"Do you read me, Hei?"

"Loud and clear," he responded, his lips barely moving as he spoke into the small microphone, hearing Rin through the earpiece hidden behind a dark lock of hair.

"What do you see?"

"Everyone is gathered on the streets," He said softly. "They're waiting for the broadcast."

"I see it, too," He heard his lover said with a sigh. "He's really got his hooks in them. It's global, from what Amber's saying."

He knew she'd take his silence as enough of a response. He was flanked on either side by Tamara and Britta, both in their own civilian clothing. Britta had done her hair in a tight bun and was wearing glasses. Hei was impressed how easily she could alter her appearance when he had seen the almost joyous look on her face when she'd reached for him in combat.

Tamara flicked her head. "Lee," She said, eyes glancing up. Hei and Britta followed her gaze, seeing the winged shadows overhead. "Angels," she whispered.

"He has them patrolling the city now. Probably looking to weed our Immortals," Hei said. Rin breathed in. "A reason why we're staying off the streets."

"Look!" Hei heard a voice call and saw a glowing orb floating into the crowds. He heard a young woman cry out joyously. "It's me! I was chosen!"

He then saw one of the winged shadows overhead shift, swooping down. He heard the woman gasp as the wave of desire struck her. The crowds parted to let the Angel through. Hei instinctively took a step forward but felt Tamara's hand on his arm. She shook her head once. "Nothing we can do."

Her eyes had all the cold and calculating logic he expected from a Contractor. Though in the end, he knew she was right. "Recon done." He said firmly.

"Agreed," Britta said. "I still have my pass with the CIA. Follow me. Amber said to go this way, after all."


Decade was in his office, on the phone with one of the few in the Syndicate who could command his obedience. "No," He said. "No, I didn't quite expect this either. The project is set to proceed as planned, though…yes, I realize that," He rubbed his head weakly. "I understand you never fully trusted Apos, but with Nishijima as he is…we'll devote our full resources to handling him. No sign of Hei yet. Or November 11. He-"

"I'm hurt," He heard the familiar voice and dropped the phone in shock. November 11 was standing in the doorway, arms at his sides, a bottle of gin grasped in one hand. His sunglasses were gone, revealing his icy blue eyes. He was watching his former leader with a light smile. "I know everything, Decade."

Decade knew better than to reach for the phone. Instead he put one hand flat on the desk as November walked into the room. "That's a shame," He said, and meant it.

"Yes, it is, isn't it? The Saturn Ring…everything you planned." November's pleasant voice took on a hint of venom. "Never telling me. You tried to have me kill my partner."

"February getting close to April…meant she was a liability. I couldn't risk you being tainted."

"You were scared," November said. "You were right to be. But genocide?"

"Yes." Decade said. "I was afraid." He pressed the button under his desk. "Afraid of losing the best agent I've ever had. I only planned for you to find out the very instant you and all your kind are wiped from this world."

"Why?" November asked.

"You already know the answer. Your kind is too dangerous to be left alive. February alone has been proof of that. Apos…offered the solution."

"Cast into hell, and the devil himself offered you a rope." November said. "But you know what they say about those kinds of deals."

He heard the men pour into room, all in full body armor. He heard the cock of weapons pointed at him. Decade looked him in the eye. "Yes. He was never the most trustworthy of fellows, Jack. We'll deal with him on our own in time, after we shatter this ridiculous illusion he's created for the world."

"Opiate of the masses, eh?"

"For what it's worth, I am sorry." Decade said softly.

November grasped the bottle tightly. "So am I."


Well. He'd done a fair job of things, Laura thought as she surveyed Decade's ruined office. Apos peered over the dead men, his brow furrowed. He'd had to cut his global address short when he'd felt something amiss.

"That dirty little Contractor," He hissed to himself, looking to Laura. "What do you make of it?"

"If you ask me," Laura chose her words carefully. "I'd say he knows what you're planning. Amber had to have told him."

"Every move they make, they show me why I'm right to wipe them all out," Apos folded his arms, taking deep breaths.

"Why let them die? You can get more out of them if you turn them," Laura said.

"I was getting to that." Apos produced a time fruit. "Your sister might be out there."

"Tsk. Carmine wouldn't risk herself out there if she's knocked up. Never mind that close to the Gate. She's too recognizable at any rate, and you've got the Gate on lockdown."

"True, but I've learned not to underestimate Contractors. Nor Rin, if she's out there…" Apos pursed his lips. "…Perhaps Decade can be of more use…" He looked at the British intelligence director whose face was frozen in a mask of surprise and pain, a shard of frozen gin stuck through his eye. Apos withdrew a time fruit. "But soon I'll know all you know, Decade." Apos knelt down and places it in the dead man's mouth.

"Seed the others," He told Laura, producing more of the spores. "I have work to-"

He then heard the explosion. "…what was that." He said flatly."

Laura glanced out the window. "If I had to guess, it came from the base to the-"

Apos looked up, fists clenching so tight that Laura saw blood pool out from his fingers. "Again and again...I have become the god of their world…and still they think to challenge me…?" Laura knew that tone. Apos didn't even turn to look as Decade stirred, pulling the shard from himself with a snarl.

"If that's Evening Primrose's response…" Apos snarled. "Tell Nishijima to expedite the program. I want the Contractors gone. I'll look at Amber's face when her people rot and die…and pluck out her eyes so my smile is the last thing she ever sees!


"You didn't tell me there was a bomb!" Hei said as Britta typed at the computer.

"Well, you didn't ask. Relax, Amagiri and Amber confirmed nobody was harmed with how far removed they were. Tamara?"

Tamara stepped forward. "The readings show that Yggdrasil's spores are spreading even more now. At this rate, it won't just be two or three people a day who are infected and taken by the Angels…"

"He means to spread them to the entire city. And from there…" Rin said over the radio. Hei heard Huang's voice on the other channel.

"All well and good, but how the hell we gonna stop him? Your prophet had a look at that yet?"

"He'll just regenerate from any wound…we're going to have to destroy this location and provide him a measure of what he wants." Britta leaned back. "Tamara?"

The black haired contractor breathed out. She reached and took Britta's arm before her eyes began to glow red and the blue glow appeared around her. "We left enough of a trail to follow us here…"

Hei saw Britta's body glow as well before a perfect copy of her appeared beside her, staring ahead with vacant eyes. "Your power…"

"Perfect matter replication," Britta said. "She can copy living beings, but they 're not…'alive' or sentient in any way. It's what she used on the MI6 agent. And…" she gently guided Tamara in. "Have a seat before…"

Tamara seized up, her eyes rolling back as her body began to shake. Britta released her when she put her in her seat, Tamara's body continued shaking. "Give her just a moment more…" Britta said before the shaking stopped. Tamara looked to Britta and Hei, breathing deeply.

"Easy now…" Britta said. "Are you…"

"A moment…just a moment…" she looked to Hei. "It's my Price. Thirty seconds of every cell in my body feeling agony at the same time….every bad memory flashing before my eyes…perfect mental and physical agony in exchange for matter replication."

She managed to stand, Hei supporting her. "And you somehow pay no Price at all…even though your powers…"

"Trust me, I don't understand it either." Hei said. "And now?"

Britta looked up. "We already rigged the safehouse with bombs before. They'll find 'my' remains here and probably wonder if the Apos is turning on them while Apos'll wonder if the Syndicate is moving without his permission. Minor confusion, but the more distrust the better."

"We're wasting time with minor activities like this." Hei said. "The only way is through Apos and the Syndicate-"

"We already have a way past that." Britta said with a measure of satisfaction. "Now, I hope you're not attached to those clothes." She leaned in and kissed Hei's cheek before he could protect, holding Tamara's hand.

Immediately the three of them vanished.


November 11 slumped back in his seat. "Thanks for the fast getaway drive." He said.

"Don't mention it. First time I've been accomplice to murder before," Misaki said dryly.

"Let's focus on the real tragedies…my suit is absolutely ruined." November said. "Kidding!" He said as Misaki shot a look at him.

April chuckled. "And now what?"

Misaki took a breath. "Just act casual and not like I'm sheltering three fugitives. At least you kept me off the radar. She looked to her phone.

"Misaki." April said. "How much do you trust your partners?"

Misaki was silent for a long moment . April pressed. "As much as Jack and I trust one another?"

Misaki opened her phone and dialed a number at that. The third ring…"Saito."

"Chief?! What's been happening? We haven't heard anything from-"

"Where are you now?"

"With the rest of the squad…Ohtsuka, too."

"I need you to listen to me. All of you. Do you trust me?"

"Of…of course we do, Chief!"

"Good. Then listen up…because I've got a lot to tell you. It started back when we met Rin Asogi…"


Amber….

Amber….

AMBER.

The name repeated over and over in his mind. The explosions, while a comparatively minor setback for him, still ripped at his pride. Her and the Reaper…he should never have let them meet again, should never have counted on the reaper's hatred of her. Curse his own shortsightedness.

Hei was loose there, as was Rin, and she was the key. Decade was dead officially-though in death, he was a bit more useful, Apos had to admit. His patrols ruled the skies and if Rin showed herself, then his angels would instantly detect her.

The answer came to him immediately. It was so simple, so obvious, he wasn't sure why he hadn't thought of it before. After all, what God didn't require a sacrifice here and there? Amber might well be ruthless enough to turn a blind eye…but Rin was too soft. She always had been.

"My Angels." He said, seeing them winging past him as he stood on the balcony of his castle. "In just a few short nights…Tokyo will be your hunting ground…with no a living soul safe."

He had almost all the time fruits he needed. The world's eyes were on him, believing him divine. He didn't need the adoration. Very shortly, it would ceased to matter. When Yggdrasil was his forever, all their weapons would cease to mean a thing.

There was only one last thing to say.

"Check."