Chapter 2
Peorth leaned back in the SysOp chair closing her eyes. The wedding had been 5 months ago and still the heavens was buzzing about it. Some had thought Kami-sama would have stopped it, but he surprised them. He even went down to witness it himself, much to the shock of all, especially the Bride and Groom. Peorth smiled as she thought about it. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out the card someone in the GRO had made.
'Belldandy Morisato, Goddess 1st Class Type 2 Unlimited, Goddess of the Present, Wife of Keiichi Morisato'
Peorth chuckled as she read it. Though it was meant as a gag, Belldandy's face had immediately lit up on seeing the new cards. She loved them.
"Ahh Keiichi," said Peorth quietly, "If only I had gotten your wish..."
Peorth's relaxation was interrupted as alarms blared all throughout the control building.
"Someone shut that alarm off!" shouted Peorth.
The alarm went silent, but red lights continued to flash.
"Alright. Someone tell me something!"
Erie looked up from her operator terminal, "I have detected an..anomaly."
Peorth frowned, "What kind of anomaly?"
"Unknown." replied X.
"Does anyone know anything?"
"Well.." Peorth looked down at the last operator, Chronos. She shrank under the gaze but continued speaking. "I know where it's centered."
"Where?"
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"Dammit Skuld!! Give me back my Sake!" shouted Urd as she chased Skuld through the house.
"No way!" shouted Skuld, laughing as she jumped the couch easily. Urd tried to follow, only to trip and fall flat on her face.
"Ooooo." said Skuld, "That looks like it hurts." Skuld then ran off laughing.
"One day brat," shouted Urd, "I'll make sure you pay for this!"
"You know you don't mean that."
Urd looked up at Belldandy who had just entered. "How's that?"
Belldandy smiled, "No matter what happens, she's still your sister."
"Yeah, sure." Urd stood up and brushed herself off, "Some days I wonder if we really are related."
"Does it really matter?" asked Belldandy.
Urd let out a sigh and then looked at Belldandy, "You know I hate it when you get all mushy with me."
Belldandy's only response was to smile. She started to walk back in. As she did the phone rang.
"I got it!" came Skuld's voice.
Belldandy entered the house followed by Urd. Belldandy headed towards the kitchen while Urd headed for the TV.
"Uh, Belldandy? It's for you."
Belldandy stopped and looked at Skuld. Skuld's face had gone pale.
"Who is it?" asked Belldandy.
Skuld just held out the phone and indicated she should take it. Belldandy grabbed it and placed it to her ear.
"Hello?"
"IT IS I."
Belldandy gasped and nearly dropped the phone.
"Father! What can I do for you?"
Urd peered around the corner and stared at her sister.
'Kami-sama never calls unless it's important.' thought Urd, 'Usually we have to call him."
Belldandy nervously spoke with Kami-sama for several moments, then hung up and turned to her sisters.
"What is it?" asked Urd.
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One Hour later.
"I'm home!" shouted Keiichi as he entered the house.
He received no reply. That gave him cause to pause a second. Normally at least one person would always answer him. But where was she? He entered the kitchen and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. He started towards the bedrooms when he saw the note on the table.
'Keiichi,
Father called. Something has come up that requires heavenly attention. Because we are on earth, Father asked us to handle it. I WILL BE BACK TONIGHT.
See you soon.
Love, Belldandy'
Keiichi smiled at the emphasis on her return.
'She hates it when we are separated.' thought Keiichi, 'I wonder what came up?'
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Skuld waved a scanner over the scorched ground. She was floating over a fairly large circle that had been burned into the earth. Belldandy was sitting on a nearby rock watching. Urd stepped out from the forest surrounding the spot.
"Well I can't find anything." said Urd, "What about you?"
"It's weird." said Skuld, "The pattern indicates a gate was used, but it had a massive amount of power." Skuld pointed at the ground. "Basically it had triple the power of one of Father's lightning bolts."
Urd let out a whistle, "Can you tell whose gate did it?"
Skuld shook her head, "The energy has dissipated. I can't tell if it was heaven or hell that made this gate. Considering the alarms and the fact we're here, I'd say hell. But I'll know more when we get home."
Urd glanced over at Belldandy, "You've been very quiet. What do you think?"
Belldandy glanced over at them.
"Someone was here." She said quietly, "This rock felt the pain and sorrow of the person who came through the gate." Belldandy shuddered. "I have never felt this level of despair before."
Urd took another look around the forest. "OK, this is starting to creep me out. I feel like someone's watching me."
Skuld looked around and then at her scanner. "I don't see anything."
"Whatever. Let's go home and report in."
Belldandy stood up and began walking out of the clearing, Skuld right behind her. Urd started to follow, then looked around one last time. She then vanished into the forest. After several moments, a figure in black entered the clearing. The figure stared in the direction the goddesses had departed.
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"So what was it?"
Belldandy looked over at Keiichi. "Hmm?"
She had been preparing a late dinner for her and Keiichi. Skuld had quickly run off to her room to send the data she had gathered to Yggdrasil. Urd, still creeped out by something in the forest had gone to her room.
"Where you went today, what was it?" asked Keiichi.
Belldandy sat down next to him, "We really don't know. Skuld is sending the information we gathered to Peorth. Maybe she can make sense of it with Yggdrasil."
"Then what spooked Urd?"
Belldandy looked down at the table. "I don't know. Maybe she sensed what I did." A shudder went through her body. Keiichi put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him.
"What did you sense?"
"Pain." said Belldandy softly, "Such an intense sense of loss and despair, I don't know how anyone could be hurt so." She turned her head and looked at Keiichi. "It's like the person lost everything that they held dear to them."
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As Keiichi held Belldandy in his arms, across town, a woman dressed in black entered a small church. The only thing out of place about her seemed to be the odd twitch of her left hand. The woman walked over to a small chapel off to the side. There, she lit 3 candles. She then got on her knees and clasped her hands together.
"I hope you will be able to forgive me for what I am about to do." she said softly, "But it's the only way...."
She then got up and started to leave.
"Did you find the answers you sought?"
The woman turned to see a priest beside her.
"Not the answers I would have hoped for." she replied.
"The Lord is mysterious in his ways. In the end, we must decipher what his reply mean on our own." the priest smiled, "We can exactly call him can we?"
"No." she replied, even more quiet, "We can't. Thank you Father, but I fear my path goes through the darkness." She then turned and left.
"Such a beautiful girl," the priest said softly, "what a shame such burdens fall on young shoulders."
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The temple house was dark as all were asleep. Belldandy laid curled up in Keiichi's arms, while Skuld and Urd slept in their separate rooms. Banpei- kun slowly patrolled the grounds, Sigel right behind him.
"I still don't know why I have to be up." muttered Sigel.
"Bleep." replied Banpei.
"Yes I know you enjoy the company but.."
"Banpei. Sigel." came a voice. "Code alpha alpha zeta Urd's a bug head. Shut down now."
Banpei and Sigel immediately collapsed to the ground. The figure smiled before turning towards the house.
"Urd.....come to me Urd...."
Urd slowly sat up and sleepily looked around.
"Hmmm? Wha...who?" Urd looked around, "What the hell?"
"Urd..come to me Urd.."
The voice sounded familiar, but Urd couldn't place it. Urd got up and looked out in the hallway. Keiichi and Belldandy's was closed as well as Skuld's.
"Maybe I'm hearing things.." mumbled Urd.
"Urd..."
"Maybe not."
The voice seemed to be coming from outside. Urd step to the door and looked out.
"I'm over here Urd.."
Urd looked in the direction of the voice and began walking towards it.
In Keiichi arms, Belldandy noticeably shuddered. Suddenly her eyes snapped wide open.
"URD!" Belldandy screamed.
Urd whirled around and looked back towards the house, as she did she felt and heard something whip past her head, impacting with a thunk in a house post. Urd's eyes widened as she saw a circular disk stuck deep into the post. She turned back around and spotted her would be assassin. It was obviously a female, but her black outfit was like that of a demon. If she had markings on her face, Urd could not tell for a helmet and face shield covered the upper part of her face. Long black hair cascaded out from the back of the helmet. The assassin held her left arm up, pointing her hand at Urd.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way...."the woman said.
"Who are you?" asked Urd, "What do you want?"
"The last hope for a positive future." the woman replied, "and for that future to happen.....you must die."
Peorth leaned back in the SysOp chair closing her eyes. The wedding had been 5 months ago and still the heavens was buzzing about it. Some had thought Kami-sama would have stopped it, but he surprised them. He even went down to witness it himself, much to the shock of all, especially the Bride and Groom. Peorth smiled as she thought about it. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out the card someone in the GRO had made.
'Belldandy Morisato, Goddess 1st Class Type 2 Unlimited, Goddess of the Present, Wife of Keiichi Morisato'
Peorth chuckled as she read it. Though it was meant as a gag, Belldandy's face had immediately lit up on seeing the new cards. She loved them.
"Ahh Keiichi," said Peorth quietly, "If only I had gotten your wish..."
Peorth's relaxation was interrupted as alarms blared all throughout the control building.
"Someone shut that alarm off!" shouted Peorth.
The alarm went silent, but red lights continued to flash.
"Alright. Someone tell me something!"
Erie looked up from her operator terminal, "I have detected an..anomaly."
Peorth frowned, "What kind of anomaly?"
"Unknown." replied X.
"Does anyone know anything?"
"Well.." Peorth looked down at the last operator, Chronos. She shrank under the gaze but continued speaking. "I know where it's centered."
"Where?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
"Dammit Skuld!! Give me back my Sake!" shouted Urd as she chased Skuld through the house.
"No way!" shouted Skuld, laughing as she jumped the couch easily. Urd tried to follow, only to trip and fall flat on her face.
"Ooooo." said Skuld, "That looks like it hurts." Skuld then ran off laughing.
"One day brat," shouted Urd, "I'll make sure you pay for this!"
"You know you don't mean that."
Urd looked up at Belldandy who had just entered. "How's that?"
Belldandy smiled, "No matter what happens, she's still your sister."
"Yeah, sure." Urd stood up and brushed herself off, "Some days I wonder if we really are related."
"Does it really matter?" asked Belldandy.
Urd let out a sigh and then looked at Belldandy, "You know I hate it when you get all mushy with me."
Belldandy's only response was to smile. She started to walk back in. As she did the phone rang.
"I got it!" came Skuld's voice.
Belldandy entered the house followed by Urd. Belldandy headed towards the kitchen while Urd headed for the TV.
"Uh, Belldandy? It's for you."
Belldandy stopped and looked at Skuld. Skuld's face had gone pale.
"Who is it?" asked Belldandy.
Skuld just held out the phone and indicated she should take it. Belldandy grabbed it and placed it to her ear.
"Hello?"
"IT IS I."
Belldandy gasped and nearly dropped the phone.
"Father! What can I do for you?"
Urd peered around the corner and stared at her sister.
'Kami-sama never calls unless it's important.' thought Urd, 'Usually we have to call him."
Belldandy nervously spoke with Kami-sama for several moments, then hung up and turned to her sisters.
"What is it?" asked Urd.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
One Hour later.
"I'm home!" shouted Keiichi as he entered the house.
He received no reply. That gave him cause to pause a second. Normally at least one person would always answer him. But where was she? He entered the kitchen and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. He started towards the bedrooms when he saw the note on the table.
'Keiichi,
Father called. Something has come up that requires heavenly attention. Because we are on earth, Father asked us to handle it. I WILL BE BACK TONIGHT.
See you soon.
Love, Belldandy'
Keiichi smiled at the emphasis on her return.
'She hates it when we are separated.' thought Keiichi, 'I wonder what came up?'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Skuld waved a scanner over the scorched ground. She was floating over a fairly large circle that had been burned into the earth. Belldandy was sitting on a nearby rock watching. Urd stepped out from the forest surrounding the spot.
"Well I can't find anything." said Urd, "What about you?"
"It's weird." said Skuld, "The pattern indicates a gate was used, but it had a massive amount of power." Skuld pointed at the ground. "Basically it had triple the power of one of Father's lightning bolts."
Urd let out a whistle, "Can you tell whose gate did it?"
Skuld shook her head, "The energy has dissipated. I can't tell if it was heaven or hell that made this gate. Considering the alarms and the fact we're here, I'd say hell. But I'll know more when we get home."
Urd glanced over at Belldandy, "You've been very quiet. What do you think?"
Belldandy glanced over at them.
"Someone was here." She said quietly, "This rock felt the pain and sorrow of the person who came through the gate." Belldandy shuddered. "I have never felt this level of despair before."
Urd took another look around the forest. "OK, this is starting to creep me out. I feel like someone's watching me."
Skuld looked around and then at her scanner. "I don't see anything."
"Whatever. Let's go home and report in."
Belldandy stood up and began walking out of the clearing, Skuld right behind her. Urd started to follow, then looked around one last time. She then vanished into the forest. After several moments, a figure in black entered the clearing. The figure stared in the direction the goddesses had departed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
"So what was it?"
Belldandy looked over at Keiichi. "Hmm?"
She had been preparing a late dinner for her and Keiichi. Skuld had quickly run off to her room to send the data she had gathered to Yggdrasil. Urd, still creeped out by something in the forest had gone to her room.
"Where you went today, what was it?" asked Keiichi.
Belldandy sat down next to him, "We really don't know. Skuld is sending the information we gathered to Peorth. Maybe she can make sense of it with Yggdrasil."
"Then what spooked Urd?"
Belldandy looked down at the table. "I don't know. Maybe she sensed what I did." A shudder went through her body. Keiichi put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him.
"What did you sense?"
"Pain." said Belldandy softly, "Such an intense sense of loss and despair, I don't know how anyone could be hurt so." She turned her head and looked at Keiichi. "It's like the person lost everything that they held dear to them."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
As Keiichi held Belldandy in his arms, across town, a woman dressed in black entered a small church. The only thing out of place about her seemed to be the odd twitch of her left hand. The woman walked over to a small chapel off to the side. There, she lit 3 candles. She then got on her knees and clasped her hands together.
"I hope you will be able to forgive me for what I am about to do." she said softly, "But it's the only way...."
She then got up and started to leave.
"Did you find the answers you sought?"
The woman turned to see a priest beside her.
"Not the answers I would have hoped for." she replied.
"The Lord is mysterious in his ways. In the end, we must decipher what his reply mean on our own." the priest smiled, "We can exactly call him can we?"
"No." she replied, even more quiet, "We can't. Thank you Father, but I fear my path goes through the darkness." She then turned and left.
"Such a beautiful girl," the priest said softly, "what a shame such burdens fall on young shoulders."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
The temple house was dark as all were asleep. Belldandy laid curled up in Keiichi's arms, while Skuld and Urd slept in their separate rooms. Banpei- kun slowly patrolled the grounds, Sigel right behind him.
"I still don't know why I have to be up." muttered Sigel.
"Bleep." replied Banpei.
"Yes I know you enjoy the company but.."
"Banpei. Sigel." came a voice. "Code alpha alpha zeta Urd's a bug head. Shut down now."
Banpei and Sigel immediately collapsed to the ground. The figure smiled before turning towards the house.
"Urd.....come to me Urd...."
Urd slowly sat up and sleepily looked around.
"Hmmm? Wha...who?" Urd looked around, "What the hell?"
"Urd..come to me Urd.."
The voice sounded familiar, but Urd couldn't place it. Urd got up and looked out in the hallway. Keiichi and Belldandy's was closed as well as Skuld's.
"Maybe I'm hearing things.." mumbled Urd.
"Urd..."
"Maybe not."
The voice seemed to be coming from outside. Urd step to the door and looked out.
"I'm over here Urd.."
Urd looked in the direction of the voice and began walking towards it.
In Keiichi arms, Belldandy noticeably shuddered. Suddenly her eyes snapped wide open.
"URD!" Belldandy screamed.
Urd whirled around and looked back towards the house, as she did she felt and heard something whip past her head, impacting with a thunk in a house post. Urd's eyes widened as she saw a circular disk stuck deep into the post. She turned back around and spotted her would be assassin. It was obviously a female, but her black outfit was like that of a demon. If she had markings on her face, Urd could not tell for a helmet and face shield covered the upper part of her face. Long black hair cascaded out from the back of the helmet. The assassin held her left arm up, pointing her hand at Urd.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way...."the woman said.
"Who are you?" asked Urd, "What do you want?"
"The last hope for a positive future." the woman replied, "and for that future to happen.....you must die."
