A few days had passed since we've last seen Shizuru since then the mark on my arm started to spread to a fashion similar to glass cracking. But it didn't hurt, in fact. I've lost all feeling in said arm. I was still able to move it, but it was more like I was operating a crane.
I've replaced the bandages with a big leather glove and began using my left hand…
"What a pain…" I thought it was better than using my dead arm but not by much.
"Hey! Are you there?" Ursula's voice rang from the visiphone.
"You need to get come to the office right now." After delivering that order she hung up.
There was not much else to do other than to head down there, so I left.
I met Emilia in the hall and we went down together.
"There you are." Said Ursula as soon as we entered the room.
"Huh? Where's the boss?" Emilia asked. As she said, everyone was here other than him.
"He went to check on Natsume Shu." Ursula replied, "I want you to see the news-it's just about to start again."
"The news?" We turn towards the screen as Hal's usual intro started.
"Yeah, they've been playing the same thing all day!" Yut added.
"We've suspended our regular programming to bring you updates on a developing situation. We have received reports from all three planets of people falling into a comatose state." Said the reporter… In weirdly perky tone. "The onset of this condition is sudden and appears to affect members of all races equally. The governments of the three planets are working on a cure based on research into the Seed virus and related diseases."
"The Seed virus?" I thought. I questioned what line of thinking had led them to draw a connection to that.
"However, the research is proceeding slowly, and the outbreak appears to be rapidly spreading. A Guardians-led task force is on the hunt for Shizuru Shu, who sources say is somehow involved with this harrowing phenomenon."
Ursula shut off the TV.
"A comatose state?" Emilia turned to me. "It's like what Shizuru did to all the missing people! But on such a large scale?! He must have been further along in his plans than we thought!"
"Yeah, looks like… But we're not dead yet. Let's try to stay positive. All right?" I said though it was easier said than done.
"You know, you're right. We can't give up now! Even Mika said we still have time.
"As Emilia says," Mika appeared at her side. "We still have time. Though I do not know how much. I do not sense Maghara's presence yet."
"So this is our last chance to stop Shizuru."
Just then the door opened wide and an old man came hobbling in while clenching onto his side.
The old man let out a sickly cough before collapsing onto the floor.
"Take it easy, there. Don't go dying on us now." Kraz walked up behind and helped him to his feet.
"No, I must do what my son could not, I must…" The old man coughed violently.
"Look, yer in a lot worse shape than ya think, mister. Go walking off and you won't make it too far."
"Natsume Shu?" We rushed over towards them,
"I thought he was in the hospital! What's he doing here?" Ursula asked.
"How could I rest in some hospital bed when the world as we know it is in danger?"
"Well, I appreciate yer spirit, but, at the risk of sounding rude, what can you do? This is all Shizuru's doing, isn't it? Yer one of the victims, like us?" The boss replied.
"True. Shizuru was most involved in the device's operation and redesign. The manifestation of memories was not our original intent for the device, of course."
"So… you know the cause of this coma thingy?" Kraz crossed his arms.
"The subspace generator is the cause. The disease, if you choose to call it such, transmits the consciousness of someone on the verge of death via tiny subspaces. By using its power to make real that which is unreal, it can overwrite consciousness. Ingenious, and terrifying."
"Yeah, well, maybe it's not the kind of thing you can fight with a good left hook. You got a plan?"
"It's simple, really. If the device works by showing its victims death, we need merely show them life."
"You mean overwrite death with life?" Emilia asked.
"Precisely. Though. There are problems with this. Three problems at least. First, we'll need a specially outfitted research laboratory to perform the necessary tests." He said. I nodded along with only a vague idea of what they were even talking about.
"Er, right. Well, we don't got any laboratories at all." Kraz replied.
"And as long as Shizuru's in control at Inhelt we can't use the facilities there," Ursula added.
"So what do we do? Don't tell me we're stuck."
"Now, now, it's not like you to give up so easily, Emilia." A familiar voice came from the open doorway.
"Huh?" We turned to the 2 dressed in blue standing at the doorway…
"Lumia! And Maya! Hey!" Emilia greeted
"What's all this about you not trusting us?" Lumia replied.
"Natsume Shu. Could you use the Guardians labs to do what needs to be done?" Maya asked.
"Ah, yes. I've heard rumours about your labs, all favourable. It's quite likely our best option."
"That's one problem solved, what's next?" I asked the old man.
"Next, we'll need someone with enough life in them to counteract the thoughts of death that Shizuru is seeding."
"If you're talking about a will for life…" Kraz put his hands on Yut's shoulders and pushed him forward. "…then this boy here's your man. Er, boy."
"Huh? Me?" He looked confused.
"Why not? Just remember what you've learned. It'll go great. No problem!
"So, I just have to think about life? That doesn't sound too bad!" Yut smiled brightly.
"Yes, I can see the light in your eyes." Natsume Shu approached the kid. "You are… Kasch, yes? It's a risk, but one worth taking, I feel. Let's do it."
2 down, 1 more problem to go.
"Last, we need someone with the skill to calibrate operations on the subspace generator.
And… it pains me to admit I have no idea where we might find someone like that."
"Huh? Isn't it just a matter of using a computer to figure your parameters and plug them in?" Emilia asked. And at that moment I saw where this was going…
"Yes, but the calculations necessary to create subspace are as complicated as those that created the Gurhal System. Even if we linked the best computers across the System together it would take roughly 580 days!"
"What?! We'll never finish in time!"
"Wait. So how have you been doing your calculations thus far?" Maya asked the old man.
"Shizuru did them. By himself. He has miraculous analytical powers, coupled with rare mathematical ability. Which is how we were able to do the impossible and calculate subspace. In short: only Shizuru can do the parameter calculations we need in order to control the subspace generator. There's just no way around it." He explained.
"There is one way." Said Maya."We can use the fastest biocomputer in the Gurhal System. We can use Tenma."
Emilia's skin went pale at the mention Tenma.
"Huh? Wait…" She stepped back.
"Don't get me wrong. I know how you feel about project Tenma, and about the Guardians, for that matter. There's just no way for us to face down Shizuru!"
"No. No way. I'm not going back in there. You can't make me!" Emilia refused without a second thought. Her entire body started shaking violently.
"Please, Emilia. You know as well as any of us that we're up against a wall here." Maya continued her pleas.
"You. Don't. Get It! I'm Emilia. Not some machine component! I'm not Tenma! I'm not going back there!" Emilia shouted.
"Emilia… All of Gurhal System is in danger and you're our only hope of survival."
"Hope... Gurhal's Hope…" Those words entered my mind… but something about it just didn't fit.. Once that was what I sought. To become a hero. Or more accurately to give hope and make a world where everyone can smile.
Me and so many others have said countless times we would give anything to save Gurhal… We gave… we gave… we gave we gave we gave…
...She gave her life. To save every-
"I-" Suddenly I head the sound of someone's feet moving along the floor.
"Now just back off, hear? Give the girl some space." Kraz stepped in between them.
"Kraz…?" Maya looked surprised.
"I said back off. Or do I need to back you off myself?"
"But, Kraz, I don't see any way out of this unless Emilia uses her abilities to help…"
"You never change, do ya?" He muttered as he shook his head. "Show me one thing about this that's worth destroying this girl's life all over again, and maybe I'll reconsider, eh?"
"Kraz…" I trailed off.
"Boss, you don't have to-" Before Emilia could finish Yut jumped in.
"Wait! I'll do it! Emilia was the one who taught me the joy of life in the first place. If I can do something for her, to pay her back, I will!"
Yut, too?
"Yut, please!"
"Mademoiselle Emilia is smiling at last, non? It would be tragedy to lose that smile now! You comprehend? Tragedy!"
"Et tu, Chelsea?!"
"As you can see, she's very special to us. If you want her, you'll have to get through all of Little Wing first."
"Ursula! Now that's just… Ursula?"
"This is bad. I haven't changed at all." I thought with a smile as I stepped up beside them.
"If Gurhal's only hope is her suffering then there's no way I'll accept it. If there's another way, we'll find it! If it saves her we'll find it!"
"And you. too! Thanks, guys. But… why?"
"How're we supposed to protect the system if we can't even keep our own family safe?" Kraz replied.
"Maya. You should know that you can't force her to do this. Coercion would rob her of the necessary focus." Lumia joined us.
"That and.. I'm against this, too. We can't do this to her."
"You're the last person I imagined coming to my defence." She said bluntly.
"What, so I'm the bad guy? Great." She let out a depressed sigh. "Not that I expected anything else. Guess it's time for Plan B..
"There's a Plan B?" Lumia asked.
"Sort of. Something about the Divine Maiden's power. It's worth checking into. Sorry, Emilia, for what it's worth."
"Maya, I…" Emilia said softly as Maya stepped away to make a call. After a few seconds on the phone…
"Hey, I got through. Karen, Is that you? Got a second?"
Emilia took a deep breath,
"I'll do it." She said, "I'll access Tenma."
Everyone stared at her with a perplexed expression.
"Oi, Emilia! Have you gone crazy?" The boss replied. "She just said you didn't have to do it! Isn't that what's been chewin' at you all these years? Isn't that why you left the Guardians in the first place?"
"Yeah. I couldn't stand being part of Tenma. It made me hate Tenma… and the Guardians for putting me there. But… I can't lose any of you! Not a single one! You've always had my back, so now I figure it's time I had yours. No promises or anything. I might not even be able to do it anymore. But I'll try." She said.
"Emilia, girl… You say the darndest things sometimes! Fine, if that's what ya wanna do, go do it."
"I will! Er…" He turned in my direction, "…that is, I wouldn't mind some company at least. You'll come with me, won't you?
"Eh, can't you find someone else?" I groaned.
She smiled warmly and lightly tapped my arm.
"No, frankly. I can't. And I won't. I need you there with me, okay?" She said as I smiled back.
"Yeah, Of course." I think back to when we first met. The light I saw in her shined so brightly, but only because my world was so dark. The difference between what I saw now and then was significantly different, but no doubt they were the same person. "Like it or not we're in this together," I added.
"Only if you're sure about this, Emilia." Said Maya.
"As sure as can be."
"All right. Then, we'll regroup at Guardians HQ I'll take Mr. Shu there. You follow in your ship, all right? Try to keep up." Maya said.
"We'll be right behind you," I replied.
Sometime later we met at an isolated research facility at the Guardians Hq
"Our whole research division was turned on its head after you left, Emilia." Said Maya as we walked down the hall. "Project Tenma was frozen. They disciplined the entire team when what they'd been doing came to light."
We pushed the door open and the machine starts up and filled the room with an array of dimly lit blue lights."I don't think anyone's been in here since the Seed invasion ended." She continued.
"Tenma…!" Emilia gasped at the sight of the large machine in front of her.
I rubbed her head. "Huh? H-Hey! What was that for? I'm not scared. Really!" She's a poor liar.
"You sure you're okay with this, Emilia?" Maya asked.
"You bet! No problem!"
" …I admire your conviction. Mr. Shu and I will begin preparations."
"Err… right! Gotta do it! Let's do it!" Emilia sat at the center of the machine with her arms and head covered by long cylinders.
I stood in the center of the room in front of the machine with attention completely focused on my partner.
"Are you ready, Emilia?" Maya asked.
"Any time!"
"Activating Tenma… now!" As the machine activated and started to buzz loudly.
"Th-Those calculations! Look at the speed!" The old man was taken aback. "That last calibration she did would have sent the latest GRM machine into fits!"
"But that load is way too much! She won't be able to function long under those stress levels."
"Hnn… kk!" Her moans were drowned out by the roar of the machine.
"Emilia! Shut it down. Shut it down, now!" Maya ordered.
"Aaaaagh!" my body tensed up at the sound of her screams.
"Err… Hang in there! Emilia!" I shouted as loud as I can. "I'm right here! We're with you! So stay with us! You hear me?! Don't die!"
"What?! Those numbers…"
"They just keep going up! She's doing this?! She's incredible!"
"I don't believe what I'm seeing! She just created a high-complexity virtual space structure! Just like that!" They stared in awe.
I couldn't understand what they were talking about but from the way the spoke I assumed it was good.
"I have to do it. For Little Wing… and the Guardians. For all the System! I'll do it! I'll save them!" Emilia shouted out as a surge of electricity shot out from the Machine… I stood there in front of the machine without turning away. I told her I was here and there I would stay.
Besides, it wouldn't be the first time I suffered a few shocks for her.
The machine settled down and Emilia was breathing heavily as she stepped out.
"Heh…Guess it wasn't so bad after all, eh?" She said before collapsing.
Fortunately, I was close enough to catch her before she hit the floor.
"Are you all right?" I asked.
"I'm okay… thanks. It went a lot easier with you there." She said with a soft smile.
I didn't know how to respond, I didn't do much, but if she says I've helped I was glad to be there.
"I probably shouldn't move around much for a bit, but don't worry. You go back and get ready. Get ready to take out Shizuru, that is."
"Right… just. Take care." I said before returning to the ship.
Once I was alone I fell back into the front seat and let out a deep breath.
I didn't know what I would have done had I lost another partner… well…
After hitting Shizuru with a technique that would put a nuclear bomb to shame.
After a minute of thinking I started to laugh to myself, I laughed and laughed until my eyes watered.
"Thank you… Thank you…" I wasn't saying it to anyone in particular.
I was just happy and those were the only words that entered my mind so I said it.