Capture
Merle curled into a tiny ball on her bed. Her body was to weak to stand, to weak to accept food now. Merle was locked away in her room, where she had been for a week now. Zam was dead. He couldn't be dead. Such a large part of Merle's life couldn't be gone, snuffed out in a single instant. He died instantly, Millerna had said. He felt no pain, Hitomi had assured her. It will get better, I promise, Vera had soothed. I know it hurts, and it always will, but you have to move on, Merle, Zam would have wanted you to, Tygris had told her. Merle didn't care. She had locked herself away, refusing food and drink. Now, her body was to weak to accept it even if Merle did want it. A fever had consumed her body in flames, making her cheeks unusually rosy. Hallucinations often rose to her eyes and dreams of Zam's last moments, when he had tried his best to protect her, haunted her until she refused to sleep. Sheer lack of will to live left Merle unable to care for her body's needs. She was ready to die. Life seemed bleak, when what she valued most was gone. Merle was dying and she knew it. She squeezed her eyes shut as if she expected to see Death itself standing over her. Her acute ears picked up the sound of a door opening and closing and her nose smelled a cat-person, a tom. Zam? Merle's mind raced madly.
" You have a fever. Poor kitten." a deep voice said gently. Merle's heart fell. It was only Dromada. A wet cloth dabbed her chapped lips. Merle tried to raise a hand to push the cloth away but her arm was too heavy now.
" Don't. I want to die." she whispered to him hoarsely. Using her voice made her whole chest ache, but Merle no longer really felt the pain.
" Don't talk, you might hurt yourself." Dromada's voice soothed.
" I don't want to live!" Merle said, trying to raise the level of her voice, but to no avail.
" Those who think death is the only answer to their problems are not ready to die, for they have never truly lived." Dromada said sternly. Merle opened her eyes slowly.
" But, what do I have left? It's all gone, my love and my dignity, all I had left is gone." Merle whispered.
" That's where you are wrong. I can tell you that more people than you suspect have cried themselves to sleep all these nights and then been haunted by nightmares. They don't want to lose you." Dromada said. Merle heard a purr rise in his chest. He started dabbing the cloth against Merle's lips again, slowly soaking her swollen tongue, wetting her parched mouth, and cooling her fevered insides. Merle found herself greedily attacking the cloth, sucking all the liquid she could get from it. Dromada laughed.
" Now she wants to live! Careful, kitten, you're not ready for so much yet." Dromada said, purring loudly. He slowly fed her sips of water and then small amounts of well-crushed food. It tasted awful, but Merle found within her a will to live that didn't care if it tasted good or not. Merle curled her tail around her and let Dromada hold her. His gentle, deep purr lulled her into a deep sleep.
Vera leaned casually against the wall of a tiny room below deck on the Crusade where the crew was holding a party. All the teens, Vera, Michael, Tygris, and Chuba, had come down to join in the fun. Chuba was standing as far away from Tygris as he could get, Vera noticed. Maybe I should set those two up, Vera thought mischeviously. She felt arms go around her waist.
" Vera, it's a slow song. Let's dance." Michael suggested, pulling Vera away from her wall.
" Hold on, Michael. Let's get Chuba and Tygris together, shall we?" Vera said, gesturing to the two cat-teens. Michael walked off in Chuba's direction and Vera went to Tygris. She grabbed Tygris's arm and pulled her forward.
" Hey, Vera, where are we going?" Tygris asked, surprised. Vera didn't reply. They met Michael in the middle of the room, Chuba with him. Tygris and Chuba carefully pretended not to acknowledge each other's presence. Vera grinned devilishly and pushed Tygris hard, sending her sprawling forward into Chuba's arms. Michael pulled Vera a little ways away and put her arms around his neck and then put his own arms around her waist.
" Now we dance." he said quietly.
" But I don't know how!" Vera cried quietly, frantic. Michael smiled.
" It's simple. Just let me lead." he said. Vera found herself swaying gently and turning a slow circle in Michael's arms to the steady throb of the music. She turned to look and Tygris and Chuba, who were looking into each other's eyes. Vera smiled as Michael kissed her cheek and turned back to him. She only hoped Tygris would find in Chuba what she had found in Michael.
Tygris could not believe her luck. Vera had betrayed her. Anger seethed in her heart. She wanted to pull away from Chuba and go tell Vera off, but something held her there. She straightened herself and carefully avoided looking into Chuba's eyes. His hands held her gently.
" Are you okay?" he asked softly. Tygris nodded, not trusting her voice. A hand gently slipped under her chin and raised her head until she was looking directly at Chuba's eyes.
" Want to dance?" he asked in a voice so soft it might have been the wind whispering in some trees. Tygris swllowed.
" Yes." she whispered. Chuba's arms went around her waist and Tygris slipped hers over his shoulders and around his neck. Chuba began to sway gently, pulling Tygris close. Her heart thudded so hard she thought it would pound its way right out of her chest, but Chuba's heart was a steady throb near hers. It served as a beat to the pair's soft sway and slow turning. A low, deep purr rose in Chuba's chest and Tygris found herself purring as well, in a softer, more feminine voice. A light blush spread across Tygris's cheeks. Chuba looked at her.
" You're prettiest when you blush." he commented. Tygris's blush deepened and Chuba laughed softly. Tygris closed her eyes and leaned against Chuba, listening to the rumbling in his chest and the steady beating of his heart. She opened her eyes again slowly, thinking that if this was heaven, then why she still here? A blurry figure came to her vision. Tygris suddenly jerked away from Chuba to get a better look. She caught another glimpse of the figure as it was headed out the door. Tygris balled her fists in anger.
" Tygris, what's the matter?" Chuba asked, thouroghly confused by Tygris's actions.
" It's my father. He was spying on us." Tygris replied through gritted teeth. Michael and Vera appoached them. All of Tygris's anger at Vera had evaporated.
" Tygir was spying on us." Chuba said to the two humans. Vera's eyes instantly blazed.
" Spying? What a creep. I've got a mind to tell him a thing or two." she growled. Tygris made no response. Her anger was deep and her father's newest act of tyranny opened old wounds. All the insults to Chuba, Dromada, Tygris herself, and worst of all, Tygris's mother who had died a day after Tygris's birth came to mind. Each one was like a tiny dagger straight through Tygris's heart, that her own father could be so cruel. Tygris breathed in a shaky breath. She was a big cat-girl now, and even if he was trying to look out for her, Tygir had to allow her to grow up. Tygris dutifully followed her friends back up to the main deck of the Crusade. Daromada walked up to the teens. He was breathing hard.
" What's the matter, Dromada?" Chuba asked, concerned. Tygris looked up from her thoughts.
" Tygir and his guymelif, Tiger God, have disappeared. We can't find them anywhere." Dromada said. Shock enveloped Tygris.
" Disappeared? But I just saw him ten minutes ago." she said incrediously.
" That would have been enough time for him to get a ways away." Michael said thoughtfully.
" Come to think of it, he has been acting awful strange." Vera added. " He didn't seem all that surprised when my dad told him about what happened to Merle and Zam. And did anyone see him that night? No? I didn't either." Tygris couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her own father might have been the monster who did those awful things to Merle. Everyone looked to Tygris, expecting her to stand up for her father.
" I don't know, you guys. It doesn't look good." She admitted.
It had been three days since Tygir's disappearance. Vera had hung out with her friends, visited the recovering Merle, sparred with both Michael and Chuba, eaten, slept, and practiced her guymelif skills. Tygris and Chuba turned out to be as well trained for battle as her and Michael. Tygris didn't carry a sword though, she carried four throwing daggers that she was very good with, her aim being precise enough to hit a small apple on someone's head. Chuba carried a sword and was pretty good at it but he had enough skill to be better. Dromada, Vera discovered, had in his possesion a large scythe. Vera thought this was simply amazing. Vera found sparring with any one of them a challenge not only to her sword skills, but to her speed, agility, and endurance as well. Vera was presently eating in the galley with Tygris and her mother, when a jolt rocked the Crusade, similar to the one that had hit the Crusade II the day it had gone down.
" What was that?" Tygris cried. Vera stood but was instantly thrown to the floor by another jolt.
" Whoa! Vera, are you okay?" Hitomi asked in fear.
" I'm fine! Let's get to the bridge and find out what is going on!" Vera cried. The three of them ran out of the galley. Michael and Chuba ran past them.
" Wrong way!" Michael called out. All three women stopped.
" What?" they asked.
" Wrong way! We're under attack, and anyone that can pilot a guymelif is ordered to the docking bay!" Chuba yelled. The three women turned and ran behind the boys to the docking bay. Hitomi ran up to the powering Escaflowne and climbed up to its shoulder. Tygris, Chuba, and Dromada exited the Crusade to get their own guymelifs from the Blade. Guymelifs clambered out of the bay area, and into the clearing surrounding the ships. Guymelifs climbed from the Blade, a smaller one actually riding on another. Vera knew their names and knew by the descriptions she had been given which one was which. Tiger's Fury was Tygris's, the small guymelif with a large laser cannon that had been modeled after Zaiboch's weapons on its arm. Chuba rode in the guymelif carrying Tiger's Fury, the Speed Demon. It was obviously ground based with a flight engine altered for ground travel and blades that could extend for battle and one large claw that Tiger's Fury perched in. And finally there was Jaws of Death, Dromada's guymelif. It was big, like its pilot, and it had diamond-teethed jaws on its arms with incredible crushing power. A flame thrower was positioned on its upper right arm. Large flight engines, three of them, rose from its back, that could carry Jaws of Death well enough in the air, but not as well as Tiger God, Tygir's guymelif. Vera stared at the truly unique guymelifs. Van raised Escaflowne's arm.
" Hold your fire. Let's find out who we're dealing with." he called loudly. Arch Angel stood in front of Vera in her beloved Double Edge. Vera looked above her and saw about twenty flight-variant guymelifs floating there. One of them stood a little apart from the others, but Vera was to far away to figure out what the difference was.
" You up there, why do you fire on us?" Van asked the guymelifs above them. Vera had to keep from screaming in rage when she heard the voice that responded.
" I've come to claim my prize, your Majesty." it said in mock respect.
" Zensho." Vera growled. Michael tensed so much it showed on Arch Angel.
" Forget it, Zensho. Go home." he yelled. Zensho just laughed.
" Get them." he said, insane happiness radiating from his voice. The twnety or more enemy guymelifs rushed at full speed. Vera met two head on. One swift blow crippled the first and Vera turned her attention to the second.
" No, no, you fools! Get the Princess! Anyone who gets her alive will be rewarded more handsomly than he can possibly imagine!" Zensho screamed. Almost instantly Vera was surrounded by enemies. Michael and Allen, who were closest, rushed to her defense.
" Vera!" Hitomi and Van's voices rang out in unison as Escaflowne turned and ran forward to help, but too slowly. A guymelif managed to get behind Vera and knock her sharply in the back of the head. Inside Double Edge, Vera's own head slammed against the face grid and darkness blanketed her.
Michael screamed.
" No! Vera! I won't let you get her!" his voice cried, answered by only Zensho's evil laugh. An enemy grabbed Double Edge and threw it, complete with Vera inside, over his shoulder. Michael tried to rush him, but three more enemies stepped in his way. Michael slashed and cut his way through, but more kept coming. Suddenly, all the enemies rose into the air.
" Thank you for your hospitality. Vera will be going with me now. Ta-ta!" Zenso called. Michael furiously pumped the wings on Arch Angel's back to go after him, but to no avail. Arch Angel was built for ground travel. Dromada began to rise into the air.
" I'll go after him, Michael." he called. Michael didn't hear him, instead he climbed out of Arch Angel and tumbled to the ground. He hit the ground hard and slammed his fists on it.
" No. Vera, I'm sorry. I tried, but I failed." he murmured in a grief- stricken tone, tears srteaming down his face. Suddenly, Dromada cried out and Michael looked up. Tiger God was floating in mid-air.
" Dad!" Tygris cried out.
" Tygir, thank goodness you're here. The enmey captured Vera and we have to go after her. Come with me, we must hurry." Dromada said. Tygir made no response. Instead, Tygis swiftly drew one of the two maces stored on Tiger God's back and threw it at Dromada. Dromada dodged the blow and the mace slammed into the ground.
" I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to follow Lord Zensho." Tygir said. In one swift movement, he drew the other mace and slammed it into Jaws of Death, disabling two of its three flight engines. The guymelif fell to the ground.
" Traitor!" Van screamed.
" I knew it! I knew you were a traitor ever since the day we met!" Chuba cried accusingly. Tygris remained silent. With all the flight-variant guymelifs diabled, Tiger God sped away, leaving the small army behind. Michael collapsed on the ground. He wanted to die. He had failed his love, Vera, and now she would pay the ultimate price.
" I'll get her back. I don't care what it takes, I'll get her back." He said.
Vera woke in a dark room. Her head throbbed. Well, if this isn't familiar, she thought. Her body was extremely hot.
" Hold still, girl, you've got a horrible fever." a deep, somehow familiar voice told her. Vera slowly slipped back to sleep. Darkness...
Fire burned in a flame around Vera. She felt its heat but was not truly afraid. Maybe she was overcoming her fear of fire.
" Now the ultimate test begins." The voice from the sky said.
" What test?" Vera asked.
" The test that will determine whether the vision you had when Michael made his vow will come true or not. I suggest you pass." the voice said.
" But how do I do it, Folken?" Vera asked.
" You will know when the time comes. But now, I think you ought to review your history notes." Folken's voice said.
" Huh?" History notes?" Vera said, completely confused.
" You need to dwell in the past a little. Your past, Michael's past, your parents' past, Tygris's past, Chuba's past, Merle's past, and even my past. Only then will you be equiped with the appropriate weapons to win the war." Folken told her. The fire disappeared. Vera drifted in darkness again, but this time she was going somewhere. Vera closed her eyes and waited, wondering what she would encounter.
Merle curled into a tiny ball on her bed. Her body was to weak to stand, to weak to accept food now. Merle was locked away in her room, where she had been for a week now. Zam was dead. He couldn't be dead. Such a large part of Merle's life couldn't be gone, snuffed out in a single instant. He died instantly, Millerna had said. He felt no pain, Hitomi had assured her. It will get better, I promise, Vera had soothed. I know it hurts, and it always will, but you have to move on, Merle, Zam would have wanted you to, Tygris had told her. Merle didn't care. She had locked herself away, refusing food and drink. Now, her body was to weak to accept it even if Merle did want it. A fever had consumed her body in flames, making her cheeks unusually rosy. Hallucinations often rose to her eyes and dreams of Zam's last moments, when he had tried his best to protect her, haunted her until she refused to sleep. Sheer lack of will to live left Merle unable to care for her body's needs. She was ready to die. Life seemed bleak, when what she valued most was gone. Merle was dying and she knew it. She squeezed her eyes shut as if she expected to see Death itself standing over her. Her acute ears picked up the sound of a door opening and closing and her nose smelled a cat-person, a tom. Zam? Merle's mind raced madly.
" You have a fever. Poor kitten." a deep voice said gently. Merle's heart fell. It was only Dromada. A wet cloth dabbed her chapped lips. Merle tried to raise a hand to push the cloth away but her arm was too heavy now.
" Don't. I want to die." she whispered to him hoarsely. Using her voice made her whole chest ache, but Merle no longer really felt the pain.
" Don't talk, you might hurt yourself." Dromada's voice soothed.
" I don't want to live!" Merle said, trying to raise the level of her voice, but to no avail.
" Those who think death is the only answer to their problems are not ready to die, for they have never truly lived." Dromada said sternly. Merle opened her eyes slowly.
" But, what do I have left? It's all gone, my love and my dignity, all I had left is gone." Merle whispered.
" That's where you are wrong. I can tell you that more people than you suspect have cried themselves to sleep all these nights and then been haunted by nightmares. They don't want to lose you." Dromada said. Merle heard a purr rise in his chest. He started dabbing the cloth against Merle's lips again, slowly soaking her swollen tongue, wetting her parched mouth, and cooling her fevered insides. Merle found herself greedily attacking the cloth, sucking all the liquid she could get from it. Dromada laughed.
" Now she wants to live! Careful, kitten, you're not ready for so much yet." Dromada said, purring loudly. He slowly fed her sips of water and then small amounts of well-crushed food. It tasted awful, but Merle found within her a will to live that didn't care if it tasted good or not. Merle curled her tail around her and let Dromada hold her. His gentle, deep purr lulled her into a deep sleep.
Vera leaned casually against the wall of a tiny room below deck on the Crusade where the crew was holding a party. All the teens, Vera, Michael, Tygris, and Chuba, had come down to join in the fun. Chuba was standing as far away from Tygris as he could get, Vera noticed. Maybe I should set those two up, Vera thought mischeviously. She felt arms go around her waist.
" Vera, it's a slow song. Let's dance." Michael suggested, pulling Vera away from her wall.
" Hold on, Michael. Let's get Chuba and Tygris together, shall we?" Vera said, gesturing to the two cat-teens. Michael walked off in Chuba's direction and Vera went to Tygris. She grabbed Tygris's arm and pulled her forward.
" Hey, Vera, where are we going?" Tygris asked, surprised. Vera didn't reply. They met Michael in the middle of the room, Chuba with him. Tygris and Chuba carefully pretended not to acknowledge each other's presence. Vera grinned devilishly and pushed Tygris hard, sending her sprawling forward into Chuba's arms. Michael pulled Vera a little ways away and put her arms around his neck and then put his own arms around her waist.
" Now we dance." he said quietly.
" But I don't know how!" Vera cried quietly, frantic. Michael smiled.
" It's simple. Just let me lead." he said. Vera found herself swaying gently and turning a slow circle in Michael's arms to the steady throb of the music. She turned to look and Tygris and Chuba, who were looking into each other's eyes. Vera smiled as Michael kissed her cheek and turned back to him. She only hoped Tygris would find in Chuba what she had found in Michael.
Tygris could not believe her luck. Vera had betrayed her. Anger seethed in her heart. She wanted to pull away from Chuba and go tell Vera off, but something held her there. She straightened herself and carefully avoided looking into Chuba's eyes. His hands held her gently.
" Are you okay?" he asked softly. Tygris nodded, not trusting her voice. A hand gently slipped under her chin and raised her head until she was looking directly at Chuba's eyes.
" Want to dance?" he asked in a voice so soft it might have been the wind whispering in some trees. Tygris swllowed.
" Yes." she whispered. Chuba's arms went around her waist and Tygris slipped hers over his shoulders and around his neck. Chuba began to sway gently, pulling Tygris close. Her heart thudded so hard she thought it would pound its way right out of her chest, but Chuba's heart was a steady throb near hers. It served as a beat to the pair's soft sway and slow turning. A low, deep purr rose in Chuba's chest and Tygris found herself purring as well, in a softer, more feminine voice. A light blush spread across Tygris's cheeks. Chuba looked at her.
" You're prettiest when you blush." he commented. Tygris's blush deepened and Chuba laughed softly. Tygris closed her eyes and leaned against Chuba, listening to the rumbling in his chest and the steady beating of his heart. She opened her eyes again slowly, thinking that if this was heaven, then why she still here? A blurry figure came to her vision. Tygris suddenly jerked away from Chuba to get a better look. She caught another glimpse of the figure as it was headed out the door. Tygris balled her fists in anger.
" Tygris, what's the matter?" Chuba asked, thouroghly confused by Tygris's actions.
" It's my father. He was spying on us." Tygris replied through gritted teeth. Michael and Vera appoached them. All of Tygris's anger at Vera had evaporated.
" Tygir was spying on us." Chuba said to the two humans. Vera's eyes instantly blazed.
" Spying? What a creep. I've got a mind to tell him a thing or two." she growled. Tygris made no response. Her anger was deep and her father's newest act of tyranny opened old wounds. All the insults to Chuba, Dromada, Tygris herself, and worst of all, Tygris's mother who had died a day after Tygris's birth came to mind. Each one was like a tiny dagger straight through Tygris's heart, that her own father could be so cruel. Tygris breathed in a shaky breath. She was a big cat-girl now, and even if he was trying to look out for her, Tygir had to allow her to grow up. Tygris dutifully followed her friends back up to the main deck of the Crusade. Daromada walked up to the teens. He was breathing hard.
" What's the matter, Dromada?" Chuba asked, concerned. Tygris looked up from her thoughts.
" Tygir and his guymelif, Tiger God, have disappeared. We can't find them anywhere." Dromada said. Shock enveloped Tygris.
" Disappeared? But I just saw him ten minutes ago." she said incrediously.
" That would have been enough time for him to get a ways away." Michael said thoughtfully.
" Come to think of it, he has been acting awful strange." Vera added. " He didn't seem all that surprised when my dad told him about what happened to Merle and Zam. And did anyone see him that night? No? I didn't either." Tygris couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her own father might have been the monster who did those awful things to Merle. Everyone looked to Tygris, expecting her to stand up for her father.
" I don't know, you guys. It doesn't look good." She admitted.
It had been three days since Tygir's disappearance. Vera had hung out with her friends, visited the recovering Merle, sparred with both Michael and Chuba, eaten, slept, and practiced her guymelif skills. Tygris and Chuba turned out to be as well trained for battle as her and Michael. Tygris didn't carry a sword though, she carried four throwing daggers that she was very good with, her aim being precise enough to hit a small apple on someone's head. Chuba carried a sword and was pretty good at it but he had enough skill to be better. Dromada, Vera discovered, had in his possesion a large scythe. Vera thought this was simply amazing. Vera found sparring with any one of them a challenge not only to her sword skills, but to her speed, agility, and endurance as well. Vera was presently eating in the galley with Tygris and her mother, when a jolt rocked the Crusade, similar to the one that had hit the Crusade II the day it had gone down.
" What was that?" Tygris cried. Vera stood but was instantly thrown to the floor by another jolt.
" Whoa! Vera, are you okay?" Hitomi asked in fear.
" I'm fine! Let's get to the bridge and find out what is going on!" Vera cried. The three of them ran out of the galley. Michael and Chuba ran past them.
" Wrong way!" Michael called out. All three women stopped.
" What?" they asked.
" Wrong way! We're under attack, and anyone that can pilot a guymelif is ordered to the docking bay!" Chuba yelled. The three women turned and ran behind the boys to the docking bay. Hitomi ran up to the powering Escaflowne and climbed up to its shoulder. Tygris, Chuba, and Dromada exited the Crusade to get their own guymelifs from the Blade. Guymelifs clambered out of the bay area, and into the clearing surrounding the ships. Guymelifs climbed from the Blade, a smaller one actually riding on another. Vera knew their names and knew by the descriptions she had been given which one was which. Tiger's Fury was Tygris's, the small guymelif with a large laser cannon that had been modeled after Zaiboch's weapons on its arm. Chuba rode in the guymelif carrying Tiger's Fury, the Speed Demon. It was obviously ground based with a flight engine altered for ground travel and blades that could extend for battle and one large claw that Tiger's Fury perched in. And finally there was Jaws of Death, Dromada's guymelif. It was big, like its pilot, and it had diamond-teethed jaws on its arms with incredible crushing power. A flame thrower was positioned on its upper right arm. Large flight engines, three of them, rose from its back, that could carry Jaws of Death well enough in the air, but not as well as Tiger God, Tygir's guymelif. Vera stared at the truly unique guymelifs. Van raised Escaflowne's arm.
" Hold your fire. Let's find out who we're dealing with." he called loudly. Arch Angel stood in front of Vera in her beloved Double Edge. Vera looked above her and saw about twenty flight-variant guymelifs floating there. One of them stood a little apart from the others, but Vera was to far away to figure out what the difference was.
" You up there, why do you fire on us?" Van asked the guymelifs above them. Vera had to keep from screaming in rage when she heard the voice that responded.
" I've come to claim my prize, your Majesty." it said in mock respect.
" Zensho." Vera growled. Michael tensed so much it showed on Arch Angel.
" Forget it, Zensho. Go home." he yelled. Zensho just laughed.
" Get them." he said, insane happiness radiating from his voice. The twnety or more enemy guymelifs rushed at full speed. Vera met two head on. One swift blow crippled the first and Vera turned her attention to the second.
" No, no, you fools! Get the Princess! Anyone who gets her alive will be rewarded more handsomly than he can possibly imagine!" Zensho screamed. Almost instantly Vera was surrounded by enemies. Michael and Allen, who were closest, rushed to her defense.
" Vera!" Hitomi and Van's voices rang out in unison as Escaflowne turned and ran forward to help, but too slowly. A guymelif managed to get behind Vera and knock her sharply in the back of the head. Inside Double Edge, Vera's own head slammed against the face grid and darkness blanketed her.
Michael screamed.
" No! Vera! I won't let you get her!" his voice cried, answered by only Zensho's evil laugh. An enemy grabbed Double Edge and threw it, complete with Vera inside, over his shoulder. Michael tried to rush him, but three more enemies stepped in his way. Michael slashed and cut his way through, but more kept coming. Suddenly, all the enemies rose into the air.
" Thank you for your hospitality. Vera will be going with me now. Ta-ta!" Zenso called. Michael furiously pumped the wings on Arch Angel's back to go after him, but to no avail. Arch Angel was built for ground travel. Dromada began to rise into the air.
" I'll go after him, Michael." he called. Michael didn't hear him, instead he climbed out of Arch Angel and tumbled to the ground. He hit the ground hard and slammed his fists on it.
" No. Vera, I'm sorry. I tried, but I failed." he murmured in a grief- stricken tone, tears srteaming down his face. Suddenly, Dromada cried out and Michael looked up. Tiger God was floating in mid-air.
" Dad!" Tygris cried out.
" Tygir, thank goodness you're here. The enmey captured Vera and we have to go after her. Come with me, we must hurry." Dromada said. Tygir made no response. Instead, Tygis swiftly drew one of the two maces stored on Tiger God's back and threw it at Dromada. Dromada dodged the blow and the mace slammed into the ground.
" I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to follow Lord Zensho." Tygir said. In one swift movement, he drew the other mace and slammed it into Jaws of Death, disabling two of its three flight engines. The guymelif fell to the ground.
" Traitor!" Van screamed.
" I knew it! I knew you were a traitor ever since the day we met!" Chuba cried accusingly. Tygris remained silent. With all the flight-variant guymelifs diabled, Tiger God sped away, leaving the small army behind. Michael collapsed on the ground. He wanted to die. He had failed his love, Vera, and now she would pay the ultimate price.
" I'll get her back. I don't care what it takes, I'll get her back." He said.
Vera woke in a dark room. Her head throbbed. Well, if this isn't familiar, she thought. Her body was extremely hot.
" Hold still, girl, you've got a horrible fever." a deep, somehow familiar voice told her. Vera slowly slipped back to sleep. Darkness...
Fire burned in a flame around Vera. She felt its heat but was not truly afraid. Maybe she was overcoming her fear of fire.
" Now the ultimate test begins." The voice from the sky said.
" What test?" Vera asked.
" The test that will determine whether the vision you had when Michael made his vow will come true or not. I suggest you pass." the voice said.
" But how do I do it, Folken?" Vera asked.
" You will know when the time comes. But now, I think you ought to review your history notes." Folken's voice said.
" Huh?" History notes?" Vera said, completely confused.
" You need to dwell in the past a little. Your past, Michael's past, your parents' past, Tygris's past, Chuba's past, Merle's past, and even my past. Only then will you be equiped with the appropriate weapons to win the war." Folken told her. The fire disappeared. Vera drifted in darkness again, but this time she was going somewhere. Vera closed her eyes and waited, wondering what she would encounter.