Episode 13: … Can become undone

"Reichsführer Heinrich! Obersturmbannführer Eichmann has urgent news for you." A soldier called to Heinrich, who was taking his usual midday walk.

"What is it, Seigfried?" Heinrich asked, slowing his pace.

"Sir. Eichmann has confirmed the reports that a supply train full of components for the Siren's mass-produced warships has been sabotaged. He also confirms that the train derailed and collided with a second train carrying wisdom dust. Fortunately, none of the cars containing wisdom dust ruptured.'' The soldier reported.

"This is indeed urgent news. I must get to Lady Observer immediately and inform her of this." Heinrich said, stopping his walk and turning around. "Seigfried, tell Dietrich to get the Storch ready. I'm flying to Wilhelmshaven."

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"Maaaan. You're a tough nut to crack aren't ya." Purifier said to one very battered Lützow, now hanging upside down from her ankles. "Seems like I'll have to resort to my favorite tricks to get you talking."

"You… will… never… break me." Lützow choked out, her many internal and external injuries making it hard to breathe.

"You got spirit, I'll give you that. Howeveh, it will take more than spirit to best me." Purifier said, turning to leave. "By the way, I'll be back in a day or two. I have some other business to attend to. Until I return, just hang around the place." With that, Purifier strode out of the room, leaving Lützow alone for the first time in weeks.

"Please Kaiser, give me your strength." Lützow whispered to the empty room, "Help me hold on until I'm rescued."

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"Alpha, how are you holding up against the guerilla attacks?" Empress asked.

"Very well." Alpha responded, "I am only suffering from minor annoyance from a small group of Eagle Union soldiers. The Iron Blood girl who had been a pain in my side for the last few months has been dealt with by the Iron Blood soldiers loyal to me. Alas, the Iron Blood girl has been replaced by a Dutch one, who seems much more inclined to kill those who serve me. However, I do not doubt that she will be swiftly dealt with."

"Heya, sorry I'm late. I was busy playing with the captured battlecruiser." Purifier said, popping into the conversion, "Hold up, where's Tester?"

"Tester is dead." Compiler replied while the rest of the sirens remained silent. "Apollyon killed her."

"Let me at him." Purifier seethed, "I'll kill him."

"No," Empress said firmly, snarling when Purifier didn't pay attention. "We cannot afford to lose any more of our number. You are needed in Europe."

"I don't care. Apollyon killed the only one of you who was ever interested in my experiments. The only one who wanted to help!" Purifier shot back, getting more worked up as she continued. "Which one of you ever understood me? That's right, NONE OF YOU! ONLY TESTER DID! NOW SHE'S DEAD, THANKS TO APOLLYON! HE WILL DIE BY MY HAND, AND NONE OF YOU CAN STOP ME!" Purifier screamed at the other sirens, who stared at her in silence. After a few tense minutes, Empress spoke up.

"Purifier, I do not understand your anger. Why are you angry at us, and not Apollyon. He was the one who killed Tester. Not I, nor any of us here. However, I do understand your desire to kill him. We all want him dead. Therefore, I am rescinding one of my previous orders regarding your experiments Purifier."

"What is it?" Purifier asked, perking up.

"Do you remember timeline 169372?" Empress asked.

"I like where this is go-ing." Purifier said in a sing-song voice, a manic grin appearing on her face.

"Purifier, you reauthorised to conduct human-to-kansen experiments. I want you to make sure when the test subject is put into combat, that they will halt Apollyon in his tracks." Empress informed Purifier. "Hopefully, the human look will catch him off guard. He will never expect them to be a kansen."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Empress. Also, don't worry about my subject halting Apollyon. He won't know what hit him.

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"WHAT?!" Observer Alpha yelled, throwing a bloodstained Eagle Union helmet at Heinrich, who had to duck to the right to dodge the helmet. "HOW MANY TRAINS DOES THAT MAKE THIS IN ONE WEEK?!"

"The total number has now risen to fourteen Lady Observer. However, they all seem to have been committed by different groups."

"You act like that is a point to celebrate." Alpha seethed, moving toward Heinrich until she came eye-to-eye with Heinrich. "I just finished reporting to Empress that I was finished with these attacks."

"I have my top subordinate out finding out who is responsible for this. I do not doubt his abilities." Heinrich replied to Alpha, returning her stare.

"Good. Even I have been impressed with his work. Inform your subordinate that for the duration of this investigation, he will be under my direct command." Observer Alpha told Heinrich.

"Understood Lady Observer." Heinrich said, saluting Observer Alpha, "Also, if I may ask, who did that helmet belong to? It bears the markings of a Major General."

"Oh, that. It came from the commander of the Eagle Union's 103rd Infantry Division. He rallied the 103rd and 101st airborne into fighting back against my forces. Didn't go so well for him. Ended up killing him myself. He was a good fighter, but was no match for me. Now, you are dismissed."

"Yes Lady Observer." Heinrich said, saluted again, than turned and left.

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Lützow blinked opened eyes. She was still hanging upside down, stripped of everything execpt her pride. In an effort to try and stay conscious, began reciting the first thing that came to mind.

"Vater unser im Himmel, dein Name werde geheiligt. Dein Reich komme. Dein Wille geschehe wie im Himmel so auf Erden." Lützow paused to take a raspy breath before continuing.

"Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute. Und vergib uns unsere Übertretungen, wie wir denen vergeben, die gegen uns übertreten." Here Lützow paused to take another raspy breath. Between Observer Alpha and Purifier, Lützow's airways were beyond screwed up.

"Und führe uns nicht in Versuchung, sondern befreie uns vom Bösen. Denn dein ist das Königreich, die Macht und die Herrlichkeit für immer und ewig. Amen."

Lützow smiled for the first time in ages. How good was it to give honor and praise to the Lord again. Filled with a holy strength, Lützow began to sing in a broken voice.

"Eine mächtige Festung ist unser Gott, ein Bollwerk, das niemals versagt; unser Helfer er inmitten der Flut von tödlichen Übeln vorherrschen." Lützow took in another raspy breath, but found it was less painful to do so.

"Denn immer noch unser alter Feind trachtet danach, uns Leid zuzufügen; sein Können und seine Kraft sind groß, und bewaffnet mit grausamem Hass, auf Erden ist nicht seinesgleichen."

As Lützow sang, her voice slowly changed from the raspy, hoarse thing it was now, to something that would make any professional soprano jealous.

"Haben wir uns unserer eigenen Kraft anvertraut, unser Streben würde verlieren, nicht der richtige Mann an unserer Seite, der Mann von Gottes eigener Wahl. Du fragst, wer das sein könnte? Christus Jesus, er ist es; Lord Sabaoth sein Name, von Alter zu Alter gleich; und er muss den Kampf gewinnen."