While on Earth there is a preparation from both sides, in the City of Antilia Colony, in the Data Room, one of the gloomy rooms located at the basement of a transportation company, two figures are standing in front of a computer screen. A woman with the name of Elena, second in command of the Atlantis frigate and a man dressed in black, with silver color long hair. Dante had replaced Rock after the death of the last. Now both of them are waiting something, Elena was operating the computer while Dante was walking from one side of the room to the other and anxiety was easily described in his blue eyes.
"Do you think it is a good idea to put her through such an experience?"
"…"
"Answer me Elena!"
"Don't forget Dante that she chose to become a frame runner, she knew what sacrifices were needed to be made, so I think she is just fine."
"I hope so!"
"Don't worry, please! In a moment we will see her ranks."
Some minutes passed but for Dante they looked like centuries. At last, some letters and numbers appeared on screen putting an end to the anxiety they felt. The ranks were truly astonishing.
"Wow!! That's impressive, isn't it Dante?"
"Oh yeah, she kicks some serious ass out there…she must be fighting like… like… "
"…Like an Amazon, maybe?"
"Exactly…"
"Dante, if she continues to train herself like this, in 3 years from now she will be one of the best runners ever, even Allan didn't have ranks like this."
"Trust me, she will make it because her heart desires it."
Outside it was already dark and rain had started to fall - even if the atmosphere wasn't natural it could house most of weather types - some floors above the Data Room the young lady was peering through the window of her room, at the city's lights, while memories were filling her mind and a voice of a friend was repeated in her thoughts…
-…You won't make it, it is clear suicide…
"You seem very skeptical my lady, how can I help you?"
The lady turned and saw an old man's figure standing at the door of her room, his gently but tired from years eyes stared at her with a kind warmth.
It was Phillip, the person in charge for the safety of the facilities. He has been working here for years and he is quite old, now, he is just waiting to retire.
"Oh! Phillip I didn't notice you. Thanks for the offer but I don't think you can help…it is a personal matter you see."
"Come on now…try me!"
"Uh…okay, the reason for being like this is an old memory…an old advice."
"I see, and what did that advice say?"
"I can't reveal that…but…it has to do with my future as a frame runner."
"Hmm! If you don't want to open your heart to me that's fine, but take some advice from someone who has lived more than thou. Don't take glances of anger from the past, because the solution to your problem, whatever it is, lies in the future, the past just reminds you of your mistakes so you won't repeat them again."
The lady didn't answer.
"I hope that will help you. Now I have to go. Have a nice evening my dear,"
said Phillip as he walked away.
"He's right" the lady thought "I'll train harder and prove that I made the right decision."
"Thank you Phillip, thank you very much!" she whispered.
Back to Earth, Jose still couldn't believe that Sector X was holding Jehuty itself still naked from the last battles against Anubis. He approached the old enemy with respect, now sitting lifeless in the middle of Sector X. He touched the weakened exoskeleton and tried to live up with his fantasy the struggle of that Frame against Bahram.
"Oh, boy! I…I can't believe it!" Jose thought
"How did Bahram get hold of it?!"
"What happened to Dingo? Last reports from our spies said that he and Jehuty were one since he arrived in Deimos station."
As he finished these thoughts, he looked at the cockpit to see if there were any remains, but it was empty; the battle computer A. I. was missing and the only thing he found was some wire.
-"These must be connectors which kept him alive" he thought.
He searched the file again, which the boss gave to him, but there wasn't something that he didn't know. No clues on how did they obtain the frame, no clues as to what happened to the previous runner.
Suddenly a voice was heard
"You are wasting your time searching for something that you will never find. The boss just gave you what was necessary to give, but no more."
The voice was clearly a woman's.
"It seems I have company. Who the hell are you?" Jose said
"Oh! You forget too easily, don't you Jose?"
The woman, still hiding from Jose, seemed to know him very well; Jose mysteriously felt that the person was somehow… familiar.
"Damn! Appear you…" Jose said in an angry way
He had hardly finished his sentence that he got a response. This time the voice was heard closer than before; the person was approaching but still hidden.
"There is not need to shout my love!"
After this the woman appeared behind Jehuty. She was wearing a frame runner's suit and a helmet was covering her head which also hiding her face. She continued to approach slowly and stopped just some meters opposite Jose.
"Take off your helmet! How dare you call me "your love"? Jose said in an angry but also ironic way, and continued more serious this time "I had one love and she died long ago."
"I see." she said while she was taking off her helmet. The good-looking woman let her long blond hair fall at her back and uncovered her face that was crossed with an old scar. Even like this she still looked gorgeous. Her brown eyes had a look of satisfaction and seriousness.
"Oh my goodness…is that you? Anne? No, it can't be… I saw you dying! How…how did you survive?!" Jose said in astonishment.
"Miracles still happen my dear." Anne replied
"But didn't Nohman kill you?" Jose asked
"At least he tried. He managed to destroy Nereid, my Orbital Frame, but I survived. You see Nohman was busy with Dolores and Jehuty was missing, he just wanted to get rid of me quickly using Anubis against me."
"Why? I mean…I can't understand the reason"
"Let me explain it all from the start"
They sit in front of Jehuty and Anne started her story.
"I was born in Mars, I was the first child of my family but because of Bahram they send me to Earth. I spent my childhood there among other people who supported and raised me; later on, I learned that I had a brother and a sister. From that point on, I started looking for my family so I decided to work for Bahram even though I knew its plans for world domination."
"You mean you worked for Bahram in order to find your family?"
"Exactly! I heard many rumors about my family like they were in trouble but I wasn't sure if these were true. Then I met you and you know the rest."
"Yeah! Our relationship."
"That was actually a bad move because Nohman didn't like that."
"If I'm correct, his act to kill you was an act of jealousy because of our relationship?"
"Obviously."
"I can't believe it…but then why didn't he try to do something to me?"
"Because you are precious to him, that's why. He wanted you for Jehuty, he used you, and now his son continues his work."
"And now what you want here? How did you get into the base and the Sector?"
"I came hiding in one of the supply frigates and I entered the room with my ID card; I waited for Rene to appear and kill him for his father's sins. Imagine my surprise when I saw you here."
Jose at that time noticed the gun Anne was carrying.
"So you came here only to kill Rene?"
"No, I also came for you because I want your help."
"If I can offer something, why not."
"Look Jose, many years have passed and I have grown tired of my failures in finding my family, my origin. I'm willing to offer everything to achieve my goal…even my life."
" I have a plan in my mind but I have doubts whether to reveal it to you or not."
"Why?"
"Because you may lose your life…your only life and that's something I don't want."
"Please Jose, let me try at least, do it for me. I will find them or I'll die trying."
"Ok but it will take time."
"I don't care, the result is what counts!"
"It's settled, let's awaken the Knight!' Jose said while looking at Jehuty.
Some floors above, in the Construction Chamber, Alex was trying to implant the P.A.S. (Psychic Amplifier System) on Azrael with the help of some robots.
"Damn it!" he shouted
"The power supplier of the P.A.S. doesn't work properly…I must connect it to the anti-proton reactor, but this will take ages" he thought. He was ready to quit.
"No, Alex…you should try again and again…" he thought "… I must accomplish my plan."
At the same time in boss's office a man was filling a report, with the help of a hologram.
"Sir, plan phoenix is accomplished. They have settled the final measures and wait for your command to begin and retrieve what we have lost."
"Excellent! You have my permission to begin. Finally the revenge is mine."
The countdown has started. Soon the world may face a new war age once again, but hope dies last. It is a matter of faith.