"Crap! I forgot about Tony!" I thought.
"So this is that Ayame chick you told us about?" He said. "Quite the looker, if you ask me!"
I felt annoy and pretty much walked over to them until I stood between Tony and Ziggy who still held Ayame.
"I'll be watching over her until we get back to the Durandal. So none of you have to worry." I looked at Tony, letting him know that I was referring to him. "C'mon, old man. Let's take Ayame to the cabin."
I followed Ziggy to the woman's cabin while he carried Ayame. We soon got to said cabin and Ziggy carefully placed Ayame on one of the beds, where she could rest until we got her back to her room on the Durandal.
I stared at Ayame as she slept on the bed that she know laid in. Personally, I'm glad we managed to rescue both her and MOMO from Albedo. Who knows what else he could have done?
"Jr."
My head shot in the direction of where Ziggy was in order to look at him.
"What is it, old man?" I asked.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" He asked.
I was instantly confused at what he meant and it must had shown on my face by what he said next.
"If you don't want to talk about it, then I won't ask."
With that Ziggy left and I was left very confused by what he meant.
"What the hell was that about?" I thought.
I pretty much stayed with Ayame during the ride back to the Durandal, mostly watching her sleep the whole time.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I stood on the Bridge of the Durandal with chaos. Earlier after when we had gotten back on the Durandal I had led Ziggy to Ayame's room so we could let her rest in her room until she woke up.
I heard the elevator come up and turned around to see Shion and MOMO appear.
"Are you okay?" I asked the Realian.
"Yes…" She answered. "That man, he said he was searching for the key inside me… He…probably…"
I placed my hand on the side of MOMO's face.
"It's all right." I said. "It's not your fault."
"Oh!" MOMO then showed me the bracelet I gave her. "This charm! Maybe I have this to thank for my safe return."
"Main cannon ready to fire." Shelley said. "Target: Song of Nephilim."
"You sure about this?" chaos asked MOMO.
"Yes… Please…for their sake."
"chaos, do you think this'll put the Kirschwassers to rest?" I asked as I looked at the Song of Nephilim.
"Well… Their thoughts and feelings now exist within MOMO." He answered. "Their wish…finally came true…"
"…I hope so. Maybe…that's…what Albedo wanted…"
I started walking up to the console where Shelley was.
"Jr.…"
"It's…" I started, suddenly feeling sad. "It's because I couldn't…"
"Little Master!" Shelley said as I finally stood in front of the console.
"Yeah, go ahead."
We soon fired a bunch of lasers from the Kukai Foundation at the Song of Nephilim, but it reflected off of it!
"Wha?!" I yelled.
"Wait! Something's wrong…" chaos said. "It's…"
"…The Gnosis!" MOMO said. "The remaining Gnosis…they're being…?!"
My eyes widened when I saw the Gnosis all gathering and going into the Song of Nephilim. Then the Simeon appeared and I instantly knew what that meant!
Suddenly a communication monitor appeared in front of us and I instantly felt angry when I saw the last person I wanted to see right now. Albedo laughed maniacally.
"I wanted to have more fun, so I came back for a visit." He said.
"Albedo…" I growled. "I swear I'm gonna…!"
"Now now, cool your jets. Hold off on the emotional outburst until you see my entire performance…"
The Simeon emitted a burst of yellow flames and caused the Kukai Foundation to shake violently.
"W…What's going on?!" Mary asked.
Suddenly, a big area appeared in outer space.
"What is that…?!" Shion asked.
The thing that appeared seemed to be a big a fortress of some sort, my eyes wide as I started at it.
"Proto…Merkabah…" MOMO said.
"Proto Merkabah?" Shion exclaimed.
"The place where…I was born…"
I watched as the Song of Nephilim inserted itself to that thing…the Proto Merkabah…!
"Did you say…this is where you were born?" I asked.
"Yes. Daddy gathered together the data he needed to create me on Miltia, and then he sent it to Proto Merkabah." MOMO said.
"Are you saying that thing was built for the purpose of creating you?"
The Proto Merkabah tilted sideways and suddenly fired a red beam at the Federation fleet, destroying all of them!
"The Federation fleet…"
"Just like that…" Shion said.
"Well, Rubedo? What do you think of my new toy?" Albedo asked. "And that was using the minute amount of energy remaining in this thing! Just a mere fraction of what it's capable of. Icing on the cake, if you will."
The Proto Merkabah fired grappling lasers and grabbed the Gnosis, pulling them into the station.
"That light… It's just like when KOS-MOS…" Shion stated.
"Originally, this thing, the Song of Nephilim, and the Zohar were a single apparatus." Albedo explained. "The Gnosis which seek the Zohar are responding to the faint waves that emanate from the sealed off Miltia. This thing uses the Gnosis as a medium to collect the waves from the Zohar, and store the energy it needs in order to operate."
"How the hell do you know all that?!" I asked.
"It was ma pêche. When I linked with her consciousness, I learned how to use this thing. I'm really quite grateful."
The Proto Merkabah started charging its beam.
"Let's see then…I wonder how long it'll take to charge? Five minutes? Or perhaps ten? You look a little pale there… Scared, are you?" He asked. "Perhaps I should just turn you all to pillars of salt…that's not a bad idea." He started laughing. "…red will become white…"
Albedo started laughing maniacally. I felt anger flare up inside me again.
"Don't mock us, you bastard!" I shouted.
He continued to laugh.
"Hmm…so, what to do… All right. I know! My next target will be…"
Proto Merkabah moved to Second Miltia and started aiming at it.
"The weapon is retargeting! It's aiming straight for the capital of Second Miltia!" A 100-Series Realian said.
"What did you say…?!" Shion cried.
"Exactly." Albedo stated. "Those 100-Series are sharp, aren't they?"
"Won't let you do this! Listen to me, Albedo!" I yelled. "You stay right where you are! It's time for you and me to settle this!"
He laughed.
"Oh please, that's not like you at all." He said. "You don't really give a damn about others, do you?"
"Whaaat?!"
"That's NOT true!!!" I thought.
"Well, fine… Stop me if you can…" He laughed maniacally. "I'll be waiting!" He suddenly grinned. "By the way, you might want to check up on mon iris. I bet she'll be happy to see you, Rubedo. That is, if you really do care about her."
He laughed again and broke contact with us.
My eyes suddenly widened when I realized what Albedo meant.
"Damn it…"
I ran down the ramp and onto the elevator and rode it down, hearing the others calling out to me and it went down. I quickly got off the elevator and ran onto the subway to get to the Residential Area and quickly got off the train as well, making a mad dash to Ayame's room.
"Dammit! He really did do something to Ayame!" I thought. "Why didn't I think about it before?!"
I finally made it to the door to Ayame's room and ran inside to witness her as she just started to wake up, her blue eyes starting to open.
"Ayame!" I cried as I ran over to her bed.
Ayame sat up in her bed and turned to look at me, only to look at me with nothing but fear in her eyes as her face paled!
(Ayame's POV)
I started to regain consciousness and started to open my eyes.
"Ayame!" I soon heard.
"Jr.?" I thought.
I sat up in and found that I was lying in my bed in my room. I looked to where the voice had come from only to feel the blood drain from my face and suddenly feel fear at who I saw. Standing not too far from my bed and moving towards it was Albedo!
"Albedo…! What are you doing here?!" I cried.
He stopped in mid stride and looked at me with a shock expression on his face.
"Albedo?! Ayame, I'm not Albedo!!" He said.
Albedo started making his way over to my bed and I started to cower in fear as he came closer to where I was.
"Get away from me Albedo!!!" I yelled, my eyes shut tight in my fear.
"I told you I'm not Albedo!"
"Stop lying to me!"
I suddenly felt his hands grab the side of my arms firmly. I tried to struggle, but couldn't make any progress.
"Stop this! You need to calm down!" He said. "Look at me, Ayame!"
"Wait…! Albedo doesn't call me by my name. He always calls me mon iris. What if…?"
Something wasn't right about all of this. I noticed that his hold on my arms wasn't hard like I remembered, but instead more gentle. I stopped struggling and opened my eyes, forcing myself to look up at the person I feared. When I managed to do so I noticed that Albedo's face was soft and calm in expression, unlike his insane maniac expression I always seen him wear on his face.
"What's going on…?" I thought. "This…this isn't…"
"Ayame, I'm not Albedo." He insisted. "Don't you remember the promise I made to you?"
"Promise…?" I asked, hesitant in my confusion.
"I promised you that I would be with you as you continued to try to remember your past."
I gasped quietly. That was the promise that…!
"It can't be…!"
"Jr…?"
Just then Albedo's body started to shift from himself to Jr. as he nodded, until it finally settled on Jr. after the second time. It really was Jr.!
"This whole time it was Jr…! And I…!"
I felt tears well up in my eyes and held onto Jr, crying into his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around me.
"I'm so sorry…" I said, still crying.
I could feel him rubbing my back in order to comfort me.
"It's not your fault. It's his fault that this happened." He said.
"I was…I was so scared…"
"It's okay now, Ayame" He held me a little tighter. "You don't need to be scared anymore."
(Jr.'s POV)
"Albedo…! What are you doing here?!" She cried.
I stopped in mid stride and looked at her, shocked at what she called me.
"Why the hell is she calling me Albedo?!" I thought.
"Albedo?! Ayame, I'm not Albedo!!" I said.
I started making my way over to where she was on the bed, starting to cower in fear as I came closer.
"Get away from me Albedo!!!" She suddenly yelled, her blue eyes shut tight in her fear.
"I told you I'm not Albedo!"
"Stop lying to me!"
I didn't like how she could look at me with such fear. She was looking at me as if I were Albedo himself. I've never seen her look so scared before and I immediately hated Albedo for scaring her with whatever he did to her!
"That's what he did to her!" I suddenly realized. "Albedo must had made her think I was him! That bastard…!"
I came over to her and grabbed the side of her arms firmly, but not enough to make her feel pain. She tried to struggle, but wasn't able to do so due to my grip. I needed her to calm down so she could listen to reason.
"Stop this! You need to calm down!" I said. "Look at me, Ayame!"
It took a while, but she eventually stopped struggling and opened her eye, and soon looked up at me. Her expression was still that of fear but it appearance was lessen slightly.
"Ayame, I'm not Albedo." I insisted. "Don't you remember the promise I made to you?"
Ayame's face changed from fear to confusion when I mentioned the promise.
"Promise…?" She asked, hesitant in her confusion.
"I promised you that I would be with you as you continued to try to remember your past."
She gasped quietly, suddenly realizing what I was saying.
"This has to work…!" I thought. "If not…"
"Jr…?"
I nodded slowly and her blue eyes widen. Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes and she suddenly held onto me, taking me by surprised as she started crying into my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her as she continued to cry.
"I'm so sorry…" She said, still crying.
I started to rub her back in order to comfort her. Another thing I didn't like seeing her do. I didn't like to see her cry. I felt like my heart was literally being torn whenever I saw her this sad. Ayame looking at me in fear ranked second compared to me seeing her sad and crying.
"It's not your fault. It's his fault that this happened." I said.
"I was…I was so scared…"
"It's okay now, Ayame" I held her a little tighter. "You don't need to be scared anymore."
Eventually she stopped crying and she lifted her head to look at me, her eyes red and puffy. I gave her a smile to let her know that everything was going to be okay. I knew that it worked since she smiled back.
"T…thank you…" She said quietly.
I knew instantly what she was thanking me for and felt a slight glow in my heart.
"It was no problem. I didn't want anything to happen to you. We're friends, remember?"
"Yes…"
I let got of her and stood up, turning around to face her I held out my hand to her, but she seemed to stare at it.
"Are you coming?" I asked.
Ayame looked back up at me before nodding and soon grabbed my hand as she stood up.
"Let's go see the others."
It was with that that we left her room for the Bridge. I knew for certain that everyone may have been worried about her.
ATE: Finally finished! Believe me this took a long time to finish writing all this, especially with my self-appointed editor who took it upon herself to be my editor breathing down my neck. So more stalling on my part. Please Review! :)