A/N: YAY YAY! CX Finally another update. I'm so very sorry guys. I've been a lot busier than I expected I would be during the summer, but I've finally got this chapter worked out. Please please forgive. me. XD
This story has changed a lot and now I'm glad I warned everyone earlier about it's AU-ness and the time line b/c now we've suddenly jumped into the 3rd one. XD
(Yes, that's right I'm totally magic) Please don't hesitate to chew me out for this chapter, as it might suck butt. If it does, I'll gladly replace it. ;P
To my sweet sweet reviewers:
I've seen a rift growing between the four of my frequent reviewers in response to who Jr. should be with forever. XD So much so that I've decided to put you on teams. XD
Team Albedo: This team is for my normal reviewers who prefer , but don't mind GaignunxJr. either. CX
The Original Oxymoron:This team I have chosen for you b/c you have said many times that you are biast on the Albedo side and in your last review mentioned that a crazy Gaignun would be a win. XD Which I totally agree with.
Albedo's Jerusalem:As if your name doesn't just scream, AlbedoxJr. forever. XD I mean, your boyfriend has a freakin AlbedoxJr. icon. XD Plus you're always squealing over anything in this story that has them together. From rape to fluff, you're always rooting for the psycho. XD
Team Gaignun:This team consists of rabid Gaignun fangirls who would absolutley rip Albedo apart if he even thought about being with Jr. Rape or willing. XD
Tuahla: I'll have to give you credit b/c although you are a major Gaignun lover, given time I do believe you'd love Albedo too. I think the waves infecting him have been rubbing off on you. XD Although I'm sure Jr.'s next rape would be the death of everyone's favorite lunatic.
Ganon XD: *sigh* XD You're absolutely hopeless when it comes to this. XD You won't even entertain the idea that they might belong together. B/c once you place a pairing on you list on your profile it is set in stone and anyone who dares to ruin the sanctity of them together shall die a horrible and painful death. And knowing you, you'd be the only person besides Jr. to be able to kill someone who is both immortal and invincible. XD
Anyways, let's get started shall we?
I do not own Xenosaga, but I will rip apart its story and time line for my own purposes ;P
Conflicting Numbers
Chapter 28
Occupation
chaos smiled at Tony's slurred vocabulary as they made their way to the Elsa from the dock colony.
"And then--Then! Hah hah! Then, guess what happened!" Tony yelled, gesticulating crazily with one arm. The other was draped around chaos' shoulders loosely, held in place only by the boy's gloved hand around his wrist. The blonde laughed hysterically, his face flushed and his eyes red.
"He tried to hit me and so I hit hi-Him right, right here!" He said, giggling insanely and tapping a finger on chaos' nose. "Then all that red stuff came pourin' out 'n I was--I was--I was! chaos!"
Tony pointed toward an expensive looking blue ship. "I want to pilot that!" He gasped.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea, Tony."
"Why?!" He drunkenly shouted, "I'm the best pilot in the-in the--Ev-Ever! chaos! You know! You know tha-that!"
"I do. You're right, forgive me."
Tony nodded and slumped against the boy's side.
"And this is always the outcome of 'sight-seeing'?" Canaan asked.
chaos nodded, "Sometimes it worse. It's unusual for Tony to come back to the Elsa at all."
"Where is Hammer?"
"I don't know, but we haven't gotten much time left have we?"
Canaan shook his head. "I'll find him before we leave."
"chaos, I don't think it's in your job description to attend to the crew the way you do."
chaos shrugged, shifted Tony's weight for a better grip. "I don't exactly have a specific job description."
The three of them walked to the men's cabin. chaos gently laid Tony down onto one of the beds and then turned back to Canaan. "I don't mind though. They'd do the same for me."
"I can't really picture you drunk, chaos." Canaan said, humor in his voice.
"You'll never see me that way either. Everyone around me drinks enough for me."
chaos opened his connection gear and called Hammer.
"Captain Matthews?"
"He stays in the Elsa's bar."
"chaos!" Hammer's voice cried from the screen. "Did you find him!?"
"Yes, I brought him back here. Hammer, you're bleeding."
"Yeah, that bastard hit me!"
"Oh." chaos glanced stole a glance at Canaan before looking back at the screen. "He'd said something about hitting someone, I didn't know it was you."
Canaan snorted and started toward the hangar.
"Are you ok?"
Hammer sighed and straightened his glasses. "I'm fine, I'm fine."
"I'm sure it was a mistake..."chaos started, trying to stop the fight he knew was coming.
"Sure. He was very drunk and thought my face was a punching bag."
"I'm sure that--"
"Whatever, chaos. You tell him that I'll let it slide this time. I can tell that you're not in the mood for this right now. You ok?"
"Thank you and yes." chaos smiled, "I have something I need to do. Will you be alright?"
"If you mean will I get drunk off my ass, no. If I'll spare you a night without Tony and me fighting, sure."
The screen closed into a thin line and disappeared. chaos walked toward the hangar where he found Canaan standing against the wall of the Elsa's gun room.
"Ready?" he asked. chaos nodded and the two walked carefully toward the stairs. "Is the Professor still awake?" Canaan asked.
"I'm not sure if he ever sleeps." chaos chuckled. As if on cue a large explosions sounded from the lab. Smoke seeped through the tightly closed seems of the door. A loud "Assistant Scott!" followed the smoke.
"We will be in trouble if they find us." chaos whispered, hurriedly.
"What can they do about it? As far as they know we were commissioned for an expedition."
"Canaan," chaos smiled, "Have you spent any time alone with the Professor?"
Canaan reluctantly ran after chaos. "If you were so worried about this why not just transfer from the dock."
"It'd be too easily seen, Canaan." he answered, hurrying to open the doors.
Canaan sighed. He didn't see the point in being so secretive, but he was already here so it didn't really matter anymore. He pulled the E.S. container from his pocket.
"Transfer E.S."
All was quiet in the surrounding space. Starlight from infinite galaxies shone brightly, almost comfortably. Shelley Godwin was not relaxed by the calm this space provided. The Durandal had reached the exact point Master Gaignun had set for them but there was nothing. Only space. Empty space.
"Perhaps the enemy is using another cloaking device." Shelley whispered as she checked the monitors repeatedly for any change in values.
"I've been paging Master Gaignun for a while now..." Mary said worriedly, also feeling unsettled. "Maybe you should try Shelley," she frowned, "You reckon' he's still mad at me?"
Shelley gave her sister a small smile. "Of course not, Mary. Master Gaignun isn't the type to hold a grudge."
"Yeah..." Mary tried again, "I'm a' thinkin' that he's gonna show up here before we actually get out there. He'll wanna slap Albedo upside the head too, don't you think?"
"Yes. I'm sure he'd want to be a part of that."
"Head of the cavalry, just like always." Mary turned her attention to the 100-series. "Keep a sharp eye, everyone! We don't know what's around here. Be on the look out for any signs of enemy cloaking devices."
The elevator behind them shifted. Both Godwin sisters turned around in time to see Ziggy and MOMO.
"Have we found Jr. yet?" MOMO asked worriedly as she rushed over to Mary.
"Not yet, MOMO. We're still lookin'. Master Gaignun has to arrive before we make any other moves so we're just scanning the area."
MOMO nodded, "Ok. Is there anything I can do?"
"I think we can handle everything right now. Just relax, we'll find him soon."
MOMO nodded again and walked back to Ziggy. "Don't worry." He said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Everything is going to be fine. Jr. can take care of himself."
"Yeah..." MOMO frowned. She wasn't so sure. Having experienced Albedo's madness first hand, her mind filled automatically with unpleasant images of torture and pain. She fiddled nervously with the bracelet Jr. had given her. The feel of the bullet in her hand and the small inscription made her feel safe. She wasn't the one who needed safety right now. Ziggy was concerned too. This felt different somehow and he knew from past experience how easily Jr. could be set off. Albedo would only act as a catalyst for every emotion Jr. had locked away or suppressed. He looked down at MOMO as she nervously walked to a nearby 100-series. Jr. was in danger.
"Gate out detected in the region in front of us." A Realian announced.
"What? Who is it?" Mary asked, turning toward her.
"Federation ships are advancing fast! First wave of attack, four minutes to impact!" Another Realian answered as she hurriedly pressed buttons on her console. Mary turned back in time to watch the ships appear from the dark realm of space, pushing aside the view of stars in place of blinding blue lights. Four ships as in perfect synchronization launched their attack as soon as they left hyperspace. The surprised Durandal had little time to prepare before the lasers hit.
"We've been hit!"
"Primary shield down, secondary shield deployed!"
"Begin preparations for full-scale attack!" Mary commanded. "All 100-series focus--"
The Durandal shook violently, sending everyone stumbling to keep balance. Ziggy hurried to MOMO to make sure the shock hadn't hurt her. The Durandal trembled again.
"Enemy forces have infiltrated the Durandal!"
"It's only a matter of time before they occupy all the blocks. Ziggy!" MOMO held tightly onto his arm. "We have to do something."
Ziggy nodded. "Stay here, MOMO."
"No. I want to help too!"
Before he could protest, MOMO was already on the elevator, beckoning him hurriedly. He followed her and the two took the elevator down.
"Canaan!"
"Yeah. An emergency signal from the Durandal."
"We've arrived too late." chaos said worriedly.
Canaan and chaos stared the the sight of Federation ships surrounding the Durandal.
"It appears that they've infiltrated already. We'll take the same entrance as the enemy and break through their ranks from behind. Take care of the weapons. I'll maneuver us through."
"Roger."
Canaan didn't want to admit how much he enjoyed the movement of the E.S. It seemed to mold with him, read his every thought as he skillfully twisted and slipped past unprepared A.M.W.S. and inattentive Salvator ships. He was made for this, wasn't he? Combat Realian specialized for E.S. piloting and whatever else Vector needed. He was sure he had functions even he was unaware of but he was sure that nothing felt as good as this machine. He would admit however, that chaos had become a far better navigator than he had fifteen years ago. His timing had always been perfect, but the determination and sharpness in his movements far exceeded the limitations of a normal human. Then again, Canaan thought, allowing a small smirk on his lips. Rubedo commanded a lot out of a person. They made it into the Durandal with ease, destroying threatening crafts and forcing their way into the dock after realizing that the sheer number of enemies in the destroyed part of the Durandal would prohibit their success.
"Do you think Jr. will forgive us for destroying the door?" chaos cringed as he destroyed the dock's outer wall.
"We didn't have any other choice. Let's worry about apologizing later and about rescue now."
The Durandal's dock was surprisingly empty. The two jumped out of the E.S. as soon as it was close enough for them to land.
"Enemies are detected to have infiltrated both the Mobile Hangar and Quarintine Hangar."
"Are they after the Zohar?"
Canaan quickly transferred the craft into its container. "That's an extreme possibility." The Realian answered. They ran toward the Durandal's loop line. "We should split up." chaos said urgently. "I'll head to the Quarintine Hangar. You find Mary and Shelley."
"Are you sure you should go by yourself, chaos? It's dangerous. Perhaps I should--"
"No. They'll head straight for the bridge. Right now, Mary and Shelley are in more danger than anyone else and if they get control of the Zohar..."
Canaan stared intently at the boy as he typed in their stops. "Careful." chaos said as the doors opened for the Realian to exit.
"You too."
Ziggy tore through the oncoming forces. It was amazing how well prepared these soldiers were. If they were indeed from the Salvator Faction, then Yuriev must have anticipated Ziggy's presence. All manners of high powered weaponry was strapped to their sides. Uniform they advanced, but Ziggy was ready. MOMO took shelter around corners in corridors the cyborg had already cleared. She was swift to pull the string on her composite bow whenever an enemy thought they had a clear shot at her bodyguard. They were a good team, the two of them. Every enemy Ziggy didn't have time to eliminate, MOMO took care of for him. The first Residential Area was almost completely clear of enemies when one of them snuck up behind the prototype and sunk a dagger into her left shoulder. She cried out, causing Ziggy to turn around.
"MOMO!"
He ran toward her, but she didn't need him. With one sharp turn she smashed the bow against her attacker's face with enough force to knock him down. Quickly she loosed an arrow into his chest. "MOMO, are you ok?"
The girl tried to stop her tears as she pulled the blade out of her shoulder. "I'm fine."
Jr. wouldn't cry over a knife, why should she? "I'm built a lot tougher than I look remember?"
She flashed a smile at him and shot an enemy attempting to sneak up on him. He nodded, "Right."
He turned back to the few remaining forces, wondering how far they'd gotten when he again heard MOMO scream. A tall woman with beautiful hazel eyes stared menacingly at him, an Eclair rod was pressed against MOMO's throat.
"A cybrog." she acknowledged. "And that is why no one has been able to occupy this block."
She pressed the rod harder against the girl's throat, causing her to whimper. "Ziggy..."
"Let her go."
"This is the prototype Dr. Yuriev values to no end so there is no cause for worry. I won't damage her too much."
She was choking MOMO now. Ziggy watched the pained expression on her face the harder it was pushed against her. Finally he dropped his arms. "Smart." Citrine instructed a fellow solider to bind the cyborg's arms. As soon as he was tied she pushed MOMO toward him.
"Take them to the Third Residential Area and lock them up. I'll ask father what to do with them later."
When Canaan entered the bridge, it was chaotic. The enemy hadn't infiltrated that far or far at all and from what he was hearing, Ziggy and MOMO were making quick work of the forces that had attempted occupation. Some of the 100-series were having trouble maintaining controls of the security so he busied himself with helping them keep people from coming in while Ziggy and the employees took out those trapped inside. Nothing was going right for them, however.
"Enemies have already penetrated blocks 32 and 34."
"Hurray and close the barrier walls! Close all the walls to each of the blocks!" Mary responded.
"I can't! The locks are all being overridden!"
Canaan ran to the Realian, trying to find the problem, it must be a glitch. Shelley worked frantically to find a similar problem, trying to take a secondary line and perhaps destroy the override code itself.
"The enemy forces have already reached the Residential Areas!" Another cried.
"What? What happened to Ziggy and MOMO?"
"Life forms matching them have been found in the Third Residential Area. It is likely that the two were captured."
"Our forces are weakening! The enemy is approaching!"
"Shelley," Mary said, slamming a hand on the control panel. "What is going on? Only command-ranking officers know how to open the gates during an emergencey! Have we been hacked?"
Shelley's eyes scanned the readings, "No. There's nothing wrong with the system."
"Then what's going on here?" Mary asked urgently, "The only ones who can release the locks are Little Master and Master Gaignun and us!"
Shelley turned to face her sister. "Yes. Pieta has acknowledged. The intruder is Master Gaignun!"
"No way!" Mary exclaimed, openly rejecting the idea. But the sound of the elevator's arrival called her attention. Both women turned sharply at the arrival of...
"Master Gaignun!" she gasped.
Shelley's gaze turned hard at her Master. Just what was happening? He walked briskly toward them, the two soldiers at his side remained where they were, awaiting orders.
"Why are you here?" Shelley asked, unsure of whether or not to be relaxed by his appearance.
Gaignun ignored her and continued on his straight path toward Mary. He walked as he always did, one arm behind his back, the other held loosely at his side. He outstretched his left hand to place it on the back of Mary's neck. He pulled her close until her face was pressed into the black of his suit in a hug.
"Well done," he whispered soothingly in her ear. "You've done a good job in my absence. Now get some well deserved rest."
He pulled his right hand from around his back and pressed the gun he held against the girl's side. Three quick shots fired into her. She gasped and started to fall. "Mary!" Shelley cried in devastated surprise. She ran to her sister and caught her before she could slam against the panel.
"Master Gaignun!" A 100-series screamed, "What are you doing?!"
He only responded in a rough laugh. A golden glow enveloped him and slowly died to reveal Dmitri's smirk and cold blue eyes.
A/N: Whooooooo! C: Aw, what no Jr. in this one? I warned you. C: Oh well, maybe we'll see him next chapter. XD Reviews are my muse so inspire it up, people! Oh and btw, isn't it ironic how the sane people are on Albedo's team while the lunatics are on Gaignun's? XD Just curious.
