Guilty Gear, its characters and settings are property of Sammy Studios, and are being used in this fanfiction without permission.  This fic is rated R for violence and sexual content, and it contains yaoi material. 

Culmination

Chapter 2

Up until Johnny called them all together, Ky had been feeling much better.  He was clean, wrapped in fresh bandages and nestled in cool sheets.  Though eating while on his stomach had started as a difficult task, it was April who finally suggested he drink the soup broth through a straw; despite his embarrassment the warmth was now settled comfortably in him.  Relieving himself was a little trickier, as it involved climbing out of bed with his sore back, but once on his feet his legs held his weight well enough for him to move about a bit.  It was progress, but he much preferred the stable mattress beneath him for now.

Presently the small room was cramped with bodies; Johnny and Testament were each leaning against a space of wall, Dizzy seated in the room's only chair with Bridget cross-legged at her feet, May perched lightly on the edge of Ky's bed.  Only Johnny seemed to know why they'd all been gathered and he didn't look happy about it, testimony to the gravity of the situation.  But he didn't speak his mind right away, instead turning the floor over to Ky.  They were anxious to hear his side of the events surrounding his injuries, after all, though he was not nearly as interested in telling them.

"I was on my way south toward the Benevento Settlement," Ky explained, "when my instruments detected the storm."  He felt somewhat awkward having to tell his story this way, stretched out on his stomach and not quite able to see everyone.  "I'm not as experienced a pilot as I'd like to be, so I landed in Genoa to wait for it to pass.  They…came out of nowhere."

Ky licked his lips.  He could feel all their gazes on him heavily, and it was somewhat unnerving with the memory of glowing eyes suddenly fresh in his mind.  They had crawled out of the darkness like wolves….  "At first I thought there was only a dozen of them, so I left my craft.  I was afraid their electric attacks would damage the equipment.  But as soon as I started towards them, more appeared.  I couldn't use Thunderseal's full power in the rain, so I did my best to keep them away from the vehicle and fight them blade to blade."

"And the explosion?" May asked impatiently.

"I didn't see where it came from."  He closed his eyes a moment, as if trying to make his jumbled memories fall into place, but he only remembered how it felt when his uniform was seared off his back, taking flesh with it.  "Somewhere behind me.  I thought it might have been my ship exploding, or one of the robots self-detonating, but I don't remember seeing or feeling any shrapnel.  It felt almost like an impact of magic, though I didn't think they were capable of something like that.  I tried to retreat, but there were too many of them, and in the end, I…"

Ky glanced over at Testament, but the man was still, unmoved by his short testimony.  "I had no other choice but to use Thunderseal."

"It was a risky move," Johnny remarked, though he sounded as if he approved.

"It was.  But I was willing to take a chance."

"Of course.  Though…it may have only bought you some time."  His expression darkening a little, he slipped a folded piece of paper out of his coat, passing it to Dizzy so she could show it to Ky.  "That report was issued just a few hours ago, from the European branch of the Global Police," Johnny explained for the others' benefit.  "It seems that our Officer Kiske here missed some kind of appointment two days ago that clued the public into his being MIA.  So they had to make a statement."

Ky scanned the report quickly, a slight frown tipping his lips.  The report was fairly straightforward, citing where and when Ky had made his last report, though naturally saying nothing of the nature of his investigation.  It was all proper and procedural, except there that was something about the last few lines that struck an odd chord in the officer.  He frowned down at it severely.  "What exactly is this report implying?" he wondered aloud, his eyes meeting Johnny's.

May, who was obviously annoyed at being in the dark, snatched the paper away from him to read for herself.  "'However,'" she read precisely, "'this is not the first incident in which Officer Kiske has neglected to make his reports, and it is therefore the opinion of this office that no great concern as to his well being is yet warranted.'  Hmph, that's not very nice."  She tossed it back towards Ky, but the paper floated out of his reach to be snatched up by Bridget, who also read through it with Dizzy looking over his shoulder.

"They're making it sound as if you do this a lot," Bridget remarked.  "You're not a slacker, are you?"

"Of course not," Ky objected.  He reached out, and Bridget obediently handed the report to him.  "It's a blatant exaggeration which I find offensive."

Dizzy folded her hands in her lap as she glanced between everyone present.  "Can't we just take Ky home?" she suggested.  "He's clearly been injured—then everyone will know it's not his fault."

But Johnny's face was grim, and he waved vaguely towards May.  "May, will you go fetch what we were talking about earlier?"

"Sure thing, Johnny."  May hurried out of the room, excited to be helping,.

"I don't think you quite understand the situation you're in right now, Ky." Johnny said, plucking his sunglasses off.  "Going back now could be just as dangerous as the fight we pulled you out of."

Ky's eyes narrowed at the elder man.  "What are you talking about?"

May returned suddenly, her arms full with two wrapped bundles: one nearly as long as she was tall, the other round and about the size of a small basketball.  Johnny thanked her and set both on the table.  "I'm talking about these," he told everyone, uncovering the first: a sword, long with a white blade and a blue jewel recessed into the metal near the handle.  It was badly scorched and covered in hairline cracks, but very recognizable.

"That's…"  Though it still hurt Ky pushed himself stubbornly upright, into a sitting position.  "That is not my Thunderseal," he said confidently, keeping one hand on the bed's headrest to support him.  "It's a cheap imitation."

"You're right.  May and I were comparing the two, earlier.  Yours is in much better shape, too," he added for Ky's benefit.  "We pulled a dozen of these out of Genoa, along with this."  He pulled back the covering on the other object, revealing a head of scorched blond hair and a grotesque metal face--the head of a robot.  "There were about twenty around you, as far as we could tell from the pieces, and at least another thirty spread out over a mile radius.  It really must have been some fight."

Ky's expression hardened.  "It was.  Now, please continue."

Johnny smirked a little at his serious tone, but continued as he'd been asked.  "Anyway, that's about fifty of these things, give or take, not to mention some we've spotted on our own.  It seems like they're all over the place.  Someone's really invested in their construction for there to be so many in so short a time."

"That's what I've been investigating," Ky said with a short nod.  "Zepp should be crossing over this area soon, and I was hoping to further my inquires there with a Dr. Galleon."

Johnny and Testament both glanced at him significantly, making Ky sit up a little taller.  "What is it?"

"Just funny you should mention him," Johnny said with a shrug.

Testament, for the first time looking as if he were really paying attention to the discussions, suggested, "Maybe you should just tell him the whole thing up front.  It'll save us time, rather than you walking everyone through it."

Johnny sighed, scratching at the back of his neck.  "I guess you're right."  He took a deep breath as he faced Ky once more.  "All right.  Now, don't freak on us, but…I think—and Testament agrees—that your superiors have betrayed you.  That they're going to disband the Global Police and replace it with these robots."

Ky was so stunned that he merely stared at the pair for a long time, his face blank.  The idea was too preposterous to laugh at, to even acknowledge.  It might not even have been worth it to refute such blatant foolishness.  But Johnny's stern expression didn't waver, and Testament looked as cold as he ever did.  They were being serious.  Ky snorted quietly.  "Ridiculous.  Disband the police?  It's absurd."

May shot him a childish glare, but Johnny cut in before she could protest. "I know, I know.  But hear me through."  When it looked as if Ky would allow him at least that much he sighed slightly and continued.  "Like I was saying, these robots aren't easy business.  They're top-notch, well equipped, and there are lots of them.  Whoever's making them is pumping them out by the dozen.  Not to mention these."  He twisted the blackened sword between his hands.  "They look like Thunderseal, for sure, but as far as we can figure they don't run on magic—there's no way a robot can control such sensitive magic, anyway.  It's probably running on something a little more old-fashioned, like the electric generators Zepp uses."

Ky nodded, thinking it best to indulge Johnny in his explanation.  These were all things he'd considered before.  "That's why I thought of Dr. Galleon.  Since he was educated in Zepp, I thought he would have some insight as to who might be responsible for these…things."

"Yeah."  Johnny pursed his lips and went on.  "Anyway, back to the police."  He nodded toward the report Ky was still holding unconsciously in his fist.  "That report is only the start.  They admit to the public you're missing, implying you've done it before.  People start to wonder.  Rumors circulate.  You either come back fine and raise suspicion, or come back busted up and admit defeat.  Either way your reputation is going to suffer, especially since you can't really explain what you were investigating, now can you?"  He placed the sword abruptly aside.  "So what then?  The government controls the media, and there's any number of people controlling the government—with public opinion against you, they can spread any story they want to discredit you and divide your officers.  Maybe even that you're trying to defect."

Ky's eyes narrowed on him dangerously, his hand clenching on the headboard.  "Ridiculous," he snapped again.  "I would never, and my officers know that."

"Are you calling Johnny a liar?" May finally challenged, her pent up frustration coming through.  "'Cause he's a lot smarter than you, you ungrateful little—"

"I'm saying there is no way I would betray my own men!"

"May, Mr. Kiske, please," Dizzy tried to calm them, glancing between the pair.  "Please, let's just listen to everything he has to say, and then we can try to make sense of it together.  All right?"

May crossed her arms in a pout, and scowled fiercely at Bridget, who was giggling at her from beneath his hand.  Ky glanced away from them all to regain his composure.  He was a little embarrassed about the outburst, as he knew there was no point it taking his frustrations out on them.  But all this talk was beginning to solidify in his brain and make it ache.  "So you're saying," he surmised as calmly and evenly as he could manage, "that our own government is going to destroy the order that it created?"

"He's saying," Testament interrupted firmly, "that they're going to replace it with a new order.  With these machines.  You and your men are now expendable."

When Testament spoke the words they were cold, unimpassioned, and yet it wasn't until then that Ky even began to admit the possibility that they were true; the Gear's severe expression allowed for no argument or denial.  Ky's jaw tensed as he listened, forced to take it all in; the situation was falling quickly out of his hands.

"It's probably been a long time in coming," Testament went on.  "These things take time and planning.  It's not surprising that you're the top of their list; an officer of the law, a well-known public figure, and advocate of justice.  If they were somehow able to shake your position it would leave the public susceptible to a new figurehead.  Such as the unwavering order a machine can provide."

Ky's jaw worked tensely as the Gear fell abruptly silent.  He imagined he was being allowed time to comment, but he suddenly had no way to defend himself.  Finally he licked his lips and met Testament's sole gaze.  "There is no proof.  Even if that were so, this report is nothing more than an attempt to calm public concern.  It lends nothing to these theories of yours."

Testament regarded him calmly, and just when it appeared that he would speak again he turned abruptly to Johnny.  "Show him the rest."

Johnny was reluctant, but by now everyone was watching him expectantly.  With a helpless shrug he picked up the robot head by the hair and flipped it over, making unseen adjustments.  "We have a few computer geeks on board," he explained, and with a flick of his fingers the head hummed to life.  When he set it back down the wide robotic eyes were glowing pale gold.  "They managed to hotwire this thing—not very well, but enough to get to it's brain."  He pointed to his own head for effect.  "A battery and a speaker is all we need to make him spill his robot guts.  Like this."  He tapped the top of it.  "Hey, Robo Ky."

Ky glared at him.  "Robo Ky?" he echoed with annoyance.

"It does look like you," Bridget spoke up from the floor.

Johnny cleared his throat.  "Yeah, well, that's what we've been calling it.  Robo Ky—tell us what your purpose is."

The severed machine hummed and whirled, its eyes flashing as it generated the answer.  "TO_ FOLLOW_ THE_ COMMANDS_ SET_BY_MY_PROGRAM."

"And what commands are those?"

Another whirl.  "TO_APPREHEND_ OR_ DISPOSE_ OF_ THOSE_ INDICATED_ BY_ MY_ SUPERIORS."

Johnny nodded thoughtfully.  "Who have you been ordered to apprehend?"

The eyes darkened for a moment, then returned, a bit brighter than before.  "JELLYFISH PIRATE MAY," the robot reported precisely.  "BAIKEN.  WU JIN.  MITO ANJI.  CHIPP ZANUFF—"

"That's enough," Johnny interrupted, glancing at Ky to make sure he understood.  All of those names had been on the bounty lists that had been circulating recently.  "Now, who have you been ordered to 'dispose of'?"

"ANY_ AND_ ALL_ UNIDENTIFIED_ GEARS.  JELLYFISH_ PIRATE_ JOHNNY.  GLOBAL_ POLICE_ OFFICER_ KY_ KISKE."

Ky's fingers clenched, but he forced himself to relax.  That wasn't anything he hadn't already known—his battle four days ago was proof enough that someone wanted him dead.  "That does not prove anything," he objected.  "Anyone could have—"

"Then let's ask him," Johnny suggested, his patience also wearing thin.  "How about it, Robo Ky?  Who are your superiors?"

The response took longer in coming than the previous answers, and Ky waited anxiously even knowing he had already guessed the answer.  "THE_ POSTWAR_ ADMINISTRATION_ BUREAU."

Before Ky could comment, Johnny quickly added, "Who was responsible for your creation?"

The robot whirled and clicked, replying, "UNKNOWN."

Johnny rolled his eyes.  "I mean, who created the design for you?"

Another long pause.  "DR._ ARTHUR_ GALLEON."

Ky had never been known for being easily rattled, and yet they all clearly saw the shock that flashed behind his wide, blue eyes.  It might have even been unsettling, judging by the way Dizzy and Bridget both shifted, to see the man so blatantly distressed.  Especially when neither of them understood the cause.  Dizzy looked to Johnny for explanation.

"Arthur Galleon is a scientist specializing in robotics," Testament said instead, his gaze focused severely on Ky.  "He works for the United Nations--Ky's superiors."

Ky took in a long, deep breath.  "I don't believe it," he said with quiet firmness.  "Dr. Galleon is a highly respected researcher—I spoke to him myself once before.  He's not capable of this kind of destruction—that thing could have been programmed to say that."

Testament snorted and pushed abruptly away from the wall.  "Believe what you want.  It won't change anything."

"How can I believe it?  You're telling me—"

"Get used to it," the Gear snapped abruptly, startling them all with his sudden vehemence.  Even Johnny flinched away from him.  "They've used you, and now you're through—that's all.  It happens all the time, so don't act so damn surprised."  With a scowl he turned, heading for the door.

Dizzy started to call after him, hesitated, and tried again.  "Testament—"

"Let him go back.  Then he'll see for himself."  He jerked the door open, not bothering to close it behind him as he disappeared down the hall.

A long, tense silence was left in Testament's wake.  May and Bridget exchanged childish, wide-eyed looks, while Dizzy stared at the floor and Johnny scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.  Ky remained very still, head lowered, eyes unseeing.  Somehow, it was Testament's words again, spoken with such certainty, which seemed to instill the reality of his situation into him.  It was a cold truth that sent a hard shudder down his spine and made the space behind his ribs ache, as if he couldn't breathe.  None of this made sense, even though he could feel their words settling into him.

"If…it's all true," Ky said, very softly, "why are you telling me this?  What do you—any of you—have to gain by helping me?"

"What, huh?"  Though Ky didn't look up he could hear the shift of leather as Johnny shrugged.  "You're not a bad guy, Kiske, and none of us want to see what the Bureau has in store for us.  May and I are on their list, too, after all."  His tone lowered.  "Besides, we're better off with men like you in charge.  I know a robot won't go easy on the children on this ship."

Though he had spoken seriously, the effect was ruined somewhat when May impishly replied, "We're not all children."

Johnny chuckled.  "Of course not.  Well."  He lifted the robot head in one hand so he could switch it off once more before returning it to the table.  "Let's give Ky some time to rest, eh?  He's had a rough time as it is, and I'm sure he wants to think some things over."

"Okay, Johnny."

The pair headed for the door.  "Dizzy, Bridget," Johnny called over his shoulder.  "You, too, hm?"

"Oh."  Dizzy pushed awkwardly to her feet, glancing between him and Ky.  "Yes, you're right."  But the blonde didn't lift his head, and after a moment she fell into step behind her companions.

Ky barely heard them leave.  He was still seated on the bed, knuckles white as he gripped the wooden headboard, a tiny, weary tremble spreading through his limbs.  He felt as if he had been left once more in Genoa—cold, helpless, even.  Everything refused to make sense to him, and just when he thought he'd fit it together his insides raged in denial, shattering the half-formed revelations.

"Are you all right?"

He started at the soft voice so close to his ear; he thought the others had left.  "I'm all right," he murmured.  Even he cringed at how hoarse his voice sounded.  "I just need some time.  Some time to think…I have to think."  He wilted, shoulders sagging as he pressed his face into his hand and sighed.  "Sol…was this what you were trying to warn me about?" His face twisted in a grimace.  "Did you know this was going to happen?"

A pair of gentle hands fell over his, carefully peeling it away from the wood he had been gripping.  His fingers were aching and stiff—he hadn't realized they were so tightly clenched.  When he raised his gaze it was into a pair of wide blue eyes.  "Bridget?"

The boy smiled hopefully.  "Why don't I take you back myself?" he suggested.  "I'm a registered bounty hunter—I could say I rescued you from the pirates while looking for a bounty.  They'd…believe that, wouldn't they?  And everyone would be glad you're back."

Ky sighed, though he did feel some of the tension dissipate from his stomach.  He simply couldn't hold onto his frustration with Bridget looking so innocent and helpful.  It was relieving—he was afraid he might have become ill.  "If Johnny and Testament are right, it might not matter who believes me.  Someone…is after my life."  He rubbed at his eyes.  "Wherever I go, the people around me will be put in danger.  But if I stay in hiding for a while, here…"

Bridget considered this seriously for a long moment, and Ky was silently grateful for even just the comforting presence at his side.  Slowly, his eyes swept the room he now occupied.  Here with the Jellyfish Pirates…it was unlikely that anyone knew about it yet.  If he could heal, perhaps, and try to figure out what it was the people behind this were really after, there might be a chance of solving this mess.

His attention was drawn to the robot head still resting across from him.  Even when dormant it was unsettling.  But when Bridget shifted next to him, preparing to speak, he abruptly straightened.  "Bridget.  You're…a bounty hunter, right?"

"Huh?"  He blinked at Ky, puzzled.  "Yeah.  Or maybe…I was?"

"Then you know those names the robot was listing off?"

"Yeah."  Bridget brightened a little at the prospect of being useful.

"There might even be more," Ky thought aloud, remembering how Johnny had cut it off.  "If we can figure out why they're all wanted…what they intend to do with those they apprehend…maybe it will give us some clue as to their intentions."  It may have only been wishful thinking, and he knew that, but he clung to it; even if Johnny and Testament were correct in their assumptions he would not sit idly by and let the names of his comrades be slandered.

Bridget nodded, and though his eyes were gleaming he seemed to be taking this seriously.  "What should I do?"

"Find some paper, and something to write with," Ky instructed.  His head was beginning to ache, so he stretched out on the bed once more as Bridget hurried to do as he asked.  He wasn't used to lying on his stomach like this but he had little other choice with his back the way it was.  "If it's all right, I'd like to make a list of all the names the robot has."

"What about the man?" Bridget asked as he dragged the room's only chair up to the table.  He poked at the robotic head gingerly with the pencil he'd found.

"The…man?"

"The man that was with the robots," Bridget explained, as if it were obvious.  "Testament was talking about it before.  Didn't he tell you?"

Ky frowned, but he suspected his memory was no better off than it had been earlier.  "No, he didn't mention it.  I thought it was just the robots…."

Bridget shrugged.  "I don't really know, either.  He just mentioned there was someone there that wasn't one of these ugly guys."  He tapped the robot sharply on the head.  "Mean little suckers."

"So…that's something else for us to figure out."  Determined not to let himself get discouraged, Ky took in a deep breath and set his focus back on Bridget.  "All right, then.  Let's get started."

*****

The blade missed Baiken's foot by mere inches as she rolled, tucking her body so that she would be ready to spring back up in a counter attack.  She did, however, feel the heat of electricity licking at her ankles.  Somewhere during the battle her sandal had fallen away, and the bottom of her foot was already blistered from the dry soil that made up their unexpected battleground.  "Bastards," she hissed.  She planted her weight suddenly, one arch of her sword cleaving the heads of three of her pursuers.  "Anji!"

"Yeah, Sis?"  She hadn't been paying attention to her traveling companion during the scuffle, but suddenly he was just behind her, their backs pressed together.  "Holding up?"

Baiken tried to shrug him off.  "Just keep your eyes open—they're everywhere."

"Same to you."  Then he was off again, a sudden gust of wind against Baiken's back signaling the use of his Zessen.  Judging that he was holding his own well enough she charged back into the fray, aiming for the joints of their mechanical adversaries.  They were persistent if nothing else; she caught a few trying to fight with missing arms, some even headless.  She took some satisfaction in their destruction, if not because of the adrenaline than simply because they were dressed in the uniforms of the police.  If her foot wasn't throbbing, she might even have been enjoying herself.

Eventually, though, she began to wear down.  A few glancing blows against her shoulder had jarred her sword arm, and there seemed to be no end to the number of tireless machines waiting to challenge her.  She fell back a few steps, gathering her breath, when warm metal snaked around her ankle.

"INITIATING_ SELF_ DESTRUCT."

Baiken cursed, twisting to try and free herself from the robot's grip, but merely succeeding in scraping off skin.  From this angle she wouldn't be able to bring her sword around, either.  Growing suddenly panicked she jerked her shoulder, intending to use one of her iron weapons.  But there was no time.  "Anji—"

A muscular arm twisted around her waist, and she barely had time to curse again as she was dragged roughly away from the now shattered limb of the robot, over the edge of an embankment.  There was a dizzying fall, followed by a gut-wrenching halt as the pair suddenly struck earth.  Baiken gasped weakly for her lost breath as the man's thick bicep dug into her stomach.  She began to struggle--the explosion stopped her a moment later, and though she was still caught against the larger body she could lift her head enough to see chunks of burning metal flying overhead, wreathed in black smoke.

Baiken was abruptly released, and she hissed angrily as she was dropped ungracefully into the dust.  "Damnit, Anji—"  Wrapping an arm around her bruised stomach she rolled onto her side so she could fix him with a severe glare.  But by then the man was gone—she just barely caught a glimpse of his thick boots as he leapt over the short cliffside they had just fallen from.

"Baiken!"  Anji came running up to her then, his face creased with worry as he dropped to her side.  "Are you all right?  That was some explosion!"

Baiken took another moment to draw her breath back to her before pushing to her feet.  The sounds of battle had continued overhead, this time punctuated by a familiar voice and crackling fire.  "Shit," she swore, rubbing the sting out of her abdomen and shaking Anji off when he tried to help her.  "What's he doing here?"

"Huh?"  Anji glanced up as well, and when Baiken began to claw her way back up the embankment he hastily followed.  "What happened?  Who was it?"

"Quiet."  Baiken at last dragged herself over the edge of earth with her good arm; even she had to gape a moment at the scene before them.  It looked as if the explosion from the robot had cleared out most of its fellows; it was hard to tell, as the rest were scorched beyond recognition and broken into dozens of piece.  They littered the dusty landscape like toys scattered in the remnants of a house fire.  The sight was momentarily humbling, but Baiken gathered herself a moment later to glare at the man standing at the center.  "I didn't ask for your help," she called to him, sheathing her sword at her hip.

Sol glanced at her over his shoulder with a cool smirk.  "You're welcome."