A/N: BOY. I can't believe it took me a year to update this story...and right at the climax as well. But, I thought long and hard about how to end this in a way I originally wanted to while still running with what my muses were telling me...so, I feel I've reached a good mix of both. There's not much to say, except thank you to all readers who have kept up with this story (and a warm hello to new readers as well). Your reviews and comments were what kept me going and pushed me to finish even after all this time, and I can't be more grateful.

Warnings: character death

"Commander, there seems to be an object in the air! Headed towards us!"

"Is it an Invasion Object?"

"No—well, I don't think so...actually, these energy readings...it's a, holder?"

"What?!"

"Which one? No one's scheduled for anything right now!"

Their frantic chatter filled his ears, but Adam didn't really care to listen to any of it. He could have disabled his suit's radio connection to the main command center if he chose to, but the darker side of him found some sort of deranged pleasure in hearing their confusion and uncertainty.

"Getting a date...coming in, genetic signal traces to 1888...it's ball #13?"

"Jack the Ripper?! He's here?"

"Jack, what's going on? Status report, please! You are currently retired from the active roster; I repeat, status report!"

A worried buzz filled the command room, Saint-Germain exceedingly quiet while Vidocq brooded in his chair, the bags under his eyes even darker than usual. "Strange, very strange...according to Hunter's last report, the man could barely get out of bed unassisted, let alone suit up and wield an AU ball...!" The blonde nervously chewed the remains of a half-smoked cigarette, casually spitting out the used tobacco. "He's up to something..."

"...You think he has an ulterior motive?"

Vidocq eyed their stoic commander uneasily. "...Well, given the current circumstances and everything that's happened—losing Nobunagun, losing his daughter, not to mention his deteriorating health...do you think he is currently in the best of mental and emotional states?"

"Dr. Hunter reported he seemed stable and was convalescing back in his quarters—"

"—oui, that's what they all say—but I have a feeling...Adam Muirhead, that man...he never has taken anything sitting down, without a challenge..." Vidocq moved from chewing the cigarette to his thumb. "I don't like this..."

"You aren't the only one Monsieur Vidocq," both the tactician and Commander Saint-Germain turned to the new voice of Michel de Nostradame, who had just entered along with William Tell. "Apologies, I meant to tell you earlier but given the recent events—"

"—just spit it out already—it's another prophecy, isn't it?"

"...Oui. Oui, I'm fairly certain...at the time the accuracy was only 44%, so I did not say anything until I could get a better reading. But now with this..." The redheaded seer took off his glasses and wiped them on the edge of his jacket, before putting them back on. "He has done something to himself, that man...and it will end up causing great destruction...and much pain."

"Human pain, and suffering...even now, it is a paradox to me." Dogoo's bubbling, disembodied voice cut back in, as it was now sealed back inside its hibernation chamber after the disastrous attempt to use it on another human. "You are implying...Adam Muirhead is now hostile towards us, is that correct?" Nobody said anything for a few seconds, as if afraid that once they voiced it, it would come true.

"...Well, I am not saying he will outright attack us—but, certainly the feelings I sensed in the prophecy, they were...courroux, désespoir—ah, how do you say—"

"Anger, despair," the Swiss archer translated for the prophet. "Adam Muirhead...even now, some twenty-odd years later, you're still just a brat that does whatever you want, regardless of how much trouble it causes others...all for the sake of her." The AU ball gleamed in the dim lights, as if readying itself and its owner for battle. "Tch...how the hell someone like him ended up becoming the leader of the new Second Platoon is still beyond me."

"Hold on a minute, Tell...you're not actually going...to confront him?" Even Vidocq seemed shocked at this turnaround, nevermind the fact Adam hadn't responded to any of the calls, and was still coming closer—and now according to the outer cameras, with his AU weapon fully drawn as well. "Mon dieu...what is going on?!"

"Trust me, the last thing I want is to get in a fight with that idiot—but if that's what it takes to beat some sense into him, then so be it." Without another word the archer headed for the gates, stripping off his outer uniform to reveal the undersuit he'd already put on. "Nostradamus, Vidocq, keep me posted—I'll be out there in a few."

"W-Wait! Mr. Tell, before you just jump in, please let me take a look!" The Special Squad's spotter finally burst in, breathless from having run all the way from the other end of the halls. "If it's as you said Nostradamus, that something's...changed inside him, maybe my orbs can find the cause and resolve it without having to fight~su!" There was a terse few seconds of staring, but Galileo was determined to not back down, despite Tell's unnerving glare. The Second Platoon and Special Squad had enjoyed one of the closest bonds between all the platoons over the years; to simply engage in one of their oldest friends without even an explanation was an insult to not only its living members, but Nobunagun's memory as well.

"...You get five minutes Galileo, and then I'm heading out."

The spotter nodded, pink hair that still remained in pigtails to this day flying about. "Roger~su! I can do it in four!" And without even suiting up she called out her AU weapon, the orbs all flying out through the nearest open hatch. "Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto! Let's go!"

The atmosphere was thick inside the command room as all eyes watched the tiny spheres zoom out, while Adam flew closer still. By this point the staff were starting to run through protocols for a possible invasion, even if it was by one of their own and not their designated enemy; the officers and controllers moved about in a daze, as if not really believing that one of their own could turn against them.

"Commander...should we really engage him? He's not responding, but still...!"

At this Saint-Germain turned his full attention to the screens. "...We must follow the protocol, Vidocq. After all, when Iyo handed the reigns over to me...it became my duty to carry out our mission, no matter what obstacles we might encounter. If we deviate now, it could cause more harm than good." The glasses were pushed up just a touch further on the bridge of his nose. "I must admit I am a bit surprised Vidocq; that you would go out of your way to defend Mr. Muirhead..."

The blonde heaved a sigh and sank into the depths of his AU easy chair, which itself was sagging due to the holder's exhaustion. "...Heh, I can see why you would be. I do not blame you...it's not as if I really got along with either of them...Sio Ogura and Adam Muirhead...and yet..." A finger smudged the stray ashes that were spilling out of the ashtray, staining a greyish streak onto his trousers. "...Call it an epiphany, or perhaps just age; but I think I understand now why he feels this way...although, too little too late perhaps."

Saint-Germain grew quiet, as if really thinking as himself for once, rather than the mindset of Commander. "To protect that which is precious to you at any cost...that feeling, I understood well...once upon a time..."

"But she is no longer there to protect. So why engage us now?" The clay figure seemed confused, once again reminding them it was not of this planet to begin with. "Human feelings...I know they are complex, but perhaps I underestimated just how much and to what extent they can influence an individual's actions."

"Dogoo...what are you insinuating?"

"Perhaps I made a mistake. When I offered Adam Muirhead the option to save Sio Ogura...had it been wrong of me to intervene then?" The bubbles continued to roil amongst the background din of a frantic crew. "I claimed back then human emotions, the ability to feel and love as deeply as he can—as all humans can—is something exceedingly precious and worth protecting. And yet now I can see, those same feelings and emotions...are capable of great and terrible destruction, as well."

Nobody said a word, only a strained silence as they all tried to justify their actions in their own ways. They knew Dogoo was not wrong—it was correct, this very paradox of emotions that made them human. Love and kindness, hate and despair...

"...You cannot have one without the other, in this world," Saint-Germain murmured quietly, more to himself than the alien. "Humans are supremely complex; I'm sure you know by now, that not even we fully understand ourselves."

"But was I wrong?" All eyes turned to the alien figure.

"...Non, Dogoo. For humanity, sometimes there is no right and no wrong; that's just how life is."

From his viewpoint in the sky, the base was finally coming alive—defensive shields coming up, and the heavy mortars were being uncovered. Though the shells were ultimately useless if the Objects really were to attack, they were at least effective as a buffer—and could more than blow him in half should they land a hit. But that was if they could actually hit him in the first place. Ironically, Adam couldn't help but think of how excited Sio would be if she saw the heavy artillery being loaded up. Unconsciously his lips quirked into a smile, the memory of when she finally got to command a whole fleet of M1A2 Abrams during Operation Stone Forest bubbling up, so many years ago.

A gleam caught his eye and he stopped suddenly, focusing his gaze on the four tiny spheres spiraling up into the sky... Galileo, of course. No doubt Command was trying to figure out what was going on first, instead of blindly open-firing.

"Hang on, I think I'm getting something~su!"

The spotter's high-pitched voice cut back into the radio but he ignored their words, much like he ignored Europa and Io—or whichever orbs Galileo had launched in an attempt to try and scan him. Jack's power meant that he could shatter them in a blink of an eye and render her blind for good, if he really wanted to, but that would just be a waste of time and energy. That, and Niall would never forgive him; despite his animosity towards DOGOO, Adam couldn't betray the kindness the anatomist had shown him over the years by incapacitating the one Niall truly loved. They would know the truth soon enough anyway, his changes from Jack—there wasn't anything they could do, except prepare for the inevitable.

"It's...no way, it can't be~su! Mr. Jack..."

"Galileo? What are your readings?"

"These numbers, the wavelengths—it's, they're not his usual e-gene signal—no, the most I can compare it to is when he forced the two modes to fuse, Jack the Ripper and Nightingale...but it's not exactly the same..."

"The mode-change fusion?! He can still do that?"

While the staff was trying to make sense of it all, he was busy taking in the surrounding area. The base was currently offshore, but there was land close enough should it come down to a ground fight. But most importantly was the endless expanse of grey clouds and blue sky that rose above him...

He sensed the other one before the jets even came into view. Not even a warning, he simply appeared before him, clad in the green-and-white suit that always covered his mouth no matter how many iterations their armor had gone through. And though his weapon was different, he too, could soar through the skies the same as him—making two of them DOGOO's most valuable holders.

"Well well...fancy seeing you here, William Tell." There was no mistaking the sarcasm in his voice, but the other holder acted as if he didn't even hear it. "Should've known they'd send you of all people...after all, takes one t' get one..."

"Jack the Ripper. Or I should say, Adam Muirhead...you're a goddamn pain in my ass, you know that?" The archer's words were harsh but his expression was neutral. "I wondered if you'd end up learning some empathy for others after you got married...but I guess my expectations were too high. Always doing your own shit...with total disregard to the one who has to clean up your mess. I don't know why Command has always put me in the role of being your nanny...but perhaps it's only fitting, that the former head of the Second Platoon shall face off with its current head. Or no, my mistake—that's Newton's role now, since your 'retirement'."

Despite everything, Adam couldn't help but bark out a laugh. "Nanny? I always pegged you as more of a guard dog. But that's your fault, isn't it? After Columbus died..."

There was an unmistakable pulse of anger in the other's eyes, but to his credit the archer did not say anything. Before Sio or Adam had joined DOGOO or even awakened their e-genes, there was the holder of Christopher Columbus; who, along with William Tell and Robert Capa, comprised of the original Second Platoon. To this day Adam still didn't know the whole story; the only dark stain upon DOGOO's otherwise illustrious history, until that ill-fated mission that lead to Sio's eventual death. All that ever came trickling out, despite late nights in the document library and casually asking around the senior staff, was somehow Columbus had lost control of his e-gene—an incident dubbed the 'runaway e-gene'—that resulted not only in enormous casualties, but the holder's untimely death, as well. And though the old man never stated it, Adam suspected it was what forced an otherwise-healthy holder into a wheelchair and why Tell gave up leading an assault squad, instead being relegated to sniping missions as part of the Special Squad. For, despite how hard the organization tried to wipe the details of what went wrong, still bits and pieces leaked out, and all of them pointed towards the failure of then-leader William Tell to prevent the incident in the first place. Whether or not Tell resigned or they transferred him was never known, but what mattered was to this day, he hadn't forgotten.

"Since you seem to know everything, then you probably already know what the spiel is: Adam Muirhead, stand down right now, or I will not hesitate to use force to subdue you," the archer warned, and the arrows were pulled back, ready to fire at a moment's notice. "I'm not going to give you a second warning."

"Wasn't expecting you to even give me one in the first place."

Tell's eyes narrowed in disgust. "Hmph. I promised Galileo I'd give you five minutes to speak your mind...and it seems, those minutes are up." Without even another signal or glance the arrows fired, but Adam easily weaved through most of them, parrying the last few with his newly-formed blade. It wasn't as massive as its normal form, instead curving similarly to the claw but it was still wicked-sharp and able to slice through Tell's arrows with ease. The rush of power at each slice, each swing and blow...even with all the battles he'd been through, the high that comes from dancing the line between life and death took him by surprise.

'But of course; you've always fought to win, for survival. But fighting to destroy, for revenge...it's delicious, isn't it?'

Jack's voice laughed gleefully in his mind as Adam continued to match Tell. Fwwap! Two arrows turned into splinters while a third was dodged; another twist in midair as he moved to block Tell's multi-shot barrage, the metal feathers liquifying into darts that fired into his own hail of metal shards, the archer hastily pulling back into evasive maneuvers.

"Tell! What are you doing?!"

"They're seriously going at it..."

No amount of pleas from the ground control, Galileo or otherwise, could sway either man. It was as if they were possessed by some force greater than themselves: Adam fueled by a combination of primal rage and Jack's darker influences, while Tell met him blow-for-blow with a cold precision that was uncanny of any human, e-gene holder or otherwise.

"Adam! Stand down, for god's sake!"

"Adam! Don't~su!"

Back in command, even as the two men continued to clash the ones that remained behind begged futilely for them to stop. Galileo was near sobbing at this point, her voice growing hoarse as she cried while the data from her orbs came in, each data point creating a fresh wave of tears. "Oh, Adam...what would Sio say if she saw this now...you're only hurting yourself more..."

"Is there really no way to stop him, except by force?" Vidocq threw his half-smoked cigarette to the ground in frustration. "Surely it can't come down to something as crude and primal as—this—!"

"Non I'm afraid, Monsieur Vidocq," Nostradamus sighed, already resigned to watching this aerial duel play out. "This, too...was part of my visions. A swath of destruction, though the outcome...I know not."

"Wonderful." Vidocq rolled his eyes, the gears of his AU weapon turning with greater urgency. "So not only do we stand to lose two holders, but the base as well?"

Nostradamus looked almost abashed, if not for the gravity of the situation. "...Oui. There is a high chance we may have to evacuate..."

"That's part of the standard procedure and things are already underway," Saint-Germain interrupted, "though from the looks of things, we may need to leave soon as well."

"You're joking—and just, what, leave those two like this?!" Vidocq sputtered. "I have known Adam Muirhead during our entire careers together at DOGOO; and though we may have never truly seen eye-to-eye, there isn't...non, he cannot possibly lose his mind like this—"

"—Nay, but then again, all of this, and the events before...were unprecedented as well, werennae they?" As the regular staff were streaming out in an orderly fashion, Hunter walked in with Adam's son in tow. "So, ye really did it, ya fuckin' bastart...bloody hell..." Those tired eyes were still red from tears, but his face was now set in a serious mask of grim defeat. "I tried stoppin' 'im, but ye know how he gets...tried talkin', tried beggin', hell I tried every single reason I could think of..." Hunter didn't finish his sentence, only shaking his head very slightly as he clenched his jaw.

"Tou-san! Please, don't—just stop all this—!"

"Don't bother; nothing we say seems to be getting through to him, regardless of whether or not his radio's still connected," Vidocq sighed heavily, eyes still unable to tear away from the two figures on the screen, who were now weaving in and out around the main armaments. "You should evacuate with the rest of the staff, and let us handle this..."

"—What! But I—my father—"

"Guards, please escort him out to safety with the remaining crew." Ignoring the teen's cries, Vidocq rose up from his easy chair, taking over the main control panel as most of the operators left. "...I understand your feelings; however, at this point having you here may well put you in danger...and if there's anything we cannot afford, it is to lose anymore lives." With a final nod, the guards forcibly carried him away, the teenager still screaming at his father to stop, pleas that fell on deaf ears and hardened hearts.

"Well, now what? Any more brilliant plans, Vidocq?" Hunter asked sarcastically, though everyone remaining knew there wasn't much they could do, at least not indirectly. "Adam...what are ye tryin' t' prove with all this...?"

"H-He, he's...oh Adam, don't do this...no more, please~su..." A tearful Galileo was still combing through the data even as Tell and Adam continue to tear each other apart, both holders now visibly bloody as pieces of their armor started to break away. "Y-You...you won't survive like this..."

"What's going on exactly, Galileo?" Despite the overwhelming shock of the situation, Vidocq still maintained his head as their lead strategist. "You mentioned he performed the mode-fusion..."

The spotter nodded slowly. "Yes, at least that's what I think...the data, it's not like anything we've seen before~su...my best guess, is h-he somehow...forced Jack the Ripper and Nightingale modes to fuse simultaneously, again...but, the numbers...they're all so, extreme..." A tear slid from her eye as data streamed continuously across her goggles. "His energy levels are way off the charts, even higher than when he was in his prime...but the toll it's taking on his body...I, I don't what he did to gain this power—but, eventually...it will kill him..."

The remaining holders glanced at each other warily, their attention still half-focused on the aerial fight. Vidocq's easy chair was once again spinning its gears, even though its holder was already exhausted.

"...Dogoo, is there something more about the e-genes themselves that might trigger this? Especially in the case of Jack the Ripper and Florence Nightingale...it would not be inaccurate to say, that technically, Adam Muirhead is a holder to two e-genes, would it..."

"...No, I suppose not. When I met with Nightingale all those centuries ago, we were aware and did agree upon, that both her own powers, and that of 'Jack the Ripper' would be necessary for the planet's future; however the risk it might pose. Just as the 'Voice of God' can never be fully controlled...we knew, there would be a possibility that Jack the Ripper could become more powerful over time, a chance he could influence a holder independently from Nightingale."

The creases in the strategist's brow grew deeper as his AU weapon calculated furiously. "...If so, and given the data Galileo's collected...I wonder, is it possible...that Adam is no longer in full control...let alone Nightingale..."

"Wait a minute, ye cannae mean—" Hunter's eyes widened in shock as the pieces started falling into place, little by little. "My god...are ye insinuatin' tha, that...his e-gene has somehow...possessed him? Is that even possible?"

"Wasn't there one recorded incident, of something similar a long time ago?" Nostradamus' quiet voice spoke up at last. "With the e-gene holder of Christopher Columbus...the 'runaway e-gene' incident, I believe it was called? An e-gene who had become corrupted and in turn twisted its holder..."

"You are correct, Nostradamus. Christopher Columbus was one of the first e-gene holders we recruited, and formed the original Second Platoon along with William Tell and Robert Capa. But eventually, the corruption overwhelmed him and he lost control to the e-gene—either voluntarily or involuntarily, we don't know—but it became a mindless, destructive force, so we had no choice but to stop him. Permanently." Saint-Germain's voice carried no trace of hesitation, even as he looked away. "Which means, if the same thing has indeed happened, and Adam is experiencing another 'runway e-gene' through Jack the Ripper..."

"We must stop him. No matter the cost."

At this statement however, Hunter could bear it no longer; instead slamming his fists against the forcefield, the bubbles around Dogoo boiling more than usual. "That's complete bullshit! So Adam loses control to Jack the Ripper, because yeh sure, who wouldnae be tempted to make a deal wit' the devil after all the fucked-up shit he went through—and yur only response is to murder him in cold blood?!" Even Vidocq and Saint Germain seemed unnerved by Hunter's rage, given the anatomist's usually conservative attitude. "Fuck this! Fuck you all t' hell!" Slamming the consoles one last time, before he stormed out in a fury. "I'm through wit' all 'f you; I dinnae care if it'll cost me my own life, but I am not going to let you just kill him like this!"

"Hunter, wait~su!" Galileo tried to stop him, but even she was pushed away coldly. Tears ran unchecked down her face, and now she was truly questioning, for the first time, if they were still doing the right thing. "V, Vidcoq...are we, really going to, have to..."

"...I, Saint-Germain, the executive commander of DOGOO, will take full responsibility for any and all actions committed by any other members of DOGOO. As such, William Tell...you are authorized to use any means necessary to prevent another runaway e-gene." Saint-Germain paused only for a moment, before nodding in slight agreement with Dogoo.

"Even if it is through lethal force."

"Adam! Call it off! We're both wasting our time and energy—I know you know this! Adam!" Tell grimaced as he dodged another strike from the winged holder, but not without adding another red streak to what little of his face that remained exposed. "God dammit...! You can't be serious..."

The other said nothing, only rushed at him with a speed Tell hadn't thought possible anymore, except back in the days when both holders were in their prime and fighting the Objects. Saint-Germain's authorizations for lethal force had come through minutes earlier, but the Swiss marksman couldn't bring himself to do so...yet. Even though he knew full well the risks of a runaway e-gene, and the certain consequences it would bring if Adam was not stopped soon...

'It's not even about Adam's feelings at this point—it's the e-gene itself wrestling control from its host; whether through false promises or else strong-arming...' As it had been in the case with Christopher Columbus, decades ago; even before Adam or Sio had joined DOGOO he'd led the Second Platoon then, with Capa and Columbus. He should've known then as the leader, when Columbus started exhibiting strangely anti-social behaviors, but put it down to just 'stress'.

And then...

"Oy! What's the matter, the guard dog realizing he's all bark and no bite?" The archer swung back right before the claw carved an actual hole into the armor, instead cleaving a large gash in Tell's hoverboard. "Tch, sneaky bastard..." The fight was dragging longer than he'd preferred, but Tell was no slouch—not that Adam expected the match to be easy. In truth, had both men been at their optimal peak, they would be evenly matched: both holders were capable of flight, and while Adam specialized in melee combat versus Tell's long-range arrows, their power levels were on equal footing. Even with the boost he'd already sustained a couple wounds, though nothing too serious yet. 'Jack, you'd better be sure about this advantage...!'

It seemed the spirit heard, or at least was telling the truth. Three parries and a counterstrike against the barrage of arrows Tell was raining down on him—in one swift movement, his blade caught the tip of an arrow and he flung it back, the explosion nearly knocking the archer from the sky as his board swung wildly, Adam moving in for the kill. "You're dead—!"

A sharp pain pierced his chest, and at the last second the blade swerved to the left, missing Tell's artery by inches. "Urgh—wh-what th..." Another convulsion of pain wracked him, forcing Adam to circle back, while Tell looked on in confusion and amazement.

'Jack! Th' bloody hell is going on?! My heart...'

'...Ah. It seems our time is nearly up.'

'What?!'

Before Jack could respond however Tell was rushing towards him again, taking advantage of Adam's momentary weakness and pinning the holder in a vice, unable to fly away nor draw his blade close enough for a swing. "Listen Adam, I don't know what the hell's going on in your head, but you need to calm down and stop this at once—"

"Get...off!" Adam struggled, but Tell's hold was firm. "Ugh..." His heart was pounding like a machine gun as he spat out a mouthful of blood, and Adam knew he didn't have much time left.

'I granted you power, yes, and you saw its strength firsthand. But that power only applies so much as your body can take it...and you, as one who has already done so much to yourself...'

Emeralds narrowed into slits at those words, as Adam vainly fought for breath while his chest grew tight. 'In other words...I'm dying, aren't I?'

'...Eventually, yes. This power isn't meant for humans, even a genetically-enhanced one such as yourself. You are already breaking down on the genetic level; unless you can overcome William Tell before then, you'll quite literally fall apart.'

Even Jack's tone was grave for once, Adam stilling for just a second as the realization slowly sank in.

So, Nightingale was right...of course she would be. How many times had she begged him to not listen to those honeyed words? No, not just his e-gene—but his friends, family...

Niall's pleas to not leave his son to fend for himself. Mahesh and Jess' sorrowful looks each time they tried to coax him into joining them for one thing or another, instead of shutting himself away. The sympathetic glances from all the staff and crew, and even the random, sometimes-anonymous messages sent from well-wishers across the globe.

And his own son...

'What am I supposed to do?! I don't know anything—how can I make your name heroic if you're just going to run off like this?! Please father, you can't leave me! I can't lose you too...'

Those memories and words pierced him, even more strongly than the pain now radiating outwards across his entire body. He vaguely heard something from Jack warning him about his DNA unwinding, but even that felt like a faraway dream. Was this really all worth it? Had he made a mistake when that first notion of revenge reared its head, long before Sio and his daughter died—in fact hadn't he grappled with whether DOGOO was doing the right thing once before? Why had he been able to rally himself then, and not now? What had changed...except everything?

No. No no no; they took everything away from him; his family, life, and a beloved sniper with maroon eyes and a smile that often seemed too big for her face...

"Adam—!" Tell let go in shock, unable to grasp the metal shards that were now sprouting along the other holder's wings. "Stand down, you're badly injured! I know your heart can't take much more; you need to stop this nonsense and get treatment—"

"Shut up!" The claw thrust forward, but even Tell could see his power was waning, only leaning back slightly to dodge the half-hearted attack. "What...would you understand about loss and suffering...Xhavit..." Tell's real name ground out between gritted teeth, as Adam forced the metal shards to fire, only to nearly fall from intense pain that followed as his heart seemed to squeeze until it was fit to burst. "Aauugh! Fuck...this...!" It was all he could do to even remain in the air, struggling to prevent the AU weapons from vanishing as he fought wave after wave of agony. Blood seemed to be seeping out everywhere: his eyes, nose, coating the inside of his mouth with the vile scent of warm copper as he barely resisted the urge to heave.

"Tell! Now's your chance. If you can't restrain him, then finish him. That's an order," Saint-Germain's voice cut in coldly, as Tell attempted to grab the other holder, but still he couldn't get close enough beyond the rows of spiked feathers, nevermind Adam's sword that was still attempting to decapitate him. "What are you waiting for? If you let him continue, there's no telling what he'll do!"

The arrows pulled back but Tell hesitated; his target was right there, a mess of blood and metal wings but he was weakening; he could see the tremors of pain running through the other man's body, hear the pained wheezing as Adam struggled for breath while still attempting to lash out.

"Adam...please, that's enough. Don't make me do this," Tell warned. He could fire right now and end the battle—he should, and yet... An image from thirty-some years earlier came flashing forward, a towering abomination of limbs and flesh-fused metal that was only barely human lunging towards him and Capa, screaming at them to end its life...

"If...yer really not just all bark...then why don't ya do it?" The archer startled out just in time, narrowly avoiding another slash while Saint-Germain barked at him to stop stalling, that Adam was very likely beyond saving at this point. "I know you want to...and they're tellin' you...so just end it already."

"Adam...!"

"Unless, you want to die—!" Despite his own pain Adam surged forward, literally knocking headfirst into the archer and sending him swerving across the sky to regain his balance. There was no point in holding back now; whether by Tell's hand, or his own body's degradation, Adam knew his time was up. Everything was coated with a haze of pain, from simply drawing a breath to to forcing his wings to continue flying. If it weren't for Jack's power holding him together, he was sure his heart would've burst by now.

"...No!" In one moment, and with total disregard for his own safety, Tell let the claw pierce his side. A gush of blood went flying but Tell ignored it, ignored the searing pain as he finally grappled the other holder, this time determined not to let go, feather and blades be damned. "No, Adam. Death and killing...they're not always the only way out. I know this. You know this. Mindless destruction...we've both had enough, haven't we?"

"Nnngg...! No...stop!" Adam tried to reach behind for Tell, but suddenly everything seemed so weak, so tired...he doubled over as pain pierced his chest again, so strong that he couldn't help but cry out.

"Adam! Command, we need a medical evac—!"

"...No...don't, bother..." His vision blurred and sounds were all strangely muddy, even Jack's voice nothing more than a faint whisper. "I'm dying, and they know it...all, I want now...is to just see her again. Just do it, Xhavit...kill me, and let me rest...please..."

"Nay Adam, I willnae allow it! Xhavit, you'd better not try anything stupid!" Hunter dashed out among the concrete pillars, grappling to the highest point of the command center he could reach. "Dinnae you listen to those orders Xhavit! Adam, we can still help you! I can still help you! Adam!"

Niall... Why was he still continuing to fight, to struggle when Adam himself had already long given up? What was it about Niall that allowed him to continue holding on to hope, however false it may have been? Perhaps it was proof then, proof that people like Niall and Xhavit and even Henri were better than him, more capable and worthy of life compared to him. After all...how could a the embodiment of humanity's worst fears ever be worthy of true happiness... A surge of pure despair and hatred towards himself rushed through him, overcoming even the pain as Adam felt his mind fall into an unknown haze as a feeling of disconnect from his body numbed all other senses.

'There's no going back at all from this. You cannot ever be considered human from here on out. And it should go without saying, but you definitely will not survive.'

'Yeh, I know. That's fine. It's something I've wanted...for a while now.'

'...Heh, you surprised me Muirhead. Perhaps even...impressed me. You an' me, we might've actually gotten along...had we met under different circumstances.'

Jack's voice seemed to fade away into a void too, after that. And then there was nothing more, no other voices telling him what to do or how to do it, no more phantoms or pleas from his memories, or even the soul whom he was supposed to be the reincarnation of. Only a lingering feeling of sadness, or maybe it was regret, but he was too tired to figure out which one it was...

"Adam—!"

"What th—oh, jesus fuckin' christ...!"

It grew, the metal melting and oozing like a hideous slime as the AU weapons distorted before their very eyes, covering Adam until he was barely visible as the goo seemed to grow and reshape everything. Long, twisted spikes shot out from all angles to what could only be assumed as 'limbs', while feathers seemed to grow and disappear at random, as if the being was trying to figure out how to even structure itself. Something akin to blood kept dripping from cracks and gashes, only the color and viscosity seemed closer to an oily sludge. A monstrous, half-formed wing made up of both organic and metal feathers shot out suddenly, precariously held in place by sinewy strands of muscle, and the whole thing seemed to quiver as a rumbling noise vibrated from deep within the creature, as if moaning in its own agony.

"It's another runaway e-gene! Commander, what should we do?"

"Oh no...! No, no no no...this can't be happening~su!"

"Tell, Hunter—if you aren't prepared to stop it then retreat immediately!"

Tell let go but hovered a short distance away, too stunned by the awful metamorphose before him as Hunter could only watch in growing horror from his position. "By th' name of all that is good and holy...Adam Muirhead, what've ye done..." A monster, that was the only word left to even begin describing the...thing, or creature, that was now lumbering in front of them. Nothing remained that could even vaguely be described as human, except for a continued, echoing moan that sent a shudder of despair down both holder's spines. "Adam...! Oh no, please mate, ye cannae—tell me yur still in there!"

"Niall!" In a split-second the remaining holders tumbled against the ground, Tell tackling the anatomist just before giant shard of metal pierced the very spot he'd been standing. "C'mon, we can't stay here any longer! When a holder turns into a runaway e-gene...there's nothing more we can do for them. Trust me, I know...from experience."

"But—"

"—No time for 'buts' Niall—oh shit get down!"

First came the wave of metallic feather shards, raining in every which direction and seemingly capable of piercing through several inches of solid concrete. Shouts were heard from the command center as a metal tendril whipped through the control tower, sending glass flying every which way as the unluckier members of DOGOO were flung into the cloud of smoke as debris rained from the sky.

"Commander, we need to get out here!"

"All remaining DOGOO personnel evacuate immediately!"

"Adam! Stop this, ye gotta come t' yer senses! Please!" But even Hunter could only watch in shock as what was left of his friend, now a grotesque, swollen abomination of alien metal and human guts, barreled towards them with a primal roar before everything seemed to implode and explode at the same time.

Oh Sio, I'm so, so sorry...

Sorry...

So—

"C—mander—py? I r—eat does an—opy?"

Smoke and ash were falling in a quiet hush when the anatomist regained consciousness. Next to him, the archer was also stirring, as the emergency broadcast continued in their radios.

"Bloody hell...wha happened...Adam, he...!" Niall looked around in shock, surveying the damage and destruction, most of which was unfortunately centered around DOGOO's main command center. "Oh no..."

"He couldn't live with it. Either with his fate...or himself. And so he was determined to bring us down with him..." Xhavit sighed heavily as he pulled the other holder up from the wreckage. "Fucking hell, I shouldn't have hesitated...should've just ended it in one, clean shot, like he wanted..."

"No need for such self-deprecation, William Tell." Both holders spun around as Commander Saint-Germain picked his way through the rubble, glasses cracked but still sitting on the bridge of his nose. "You were under immense pressure...everything that happened today, shouldn't have in the first place, had we been more careful..."

"Tch, oh yeh, now ye fools start thinkin' 'bout what ye could've done? Load a good that'll do..." muttered Niall, but without any viciousness. "What 'bout the others? Henri, Valentina..."

"Vidocq and Galileo are both unhurt, along with Nostradamus. They managed to evacuate with Dogoo and the last of the controllers...though as for the base itself, I cannot say the same..." The three men stared silently at the smoldering wreckage. "This will set us back quite a bit..."

"Somehow, I cannot help but feel it was intentional," a French accent chimed in, as Henri arrived with Dogoo in tow. "As Nostradame said, Adam's feelings of frustration and vengeance..." The strategist only shrugged but didn't finish his sentence.

"Even though he was aware that DOGOO is the Earth's last and only line of defense against the Invasion Objects? And that hurting us will only hurt those he cared about?" The bubbling voice of Dogoo was accompanied by the creaks as it struggled to move itself over the debris. "Once again, my limited knowledge of human nature shows itself..."

"Forget it, all this...in the end, I can't tell if fate just had it out fer him, or we just got unlucky." Niall sighed heavily, too tired to shed anymore tears. "At least, ye can finally rest now, Adam...you and Sio both, together. It's what ye wanted fer so long..."

"Human emotions...or rather, the human capacity for love. Perhaps its true force can only be understood by that of a human, and not an outsider..." The others gave the alien a questioning look, but said nothing else.

"All this time we have labelled the Evolutionary Objects as monsters without peer, yet now I cannot help but think, perhaps the darkness that resides in all of humanity...may be just as monstrous."

There was no answer.