Hitomi woke up in a damp room. Last thing she remembered was a blossomed hanky covering her mouth. "It must have had some sort of sleeping potion on it." Hitomi reasoned. She stood up, and tried to figure out where she was. It seemed like a Zaibach floating fortress. Her stomach twisted into knots of fear. Hitomi placed her hand on her stomach. She hoped her baby wasn't affected by that sleeping potion. "It's ok baby," Hitomi thought. "Mama's here. Don't worry." She walked around, and discovered that she wasn't alone in the cell. There was another person crumpled in a corner. Hitomi turned the person on its back, and gasped in shock when she discovered that it was Celena.
"Lady Celena, wake up." Hitomi said.
Celena stirred, but did not wake. Hitomi's mind was making connections. Celena had brought her here. There had been something wrong with her! Zaibach had possessed her, and now they threw her out, like garbage. "Why did she bring me here though?" Hitomi asked herself.
"Lady Celena!" Hitomi shook her hander.
All of a sudden, Celena opened her eyes. She moaned in pain.
"It's ok. Can you tell me what happened?" Hitomi asked.
"The dark! It's dark in here! Help me!" Celena cried.
"It's ok. You're not alone! I'm here!" Hitomi said giving the frightened woman a hug.
"No, they always come in the dark. It's horrible. Don't let them get me!" she screamed.
"Shhh." Hitomi said gently. She could see that Celena was frightened beyond words. Some horrible ordeal had made her so sensitive to the dark, that she was becoming hysteric.
Celena screamed again. A piercing scream, full of fear.
"Shut up!" Hitomi said firmly. "They must not know we're awake."
Celena continued screaming, and Hitomi felt the need to shock her. She slapped Celena. Immediately, her piercing screams stopped.
"I'm sorry. But get a hold of yourself. We must find a way out of here." Hitomi said thinking practically.
"No, there is no way. We're doomed." Celena said grabbing her hands.
Just then, Hitomi's pendant began to glow.
Hitomi was hit with a vision. She saw Motaro inject the serum into Celena's carotid artery. He saw how he imprinted instructions into her subconscious. No telepath could detect them. Poor Celena had no choice. She was forced to do it. She was forced to betray them.
Then her vision shifted. She saw Celena five years before. A frightened woman, desperately wanting to get rid of her haunting alternate personality. That man (Hitomi didn't know his name, but it was Motaro) offered her an escape. Celena took it, only she didn't know it was a dooming escape. That man, was the newly installed emperor of the Zaibach empire. Following Dornkirk's example, he wanted the Power of Atlantis. The escape he offered her was a pathway to hell. When he "exorcised" Dilandau out of Celena, he created a body for that diabolic Satanist. The Emperor wanted a blood-thirsty killer. He took part of Celena's aura, and gave it to Dilandau. Only he didn't expect the consequences. If the aura of a person was split in half, it consumed, until it was united with its other half. Both Celena and Dilandau were dying. They needed to merge into one person again so that one of them will survive.
The vision ended. It all made sense now. The new Zaibach Emperor, wanted the Power of Atlantis. Somehow, Hitomi knew he didn't want to use it in the same manner Dornkirk did. This man was pure evil. He wanted something more out of it. Why did they want her and Van? That part was still unclear to Hitomi.
Back in Freid...... (a few hours before)
Van saw the ship disappear in the night's air. He knew who was aboard. Hitomi, and Celena. He hurried to the Crusade. Van virtually burst through the door.
"Lord Van!" Merle screamed after him. She had heard him scream after the ship. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Hitomi. Zaibach controlled Celena. That b!t#%h took Hitomi!" Van yelled. He knew something would happen. Dreams didn't lie. He just didn't expect it to happen so fast.
"So where are you going now?" Merle asked.
"After them. If they as much as harm a hair on Hitomi's body I swear I'll be their ticket straight to hell." Van said hotly.
"I'm coming with you, Lord Van." Merle said.
"No. You must stay here. I'll go get Hitomi alone. We mustn't weaken our forces. Don't announce anyone. If people notice, tell them, but otherwise keep it a secret. The soldiers must still think we're winning, and that everything is all right." Van instructed and jumped into Escaflowne.
"Be careful Lord Van!" Merle called out.
Van didn't say anything. He transformed Escaflowne into a dragon, and headed in the direction where he saw the ship disappear.
"Hitomi, I'm so sorry. I should have never let you out of my reach. God, Hitomi, I can't believe this. It's happening all over again. I won't let them harm you. Just hold on. I'm coming." Van thought.
(Back on the flying fortress)
"Oh no, what have I done?" Celena whispered in awe, remembering all that happened.
"It's not your fault. It's those Zaibach killers that made you do it." Hitomi said.
"Queen Hitomi. How dare you speak so badly of us?" a diabolic voice sounded.
Celena shivered, knowing whom the voice belonged to.
"It is merely the truth. After all, you would not dare treat a queen and a lady in these conditions," Hitomi innocently reasoned.
Blinding lights came on. Hitomi and Celena had to shield their eyes for a few moments. The light was shocking after the pitch darkness.
When the shock passed, Hitomi removed her hands from her eyes. She found herself in a dirty dungeon. In front of their cell stood the diabolical face that haunted her dreams even now. Dilandau. She could see his narrow snake eyes, and Hitomi felt Celena tense up. Hitomi felt the need to stand up.
"Why did you bring me here, Dilandau?" she asked.
"It is not I that brought you here. If I'd have got my way you'd be ashes. It is my master that wishes to speak with you." Dilandau said with a deadly grin.
"I know you not to have a master, Dilandau." Hitomi said trying to arouse his anger.
"I do not. I am merely showing my gratitude towards the person that freed me from her." he said and pointed to Celena. He then opened the cell. "Come on. Lord Motaro does not like it when we are late," he said and motioned them to get up.
Hitomi went first. She could see by the way Celena clung to her, that the poor creature was absolutely terrified of Dilandau. Hitomi continued her inquiry.
"And your never want to be late when your master calls you," she stated.
"No. He is very particular about moments, and time wasted," Dilandau said with a growl.
"You're his faithful doggy. Always at his beck and call. Always ready to do his bidding. What does he give you for it?" Hitomi asked sarcastically trying to get his anger to get the best of him.
"I am not his faithful servant. I told you, I am merely expressing my gratitude." Dilandau yelled.
"Gratitude? Killers don't have that. You surprise me. I think you're waiting for the moment when you can stab him in the back," Hitomi chuckled.
"You wench! How dare you speak such words to me!" Dilandau said and prepared to strike her.
Hitomi braced herself for the impact. She didn't want to show him she could fight just yet. Luckily, the blow never came. It was like Dilandau's hand was frozen in the air.
"Speak one more word, and I shall not be so merciful," he said and grabbed her neck.
Hitomi winced in pain. "Hmm, he would have struck me if something didn't stop him. I have a feeling his master is quite strong, and gave him orders not to touch me. Dilandau is afraid. This killer has found his match." She thought. Hitomi was silent for the rest of the journey. She had found out enough. "Van!" Hitomi tried to contact him with her mind.
"Yes. Hitomi, is this you?" she heard Van say mentally.
"It's me. Listen. I'm in a Zaibach floating fortress. They're taking me to see the Emperor, a certain Lord Motaro." she told him.
"Hitomi, are you ok? Is the baby ok? Did they harm you?" Van asked worried.
"No. We're fine. All three of us. I'll explain to you Celena's story later, but right now, hurry. I don't know what this man wants from me. All I know is that he wants the Power of Atlantis. I'm going to stall for time. Hurry." Hitomi told him.
"Be careful. Don't take any risks." Van said.
"I will. One more thing. Don't try to contact me. He might be a telepath, in which case we better not reveal our link. Whatever happens, I'll call out to you." Hitomi stressed.
"Ok. Before you go though, I love you Hitomi, keep yourself in one piece," Van told her.
"I love you too. Take care, and hurry."
Hitomi closed the link. She knew Van would come for her. He did eight years ago, and he would today. She knew he could feel her presence, and since she couldn't tell him where she was, there was nothing more to say. Hitomi concentrated on the walk through to corridors. Soon they came to some big doors. Dillandau grabbed her hair and pushed her inside.
(in the air)
"Hold on Hitomi. I'm coming," Van thought as Escaflowne sliced the air.
Dilandau pushed Hitomi into a huge laboratory. An inner instinct told her to hide the pendant. She quickly tucked it under her shirt. She noticed a shadow working in a far corner. He had his back turned on them. Hitomi could feel Celena shiver. She hated to imagine what the poor woman was going through. She had been in his presence three times already.
"Lord Motaro. I have brought them to you." Dilandau announced.
"Yes, yes I know," the man said and turned around.
A cold shiver ran up Hitomi's spine. She could feel darkness irradiate from this man. A very frightening, cold darkness. She could sense that he had some hidden plans, that involved more than the fate of Gaea. He was a power hungry sorcerer, and Hitomi shivered at the destructive feelings roaming inside him.
"Welcome, Lady Hitomi." He said, not using her title as queen. Hitomi guessed he wanted to insult her. "What a fool," she thought.
"What do you want with me?" Hitomi boldly asked.
"I see you don't waste any time. Hello Celena, do you remember me?" he asked.
"How could I forget you? After all the vile things you did. How could I ever bring myself to forget?" Celena asked, pure hate echoing in her words.
"My dear, you continue to be confused." Motaro said getting closer.
"Leave her alone!" Hitomi jumped in front of Celena. "Just for once leave her out of your cruel games."
"Quite a martyr, Queen Hitomi. How can you be so defensive when she's the one that betrayed your little alliance? The one that brought you here to me?" Motaro asked.
"She's innocent. She's been innocent her whole life. It's you, and Dornkirk that got her caught up in your games for power. She didn't betray our alliance. You forced her to. You're the one that has been causing her pain." Hitomi stated.
"I did not cause her any pain. She came to me willingly. She wanted to get rid of her alternate personality." Motaro explained.
"Celena might have done that, but she certainly did not ask you to create that cold killer. You did that on your own!" Hitomi defiantly argued, pointing at Dilandau.
"Hitomi, how little you understand, and how fast you jump to conclusions. Was I supposed to let this precious killing machine get wasted when I could use him for so much more?" Motaro asked smiling viciously.
"It wasn't right. You stole a part of Celena."
"But she didn't want it any more. I simply recycled."
"Then how come she is dying? You stole her aura. You gave part of her to that monster." Hitomi argued hotly.
"I told you to shut up!" Dilandau yelled jumping from his seat. "You are a prisoner here! You have to right to speak that way!" he charged at her.
"No!" Motaro yelled. "You shall not crush my key to power, with your killer instincts." Motaro boomed. He made another mystic sign with his staff, and Dilandau crumbled at his feet. "Useless insect," he said kicking him.
Hitomi moved away from Celena. She now saw the magnitude of Motaro's power. He was indeed a sorcerer. "I wonder what else he can do." She thought.
Silence engulfed the room, as Motaro was looking thorough his journals. Hitomi said nothing, but continued to observe the strange man. She looked at his clothes, and somehow, she saw some familiar traits. She had seen similar clothing before. Then it dawned on her. Eunice! She had similar signs on her clothing.
"You're... you're from the High Order!" Hitomi exclaimed breaking the silence.
"Very observant!" Motaro exclaimed turning around. "Except I don't belong with them any more. They're just puny figures too afraid to act, or do anything, in fear of changing fate. Those cretins lived too long, and are merely afraid for their lives." Motaro continued in disgust.
"But you're different. You're power hungry. You don't want to run away from fate. You want to control it." Hitomi stated, finally seeing through his veil of twisted plots.
"Precisely, only I want more. Much more. To control fate is nothing. That's what the Atlanteeans were doing. I want to be able to create it. To create evens that cannot be changed." he laughed diabolically.
"You're a monster! That's impossible! No one creates fate!" Hitomi cried out.
"Monster is such a hash word. I prefer to think of myself as, that being known on Earth as God." he chuckled.
"You're sick! You're a sick and twisted b@$!@rd!" Celena screamed out for the first time interfering in the conversation.
"Shut up!" Motaro yelled, and with another sign of his staff, he made her crumble to the floor like Dilandau.
"For someone who passes themselves off as God, you sure can't handle the truth," Hitomi observed.
"It's only you and me now, Queen Hitomi." Motaro said ignoring her stab.
"What do you want from me?" she asked.
"I don't want anything from you in particular. I only want a few things you have," Motaro said ominously.
"Why don't you go to your High Order friends. I'm sure they'll be glad to help you." Hitomi sarcastically muttered.
"The High Order! Ha! They wouldn't be able to help a drowning man. They do not have the key to unlocking the real power of Atlantis."
"That power is gone. Van and I destroyed it eight years ago. When we destroyed Dornkirk." Hitomi said victoriously.
"You only destroyed its power to create the future. The real Power of Atlantis allows you to create fate. It has been locked away by a civilisation older even than the Atlanteeans. The key to unlocking it passed on to the Atlanteeans. When they died, they key was passed on to their descendants." Motaro explained.
"How does that involve me?" Hitomi asked.
"You, are one of those descendants, and you have the key." Motaro boomed.
"You're mad. I have no key." Hitomi laughed in his face.
"You do. I can feel it. You have the key. Its aura is protecting you."
"You're a delusional fool. I have no key. Nothing. I am not a descendant of Atlantis." Hitomi told him.
Motaro's patience was wearing thin. A frightening scowl crossed his face. Hitomi took a step back. She certainly didn't want to anger him. Maybe she could keep him talking.
"Give it to me now!" he yelled, his sinister voice seeming to echo from the darkest corners of the room.
"Give you what? I don't have it!" Hitomi told him. "Van! Hurry," she thought. "I can't stall for more time!"
"Hold on Hitomi! I'm almost there!" Van told her mentally. Although he was in a dead zone, he knew that Hitomi was close by. He could feel their connection getting stronger. Van focused his thoughts. "Got you!" he thought as he discovered the invisible fortress.
"You little wench! You were only stalling for time!" Motaro yelled as he felt the connection establish between Van and Hitomi. "Give me the key now!" he tried to grab her.
"I don't have your key!" Hitomi said escaping him.
Unfortunately, she did not escape his forceful blow. Motaro's hand slapped her across the face, sending her sliding across the floor.
"No more time to play games little girl! Give me the key!" He prepared to strike her again, when Van and Escaflowne ripped a hole through the fortress. Van jumped down in front of Hitomi.
"Van!" she said happily.
"How dare you hit defenceless women?" Van yelled full of rage.
"Ah, and here comes the protective husband!" Motaro said sarcastically.
"Van no!" Hitomi screamed. It was too late. Van was preparing to strike Motaro.
With only a tip of his staff, Motaro sent Van flying across the room. Hitomi scurried over to where he lay.
"Van," she said. "Come on. He's too strong to fight here on his own turf. Let's make a run for it while we can." Hitomi helped him get up. She grabbed the unconscious Celena, and got onto Escaflowne. Surprisingly, Motaro didn't try to stop them, or call for his guards. In the rush of events, no one took that in consideration.
Van and Hitomi took off in the late day's sun. Van was holding Hitomi tightly, and Hitomi let herself pass out from the stress and the extreme feeling of tiredness that enveloped her.
"This isn't over yet!" said Motaro watching them get away with his yellow snake-like eyes. Behind his calm features, a void of anger and darkness was only getting bigger. "Perfectly orchestrated." He thought and turned back to his journals.