Sousuke watched with mixed emotions as the last of the Mithril helicopters took off, wheeling its way skyward, its blurring image getting lost in the sun.

Arbalest was secreted away in on of the few stands of trees present at the periphery of the launch site. If he were to be given a choice, his feelings would have stayed concealed as well.

He had physically assaulted two of his closest friends. He had disobeyed every order he had been given since touching down on Korean soil. He had behaved inappropriately in his conversations with Capt. Testarossa and Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin. Plainly put, he had become things that he had hated in others. He had been given a full dose of certain thoughts and attitudes that he had been afraid of seeing even the slightest hint of in himself before.

He may not have come across as crazed or depraved as Gauron, the greatest of his bugaboos. But, how much difference was their between that past evil and the recent beast that had controlled his words and deeds?

"To make omelets, one must first break eggs." The raw, primal core of Sousuke was still in control. Despite what his weaker part might claim, his actions were not badges of shame. On the contrary, they were proof that he was capable of taking his life in his own two hands. What others would call indulgence in violence, he would call being true to man's innermost nature. Indeed. What most would see as a disregard of moral rules, he saw as a long overdue realization of his own needs and desires. Who were the ones who might criticize him for such actions? The people who felt their authority eroding, or the men and women who didn't have the courage to do what he was doing.

It's selfish. "So what!" It's impulsive. "That's nothing new." What would Kaname think? Sousuke sat in silence, his head pounding. His hands clenched, then relaxed. He felt a need to take deep long breaths. "Who cares!"

He cared. There was no way to deny it. That simple truth was like a small wedge that keeps a door from closing all the way. As long as fed the monster that lurked within him, he'd remain in control. Right? Wouldn't he?

"It's not the medicine that makes me like this. It's who I am. It's who I should be."
He would prove that. A weak and shackled man could never make the stand he was going to make. A meek and subservient fool would have hooked up to the first available helicopter. What did he need with micro-spheres, injections, electrical simulation, and psychological conditioning. He had blood, sinews, strength, and spirit. He had lightning in one hand and thunder in the other. Ancient civilizations would have bowed down and name him god.

What would Kaname name him?

"ENOUGH! I do not know why that girl has this power over me. She speaks my weaker part. My cowardly part is clinging to the past."

Pride. He had felt proud of the fact that he had kept Kaname alive under difficult circumstances. There had been no cowardice then. Pain. He had hurt when she dismissed him as no more than a military fabrication. Still, he stuck to his task. There was no weakness then. Gratitude. He had been grateful when she made an effort to understand him, despite all of the mistakes he had made. There was no adherence to the past, then. He was changing. Desire. He had ignored it... denied it...avoided it... and discovered it. He could have given up his duty and obligation to hold on to it. Instead, he went to face his destiny, in hopes that he could some day earn the right explore his feelings further. Would a weak man do that? A coward? Would such a man do that, then fail to acknowledge the hope, joy, happiness, and pleasure that came with the good times? What am I truly afraid of? Love. Putting my feelings at risk. Acceptance.

"Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong wrong WRONG! You will not sway me. You shall not distract me. Not now. Never again." Sousuke shouted wordlessly after that, trying to have his pure animalistic rage overwhelm everything else. He brought Arbalest out from the trees. This was not about gaining surprise taking down as many enemies as possible. Not any more. It was defiance, pure and simple.

The ground began to tremble slightly below the ARX-7s feet. At first, Sousuke thought that he might have set up and unstable resonance or mistakenly activated the wrong subsystem. He hadn't. Was this a minor earthquake? "Al, record the strength and duration of seismic activity. Locate an epicenter if possible. Sink a listening probe into the ground."

"Yes, Lord Sagara."

Lord Sagara? That sounded so ostentatious. He didn't need titles to realize his own significance. "Al, reverse prior order. From now on, refer to me as 'Sergeant.'"

"Yes, Sergeant."

Sousuke watched as the A.I. gathered data and created a graphic representation. The information was soon made moot.

"Motion detected, Sergeant. Slaving view ports to area of activity. Full zoom." The ground was moving. Long low flat mounds of earth were shifting, sliding away, receding from view.

"Al, perform a full strength leap with rocket assist. Gain maximum altitude. Scan and record full images in the target area. Employ infra-red imagers as well."

"Acknowledged, Sergeant." Arbalest leaped skyward. Small rocket packs built onto its outer armor ignited, extending the jump.

Sousuke cursed. They had indeed been fooled. Large metal covers were sliding aside, causing dirt, low vegetation, and shrubs to fall down a hole, like sand slipping down between a man's fingers. For a moment, he remembered a number of nature documentaries he had watched, thinking about ant lions and trap door spiders. What was beneath those doors?

Sousuke moved his legs, switching the ARX-7 into a run. He was vulnerable to surprise now. He needed to take the initiative. Also, with hostile forces on the way in, he could find himself caught between Scylla and Charybnis if he waited too long.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sousuke had no way of knowing at that time, that Grendel had been gambling, waiting for just this kind of moment.

Mithril had come, fought, and left, accepting the sacrificial lamb. Watching and waiting as they must, the U.S. military would not be able to respond in time. They must play their hand before the fools in the rightful government arrived on the scene.

Yes. The world would see what it wanted to see. Some force will have destroyed a major North Korean facility with or without acceptable provocation. The Americans were conveniently in striking range. If they were not a suitable whipping boy, then the mysterious force could at least be seen as their puppets. Missiles would launch, destroying targets in South Korea, Japan, and Alaska. The fools who made the coup attempt would take the big fall.

Grendel, on the other hand, would gain another feather in its cap, in the eyes of those who knew the truth. They would also benefit tremendously from chaos throughout Asia and rapidly shifting alliances across the globe.

The conditions were not perfect. One remaining Arm Slave was detected.

But, realistically, what could one man and one machine do?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Sergeant, multiple images detected, conflicting with radar reports."

"Specify, Al." Sousuke felt his breath quicken.

"Mobile objects detected in the vicinity of each underground structure. They are moving in this general direction, but the number of images fluctuates on the visual sensors. Radar lock is tenuous at best and unreliable. Thermal images come and go."

"On screen, Al." Sousuke had a good idea what the ARX-7 had detected after a fashion. This could be what he had been waiting for. It was about time.

"Projecting recorded images on the left. Real time images will occupy center and left."

Sousuke smiled. It was the Arm Slaves. They must be the Phantasms he had read about. Images blurred, shifted, then jumped impossible distances. The number of Arm Slaves increased for one moment, then decreased a second later. Somehow, the Grendel engineers had been able to fool radar and thermal imaging as well, allowing contact one instant, before denying it a heartbeat later. No doubt, the machines could project false readings as well.

A great groundswell of hunger rose up within him. It was not food his lusted after. No, he tasted the sharp tang of blood in his mouth. He had bitten his tongue in his eagerness. He had a need to tear something down. But, it had to be something that was capable of tearing him apart. A challenge. A joust. A bloodfest. A wild exchange of mindless blows. Any true contest would do. The results did not really matter. The moment was everything.

He chuckled, and then laughed. The civilized part of him wanted nothing to do with battle. All it wanted was success, certainty, and closure. The manner and method were immaterial. It was the results that counted. If the other Arm Slaves simply turned tail and ran, he would be ecstatic.

Either way, Sousuke was in for a fight.

"Thank God for the rain." Even the best engineers and pilots in the world cannot hide the footprints that would show up in the soil. "Al, maximum jump again. Plot the footprints as you were instructed earlier."

"Acknowldged, Sergeant."

Arbalest jumped and gathered the necessary data. The enemy was advancing, then moving back, before moving a bit off to the sides. Apparently, they didn't want to get to far away from the big holes in the ground.

"What are you protecting?" Sousuke had a sinking suspicion what would be in those holes. There was only one way to find out. "Al, we will run towards the densest cluster of images as if we have fallen for the misdirection. Before closing with the nearest A.S., take a prolonged and powered jump over the closest hole. Let's get an idea of what we are up against." It took all of the young soldier's will power to give that instruction. The seething beast within him wanted to engage the Grendel Arm Slaves, showing them that their fancy parlor tricks would not work on the best pilot in the world. "Belay that order..."

"Sergeant?" Arbalest cam to a dead stop.

"Locate the enemy machines. Bring the Lambda Driver up to full strength, but tightest field. We will..." The image of a Norseman that Sousuke held in his mind wavered. It had cut down the image of a valiant and obedient soldier that he had mentally saluted. The bloody warrior in turn stepped aside, as a blue-haired girl holding a scarf and a card walked up. She fell to her knees, pleading with him. "Al, belay the last order. Implement the first. Powered leap when you are ready."

"Yes, Sergeant."

When the ARX-7 passed within a predetermined distance of each 'Phnatasm,' the enemy pilots engaged their own Lambda Driver systems. When Arbalest reached the appropriate site, it took a prodigious leap skyward.

"Shit." It was just what Sousuke had thought. Missile silos. He didn't have time to wonder how the North Koreans had been able to build the giant cement-lined tubes. The ICBMs within each of them were massive, far larger than the Taepodong II missiles he had so brutally chastised earlier in the day.

That's not what he wanted to see. If he were to act responsibly, he might be destroyed before getting a chance to duel with his counterparts. But, if he indulged his baser instincts, the missiles might launch successfully, putting countless people in danger. It looked like the civilized part of him was gaining the upper hand. The primitive side was not without its guile, however. A bargain! Destroy a missile, and then fight some Arm Slaves. Then destroy another missile, and fight Arm Slaves again. Something for you... something for me...

It was a seductive offer. It was only fair to compromise. The image of Kaname flashed across his mind again. It couldn't stay long. It was running from a huge expanding mushroom cloud. The image turned to ashes and blew away, leaving Sosuske feeling incredibly empty. The message was clear. So was his choice. His darkest self could howl all it wanted. he could not turn away from Kaname. "Al, ready all Javelin missiles. Target the first ICBM. Fire at apogee."

"Firing, Sergeant."

The first flight of missiles streaked earthward. One of the 'Phantasm' pilots proved to be rather resourceful, but just a step too late. He had expanded his force shield outward, hoping to cover the silo entrance with the glowing blue pancake. The distance was too great. A series of small explosions were soon followed by larger ones. The first ICBM collapsed under its own weight, flames engulfing the wreckage.

"Look for any openings in shield coverage. I suspect they will not make that mistake again. They know what they are up against now. Alert me when we have an optimal shot. Arm the Anti-A.S. grenades. You have full autonomy on the latter. At any sign of opportunity, drop a live grenade in any accessible silo."

Sure enough, the phantasms moved to protect the remaining silo entrances. That would cut down on their deceptive abilities, but would provide Sousuke with a difficult task. If the pilots were skilled enough to direct their energy fields in the proper manner, the ICBMs could launch out through them, but nothing could pass in from the other side. The huge missiles would be vulnerable in the initial launch stage, but he may not be given a clear shot if he had to fight off three formidable opponents.

"If I had listened to those idiots, I wouldn't even be here now!" The primal part of Sousuke crowed. The other part shot back: Damn. If you weren't such an idiot, we would have reported in by now!

As Sousuke ran towards the silo with the single 'Phantasm,' he thought about Russian Roulette. He had removed one bullet from the chamber. Where had that missile been targeted? Where were the other two destined for, should he fail? Had he already saved Tokyo? Could he fight and die in peace, no matter what the outcome? There was no way to know. Consequently, he must keep reign on his animalistic urges.

"Da Danaan control, this is Urzu-7. Do you read me. Utmost Urgency. Over. I repeat. This is Urzu-7. Do..." He wrested enough control of himself to send a message.

"We read you, Sergeant." It was Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin.

"Three 'Phantasm' class Arm Slaves are guarding a similar number of large silos. Huge ICBMs are preparing for launch. Gases are filling up the silos. One missile down. Lambda Driver shields protect the other two. Will engage immediately. Over." Part of him refused to say the next words. He saw a smiling image of Kaname, moments before continuing. She began frowning, folding her arms over her chest. Then, growing impatient, she shook a fist at him. "Uh... I could use some help."

"Understood, Sergeant." Kalinin was still on line when he spoke to a fire control officer. "Launch all missiles in sequence. Target Arbalest's current GPS coordinates. Relay the data to the Americans immediately." There was a brief cough. "As you no doubt heard, that area will soon get very hot. The missiles will not be the only arriving threat. The first wave of North Korean aircraft should be on site at any minute."

"Understood." That should have been bad news. In most circumstances it would be. The North Koreans may turn out to be unintended allies. That would be wonderful. But, they might also help Sousuke focus on the task at hand. The more things that called for attention, the more his civilized self could take control. Damn those doctors! Their procedures had worked too well. When were the effects going to wear off? 'Don't be so eager to see me gone...' the dark side of his mind said with a chuckle. 'You may just find you need me...'

After holding a brief conversation with Captain Testarossa, Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin spoke to his younger subordinate again. "You may be our only hope, Sergeant. The Americans are launching missiles and planes. It may all be a moot point. Godspeed. De Dannan out."

So. It all rested on his shoulders. Just what he had wanted. 'Be careful what you wish for… you might get it!' Well who would he rather have with this responsibility? No one. Neither side of him would trust anyone else with this duty. The only point they differed on was motivation.

Motivation. Did it have to be separate and conflicting? The civilized part of him had feared the savage side, and had tried hard to keep it at bay… it had initially spent its time hiding, defeated. Now, it began to consider a different approach. Maybe it was time to embrace the beast within him. Yes. The enemy wouldn't know what hit them.

Kaname had often joked about what might happen if someone cloned a certain misguided military misfit. There could never be two Sousukes in body. But, he was about to make use of the closest possible thing. It was time to put the music on. But he wasn't going to give into the rage and fury. He would reign it in and make it work for them both. No. For him. There was only one Sousuke Sagara after all. It was time he accepted that!

"Al, display music track listing." Ahhh. That title might indeed fit. Diamond Head. 'Am I Evil?' Let's find out.

'Am I evil? yes, I am
'Am I evil? I am man, yes, I am

-

'As I watched my mother die, I lost my head
'Revenge now I sought, to break with my bread
'Taking no chances, you come with me
'I'll split you to the bone, help set you free...'

Sousuke narrowed his eyes as he ran the ARX-7 forward. The memory of his mother's death was still vivid in his mind. There were no Russians present to pay once more for that terrible crime. Grendel pilots would do. Fortunately, the silos were not too far apart. No doubt the proximity of one helped buttress the other. Today, it would allow the A.S. pilots to see whose machine was quicker.

Charging towards the lone 'Phantasm' at one silo, Sousuke saw that the enemy had correctly interpreted his apparent move: Strike down the solo defender instead of taking on a 'two-on-one'. They just didn't think far enough ahead.

"OK. What's Kurz' saying. Yes. Who's my bitch?" The switch in positions simply changed Sousuke's target. He hoped he could get there in time to get a few blows in before he was double teamed. "Al, full speed rush, leaping for distance not height." The ARX- 7 changed course towards the 'Phantasm' that was now left standing alone.

'Twenty-seven, everyone was nice
'Gotta see 'em, make 'em pay the price
'See their bodies out on the ice
'Take my time'
-
'Am I evil? yes, I am
'Am I evil? I am man, yes, I am, ooh'

In mid air, Sousuke decided which new method to employ. Why not take a cue from that Viking warrior. "Al, form the field into a force axe, double-bitted, short shaft." His mind helping to shape the weapon, Sousuke eyed the glowing nimbus surrounding his first foe. Was there a weakness? And, was the image a 'ghost' or an actual form? "Al, separate out part of the field for sensory purposes. Form long thin streamers, now. When they contact something solid or another energy filed, mark that site as target!" He would take a lesson from another nature show he had watched. Bottom feeding creatures, living in the darkness, often had barbells, whiskers, or modified body parts adept at locating prey.

"Contact, bearing left thirty degrees."

Shifting to align along the given vector, Sousuke brought the sparkling blue force axe down. The impact was tremendous, with both Arm Slaves blown away from each other. Sousuke had the better of it, maintaining Arbalest's balance by shifting it center of balance while it slid. Briefly, his opponent flickered into its true appearance. It was rolling ass over teacup.

"Al, grenade…NOW!"

Arbalest released one of the Anti-A.S. grenades, but it exploded before entering the silo.

"Shit!" One of the other pilots was damn good. He had shot the grenade before it could destroy the ICBM. "Use their trick, Al. Shield the silo from our side. Drop the remaining grenade, now." The grenade fell unimpeded, as missile and cannon fire bounced harmlessly off of the Lambda Driver's projected barrier. "Head for the other silo, zig zag route. Move it!"

'On with the action now, I'll strip your pride
'I'll spread your blood around, I'll see you ride
'Your face is scarred with steel, wounds deep and neat
'Like a double dozen before ya, smells so sweet...'

Sousuke knew how deeply his soul had been scarred with things stronger than steel. The wounds were deep, ragged instead of neat. The things that he had suffered through could have broken strong men. They gave him the strengtht to continue and the ability to face adversity.

Good? Evil? It didn't rally matter, as long as he was able to get the job done.

'Am I evil? yes, I am
'Am I evil? I am man

A tremendous explosion shook the ground. Fragments of flaming metal rocketed skyward, followed by a columnar rush of flame. Two down. One to go. That one was going to be difficult. The enemy Arm Slaves were forming a triangle around him.

Sousuke smiled. He remembered a Marine saying. "So they've got us surrounded, good! Now we can fire in any direction, those bastards won't get away this time!" It wouldn't be that easy. But, they didn't have all of the advantages.

'I'll make my residence, I'll watch your fire
'You can come with me, sweet desire
'My face is long forgot, my face not my own
'Sweet and timely whore, take me home
-
'Am I evil? yes, I am
'Am I evil? I am man

"Sergeant. Long range radar has detected a number of approaching flights or aircraft. Most are likely interceptors or air superiority fighters. Altitude suggests that some are ground attack craft."

"Good." If the pilots were too afraid to fire at silos on their own soil, they might be careful firing on any vehicles standing near the silos. If on the other hand they were intent on destroying unauthorized structures in order to regain face in world politics, it would be that much harder for Grendel to defend the last remaining ICBM.

Using his mind to direct the shape and direction of his force shield, Sousuke parried both a low pushing barrier attack from one 'Phantasm,' and a straight on percussive gun like blast from another. He couldn't tell for sure where the third machine was. "Let's find out." Straining to the far reach of his thoughts, he pushed the force barrier outward and upward. Usually, he could move it strongly or quickly… this time he tried for both, successfully.

One 'Phantasm' had been repelled in mid air. It held a force lance. So, at least one of his foes was somewhat skilled, and had stumbled upon a method similar to the one he had devised earlier..

"Image solidifying, Sergeant." It was indeed. The vision of one Grendel craft flickered on and off. The Lambda Driver filed around it blinked on and off too.

"So, having trouble with it, are you. I've been there too. But, not right now. Too bad for you." Sousuke swung his field around like a slashing hockey stick. Again and again he battered against the other Arm Slaves in seemingly reckless fashion. He was not trying to cause damage. He was trying to rattle his opponents' nerves or strain their machines.

The solo guitar reached out and stoked the fire burning inside of Sousuke. Good and evil didn't matter now. Fighting and winning mattered. Winners get to write the history books.

'My soul is longing for, await my heir
'Sent to avenge my mother, sweep myself
'My face is long forgot, my face not my own
'Sweet and timely whore, take me home

"Uh...I apologize Kaname... you are not a whore. Errr... it is not you they are singing about. Ummm...I was not thinking about someone else..." A different part of him popped out of hiding. It wasn't the good part or the bad part. It was the clueless and naïve part. He hoped that part wouldn't get in the way! Threat detectors started calling for attention.

"Missiles incoming, Sergeant. Bombs released, falling by gravity."

"It's not a problem." Not for Arbalest. The Lambda Driver barrier was strong and consistent. The falling weapons exploded harmlessly.

One of the 'Phantasms' was not so fortunate. Large anti-armor missiles stuck one leg while the defensive screen was down. Parts of the A.S. were blown about the area, but the machine was not entirely out of action.

Sousuke parried a vicious attack from one foe. Twin scythes of energy tried to buffet him from both sides but failed, repulsed by his own shield. "My turn!" His attack was a slanting chop from above. Simultaneously, he formed a pliable whip-like band of force which he swept fast along the ground. The enemy pilot had directed his defenses upward, easily stopping the primary attack. But, that had only been a feint. The whip knocked the Phantasm's feet out from under it.

"Sergeant. ICBM launch imminent. Initial rocket boosters firing. Third Arm Slave shielding entrance to silo."

Maybe the aircraft could destroy the missile while it was still a slow moving target.

"SAM launch detected, Sergeant. Multiple sites."

Damn. So much for that idea. The silos were not the only hidden assets. North Korean aircraft began to fall victim to missiles far more sophisticated than anything the sovereign forces possessed.

"Urzu-7, this is Da Danaan control." It was Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin again. "Sousuke, ETA on our cruise missiles is two minutes. Repeat, two minutes. American missiles will arrive soon after."

"Great! It's going to be too late." Too late to stop the missile. Too late for him to leave the area.

'Am I evil? yes, I am
'Am I evil? I am man
'Am I evil? yes, I f-cking am
'Am I evil? I am man, yeah.'

Oh sure! So damn evil. I haven't even taken down the enemy yet! I doubt they are going to prove any easier now. Ahhh! But they don't have to. That might just work...

The nose of the missile was moving up past the lip of the silo, as the huge metal projectile headed skyward. The one 'Phantasm' could only shield so much of the missile before it passed out of its protective zone. All he had to do is wait a few moments, without being rendered ineffective.

Wait. Be patient and wait. One of the other Arm Slaves was charging straight for him Wait a little more. Now! "Fire all missiles!"

The remaining Javelins flew straight and true in their aim. They never reached their target. The onrushing A.S. pilot had extended his field into a long and narrow projection, angling it up over Arbalest, knocking the missiles from the sky.

"No!" Sousuke had to do something. "KA… N-A-A-A…M-A-A-A-Y..."

The name came bursting out from deep within him. He didn't want to fail the people of Tokyo. His classmates were there. So many other people needed him too... janitors... teachers... the man at the bookshop... his fellow operatives in the safe house... bus drivers, policemen… street sweepers… children at the bus stop... everyone. But, there was one person in particular he was sworn to protect. There was one person he wanted more than anything to return to.

There had to be something he could do. The more unexpected, the better. Wait. Yes. It would use principles that he and the A.I. had already explored in a different manner. But, it was too cliché to work. It was too foolish to take a chance on.

He couldn't think of anything else.

"Move!" With one part of his mind, he forced the nearest Arm Slave back in its tracks. The recent duality in thoughts proved useful. With another part of his mind, Sousuke formed a huge long force lance, keeping some degree of flexibility in the shaft. The other Arm Slaves raised their shields directly in front of him, thinking her was going to skewer them and then fire on the missile. He couldn't. He was out of ammunition.

Instead, Sousuke made his first attempt at pole-vaulting. Using the energy of the field to throw him self upward, her took out his Anti-Armor dagger. This would be an all or nothing attempt.

Images passed by in slow motion. It felt as if Sousuke were swimming in molasses. He saw Kaname. He saw countless other people in Japan who he knew. He remembered good times. He remembered bad times. Letting go of the force lance, the ARX-7 flung itself at the base of the rising ICBM The enemy Arm Slaves could not fire on it, in fear of damaging the missile.

Sousuke rammed the dagger into the side of the missile. It wouldn't do much damage, but it gave him a tenuous perch. The fate of millions of people would depend on just how sure his grip was. "Al, activate the Monomolecular cutter. Grasp it, then start cutting into the base of the missile where I direct it."

"Acknowledged, Sergeant."

Sousuke was understandably distracted by the task at hand. His opponents had not given up on him. One pilot in particular had evolved well beyond linear thinking. A long wire shot up and wrapped itself around Arbalest's ankle. It was attached to the hand of one of the 'Phantasms.' The pilot intended to dig in with his Lambda driver field and pull Sousuke off of the ascending ICBM. Instead, the field carried up with it tons of muddy soil. That weight might prove to be the most daunting challenge of all.

The enemy A.S. hung by a tow cable. Sousuke felt the knife begin to move out ever so slightly. They were gaining altitude quickly now. The fall would kill each of them. For a moment, Sousuke had great admiration for the dedication of his foe. "Al, can you reach the wire?"

"Negative, Sergeant."

What could he do? The Arbalest could not detach its limbs as some more primitive A.Ses could. Damn! It would have been so simple! The animalistic part of Sousuke came up with an answer. What does a fox or wolf do when it gets its foots stuck in a bear trap? It chews it off so that it can go free. "Al, use the cutter to remove your right leg."

Sergeant?"

"DO IT! NOW! THAT'S AN ORDER!"

The ARX-7 moved to carry out the command. Sparks flew off of the metal in its leg.
Shots fired by the enemy Arm Slave bounced off of the Lambda Driver shield. The enemy pilot was attempting to knock Sousuke loose, aiming at an angle away from the body of the missile.

Sousuke was breathing faster and faster. The pressure was weighing down on him. The knife had slipped out more. Should he have used his free hand to punch a hole in the missile instead? Might that have knocked him off? Or, was his actual choice a mistake?

The Lambda Driver barrier around the Grendel craft held. If it hadn't, the 'Phantasm' would have been melted and fused by the fire issuing forth from the bottom of the ICBM. The field around Arbalest, on the other hand, began to flicker.

"No. Not now!"

The Lambda Driver shut down. The right leg of the ARX-7 fell away, taking with it the enemy and his machine. The Grendel pilot fired, hitting Arbalest. Its fingers opened, barely handing onto the knife. The acceleration and growing vibrations would knock things free any moment now. Sousuke was certain of that.

What should he do? He knew. Make a small blade with the Lambda Driver field. Why hadn't he done that when the damn thing was working? Why hadn't he simply used the field like a pair of giant shears, cutting the ICBM in half?

"Too late. Kaname was right. I really am a moron."

He heard her voice. He was in Arbalest for the first time. He was confused. He didn't know what to do. She guided him. She calmed him down and focused his thoughts. She had helped him save them that day. Feeling strangely at peace, Sousuke reached out with his mind, emotions, and intentions. The Lambda Driver sputtered back to life. Ever so carefully, he pulled open the side of the missile housing. He should have done this much earlier. Part of him had been concerned about his own life.

A great blast of energy shot forth from the hand of Arbalest. The glowing light engulfed the great lift engines of the ICBM and twisted them into useless junk. The resultant explosion threw the Arm Slave away from the falling missile. Sousuke looked down. They were dropping quickly, somewhere over the ocean. Would the Lambda Driver soften his impact? The question was moot. The Lambda Driver was down again. There was no way he would be able to compose himself again.

"Al, monitor distance to impact. Utilize rocket boosters to slow the descent just before impact. Full thrust for as long as possible."

"Affirmative."

The rockets fired, then went dead. The fuel had been exhausted earlier.

A tremendous plume of water shot upward from the sea, as the ARX-7 plunged down into the briny depths.