Chapter 26: Dämmerung Dreamer

On the Vector Industries ship, the Dämmerung, Shion stood in her room as she glanced at the window to see the lit roadways. At her table, a communication monitor from Miyuki was there, her friend talking about the events so far and sounding excited. "…and everyone is super excited about it! Hey Shion, are you even listening to me?" "I'm listening! Miyuki, do you even know what's going on? We're on high-security alert because of that phase distortion," the brown-haired woman told her and folded her arms. "I know! It's because the path to Old Miltia was suddenly opened, right? The observation teams are going nuts!"

"That's not very nice! What about you? The director still hasn't received the KOS-MOS real-world operation data report," Miyuki told her. Suddenly, Shion's room became dark in an eerie way. The woman got worried as she turned to look behind her and saw a familiar girl before. The orange-haired girl had a saddened look on her face, closing her eyes and vanished as quickly as she appeared.

"N…Nephilim?" Shion asked aloud, the room turned back to normal. "Shion? Shion!" The woman blinked a few times before turning back to her friend on the communications. "What? Oh… Sorry. You were saying?"

"I said you should hurry up and send the data to the director. Is something wrong with you? Are you feelin' okay?" She asked. "No, I mean, it's nothing… I'm just tired. I'm going to get some rest. Talk to you later, okay?"

"Wait, Shion!" After that, Shion shut off the communications with Miyuki. Was that an illusion? Why…why was she… Why did she have such a sad face? I don't understand. What's going on? She thought, holding her head. She sighed softly. "I'm feeling restless. Allen had some sedatives on him…I should find him so I can get a little sleep."

Shion walked out of her room and proceeded to the communications room where engineers like Allen and Miyuki were. She walked into the room as she looked up to the ceiling. I wonder how Shane's doing...after she had collapsed, she went into a coma-like state.. "Hey, Allen?" The brown-haired man looked up at her from his console. "Chief? What's wrong?" he asked.

"I need a sedative. Do you have any?"

"What? A sedative? Yes, I have some, but…are you okay? You don't look well. Maybe you should go to your room and get some rest."

She nodded slowly. "Yes, you're right. I'm sorry," she told him. "I think I'll go do that." She said her goodbyes to Allen and left to her room holding her head. Allen's sedative is starting to work. I think I'll lie down for a little while. When Shion finally reached her room, she laid down in bed and fell asleep.

--

Shion opened her eyes to find herself standing in a large room where, in the center of the room, was the mysterious Zohar. "This is," she said stepping forward. "It's…the Zohar?" She looked to see two containers but she wasn't sure of what was inside. She looked up above the containers and gasped to see a familiar white-haired woman appear.

"Febronia? Feb…is that you?"

"Shion…"

"Feb, what in the world's going on? What is this place? Why are you here?" Febronia closed her gold irises then held her hands close to her chest. "This is the cage," she began, "in which my sisters are held captive. A frigid prison constructed for the Zohar." Shion looked at her confused. "A prison? But, where are they? I don't see them."

"Shion. Set them free from this cage. Please, I want you to lift the curse that mankind has placed upon them." Febronia finished her sentence by spreading out her arms to the brown-haired woman. "But, I don't know where I am. Where is this place? How do I save them? I don't understand any of this!" Shion yelled holding her head.

"Soon… You will visit this place. Please, Shion…save Cecily and Cathe," the white-haired said sadly. "Wait, Feb!" Shion reached out for the woman only to watch her disappear.

Feb!

The brown-haired woman opened her eyes suddenly then sat up. A dream? She sat near the end of the right side of the bed, staring out the window. "Oh…right… I have to send the data," she said to herself. She looked at the digital clock on the wall and gasped. "Oh no, look at the time! The director must be furious. I have to hurry to the communications room!"

Chapter 26: End