Authors note: I know, I know... it's been a while. And this time, I don't have a great excuse so I'll just tell you this: Im Lazy. There. It wont happen again.

Anyways, My friend Jeremy already gave me my birthday present... strange thing is my birthday isn't until April 13th. Oh well, I still love it and my other friends are going to have a very hard time trying to beat him to who can give me the best present (They do this every year. All of them try to one up each other. lol.) HE GOT ME THE JAPANESE KINGDOM HEARTS SOUNDTRACK! I love it sooooo much. (I like the Japanese vocals better then the English.) Two disks and 76 songs of utter greatness. I thank him every time I see him now!

Oh and Rorouni Kenshin and Yu Yu Hakusho are on Toonami now... Yay!

but .hack//sign is gone. (Cries.)

I just ate a bowl of ice-cream and Im freezing... hard to type when your cold...

Anyways, here's the next chapter!

CHAPTER 20

"Goji?" Tyra's voice was heard on the Temjin X's com-link. Her face appeared shortly after on a small screen.

"Yeah?" Goji replied, looking up at the screen.

"Do you think this plan of Cloud's will work?" Her voice was quiet and almost uncertain, "I mean... It's not really that much of a plan. And it pretty much just... well,"

"Seems to hand him over?" He finished for her, knowing exactly what she meant.

She nodded and quietly answered. "Yeah."

Goji was silent for a few moments, crossing his arms in front of him. He sighed and shook his head, "Tyra, let me tell you what I think. I think he knows that this plan pretty much dooms him. But I also think he cares much more about the kids, Ori and Naomi." He paused, and sighed once again, "And... We all know that Rain's stuck. It's just gut instinct for all of us, ya know..."

Tyra looked down, and nodded, "But..."

"He knows Sin will probably get ahold of him. He knows Sin has already got and will use Rain. He knows he's giving himself up, But..."

Tyra looked up and Goji nodded, "But he's willing to do that to save the kids. You know the way he is, always caring for others more than himself. He's willing to become a demi-human again for them. It's probably tearing him up inside right now, knowing there's no way to save Rain, or himself. He probably also feels really guilty."

"But, Sin is going to use him to kill other people, he's going to use him against us if he gets ahold of him." Tyra said quietly.

"That's where he's counting on us." Goji replied, "He's counting on us to save him."

Tyra looked confused, and stared into Goji's emotionless face, trying to find out what he meant.

"He's counting on us to save him, by destroying him." Rei's voice called, just as his face appeared on the com-link, "Don't worry, I made sure he wasn't listening in."

Goji nodded, "Yeah."

Tyra sighed and shook her head, closing the com-link. Pulling her zoid lower to avoid the harsh winds of the storm she whispered, "I don't know if I'd be able to do that."

********************************

"O... Orihime?" Rain murmured. She found herself lying on the floor, and Ori and Naomi were on both sides of her. Ori was supporting her head and Naomi looked worried. It didn't take long for her to figure out why. She was a demi-human. But something was different... she didn't have all of her strength, most of the power she remembered feeling before was absent... not all of it, there was still some left, but enough to make her feel a bit weak and tired.

"Rain are you ok?" Naomi asked, her eyes almost to the brink of tears.

Rain Sighed heavily, "Sin... he did this... didn't he?"

"Yeah. He got ahold of me and Naomi too... I don't know about the others." Orihime answered.

Rain pushed herself slowly up, feeling much heavier than normal due to her armor, looking around she asked, "Where..?"

"Sin had us taken to a room somewhere on the second level right after he freed you from the container thing." Naomi explained.

"How long ago was it that Sin got us?" Rain asked.

"Not to long." Ori answered, "Not even a day."

"Then... how...?" Rain lifted a hand in front of her face, and flexed her fingers, observing the armor that graced her skin.

Naomi knew what she meant and shook her head, "Im not sure. He said something about having all of Lukes data, and how it was easier to create a demi-human now than before...." She paused, "and how it only took a bit of time to turn them back."

Rain stumbled a bit as she slowly pulled herself over to the bed that was located in the corner of the room, and sat down. She ran her armored/gloved hand through her long silver hair, and fluttered her thin wings a bit. She looked up sharply, a sudden thought coming to her mind, "Have... have you heard anything about Koh?"

Ori and Naomi walked over and sat next to her, and Orihime sighed, shaking her head, "Not a thing Rain... im sorry...."

Rain was silent for a bit, her gaze had shifted back to her hand. She flexed her fingers again and closed her eyes, "Did Cloud ever come back to the base?"

"If he did it wasn't until we were gone." Ori answered.

"So that means he doesn't have the Ryuu yet." Rain almost smiled, but it wasn't a warm or happy smile. It was filled with weariness,"Cloud'll come... He'll save us."

"And what if Sin gets ahold of him?" Naomi asked solemnly.

Rain shook her head, "Then I pray that someone or something will find a way to save us all."

*******************************

"Are you sure this is the room he came out of?" Shiro asked, looking at the door. It was unlocked.

"Yeah, im positive." Will answered, "do you think Koh's in there?"

"It's possible. I say we check it out." Kristen said.

Shiro wiped his face again and nodded, pushing a small button over on the control panel to the door. It shifted open to reveal a dark room. Against one wall was a bed with a figure lying in it, curled beneath the covers.

"Koh?" Hikari asked as they slowly approached the figure. He shifted slightly revealing a head of long silver hair.

"Koh!" Kristen cried, waking and startling the figure.

He sat up suddenly and flung the covers off of him, turning to face the four, he stared at them or a while, until he asked, "Who the hell are you!?"

"Koh... it's us!" Will said, taking a few steps forward but stopping as Koh shifted his gaze onto him. He was different. His brilliant blue eyes were cold and emotionless, almost evil. And his voice seemed to be filled with anger and hatred.

"I have no clue who you are, but I want to know why the hell you brought two of the prisoners that I captured here!" Koh yelled.

"What!?" The four teenagers found themselves short of breath.

"What are you talking about Koh!?" Kristen demanded, she was about to walk up and grab him, but Shiro took hold of her shoulder and shook his head.

"Sin's gotten ahold of him." Will whispered after a few seconds, making everyone realize the obvious.

"Answer my question!" Koh demanded, pushing himself off of the bed and pulling himself to his full height, "I want to know why the two prisoners that I captured are here! I didn't go through all the trouble of attacking that damned base and capturing them for Sin just to have them suddenly be brought up to my room without explanation. I have a migraine and I want them gone so I can rest!"

"It was you!?" Kristen almost screamed, "YOU attacked the waterfall base!?" She pulled herself away from Shiro and leapt at Koh, tackling him to the ground, "You son of a..." She pulled her helmet off as Koh removed from the shock of suddenly being attacked.

"Kristen!" Shiro threw down Hikari's jacket and rushed over to the enraged Kristen.

"You bastered. You damn traitor!" Kristen swung a hard punch at Koh's jaw, finding her mark perfectly. He cursed and tried to shove her her off, but to no avail, he was pinned up against the bed and a small nightstand, "You betrayed your own friends and family you ass!" She dug her fingers into his arms and he let out a small gasp as he continued to try and push the furious teenager off of him. But she wouldn't give in, "You gave your own mother to Sin!"

"Kristen!" Shiro grabbed her arm tightly and she cried out slightly as he pretty much threw her off of Koh. She fell to the ground, her eyes blazing and filled with tears.

Koh stood up shakily and rubbed the blood off of his lip and chin using his hand, his eyes now also filled with even more hatred. Shiro grabbed him by the neck of his clothes and shoved him onto the bed. Will ran over to his side just as Hikari ran to keep Kristen calm.

"I'll kill you all." Koh cursed, standing only to be forced back down by Shiro, who then took the time to backhand him in the side of his head, sending him into unconsciousness.

"Shiro, look for some kind of choker or something that could be controlling him." Will said, "I think Nadia's uncle said something about that."

Shiro nodded and looked, finding exactly that. A black choker hidden underneath the turtle neck that Koh was wearing. He grabbed ahold and tore it off, relieved to see Koh seemed to shift suddenly as he did it, his entire body seeming to relax.

********************************

"Jessie?" Nadia's voice came into the cockpit, and he looked up to find her standing above him and looking in.

"Yeah Nadi?" Jessie asked, standing and pulling himself onto his zoids head.

"I just wanted to come talk." Nadia answered, letting her feet hang down into the cockpit.

Jessie nodded and sat next to her, "What about?"

"I was thinking, and you know what...?" Nadia looked up and around the room.

"What?"

"We're like pawns." Nadia replied, as she turned to face him.

"Hmmm?" Jessie was a bit confused.

"I mean like in chess. We all just Sins pawns in a game he's sure he can win."

Jessie thought about it for a second, and nodded, "I guess I see what you mean. But... this isn't a game. This is real. And even if we are just his pawns..." He paused and grinned, "We're some pretty strong, kick-ass pawns."

Nadia almost seemed to smile, "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing."

*************************************

Sin looked down at the chess board and sighed, the game was almost complete, but there were still so many ways both sides could win.

*************************************

Chris looked over to the two that were talking and then looked back over at Zeke, nodding, "I know they can do it Zeke.... these kids will be the ones to save us all... I know it."

Zeke roared in agreement and nudged his current master lovingly.

Chris looked down at a message flashing on his screen and sighed, "And finaly it's ready. Just in case this plan doesn't work..." The screen's letters were light blue and read: PROJECT PHOENIX COMPLETE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~end of chapter 20~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry for the delay, like I said above, I am quite lazy, but something did actually come up this weekend that prevented me from updating... my dads 43 birthday, everyone wish him happy B-day!.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Don't forget to review!

I was looking at some stuff, and some people said that their summer vacation starts soon... THATS NOT FAIR! mine doesn't start till late June I think... (Maybe July?)

I have just been informed that... the Japanese exchange people will not be coming due to the war. This is very upsetting to me because this year was the 20 year anniversary of the sister city program between Wyandotte MI, and Komaki Japan. They were going to send 18 students and 4 adults. But this also means that I probably won't be able to go to japan again any time soon....