Good, Shion and Allen are back safely, that's a relief for everyone. It would seem they have KOS-MOS' basic theory too, so that would explain why Wilhelm wasn't particularly worried about T-elos damaging her so much. Still, what is it that he intends to do?
At least KOS-MOS should be okay now that they have all the information they need to repair all of her components. Though I have to wonder if it will be that simple, after all, KOS-MOS is much more than they realise. Mary's soul must be taken into account in this as well. I hope that the Professor will be able to complete all the repairs properly.
I can't say that I particularly feel like playing a game, but it will be good for the others to take some of the strain off. I can't ignore this though; Wilhelm's actions are troubling and confusing, I don't know what it is that he's planning.
This is all so difficult to accept and understand; this person here now, the actions he's taking, I don't know who he is. This isn't the person that I've known for so long, is it? Has he always been this way? But then, I don't even know what it is he's planning, what he's doing. I don't know anything…
I wish that you'd tell me something, that you'd explain this to me. Even if it means all we do is argue, I need to understand what it is you intend to do. Why are you always so secretive? I always presumed that it was because you were being protective, but now, I think maybe I was being too naïve.
For so long I've stayed out of all of this, I've left everything in your hands. I was too unsure of what I wanted, what was the right thing to do. Why was it that you said those words to me? Why would you go against his will and do all of this? Was it for me, or have you been using me all this time?
How am I ever going to know the truth? Or does it even matter any more? I chose them, not you. Even if it was all just a lie, I wasn't ready to do this and they weren't ready for it either, we needed the reprise too. I'm not going to be swayed by you any more Wilhelm, I won't give up, and I won't fail, no matter what.
What was that? An explosion…where from? The maintenance room…KOS-MOS! If the security system hasn't been activated that can only mean one thing, the intruder is one of the Testament. Damn it Wilhelm, what are doing?
Voyager…how is Ziggy going to cope with this? Or rather, how will Jan react? The suffering he inflicted upon Jan is a lot to deal with, ignoring the fact that he still seems to be quite intent on continuing that suffering now. Why is he trying to take KOS-MOS away though? Why would Wilhelm give an order like that?
Shion! Why must that girl act before thinking? Surely she must understand how utterly foolish that is? But what can we do about it? He needs her alive, right? For now I'll just have to trust that Shion will be okay.
KOS-MOS, so you're awake again. Was that what all this was for? To force her to reactivate because her primary function is to protect Shion, whose life was in danger? Maybe I'm being too optimistic and naïve, I really don't know what it is he's planning; this could all just be a coincidence. How could he have planned it all?
So they're gone at last, that wasn't an easy battle, not that it comes as a surprise, the power of the Testament should not be taken lightly, it is his power after all. But after that comment I'm even more confused then I was. Was this all planned out? But then, is it Wilhelm's doing? The Red Testament seems to be the one giving the orders. Still, could Wilhelm really be unaware of all of this?
I'm not really concentrating on this meeting; I have too many other matters occupying my mind right now. It isn't any good for any of us for me to be ignoring the situation at hand. I need to stop pondering everything and start paying attention to them.
"Yes, that could work. If we had Vessels of Anima, we might be able to use that energy to return to our original time." The Professor stated enthusiastically.
"We could come under attack at any time. Just being able to use the E.S. would benefit us." Ziggy added.
Yeshua frowned slightly, not convinced it would be that simple. "But the Vessels are stored inside Labyrinthos. I don't think they'll let us inside that easily.
"We have forged IDs. If we use them well, getting inside will be easy." Shion stated.
"At any rate, our presence here is causing an expanding distortion throughout the entire universe. It could lead to not only us disappearing, but the destruction of the universe itself." The professor said, trying to push for a go-ahead.
"Gotcha. Get yourselves ready to infiltrate the place. The third descent operation, the Miltian Conflict, is going to take place in a few days. We have to hurry." Jr. stated.
MOMO doesn't seem particularly thrilled by the prospect of going in there either. Her hesitation is probably more likely linked to Joachim Mizrahi rather than how dangerous it is and the fact that Shion has obviously withheld some information from us.
As expected, things aren't quite as easy as Shion made them out to be. The ID cards don't clear us for access into Labyrinthos, which means we're going to have to fight our way all the way through. Something is going to go wrong, but hopefully we should be able to cope with it, we've dealt with all the other problems we've encountered, so we should be just fine.
--
Finally, we've made it to where the Vessels are stored. I really don't feel comfortable being here. I suppose I don't like living in the past, so to speak, so I don't enjoy partaking in an altered version of past events, but also, I don't know why we've been brought to this place. I don't like walking blindly into situations, certainly not ones so potentially serious and dangerous; the Professor doesn't seem to care though.
For him it's the excitement of new 'toys' to play with I think, rather than considering the risks involved. Since we need his help with this, I suppose I can't really complain about his enthusiasm.
Wilhelm…I could understand before through my own self-deceit why you would work so hard to protect the Vessels, but the truth of it, I don't know. What is the truth behind all of the façades you wear? What is this all for? What is your tie to Heinlein, is he you, or does he work for you in some form or other? Or am I just being paranoid about all of this? I just don't know what to believe any more, not when it comes to him.
"What about Asher? The cage is empty!" Jr. protested, unhappy with the prospect of being left out.
"I know that! I thought we'd be able to use a different Vessel, but it seems that won't work." The Professor replied casually.
"Don't tell me we can't use Asher!"
"Oh, stop whining."
Scott interjected before Jr. could respond. "We've got another reactor for Asher."
"We originally developed it for Erde, so its capabilities are top-class!" The Professor explained.
"Are you sure it's going to be okay to use some weird thing like that?! chaos, say something!" Jr. turned to his friend for advice.
"Well, we'll just have to trust the Professor. And it's not like we have any other choice." Yeshua replied casually, repressing a smile.
Part of Jr.'s hesitancy is down to what Canaan will think of the idea if he finds out about this. The last time Jr. did something to Asher was the only time he's ever made that mistake, he learnt the hard way that Canaan can be rather protective of his E.S.
I can't see Canaan having a problem with it, providing nothing bad happens to Asher of course. He'll understand that we had no other option but to try, we need Asher active, even if he won't be up to the standard we're used to, since the Anima capabilities won't be present, something is definitely better than nothing.
The Professor looked triumphantly at Jr. "Okay, this should stop your complaining. It's ready to fight any time!"
"Wow! Not bad. Not bad at all. What the hell? Have we been caught?" Jr. replied, enthusiasm draining at the sound of the alarm.
"Well yes, of course! After all, we're using their mainframe to get these things assembled. So, of course they noticed us!"
"It's like sending a message: 'We're using your stuff without permission'." Scott added.
Jr. looked helplessly at Yeshua. "chaos..."
Yeshua tried not to smile again. "Oh well, I guess we better hurry up and get going."
Oops. They could have warned us beforehand, Jr. isn't particularly happy, but what can we do? We needed the E.S.'s to be operational, so we would have had to go along with it either way. It's too late to do anything about it now though and neither of them seems to be in the least bit concerned, it is kind of funny, even if Jr. wouldn't agree.
Jr. panicked when the E.S.'s started glowing. "What's going on?! They're not going to shut down again, are they?!"
"No. This is the Vessels of Anima resonating with our wills." Yeshua replied calmly, even if he didn't feel it.
"What? With our wills?"
"Our consciousnesses and the Vessels of Anima have begun to synchronize." Jin stated.
"So this is what Virgil meant when he said we're being 'compelled' to ride them?!"
"But what does it mean? Is this caused by someone's will?" Shion asked concerned.
Ziggy frowned. "I don't know, but I have a feeling his words did mean something."
Yeshua frowned. "If the synchronization continues, it's only a matter of time before the Vessels--"
"What is it, chaos?" Jr. asked clueless.
"What? Oh, it's about the E.S.'s. Controlling them is even more difficult than before. Be careful and don't lose control."
"Right. Gotcha."
"Wilhelm, what are you trying to use this power for?"
--
I can't believe that Shion did something so stupid. No, that isn't true I can believe it, after all, I only commented earlier how recklessly she tends to act. Still, she's safe now and that's all that matters I suppose. Now we have to go looking for her younger self, but is that really such a good idea? Is it safe for the two of them to be so close to each other?
Virgil…so that's what happened to make him the way he is now. The Miltian conflict caused so much tragedy for everyone involved. I still don't like being here though, I'm still afraid of the truth being known, though why that is, I'm not sure.
I'm glad that's over; fighting him was more trouble than we needed, though all of it was too much trouble for Shion. Despite that, I can't help but feel glad that he left me alone. Still, for him to have left with Febronia, maybe the Testament aren't nearly as loyal to their 'master' as was previously believed.
What does that mean for what happened in the Song though? Was it of his own choosing, without any regard to Wilhelm? With him having ignored me completely since, it's hard to know how to take it. Still, he's gone now, so I suppose it doesn't really matter any more.
--
Shion… Can't you understand and accept that there was never anything you could have done, or Jin either for that matter? You have to learn to accept things for what they are, lingering on pain won't change anything, it won't make it better. The truth isn't always a pleasant thing to know, but it is important. You must accept the past and move on, live for the future, for the potential it holds.
The Gnosis…so their presence here was because of Shion. Is that because she is the Key, or because of her illness? Either way, the answer won't make her feel any better. She really isn't coping with this very well at all. Abel's Ark…
"That's why they brought Shion here! This world isn't the world of the past. It's a reality constructed inside of Shion's mind, by temporarily restoring the consciousness of people from the past. They're using Shion to correct in the present what they were unable to accomplish in the past."
Why do I seem to be unable to figure certain important aspects out until it's too late to do anything about it? Now that Kevin has come before Shion, what will she do? I don't believe that she's strong enough to refuse him right now, but if she goes with him… So the truth is out, about U-DO and the effect KOS-MOS is causing, now what? Good, KOS-MOS won't listen to him any more; Shion is safe for the time being, though she won't be very happy when she wakes up. All we can do now is hope that everything will be okay.
