The commander glanced at the Elev approaching the blue robot.
Hopefully, they would be swift and merciful, but he doubted it. The
Elev weren't known for their kindness.
Suddenly, the blue robot sat up. Its eyes glowed red with rage. Pushing off of the desert floor, it's cold metallic glare focused on the approaching enemy. Perhaps out of fear, they halted for a moment. Finally, one unit continued on its path, aiming a rifle at the robot's cockpit.
Light began spreading from the robot's back. It momentarily blinded all who were staring directly at it, causing them to miss the casing as it was shed. The blue robot's head lowered, its attention focused on the lead core unit. In a flash of green light, the creature stood behind its attacker. It swiftly drove the sword it still held into the attacker's back. More green flashes began spreading throughout the area around every Elev core unit. Finally, it halted above the Adome commander's core unit; the sword's tip hovering above its head. The commander first gasped in amazement as all the Elev units fell to the ground and exploded and then as the blade hovered above him.
It dropped the sword to its side and stepped away from the Adome. As if it were out of energy, the blue machine collapsed onto the desert floor once more, only this time the cockpit opened and two pilots emerged. One of the pilots was carrying the other in their arms. It appeared that a young Adome was carrying a female who was unconscious.
Upon closer inspection, the commander realized where the machine had derived its power. Why it was fighting on his side, however, was another question. He had heard of how the Daughters of Kumu had infiltrated and betrayed the Adome of Old Edenora, but something about this one seemed different. It could have killed him at any time and fled with its own kind, yet it did not.
This fact disturbed and intrigued him. Perhaps it was malfunctioning? Or perhaps it was the one of whom the elders spoke of when they told their stories to children around the campfire.
He chuckled at this thought. Those were nothing more than mere fairytales, designed to entertain the children. According to the stories, that Elev returned to Earth with some of the Adome and lived happily forever. No evidence existed that they were ever founded in fact.
He attempted to open the cockpit door, but the mechanics had been damaged during the fight. Pressing the emergency release, he covered his ears as the explosive bolts blew the door off. He climbed out of the cockpit, keeping a watchful eye on his saviors.
For his part, the young Adome had not stopped looking at him. He had been through some sort of ordeal; the commander could see it in his eyes.
Something told him that that ordeal was just beginning...
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Kazuki placed Dee down beside her core robot and took a step back. Who was she just then? That was certainly not the Dee he had known for the better part of a decade now. Even after she had returned to her original body, she had never exhibited such a sense of power, not even in battle. As she laid on the desert surface, her eyes moving erratically beneath her eyelids, she seemed like the same innocent girl who had willingly sacrificed herself to save him all those years ago.
He and Mitsuki had both decided, apparently without even knowing the others' wishes, to keep the horrible memories of her past from her when the worlds merged. Since that day, Dee always seemed like a ray of sunshine even in their darkest hours. She was always there, a smile on her face and optimism in her voice.
But that dark smile that had spread across her lips as the enemies fell before her had a sinister undertone that made Kazuki wonder how much of her memories they had actually removed. Dee had never said anything about the past. When asked, she couldn't recall anything of her past including the Rara/Sanada War. This apparently was changing...
Dee shifted slightly and muttered in her sleep, "Zinv, I'll pilot you..."
"Tell me something, why did she do it," the man who had been piloting the other core robot approached Kazuki cautiously, using him as a human shield between him and Dee. He would occasionally look around Kazuki's body to make sure she wasn't moving before returning his gaze to Kazuki. "For that matter, why are you helping her? Are you a sympathizer?"
Kazuki rolled his eyes and snarled at the older man, "This is so damned old! I'm not a sympathizer and she's not the enemy! We're from Earth and we mean you no harm! Now, if you're not going to help us, shut the hell up and get out of here!"
The man chuckled and sat on the desert, continuing to watch the motionless object beyond the young man. "Earth? And I suppose you flew here on a magic asteroid with a thousand anhels singing your praises?" In reality, the commander was beginning to be intrigued. This could have easily been an Elev plot, but the fact that they were claiming Earth as their home world in addition to the Daughter of Kumu and the strikingly familiar appearance of her companion were becoming more than coincidental.
"Why won't you people believe me? Look at our core robot! Does it look like anything on this rotten dust ball of yours? No! Look at me! Do I look like any other male on this world? Just barely! Well, if all these factors are taken into account, what's the only logical conclusion," Kazuki paused, throwing his arms up into the air. Continuing in a moronic- sounding tone, he replied, "Uh... We're not from around here?"
The commander smiled as he continued to study the young man. He was right, he didn't appear to be from this world, but that did not eliminate the possibility of an Elev trap. Although, he doubted Elev supporters would kill the head of the Elevs on this world. Such a crime would make them marked individuals overnight. Maybe there was some truth to his story...
"What's the big deal about Earth, anyway?"
The commander, who had been looking at the desert sands, glanced up. "Hmm?"
Kazuki sat down since it appeared that they would not be going anywhere for a while. He picked up a piece of scrap metal and began dragging it through the sand, staring at the lines he created. "Every time I mention where we're from, everyone acts as though I've spoken of a horrible specter or I've made some joke. What's the big deal?"
If he were an Elev, he was playing his role quite well. Since there was no harm in indulging the young man's query, he replied, "Well, nothing really. Most adults don't even believe it exists. To hear an adult say they are from that legendary world could either be considered a joke or an omen, depending upon the listener."
Kazuki sighed heavily, "Why is it a legendary world? Are you going to answer me or just vague me to death?"
The older man chuckled and smiled at his companion. "You're an interesting fellow, my boy. It'll be a shame if you're an Elev and I have to kill you."
Kazuki slammed his fists into the sand. "Dammit, stop stalling!"
The commander waived off the young man's anger, continuing to chuckle. "Fine, fine. We tell our children from a young age these stories, usually around a small campfire, of the origin of our people and the Elev. Let me see if I can remember how they went," he scratched his chin, truly trying to remember the nuances of the stories.
Finally recalling the tales, he continued, "There was darkness at the dawn of time. Then, the Great Maker formed the stars and planets. He breathed life onto many worlds and was hailed by this life as the truly powerful being that he was. Then, one day, he formed a peculiar region of the cosmos that he had not developed. He quickly formed a star and a planet system around it and spread many plants and creatures across one of the worlds. As he strolled through the new life-filled planet he had created, he grew very lonely. Thus, he created a being in his image. The Creator spoke to his creation, stating, 'Thou name shall be Zinv and ye shall be Adome.'"
Kazuki's eyes widened as he mentioned his counterpart's name. "Zinv? Are you sure?"
The commander simply nodded in response. Could there be some relationship between him and the Zinv of the story? Of course, many names were common in legend and in real life; the name Arthur came to mind.
The commander paused and stood for a moment, stretching his legs as he scratched his nose. He wasn't used to sitting like this and his older joints were beginning to ache.
"And then what," his companion's somewhat eager response didn't really surprise the commander, but it was still amusing.
He smiled as he sat back down and continued, "Well, Zinv was happy at first, dwelling amongst the creatures of the land. However, the Great Maker spent many days far away from his beloved creation. The cosmos is large and as Caretaker, he was very busy. Zinv grew tired of walking amongst the land and cried to the heavens, 'Oh Merciful One, hear thine pleas! Answer the wail of thine lonely heart!' And the Maker came unto him and answered his plea, taking of Zinv to create Kumu. He said unto Kumu, 'Thou name is Kumu and thou art Elev.'"
Kazuki's eyes continued to grow in width. These names had to be more than coincidence. How the hell did these people know of Zinv and Kumu? What was Dee's relation to this Kumu? The more questions he had answered, the more questions Kazuki came up with.
The commander, noticing the shocked look on the young man's face, chuckled. "So, you 'Earthlings' know of Kumu and Zinv?"
Kazuki shook his head. "No, not most of us... But I have heard of such names. Please continue," his temper gone, Kazuki bowed his head towards his elder as a show of respect.
Nodding, the older man continued, "And so, Zinv and Kumu roamed the Earth. Eventually, they came across a large land separate from any other on the Earth. Settling on this mass, they called it 'Atlatia' and built a great city and prospered, birthing many children that became known as 'Atlatians'. Zinv and Kumu became the rulers of this land and did so justly for many, many conords. As the Atlatians began exploring their planet, they discovered many people who were like them in appearance, but lacked the knowledge of the Great Maker. The Atlatians taught them how to feed themselves and helped build great things for them: Cities to do business in, temples to worship in, homes to dwell in, and the like and the younger peoples, as they were called, rejoiced. However, some of the younger peoples grew envious of the Atlatians. They saw how their rulers, Zinv and Kumu, walked with the Great Maker and flourished in his presence. They sought to take this prosperity for their own and they convinced enough of their fellow people to form a large navy." The old man paused, catching his breath. He wasn't sure how long he'd been telling this story to his children, but the practice seemed to be paying off. The young man was listening with baited breath.
Rubbing some of the sand away from his eyes, he continued, "So, the Atlatians saw this fleet of ships forming from afar and frowned. Zinv and Kumu split for the first time, Zinv wished to solve the situation peaceably and Kumu wished to destroy them without mercy. The two fought for days over how to solve this problem. Many minor grievances that before were over looked suddenly became large blemishes that would not pass with time. While the two continued to argue, the fleet approached Atlatia's shores. Realizing the time for debate had long passed, Zinv and Kumu ordered their people to escape and they did. They boarded giant sky vessels that swiftly fled the planet. As a final act, Zinv and Kumu sank Atlatia so that none of the younger peoples could use the technology there to pursue them."
"Is that all," Kazuki's interest was more than piqued. This story sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it.
Sighing, the older man looked at Kazuki. "If you'd let me finish uninterrupted, it might have been." Stretching again, he punished the listener for his impatience slightly before continuing, "Although the immediate threat was over, Zinv and Kumu could forget not the words that they had spoken to each other in anger. Thus began the great divide. Kumu and her supporters, in spite, broke from the Atlatian fleet and disappeared into space. They became known as the Elev. Angered by her irresponsible actions, Zinv pursued his mate with his remaining forces, who became known as the Adome. They eventually located the Elev and were unable to mend the breach between the two peoples. Thus, the Great War began."
"That's not exactly correct..."
Kazuki spun around and gasped as he saw Dee attempting to stand up by bracing against Persephone. Quickly moving to her side, Kazuki chided her, "Dee, you shouldn't be moving... Sit back down."
Ignoring Kazuki for the moment, her gaze remained fixed on the commander. "Most of the base facts are correct, but I see your side has tainted most of the facts as well since the actual events occurred," the response was in the Adome's own language, the accent a perfect match to the commander's.
The commander, returning the cold gaze with an equally frigid one of his own replied, "And what would you know of the 'actual events', as you put it? I'm old enough to be your grandfather!"
Dee nodded, "This is true, but your age is not what is in question here. Your people have imprisoned myself and my companion because of what I am. We've been forced to endure many hardships because of my genetic makeup, but now you dare question my knowledge of these events. I was there! I saw it with my own two eyes! You know this!"
The commander snarled, "Damned abomination! What devil hath we angered to bring you to this world?"
Dee shook her head sadly, lowering her gaze to the desert floor below her. "And yet he wonders why the battles never end," she looked back up into Kazuki's eyes. The sad gaze told him that the Dee he knew was still inside of her and that the strange woman he had encountered a short time ago was most likely never to return again.
Kazuki anxiously asked, "Dee, are you alright?"
She shook her head, looking away from her companion and back at the desert floor. "No, I am not. We will have to discuss that later, though," Dee looked at the older man now standing across from them. "I assume you know how to show gratitude for your life being spared? Or will you repay us as the villagers repaid Technos?"
The old man raised an eyebrow. "You know of 'Technos and the Water- Bearer'?"
"Of course I do. Who do you think helped create the cautionary tale? He was a good man... A good Adome," Dee's true belief in the words she spoke was being reflecting in her level gaze.
The commander nodded, pushing off the desert sands. "I believe I can accommodate you and your companion temporarily. If you so much as make a sneeze I don't approve of, however, you will be killed. No questions asked. Understood?"
Kazuki swallowed. The hard glare coming from the man's eyes made him personally want to take his chances with the desert instead of obeying.
Dee bowed her head, stating calmly, "Of course."
"I'll require transportation," he looked up at Persephone, the only remaining functional core unit on the battlefield.
Dee turned to Kazuki. "Do you think you can pilot Persephone for a short while," she followed the question with her usual smiling face, but the smile felt like nothing more than a cheap facade covering a soul in a great turmoil.
Kazuki shook his head yes, adding, "It'll be a tight squeeze, but we can manage."
Dee's smile widened. As it did so, the pain she was hiding became even more apparent to the commander, who had closed the distance between himself and the abomination with surprising speed for a man of his age.
Kazuki merely took the smile at face value, as per norm.
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
The two men helped Dee into the cockpit, moving to set her down next to the pilot's seat.
Dee softly protested, "No... Put me in the pilot's seat, Kazuki."
Obediently, Kazuki placed Dee gently in the chair, allowing the commander to take a safe position behind them. "Dee, what are you doing?"
Dee shut her eyes, concentrating on some unknown dilemma. As her eyelids began to flutter, the life sympathy orbs she had her hands on began to spark. A small distortion momentarily formed around them, but quickly disappeared as the orbs faded to black.
"I have released the Limiters on this core unit," Dee sighed, falling back into the chair. It was obvious that in her weakened state the task had exhausted her.
The commander, seizing an opportunity when he saw one, quickly approached the front of the pilot's chair. "You mean you can release the Limiters," he was unable to conceal the excitement in his voice as he asked the young Elev who, moments prior, was nothing more than the devil herself.
Dee simply nodded, her eyes shut and her head resting against the back of the seat.
"Incredible," the commander pondered the uses of such a tool in battle. If he could gather enough core units and exploit this girl's gift, they could easily outnumber the Elev on New Edenora two to one.
Kazuki rushed to Dee's side. "Dee, are you ok? Shouldn't you have waited until you were better to do that? I could have piloted Persephone with the Limiters still in place..."
Dee opened her eyes slightly and smiled at Kazuki. She replied in Japanese, a language their newfound friend thankfully could not interpret, "My dear Kazuki-kun, you're so naive at times... That's why I love you so." With that said, Dee closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
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"We'll strike the Core Unit Factory at dawn. Are you sure you can get us in?"
"I am of Kumu. I will get you inside. The rest is up to you, though."
"Don't worry about us! We'll recapture the vessel for the former glory of Atlatia!"
The words rang through the darkness, echoes of a time long past. How long had it been? One thousand? Two thousand years?
"Why? Why do this to us?"
"I-I-I didn't know. I thought I was different. I'm sorry."
In a flash, her dead friends surrounded her. Unsure of what to do, she turned and headed for the mechanics room at the very heart of the vessel. It was Kumu who had done this to her friends. She was trying to end the war by removing the means of manufacturing these suits and thereby saving their lives, but Kumu killed them all. Worst of all, Kumu did it by using her.
She would repay this act in like manner.
She grabbed the knife of one of her fallen friends as she passed. She couldn't kill the original Kumu, but she could destroy what was left of her. She'd destroy that damned floating ball if it were the last thing she'd ever do.
"Warning! Atmospheric decompression in..."
The words echoed through the corridors, but as soon as the initial message had been initiated, she ignored the rest. Entering the large cargo bay, she looked up at the core unit. Its eyes glowed green, acknowledging the girl's presence. Its cockpit opened without being commanded to do so and she hopped in, sealing it quickly behind her.
Zinv: "What will we do?"
"The course has already been set. Kumu won't be able to override it. The engines are too badly damaged. All we can do now is escape."
Zinv: "I see. Very well."
The robot punched through three decks instantly, arriving at the vessel she and her friends had used to gain entry to the factory. She quickly keyed in the command to open the core unit storage space and ordered the robot inside. Sealing it shut, she ran to the control center and placed her hands on the life sympathy orbs.
The ship blew through the docking bay doors as the damaged vessel began descending into the atmosphere of the blue-green planet. Kumu would be trapped on that world, probably forever. The young girl set a course for a small island chain and returned to her robotic companion.
Holding the knife carefully, she looked up at her sole remaining friend. "Goodbye, Zinv."
Zinv: "Where are you going?"
Smiling softly, she shook her head. Pressing the knife against her arm, she began sawing at it. The Liquidator would never hurt another soul, even if it meant having to kill herself in order to prevent this event from reoccurring. As she cut, she bit into her lip, suppressing the urge to scream in agony. She kept reminding herself that soon it would be over and that soon, she'd be in a place of no pain.
She placed the severed arm in an airlock and jettisoned it into the atmosphere, where it would surely burn up. Turning back to her companion, she smiled. The loss of blood was already causing her to become light- headed. She flopped onto the floor, chuckling deliriously. Eventually, she fell backwards, her body splashing into the pool of blood as she went unconscious.
The robot looked down at his only friend in the universe. He reached out and scooped up her body, holding it close to his own. His surface armor began to ripple as she was absorbed into his flesh.
Zinv: "Rest, Daughter of Kumu. I shall protect you."
A feeling of warmth passed over Dee and for the first evening since Kazuki and she had arrived on this world, she slept peacefully.
Suddenly, the blue robot sat up. Its eyes glowed red with rage. Pushing off of the desert floor, it's cold metallic glare focused on the approaching enemy. Perhaps out of fear, they halted for a moment. Finally, one unit continued on its path, aiming a rifle at the robot's cockpit.
Light began spreading from the robot's back. It momentarily blinded all who were staring directly at it, causing them to miss the casing as it was shed. The blue robot's head lowered, its attention focused on the lead core unit. In a flash of green light, the creature stood behind its attacker. It swiftly drove the sword it still held into the attacker's back. More green flashes began spreading throughout the area around every Elev core unit. Finally, it halted above the Adome commander's core unit; the sword's tip hovering above its head. The commander first gasped in amazement as all the Elev units fell to the ground and exploded and then as the blade hovered above him.
It dropped the sword to its side and stepped away from the Adome. As if it were out of energy, the blue machine collapsed onto the desert floor once more, only this time the cockpit opened and two pilots emerged. One of the pilots was carrying the other in their arms. It appeared that a young Adome was carrying a female who was unconscious.
Upon closer inspection, the commander realized where the machine had derived its power. Why it was fighting on his side, however, was another question. He had heard of how the Daughters of Kumu had infiltrated and betrayed the Adome of Old Edenora, but something about this one seemed different. It could have killed him at any time and fled with its own kind, yet it did not.
This fact disturbed and intrigued him. Perhaps it was malfunctioning? Or perhaps it was the one of whom the elders spoke of when they told their stories to children around the campfire.
He chuckled at this thought. Those were nothing more than mere fairytales, designed to entertain the children. According to the stories, that Elev returned to Earth with some of the Adome and lived happily forever. No evidence existed that they were ever founded in fact.
He attempted to open the cockpit door, but the mechanics had been damaged during the fight. Pressing the emergency release, he covered his ears as the explosive bolts blew the door off. He climbed out of the cockpit, keeping a watchful eye on his saviors.
For his part, the young Adome had not stopped looking at him. He had been through some sort of ordeal; the commander could see it in his eyes.
Something told him that that ordeal was just beginning...
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Kazuki placed Dee down beside her core robot and took a step back. Who was she just then? That was certainly not the Dee he had known for the better part of a decade now. Even after she had returned to her original body, she had never exhibited such a sense of power, not even in battle. As she laid on the desert surface, her eyes moving erratically beneath her eyelids, she seemed like the same innocent girl who had willingly sacrificed herself to save him all those years ago.
He and Mitsuki had both decided, apparently without even knowing the others' wishes, to keep the horrible memories of her past from her when the worlds merged. Since that day, Dee always seemed like a ray of sunshine even in their darkest hours. She was always there, a smile on her face and optimism in her voice.
But that dark smile that had spread across her lips as the enemies fell before her had a sinister undertone that made Kazuki wonder how much of her memories they had actually removed. Dee had never said anything about the past. When asked, she couldn't recall anything of her past including the Rara/Sanada War. This apparently was changing...
Dee shifted slightly and muttered in her sleep, "Zinv, I'll pilot you..."
"Tell me something, why did she do it," the man who had been piloting the other core robot approached Kazuki cautiously, using him as a human shield between him and Dee. He would occasionally look around Kazuki's body to make sure she wasn't moving before returning his gaze to Kazuki. "For that matter, why are you helping her? Are you a sympathizer?"
Kazuki rolled his eyes and snarled at the older man, "This is so damned old! I'm not a sympathizer and she's not the enemy! We're from Earth and we mean you no harm! Now, if you're not going to help us, shut the hell up and get out of here!"
The man chuckled and sat on the desert, continuing to watch the motionless object beyond the young man. "Earth? And I suppose you flew here on a magic asteroid with a thousand anhels singing your praises?" In reality, the commander was beginning to be intrigued. This could have easily been an Elev plot, but the fact that they were claiming Earth as their home world in addition to the Daughter of Kumu and the strikingly familiar appearance of her companion were becoming more than coincidental.
"Why won't you people believe me? Look at our core robot! Does it look like anything on this rotten dust ball of yours? No! Look at me! Do I look like any other male on this world? Just barely! Well, if all these factors are taken into account, what's the only logical conclusion," Kazuki paused, throwing his arms up into the air. Continuing in a moronic- sounding tone, he replied, "Uh... We're not from around here?"
The commander smiled as he continued to study the young man. He was right, he didn't appear to be from this world, but that did not eliminate the possibility of an Elev trap. Although, he doubted Elev supporters would kill the head of the Elevs on this world. Such a crime would make them marked individuals overnight. Maybe there was some truth to his story...
"What's the big deal about Earth, anyway?"
The commander, who had been looking at the desert sands, glanced up. "Hmm?"
Kazuki sat down since it appeared that they would not be going anywhere for a while. He picked up a piece of scrap metal and began dragging it through the sand, staring at the lines he created. "Every time I mention where we're from, everyone acts as though I've spoken of a horrible specter or I've made some joke. What's the big deal?"
If he were an Elev, he was playing his role quite well. Since there was no harm in indulging the young man's query, he replied, "Well, nothing really. Most adults don't even believe it exists. To hear an adult say they are from that legendary world could either be considered a joke or an omen, depending upon the listener."
Kazuki sighed heavily, "Why is it a legendary world? Are you going to answer me or just vague me to death?"
The older man chuckled and smiled at his companion. "You're an interesting fellow, my boy. It'll be a shame if you're an Elev and I have to kill you."
Kazuki slammed his fists into the sand. "Dammit, stop stalling!"
The commander waived off the young man's anger, continuing to chuckle. "Fine, fine. We tell our children from a young age these stories, usually around a small campfire, of the origin of our people and the Elev. Let me see if I can remember how they went," he scratched his chin, truly trying to remember the nuances of the stories.
Finally recalling the tales, he continued, "There was darkness at the dawn of time. Then, the Great Maker formed the stars and planets. He breathed life onto many worlds and was hailed by this life as the truly powerful being that he was. Then, one day, he formed a peculiar region of the cosmos that he had not developed. He quickly formed a star and a planet system around it and spread many plants and creatures across one of the worlds. As he strolled through the new life-filled planet he had created, he grew very lonely. Thus, he created a being in his image. The Creator spoke to his creation, stating, 'Thou name shall be Zinv and ye shall be Adome.'"
Kazuki's eyes widened as he mentioned his counterpart's name. "Zinv? Are you sure?"
The commander simply nodded in response. Could there be some relationship between him and the Zinv of the story? Of course, many names were common in legend and in real life; the name Arthur came to mind.
The commander paused and stood for a moment, stretching his legs as he scratched his nose. He wasn't used to sitting like this and his older joints were beginning to ache.
"And then what," his companion's somewhat eager response didn't really surprise the commander, but it was still amusing.
He smiled as he sat back down and continued, "Well, Zinv was happy at first, dwelling amongst the creatures of the land. However, the Great Maker spent many days far away from his beloved creation. The cosmos is large and as Caretaker, he was very busy. Zinv grew tired of walking amongst the land and cried to the heavens, 'Oh Merciful One, hear thine pleas! Answer the wail of thine lonely heart!' And the Maker came unto him and answered his plea, taking of Zinv to create Kumu. He said unto Kumu, 'Thou name is Kumu and thou art Elev.'"
Kazuki's eyes continued to grow in width. These names had to be more than coincidence. How the hell did these people know of Zinv and Kumu? What was Dee's relation to this Kumu? The more questions he had answered, the more questions Kazuki came up with.
The commander, noticing the shocked look on the young man's face, chuckled. "So, you 'Earthlings' know of Kumu and Zinv?"
Kazuki shook his head. "No, not most of us... But I have heard of such names. Please continue," his temper gone, Kazuki bowed his head towards his elder as a show of respect.
Nodding, the older man continued, "And so, Zinv and Kumu roamed the Earth. Eventually, they came across a large land separate from any other on the Earth. Settling on this mass, they called it 'Atlatia' and built a great city and prospered, birthing many children that became known as 'Atlatians'. Zinv and Kumu became the rulers of this land and did so justly for many, many conords. As the Atlatians began exploring their planet, they discovered many people who were like them in appearance, but lacked the knowledge of the Great Maker. The Atlatians taught them how to feed themselves and helped build great things for them: Cities to do business in, temples to worship in, homes to dwell in, and the like and the younger peoples, as they were called, rejoiced. However, some of the younger peoples grew envious of the Atlatians. They saw how their rulers, Zinv and Kumu, walked with the Great Maker and flourished in his presence. They sought to take this prosperity for their own and they convinced enough of their fellow people to form a large navy." The old man paused, catching his breath. He wasn't sure how long he'd been telling this story to his children, but the practice seemed to be paying off. The young man was listening with baited breath.
Rubbing some of the sand away from his eyes, he continued, "So, the Atlatians saw this fleet of ships forming from afar and frowned. Zinv and Kumu split for the first time, Zinv wished to solve the situation peaceably and Kumu wished to destroy them without mercy. The two fought for days over how to solve this problem. Many minor grievances that before were over looked suddenly became large blemishes that would not pass with time. While the two continued to argue, the fleet approached Atlatia's shores. Realizing the time for debate had long passed, Zinv and Kumu ordered their people to escape and they did. They boarded giant sky vessels that swiftly fled the planet. As a final act, Zinv and Kumu sank Atlatia so that none of the younger peoples could use the technology there to pursue them."
"Is that all," Kazuki's interest was more than piqued. This story sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it.
Sighing, the older man looked at Kazuki. "If you'd let me finish uninterrupted, it might have been." Stretching again, he punished the listener for his impatience slightly before continuing, "Although the immediate threat was over, Zinv and Kumu could forget not the words that they had spoken to each other in anger. Thus began the great divide. Kumu and her supporters, in spite, broke from the Atlatian fleet and disappeared into space. They became known as the Elev. Angered by her irresponsible actions, Zinv pursued his mate with his remaining forces, who became known as the Adome. They eventually located the Elev and were unable to mend the breach between the two peoples. Thus, the Great War began."
"That's not exactly correct..."
Kazuki spun around and gasped as he saw Dee attempting to stand up by bracing against Persephone. Quickly moving to her side, Kazuki chided her, "Dee, you shouldn't be moving... Sit back down."
Ignoring Kazuki for the moment, her gaze remained fixed on the commander. "Most of the base facts are correct, but I see your side has tainted most of the facts as well since the actual events occurred," the response was in the Adome's own language, the accent a perfect match to the commander's.
The commander, returning the cold gaze with an equally frigid one of his own replied, "And what would you know of the 'actual events', as you put it? I'm old enough to be your grandfather!"
Dee nodded, "This is true, but your age is not what is in question here. Your people have imprisoned myself and my companion because of what I am. We've been forced to endure many hardships because of my genetic makeup, but now you dare question my knowledge of these events. I was there! I saw it with my own two eyes! You know this!"
The commander snarled, "Damned abomination! What devil hath we angered to bring you to this world?"
Dee shook her head sadly, lowering her gaze to the desert floor below her. "And yet he wonders why the battles never end," she looked back up into Kazuki's eyes. The sad gaze told him that the Dee he knew was still inside of her and that the strange woman he had encountered a short time ago was most likely never to return again.
Kazuki anxiously asked, "Dee, are you alright?"
She shook her head, looking away from her companion and back at the desert floor. "No, I am not. We will have to discuss that later, though," Dee looked at the older man now standing across from them. "I assume you know how to show gratitude for your life being spared? Or will you repay us as the villagers repaid Technos?"
The old man raised an eyebrow. "You know of 'Technos and the Water- Bearer'?"
"Of course I do. Who do you think helped create the cautionary tale? He was a good man... A good Adome," Dee's true belief in the words she spoke was being reflecting in her level gaze.
The commander nodded, pushing off the desert sands. "I believe I can accommodate you and your companion temporarily. If you so much as make a sneeze I don't approve of, however, you will be killed. No questions asked. Understood?"
Kazuki swallowed. The hard glare coming from the man's eyes made him personally want to take his chances with the desert instead of obeying.
Dee bowed her head, stating calmly, "Of course."
"I'll require transportation," he looked up at Persephone, the only remaining functional core unit on the battlefield.
Dee turned to Kazuki. "Do you think you can pilot Persephone for a short while," she followed the question with her usual smiling face, but the smile felt like nothing more than a cheap facade covering a soul in a great turmoil.
Kazuki shook his head yes, adding, "It'll be a tight squeeze, but we can manage."
Dee's smile widened. As it did so, the pain she was hiding became even more apparent to the commander, who had closed the distance between himself and the abomination with surprising speed for a man of his age.
Kazuki merely took the smile at face value, as per norm.
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The two men helped Dee into the cockpit, moving to set her down next to the pilot's seat.
Dee softly protested, "No... Put me in the pilot's seat, Kazuki."
Obediently, Kazuki placed Dee gently in the chair, allowing the commander to take a safe position behind them. "Dee, what are you doing?"
Dee shut her eyes, concentrating on some unknown dilemma. As her eyelids began to flutter, the life sympathy orbs she had her hands on began to spark. A small distortion momentarily formed around them, but quickly disappeared as the orbs faded to black.
"I have released the Limiters on this core unit," Dee sighed, falling back into the chair. It was obvious that in her weakened state the task had exhausted her.
The commander, seizing an opportunity when he saw one, quickly approached the front of the pilot's chair. "You mean you can release the Limiters," he was unable to conceal the excitement in his voice as he asked the young Elev who, moments prior, was nothing more than the devil herself.
Dee simply nodded, her eyes shut and her head resting against the back of the seat.
"Incredible," the commander pondered the uses of such a tool in battle. If he could gather enough core units and exploit this girl's gift, they could easily outnumber the Elev on New Edenora two to one.
Kazuki rushed to Dee's side. "Dee, are you ok? Shouldn't you have waited until you were better to do that? I could have piloted Persephone with the Limiters still in place..."
Dee opened her eyes slightly and smiled at Kazuki. She replied in Japanese, a language their newfound friend thankfully could not interpret, "My dear Kazuki-kun, you're so naive at times... That's why I love you so." With that said, Dee closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
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"We'll strike the Core Unit Factory at dawn. Are you sure you can get us in?"
"I am of Kumu. I will get you inside. The rest is up to you, though."
"Don't worry about us! We'll recapture the vessel for the former glory of Atlatia!"
The words rang through the darkness, echoes of a time long past. How long had it been? One thousand? Two thousand years?
"Why? Why do this to us?"
"I-I-I didn't know. I thought I was different. I'm sorry."
In a flash, her dead friends surrounded her. Unsure of what to do, she turned and headed for the mechanics room at the very heart of the vessel. It was Kumu who had done this to her friends. She was trying to end the war by removing the means of manufacturing these suits and thereby saving their lives, but Kumu killed them all. Worst of all, Kumu did it by using her.
She would repay this act in like manner.
She grabbed the knife of one of her fallen friends as she passed. She couldn't kill the original Kumu, but she could destroy what was left of her. She'd destroy that damned floating ball if it were the last thing she'd ever do.
"Warning! Atmospheric decompression in..."
The words echoed through the corridors, but as soon as the initial message had been initiated, she ignored the rest. Entering the large cargo bay, she looked up at the core unit. Its eyes glowed green, acknowledging the girl's presence. Its cockpit opened without being commanded to do so and she hopped in, sealing it quickly behind her.
Zinv: "What will we do?"
"The course has already been set. Kumu won't be able to override it. The engines are too badly damaged. All we can do now is escape."
Zinv: "I see. Very well."
The robot punched through three decks instantly, arriving at the vessel she and her friends had used to gain entry to the factory. She quickly keyed in the command to open the core unit storage space and ordered the robot inside. Sealing it shut, she ran to the control center and placed her hands on the life sympathy orbs.
The ship blew through the docking bay doors as the damaged vessel began descending into the atmosphere of the blue-green planet. Kumu would be trapped on that world, probably forever. The young girl set a course for a small island chain and returned to her robotic companion.
Holding the knife carefully, she looked up at her sole remaining friend. "Goodbye, Zinv."
Zinv: "Where are you going?"
Smiling softly, she shook her head. Pressing the knife against her arm, she began sawing at it. The Liquidator would never hurt another soul, even if it meant having to kill herself in order to prevent this event from reoccurring. As she cut, she bit into her lip, suppressing the urge to scream in agony. She kept reminding herself that soon it would be over and that soon, she'd be in a place of no pain.
She placed the severed arm in an airlock and jettisoned it into the atmosphere, where it would surely burn up. Turning back to her companion, she smiled. The loss of blood was already causing her to become light- headed. She flopped onto the floor, chuckling deliriously. Eventually, she fell backwards, her body splashing into the pool of blood as she went unconscious.
The robot looked down at his only friend in the universe. He reached out and scooped up her body, holding it close to his own. His surface armor began to ripple as she was absorbed into his flesh.
Zinv: "Rest, Daughter of Kumu. I shall protect you."
A feeling of warmth passed over Dee and for the first evening since Kazuki and she had arrived on this world, she slept peacefully.