A Last Farewell
Author's Notes: A new soundtrack has been enabled on the website. "Melodies of Life" is the song that Regina sings in this chapter. Find it, as always, in the author's profile link.
Osaka, Japan
One day has passed
Gill found Samantha McGrath seated among the pews of an otherwise empty church. It was a magnificent structure built in the style of the West, complete with stained-glass windows, candles, and a marble statue to remind all visitors that the Son of the Almighty had once made the ultimate sacrifice. Samantha's head was bowed and as Gill approached he heard the sound of quiet sobbing. If she detected his approach, she gave no sign of it. Gill was dressed in a fine tuxedo and had come at Blake's request. All silently he seated himself next to her and wordlessly took one of her hands. Still teary-eyed, Samantha looked up at him only after a long pause. "Regina gave her word that she would resurrect Ernest," Samantha sniffled. "Yet now ..."
"Bring my husband back to me as you promised, Regina!" Samantha cried last night, catching Regina by the shoulders as if she could bring about the miracle by sheer force of will. She sank to her knees and clasped Regina's hands in her own, turning a tearstained face upwards to beg the goddess with all her heart.
"I can't!" Regina cried, and there was broken despair in her voice. She too dropped to her knees on a level with Samantha. "I can't find his soul! It's not on Earth, and it's not in either Heaven or Hell! I want to help you, Samantha, but he's gone! I can do nothing without his soul - oh, what could possibly have happened?!" Samantha had fled weeping, while Blake and Lloyd simply stood, stunned. And then Regina broke down into tears and no amount of words from Commando could comfort her.
Having taken Samantha's left hand in his right, Gill laid his own left hand over hers. Normally so elegant and hauntingly beautiful, Samantha presented a markedly different appearance. Her fine blonde hair hung in disorderly tatters and tear tracks ran freely down her face. Her large green eyes had grown dim and red with incessant weeping. Her clothes, made of velvet, looked at though they had seen much better care. Samantha turned around and let Gill take her into his arms and then she cried into his strong shoulder. He said nothing, only stroking her hair now and then as she sobbed her heart out. Gill's eyes were drawn to the crucifix mounted at the front of the church. What would You say to Your suffering child, my Lord? This trial is beyond my ability. For so is love revealed: they whom we love the best, leave the greatest emptiness in our hearts when they pass.
Samantha's sobbing gradually gave way to a quiet sniffling before dying off altogether. When she finally looked up, she did not meet Gill's gaze. She was uncomfortably aware of the dark stain on his tuxedo and grateful that he did not hold it against her. She only stared listlessly, looking at nothing in particular, seeing nothing. Then, in a soft voice broken only by the occasional sniffle, she began to tell her story and Gill listened without question or comment.
"I was born the daughter of wealth, prestige, and privilege. I hail from a distinguished line of ancestors who gave their lives to public service. My father and his father both served in the United States Senate for as long as I can remember. My mother served as the Secretary of State for a dozen years. Naturally, I was reared in comfort, growing accustomed to influence and power at an early age. I lived in a mansion near the capital city with servants at my beck and call. As my father and mother rarely made betook themselves to the house, my elder brother and I were raised to be lord and lady of the house. I was instructed by the best of teachers, I was wealthy, I lived a life of luxury and comfort. I wanted for nothing, save only my greatest desire which forever remained above my reach: the love of my parents.
"I now understand that my parents never loved me or my brother. I was but a means to an end, and the end was to secure greater power among the elite circle. My parents had high ambitions and my brother was carefully groomed to one day become President. As for me, I grew in a household devoid of life, raised to be a proper lady and in time a show wife. The servants maintained a polite distance and my instructors an air of cold professionalism. My brother was my only comfort in my childhood years. Ah, David ... you were my best friend, my confidant, and my most loving teacher. He was ... he was the father that I never truly knew. I am not ashamed to admit that I wept freely when he left to enlist with the Army. I said farewell and ... oh, cruel fate! Would that none of this had ever occurred!" Samantha broke into a fresh fit of sobbing that lasted for several awkward minutes.
When she resumed her narrative, it was in a much more steady voice. "My brother had left but for a year when my father announced that he had arranged a marriage for me. I was to wed a gentleman twice my age, so as to join two powerful families in an alliance of blood. For me, this was the final impulse that spurred me to my desperate course of action. I had never known a parent's love. Now, to hear that I was to be given away as though I were a mere possession - I could no longer bear it. God forgive me, that night my father and I nearly came to blows over the decision. When I saw that my parents could not be moved, I resolved to flee. I took but little and embarked on the road, saying my silent farewells to the parents who had never loved me and whom I could not love.
"My first thought was to join my brother in the military, but I was persuaded that such would have been a foolhardy course in the extreme. Thus I kept a low profile, living from one day to the next, seeking shelter where it might be offered, never remaining in one location for much time. I had no friends and no place to name home. So I wandered for a year, sliding ever deeper into the depths of despair. I learned to disguise my identity as the media could not devour enough news of my disappearance. At last agents raised my trail and I realized that my escapade would soon end.
"Then they appeared. To my initial glance, Ernest McGrath and Blake Wallis seemed ordinary enough men. Yet the very first words Ernest spoke pierced me through and I knew that he saw beyond all pretense, all deception. Here was a man who could gaze into the heart of the matter, whatever it might be. He invited me to share my story, sweet man, and I did after much reluctance. He spoke not a word of judgment or condemnation. He did not make me feel guilty, only unconditionally loved. So I shared my sorry tale with him and - God love him for his kindness - he offered me a place with the IDC. I accepted the offer without a second thought; had I known what I was committing myself to, doubtlessly I would have declined and rather taken my chances with my parents.
"The next three years as a Phantom were the most difficult I have ever faced. My spirit broke more times than I can ever recall. Yet here in the IDC I had at last found a brotherhood that would love me and protect me, that would cherish me for the woman I am. Come what may, we would stand together and give our very lives for each other. In the crucibles of suffering and hardship, steel was slowly forged within my spirit and I became a very different woman from the former Samantha Trevors. Ernest proposed to me but a year ago and when I married him I celebrated the happiest, most joyous day I have ever known in my life." Samantha's lips formed a sad smile. "The irony, of course, was that Ernest was nearly twice my age. Still, I loved him ... yes, I loved him so much, and he me ...
"My wedding was the last happy time that I remember, for dark days loomed large on the horizon. It seemed that scarcely had I said my wedding vows before we were involved in one mission after another. The months leading to Operation Judgment were a whirlwind of activity during which Ernest was nearly killed ... I still shudder to think of it. Brave man, he placed himself before a bullet meant for me! He could no longer lead the strike force and gave its command to me, charging me to be a worthy captain. Following Operation Judgment, I thought that perhaps we could enjoy a well-earned respite. Even then, Ernest knew that it would not be so and warned me to be on my guard.
"The success of Operation Judgment brought us into direct conflict with the United States. My father was among the lawmakers who pressed for war. When the War of Ascendancy came, the IDC was well-prepared. May God forgive me, we settled two full armies in a single battle. I led the strike force in that grim conflict and I shall never forget the sight of my brothers in arms falling all about me. I made more than a hundred women into widows that night. We had pressed near to the very headquarters of the American command when a nearby sharpshooter and I sighted each other at the same moment. I was a fraction of a second the swifter. I inspected the corpse and - oh, what have I done? How could this happen? I killed my brother David!" she cried. Samantha wept again; a distant part of Gill wondered how McGrath had reacted when he heard this story. The seraph offered her a tissue and Samantha dabbed at her eyes before resuming her story.
"David ... my brother David, my only friend when I was still Samantha Trevors ... may you find a worthier family in heaven. There, on the battlefield, I wrote a letter to my parents declaring what I had done since I fled the house and spared not a detail. I placed the letter in my dear brother's hands. It was not long following the war that my parents contacted me, as I had requested. We met on neutral ground and there I learned that they had not changed a whit. They blamed me for my brother's death, though no less than I blamed myself. I also learned that they intended to annul my marriage to Ernest and wed me off to the elderly gentleman. When I refused and informed them that I intended to stay with the IDC, they tried to take me by force, having brought an escort of half a dozen soldiers with them. It is to Ernest's credit that he foresaw the very possibility and had earlier placed two squads in ambush around the chateau. When my parents saw that I could not be forced to return with them, they disowned me.
"It has been but half a year and the memory of the war still weighs heavily upon my mind. Here I am, involved in yet another mission scarcely after the war has ended. There is no rest for a soldier except in death ... just as poor Ernest always knew ... Ernest ... if only we had declined to come ... you would be seated beside me, laughing your carefree and generous laugh ..." Samantha sighed and fell silent. Gill reached out and brought an arm around her shoulder; Samantha allowed herself to be drawn into his comforting embrace as she rested her head on his shoulder. She had not known Gill before the tournament, of course, but being near him had a calming effect on her spirit. Gill stroked her hair gently as though she were his own daughter.
"Ernest and I have been good friends for many years," Gill offered at last, causing Samantha to look up at him. "I have known him since he was a young boy, and I have seen him mature into a man. He was aware of my connection with the Illuminati. Many nights he, the seer Rose, and myself would sit around a blazing fireplace with cups of tea in hand. And then we would discuss politics, or philosophy, or history; we would debate the world at large. It was a sad day indeed for me when Ernest chose the IDC above the Illuminati. I assured him that should anything untoward happen, he could always seek refuge with me. I am not at all surprised to see that he fought to the bitter end. He had the courage of a hundred men."
"Who was the Ernest McGrath whom you knew?" Samantha asked quietly.
"He was, above all, a learner who thirsted after knowledge," Gill answered, contemplating the past. "And he once said that the more he learned, the more he realized how little he truly knew. He drove himself to greater heights without mercy. Often he would train for fifteen or sixteen hours a day had he nothing better to do. In hindsight, I am not at all surprised that he should have become as formidable as he did, for he was ever striving to become a better man. But whereas his passion for knowledge was innate, his kindness was acquired only after hardship that would break most men. He might once have walked the path of the true warrior, but he informed me that he had discovered something better. He would fight, he said, to defend the ones whom he loved. That, I believe, was the true source of his strength."
"And you?" Samantha asked softly.
"I fight for a world where fighting is unnecessary. Ernest also believed in my vision - indeed, he offered to assist me. I was sent to this world for this sole purpose, to bring about paradise on Earth, and the Lady Marin granted me some of her power to speed my way. I do not know what she intends, but I have absolute confidence that she means the best. She truly does love humans. I am certain that she is watching over Ernest, wherever he may be." Gill stood up and raised Samantha to her feet, offering an arm to her. She took it and together the two of them slowly exited the chapel.
Suzaku Castle, Japan
One day has passed
"Dearly beloved," Gill began in a clear, strong voice, "we are gathered here today to honor a dear friend. Many of you knew Dr. Ernest McGrath as a steadfast and faithful companion. His body rests in ground known only to God, but his spirit is with us today. It is time to say farewell; at the same time, we know that one day we shall be together with him once more." Gill stepped aside from the casket and deferred to Regina. The funeral was a simple affair, an outdoor gathering with all who could attend. Samantha stood in the front row of the assembled mourners. She was dressed entirely in sober black colors, yet even amidst her grief she was still beautiful in a sad and solemn way. A small folding table had been set up next to her. In honor of the deceased, the assembled crowd kept a respectful silence.
Next to Samantha, Captain Commando stood closest to the coffin, having pulled out his best tuxedo for the occasion. Strider Hiryu and Chan Yoruyamatiha flanked him one on either side. Ruby Heart had found a spot directly behind Commando. Sagat and Kirina were present, as was Sakura Kasugano. Mitsukake had also shown up, his height advantage making him quite conspicuous as he stood amongst the three Killer Bees. Darrell had found his place next to Sakura. Edgar and Kikoken had appeared; so had the three American Vigilantes. M. Bison and the other two Shadowlaw lords were also present. In short, just about everyone who hadn't yet disappeared had come. There were also a few unfamiliar faces, including the remaining members of the Phantom strike force. Even Juni and Jill had traveled to be present. Only Guy was still absent, too tied up searching for Haggar to make an appearance.
It was evening and there was not a cloud in sky. The sun painted the whole landscape in brilliant reds and oranges. A slight breeze ruffled the long grass that grew abundantly upon the plateau where McGrath had once indicated he should be buried. The hill overlooked the fortress on the outskirts of the Genbu Plains where McGrath had trained with Gouken and Akuma. Of his immediate family nothing was known. Regina nodded to Jill, who slid behind a keyboard specially set up for the occasion. She found the proper key and ran her hands lightly over the instrument with practiced ease as Regina began to sing. The soft vocals blended perfectly with the keyboard arpeggios.
"Alone for a while I've been searching through the dark
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart,
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain,
"Melodies of life, love's lost refrain."
As Regina sang, Samantha bit down on her lip while tears welled up unbidden within her eyes. But she would not weep now, not in front of everyone here! She was still the Phantom leader and had to remain brave in the face of everything ... though the words sounded hollow compared against the grim reality of her situation. Ernest, who had always been someone she could lean on for support, was no longer there to guide her. As an IDC soldier, she'd see plenty of death before, of both her friends and her enemies. She'd even caused some of them. Somehow, McGrath's passing was different from all the others ... still impossible to imagine, let alone believe. As Samantha forced back her tears, the steady clop-clop of a horse's stride drew the crowd's eyes to the right for a moment.
"Our paths, they did cross, though I cannot say just why.
We met, we laughed, we held on fast - and then we said goodbye.
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud 'til they unfold!"
Dressed in his finest IDC ceremonial uniform, Blake Wallis led a riderless stallion to the coffin. The horse was flanked on either side by Lloyd Cunningham and the BEAT captain. McGrath's boots had been placed backwards in the stirrups and the saddle equipment jingled softly as Blake tugged on the reins. Behind him, Lloyd and BEAT leader marched with clockwork precision, rifles shouldered and uniforms almost gleaming. When Blake reached the casket, Lloyd and BEAT leader split off to form an honor guard stationed one where McGrath's head would have been and one at his feet. The other Phantoms joined them and formed a small perimeter ring.
"In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name!"
Blake led the stallion around the coffin with slow, carefully measured steps ... once ... twice ... by the third circuit, hardly a dry eye could be found amidst the mourners. Even the normally stolid Jedah Dohma seemed affected. When he finished with the third circle, Blake began to lead the horse away. Lloyd and BEAT leader both offered a textbook-perfect IDC style salute. The remaining BEATs then filed in, forming a double line all around the casket. Each of them wore the bright white combat uniform of the BEAT patrol and carried a rifle in hand, contrasting starkly against the midnight-black strike force outfits.
"A voice from the past, joining yours and mine,
Adding up the layers of harmony ...
And so it goes on and on: melodies of life
To the sky beyond the flying birds ... forever and beyond ..."
At a signal from the BEAT captain, the IDC soldiers snapped their rifles into position close to their bodies. BEAT leader raised his hand in a sharp gesture and the soldiers twirled their rifles in a complex and intricate pattern. A second gesture, and the soldiers locked their rifles into firing position. BEAT leader dropped his hand; the soldiers fired. The IDC's Crystal Rifles made no sound, but each barrel let loose a glittering trail of golden dust that arced high over the funeral display. The soldiers fired twice more before shouldering their weapons and standing to attention. Lloyd and BEAT leader then saluted and the soldiers answered the gesture with their own. Nearby, Regina's eyes glistened with unshed tears, yet her voice did not hesitate even the least bit as she sang her heart into the song. Chan wiped her eyes on Hiryu's scarf.
"So far and away, see the bird as it flies by,
Riding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky.
I've laid my memories and dreams upon those wings.
Lift them now and see what tomorrow brings!"
Blake reappeared from the side and marched to the coffin, stopping three paces in front of the covered casket. He then offered a military salute before taking an edge of the flag draped over the coffin. This he pulled up and neatly folded, following a complicated series of movements. When the flag was about half-collected, Blake straightened and saluted again. He then took Lloyd's place by the casket as the other Phantom ran through the remainder of the procedure and efficiently folded the battle flag into a small, square bundle. Blake and Lloyd laid McGrath's various medals upon the flag where they glimmered in the light of the setting sun. Farther back in the crowd, Sakura was weeping freely and Gouken made no effort to check the tears streaming down his face.
"In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?"
Blake, Lloyd, and the other Phantoms now approached Samantha with their bundles. As his closest friend and nearest relation in the IDC, Samantha would inherit McGrath's possessions. Blake carried the flag with its attendant medals and solemnly laid them in Samantha's hands. She clasped the folded flag to her breast for a moment before setting it aside on the table, medals tinkling. Next, Lloyd stepped forward as Blake resumed his guarding position around the coffin. Lloyd presented McGrath's weapon, a well-worn and faithful C-10 Crystal Rifle that he had used for over ten years. The next member down handed over McGrath's uniform with his boots stacked on top of the fabric, the entire outfit newly cleaned.
"A voice from the past, joining yours and mine,
Adding up the layers of harmony ...
And so it goes, on and on: melodies of life,
To the sky beyond the flying birds ... forever and beyond ..."
Samantha finished receiving McGrath's possessions, whereupon Blake and Lloyd led her directly to the coffin. As Regina sang in the evening air, Samantha kneeled down to where McGrath's head should have laid and there she offered a short prayer for him. She ran her hands slowly and lightly over the unforgiving surface of the coffin, tracing out the place where he would have rested. Then she bent over and in the tradition of IDC soldiers who had lost a loved one, placed a kiss on the casket. She closed her eyes for a brief moment as she did so, then stood up straight and turned to face the crowd. Samantha did not look back until she took her place again, escorted by Blake and Lloyd.
"And if I should leave this lonely world behind,
Your voice will still remember our melody.
Now I know we'll carry on: melodies of life,
Come circle 'round and grow deep in our hearts
As long as we remember."
Regina held her voice beautifully up to the very last note before letting it sink out of hearing. Jill continued playing until she drew the song to its conclusion; by this time, every mourner present was either weeping freely or choking back tears. Regina walked past the casket as she took her place amongst the crowd, murmuring, "May peace find you wherever you are, Ernest McGrath. You've earned it." She brushed a tear away from her cheek. The BEAT escort stood aside a little as the honorary pallbearers came by. Blake and Lloyd took a position at their head; meanwhile, Ryu, Ken, Zeku, and Captain Commando filed down either side. At a nod from Blake, the six pallbearers reached down and picked up the casket. As they bore it through the crowd and to his chosen resting place, many of the assembled reached out to touch the coffin. The BEAT escort filed alongside the small cavalcade, their white uniforms standing out uncomfortably against the black of the crowd. Gill stood out to deliver the eulogy and waited until the coffin had passed before speaking. All eyes turned to him.
"Ernest McGrath was a friend of mine," Gill told the crowd, "and it is my greatest honor to be able to say this. When the threat of the United Front arose, Ernest was the man who made possible its downfall. When the Russian diplomats were taken hostage at Cairo, it was Ernest who led the rescue mission that set them free. When the War of Ascendancy broke out, it was Ernest's leadership that helped saved the IDC's Fifth Army from destruction. He was the greatest soldier the IDC has ever seen. He was the most zealous in his endless quest for knowledge. In strength of character he had no peer, for his spirit was refined in the forge of sorrow and suffering. He fought not for himself but for others. He was the best and there is none better.
"It is to we the living that he has laid a final challenge. The most fitting tribute, perhaps, to offer such a man is not to speak his praises - they declare themselves - but to pursue his excellent standards. He was always striving to better himself and he has left that shining example to us. Now the decision is ours. Will we be content to remain as we are? Or will we follow the path that he has shown and also dedicate ourselves to improvement - both of self and of the world? Do not weep or wear a sad countenance; Ernest would have none of that. Know this: so long as his memory and his example remain with us, no man can say that Ernest McGrath has truly passed away!"
Several hours later, when the last rays of the sun had long vanished and the earth had been piled over McGrath's grave, Regina found Blake and Lloyd alone in the hotel lounge engaged in a game of chess. They looked a bit ragged but otherwise none the worse for wear. Both of them had changed out of uniform - T-shirt and jeans for Blake, trench coat and khakis for Lloyd. To his credit, Blake's dragon-style defense was holding up well under a withering assault by Lloyd's white pieces. When Blake tried to sneak one of Lloyd's pieces off the board, the British man caught his arm and Blake sheepishly gave the pawn back. "Aren't you worried about Samantha?" Regina asked after a moment. She seated herself on the thick carpet by the glass table where Blake and Lloyd waged their miniature war.
"She'll come around eventually," Blake answered. "It's not like we haven't lost people before - Wildwind, Redrider, Scorpion, Crescent ... and now Starcrash. It's what McGrath used to tell us: you say your goodbyes and keep going, because life goes on. Samantha will recover." Part of him wondered why Regina had asked of their concern for Samantha rather than McGrath, but for all practical purposes they had already given him up for lost. Still, hadn't Keith Carter-Jones gone missing after the War of Ascendancy, only to show up a month later at headquarters none the worse for having lived off the wilderness?
"Regina," Lloyd asked, "were you ever married?"
Regina nodded. "Once. I visited a young Dacian man who was down on his luck. I asked him what would make him happy, and he said that he would want to be with a girl like me. And so I married him. We had six children; those were happy times that I still fondly look back upon. He was a good man and I asked the Almighty to reserve a special place for him in Heaven."
"Let me get this straight," Blake cut in, at the same time neatly knocking a pawn off the board with his light-squared bishop. "You got married, just like this?" He snapped his fingers for emphasis as he stared at Regina. Lloyd stared too.
"Well, of course," Regina replied, talking as if it were an everyday occurrence.
"But ... you married him!" Blake exclaimed. "And just because he was having a bad day? Would you marry me if I asked you?"
"I might," Regina answered gravely. "Think: you humans are given the gift of mortality and so you lead brief lives on this world, often full of bitterness. It is because humans are mortal that they are driven to experience far more than their short lives could ever hold. I, on the other hand, am immortal. When you see the world as I do, then you realize: what is fifty, a hundred years more or less? It is life, not time, that counts. Happiness ... that is the important part. I made my husband happy and so I consider my time well spent."
Blake arched an eyebrow, then shrugged as if you convey the feeling of If you say so. He frowned as he returned to studying the board where Lloyd was threatening an unveiling attack on his king. Lloyd, meanwhile, posed another question. "Then your children are demigods upon that world?"
Regina shook her head. "No. Although I am a goddess, while I wear this human form I cannot pass my divinity on to my children. If you and I, for example, were to have a child, he would be entirely human and possess none of my power. Only a child born in spirit form can inherit divinity. My sister Marin also had mortal children whom she loved very much."
Lloyd swept Blake's knight off the board and the younger man's defense collapsed. "Then you understand what anguish must be in Samantha's heart. No doubt you also buried your own husband."
"I did, but I didn't grieve for him," Regina answered. Blake shifted a pawn on the board. "Life does not end when a person leaves his body. I see the physical world and the spiritual world through the same set of eyes; to me, death is only a transition from one world to another." Lloyd advanced his rook and Blake tipped over his king in acknowledgement of defeat. "So take this promise with you: one day you will be together with Ernest again. Although I can't find his soul, he hasn't died yet. I am told that his time has not yet come. I believe that he will return."
Suzaku Castle, Japan
Four hours have passed
The moon rose high into the heavens that night, illuminating all of the world with its soft, shimmering light. Gouken's grave on the summit of the mountain, now empty, gleamed in the radiance. Much farther down, the castle loomed forbiddingly in the darkness mixed with light. The soft rays of the moon slid on farther to illuminate McGrath's newly dug grave and its simple headstone. Had anyone been watching, though no one did, they might have seen a tree standing suspiciously close to the grave. Of course, it wasn't a tree, though the moonlight gave poor indication as to what it might have been. It remained motionless for most of the night as the moon wended its stately, graceful course among the stars of the sky.
Finally Dadallent turned his face to the ground to consider the earth. Slowly he stepped around the grave of the fallen soldier and perhaps a keen observer would have seen in his regal stride a glimpse of the great prince Dadallent had once been. He gently turned over a clod of the earth with his booted foot. Then he shook his head and began to speak. "I know you too well. You are not dead. You are merely lost. For a certainty ... you would not allow yourself to be killed. The Master of the Fist also lives. I sense his spirit; though it is far away now, yet it shines invisibly in the unseen world. But he is greatly weakened and can be of no assistance in the upcoming conflict.
"My only friend ... my greatest enemy ... my one true rival ... I had high hopes that you could free me from my curse. Find your way as I shall find mine. When you return, I will be waiting for you. For the sake of honor, I will watch what you now cannot and I will take your mission upon myself. Until we meet again ... my life to you, Ernest McGrath." Dadallent bowed to the headstone, a slow, deep bow of ultimate respect. He drew the Psychisaber with nary a sound and placed the coldly gleaming blade to his palm, his fingers brushing against the hilt. Slowly, very deliberately, he closed his right hand around the fearsome weapon until blood ran in rivers down the blade. The blood trickled to the tip of the short sword and dripped to the ground at Dadallent's feet, and the pact was sealed.
Author's Notes: A new soundtrack has been enabled on the website. "Melodies of Life" is the song that Regina sings in this chapter. Find it, as always, in the author's profile link.
Osaka, Japan
One day has passed
Gill found Samantha McGrath seated among the pews of an otherwise empty church. It was a magnificent structure built in the style of the West, complete with stained-glass windows, candles, and a marble statue to remind all visitors that the Son of the Almighty had once made the ultimate sacrifice. Samantha's head was bowed and as Gill approached he heard the sound of quiet sobbing. If she detected his approach, she gave no sign of it. Gill was dressed in a fine tuxedo and had come at Blake's request. All silently he seated himself next to her and wordlessly took one of her hands. Still teary-eyed, Samantha looked up at him only after a long pause. "Regina gave her word that she would resurrect Ernest," Samantha sniffled. "Yet now ..."
"Bring my husband back to me as you promised, Regina!" Samantha cried last night, catching Regina by the shoulders as if she could bring about the miracle by sheer force of will. She sank to her knees and clasped Regina's hands in her own, turning a tearstained face upwards to beg the goddess with all her heart.
"I can't!" Regina cried, and there was broken despair in her voice. She too dropped to her knees on a level with Samantha. "I can't find his soul! It's not on Earth, and it's not in either Heaven or Hell! I want to help you, Samantha, but he's gone! I can do nothing without his soul - oh, what could possibly have happened?!" Samantha had fled weeping, while Blake and Lloyd simply stood, stunned. And then Regina broke down into tears and no amount of words from Commando could comfort her.
Having taken Samantha's left hand in his right, Gill laid his own left hand over hers. Normally so elegant and hauntingly beautiful, Samantha presented a markedly different appearance. Her fine blonde hair hung in disorderly tatters and tear tracks ran freely down her face. Her large green eyes had grown dim and red with incessant weeping. Her clothes, made of velvet, looked at though they had seen much better care. Samantha turned around and let Gill take her into his arms and then she cried into his strong shoulder. He said nothing, only stroking her hair now and then as she sobbed her heart out. Gill's eyes were drawn to the crucifix mounted at the front of the church. What would You say to Your suffering child, my Lord? This trial is beyond my ability. For so is love revealed: they whom we love the best, leave the greatest emptiness in our hearts when they pass.
Samantha's sobbing gradually gave way to a quiet sniffling before dying off altogether. When she finally looked up, she did not meet Gill's gaze. She was uncomfortably aware of the dark stain on his tuxedo and grateful that he did not hold it against her. She only stared listlessly, looking at nothing in particular, seeing nothing. Then, in a soft voice broken only by the occasional sniffle, she began to tell her story and Gill listened without question or comment.
"I was born the daughter of wealth, prestige, and privilege. I hail from a distinguished line of ancestors who gave their lives to public service. My father and his father both served in the United States Senate for as long as I can remember. My mother served as the Secretary of State for a dozen years. Naturally, I was reared in comfort, growing accustomed to influence and power at an early age. I lived in a mansion near the capital city with servants at my beck and call. As my father and mother rarely made betook themselves to the house, my elder brother and I were raised to be lord and lady of the house. I was instructed by the best of teachers, I was wealthy, I lived a life of luxury and comfort. I wanted for nothing, save only my greatest desire which forever remained above my reach: the love of my parents.
"I now understand that my parents never loved me or my brother. I was but a means to an end, and the end was to secure greater power among the elite circle. My parents had high ambitions and my brother was carefully groomed to one day become President. As for me, I grew in a household devoid of life, raised to be a proper lady and in time a show wife. The servants maintained a polite distance and my instructors an air of cold professionalism. My brother was my only comfort in my childhood years. Ah, David ... you were my best friend, my confidant, and my most loving teacher. He was ... he was the father that I never truly knew. I am not ashamed to admit that I wept freely when he left to enlist with the Army. I said farewell and ... oh, cruel fate! Would that none of this had ever occurred!" Samantha broke into a fresh fit of sobbing that lasted for several awkward minutes.
When she resumed her narrative, it was in a much more steady voice. "My brother had left but for a year when my father announced that he had arranged a marriage for me. I was to wed a gentleman twice my age, so as to join two powerful families in an alliance of blood. For me, this was the final impulse that spurred me to my desperate course of action. I had never known a parent's love. Now, to hear that I was to be given away as though I were a mere possession - I could no longer bear it. God forgive me, that night my father and I nearly came to blows over the decision. When I saw that my parents could not be moved, I resolved to flee. I took but little and embarked on the road, saying my silent farewells to the parents who had never loved me and whom I could not love.
"My first thought was to join my brother in the military, but I was persuaded that such would have been a foolhardy course in the extreme. Thus I kept a low profile, living from one day to the next, seeking shelter where it might be offered, never remaining in one location for much time. I had no friends and no place to name home. So I wandered for a year, sliding ever deeper into the depths of despair. I learned to disguise my identity as the media could not devour enough news of my disappearance. At last agents raised my trail and I realized that my escapade would soon end.
"Then they appeared. To my initial glance, Ernest McGrath and Blake Wallis seemed ordinary enough men. Yet the very first words Ernest spoke pierced me through and I knew that he saw beyond all pretense, all deception. Here was a man who could gaze into the heart of the matter, whatever it might be. He invited me to share my story, sweet man, and I did after much reluctance. He spoke not a word of judgment or condemnation. He did not make me feel guilty, only unconditionally loved. So I shared my sorry tale with him and - God love him for his kindness - he offered me a place with the IDC. I accepted the offer without a second thought; had I known what I was committing myself to, doubtlessly I would have declined and rather taken my chances with my parents.
"The next three years as a Phantom were the most difficult I have ever faced. My spirit broke more times than I can ever recall. Yet here in the IDC I had at last found a brotherhood that would love me and protect me, that would cherish me for the woman I am. Come what may, we would stand together and give our very lives for each other. In the crucibles of suffering and hardship, steel was slowly forged within my spirit and I became a very different woman from the former Samantha Trevors. Ernest proposed to me but a year ago and when I married him I celebrated the happiest, most joyous day I have ever known in my life." Samantha's lips formed a sad smile. "The irony, of course, was that Ernest was nearly twice my age. Still, I loved him ... yes, I loved him so much, and he me ...
"My wedding was the last happy time that I remember, for dark days loomed large on the horizon. It seemed that scarcely had I said my wedding vows before we were involved in one mission after another. The months leading to Operation Judgment were a whirlwind of activity during which Ernest was nearly killed ... I still shudder to think of it. Brave man, he placed himself before a bullet meant for me! He could no longer lead the strike force and gave its command to me, charging me to be a worthy captain. Following Operation Judgment, I thought that perhaps we could enjoy a well-earned respite. Even then, Ernest knew that it would not be so and warned me to be on my guard.
"The success of Operation Judgment brought us into direct conflict with the United States. My father was among the lawmakers who pressed for war. When the War of Ascendancy came, the IDC was well-prepared. May God forgive me, we settled two full armies in a single battle. I led the strike force in that grim conflict and I shall never forget the sight of my brothers in arms falling all about me. I made more than a hundred women into widows that night. We had pressed near to the very headquarters of the American command when a nearby sharpshooter and I sighted each other at the same moment. I was a fraction of a second the swifter. I inspected the corpse and - oh, what have I done? How could this happen? I killed my brother David!" she cried. Samantha wept again; a distant part of Gill wondered how McGrath had reacted when he heard this story. The seraph offered her a tissue and Samantha dabbed at her eyes before resuming her story.
"David ... my brother David, my only friend when I was still Samantha Trevors ... may you find a worthier family in heaven. There, on the battlefield, I wrote a letter to my parents declaring what I had done since I fled the house and spared not a detail. I placed the letter in my dear brother's hands. It was not long following the war that my parents contacted me, as I had requested. We met on neutral ground and there I learned that they had not changed a whit. They blamed me for my brother's death, though no less than I blamed myself. I also learned that they intended to annul my marriage to Ernest and wed me off to the elderly gentleman. When I refused and informed them that I intended to stay with the IDC, they tried to take me by force, having brought an escort of half a dozen soldiers with them. It is to Ernest's credit that he foresaw the very possibility and had earlier placed two squads in ambush around the chateau. When my parents saw that I could not be forced to return with them, they disowned me.
"It has been but half a year and the memory of the war still weighs heavily upon my mind. Here I am, involved in yet another mission scarcely after the war has ended. There is no rest for a soldier except in death ... just as poor Ernest always knew ... Ernest ... if only we had declined to come ... you would be seated beside me, laughing your carefree and generous laugh ..." Samantha sighed and fell silent. Gill reached out and brought an arm around her shoulder; Samantha allowed herself to be drawn into his comforting embrace as she rested her head on his shoulder. She had not known Gill before the tournament, of course, but being near him had a calming effect on her spirit. Gill stroked her hair gently as though she were his own daughter.
"Ernest and I have been good friends for many years," Gill offered at last, causing Samantha to look up at him. "I have known him since he was a young boy, and I have seen him mature into a man. He was aware of my connection with the Illuminati. Many nights he, the seer Rose, and myself would sit around a blazing fireplace with cups of tea in hand. And then we would discuss politics, or philosophy, or history; we would debate the world at large. It was a sad day indeed for me when Ernest chose the IDC above the Illuminati. I assured him that should anything untoward happen, he could always seek refuge with me. I am not at all surprised to see that he fought to the bitter end. He had the courage of a hundred men."
"Who was the Ernest McGrath whom you knew?" Samantha asked quietly.
"He was, above all, a learner who thirsted after knowledge," Gill answered, contemplating the past. "And he once said that the more he learned, the more he realized how little he truly knew. He drove himself to greater heights without mercy. Often he would train for fifteen or sixteen hours a day had he nothing better to do. In hindsight, I am not at all surprised that he should have become as formidable as he did, for he was ever striving to become a better man. But whereas his passion for knowledge was innate, his kindness was acquired only after hardship that would break most men. He might once have walked the path of the true warrior, but he informed me that he had discovered something better. He would fight, he said, to defend the ones whom he loved. That, I believe, was the true source of his strength."
"And you?" Samantha asked softly.
"I fight for a world where fighting is unnecessary. Ernest also believed in my vision - indeed, he offered to assist me. I was sent to this world for this sole purpose, to bring about paradise on Earth, and the Lady Marin granted me some of her power to speed my way. I do not know what she intends, but I have absolute confidence that she means the best. She truly does love humans. I am certain that she is watching over Ernest, wherever he may be." Gill stood up and raised Samantha to her feet, offering an arm to her. She took it and together the two of them slowly exited the chapel.
Suzaku Castle, Japan
One day has passed
"Dearly beloved," Gill began in a clear, strong voice, "we are gathered here today to honor a dear friend. Many of you knew Dr. Ernest McGrath as a steadfast and faithful companion. His body rests in ground known only to God, but his spirit is with us today. It is time to say farewell; at the same time, we know that one day we shall be together with him once more." Gill stepped aside from the casket and deferred to Regina. The funeral was a simple affair, an outdoor gathering with all who could attend. Samantha stood in the front row of the assembled mourners. She was dressed entirely in sober black colors, yet even amidst her grief she was still beautiful in a sad and solemn way. A small folding table had been set up next to her. In honor of the deceased, the assembled crowd kept a respectful silence.
Next to Samantha, Captain Commando stood closest to the coffin, having pulled out his best tuxedo for the occasion. Strider Hiryu and Chan Yoruyamatiha flanked him one on either side. Ruby Heart had found a spot directly behind Commando. Sagat and Kirina were present, as was Sakura Kasugano. Mitsukake had also shown up, his height advantage making him quite conspicuous as he stood amongst the three Killer Bees. Darrell had found his place next to Sakura. Edgar and Kikoken had appeared; so had the three American Vigilantes. M. Bison and the other two Shadowlaw lords were also present. In short, just about everyone who hadn't yet disappeared had come. There were also a few unfamiliar faces, including the remaining members of the Phantom strike force. Even Juni and Jill had traveled to be present. Only Guy was still absent, too tied up searching for Haggar to make an appearance.
It was evening and there was not a cloud in sky. The sun painted the whole landscape in brilliant reds and oranges. A slight breeze ruffled the long grass that grew abundantly upon the plateau where McGrath had once indicated he should be buried. The hill overlooked the fortress on the outskirts of the Genbu Plains where McGrath had trained with Gouken and Akuma. Of his immediate family nothing was known. Regina nodded to Jill, who slid behind a keyboard specially set up for the occasion. She found the proper key and ran her hands lightly over the instrument with practiced ease as Regina began to sing. The soft vocals blended perfectly with the keyboard arpeggios.
"Alone for a while I've been searching through the dark
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart,
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain,
"Melodies of life, love's lost refrain."
As Regina sang, Samantha bit down on her lip while tears welled up unbidden within her eyes. But she would not weep now, not in front of everyone here! She was still the Phantom leader and had to remain brave in the face of everything ... though the words sounded hollow compared against the grim reality of her situation. Ernest, who had always been someone she could lean on for support, was no longer there to guide her. As an IDC soldier, she'd see plenty of death before, of both her friends and her enemies. She'd even caused some of them. Somehow, McGrath's passing was different from all the others ... still impossible to imagine, let alone believe. As Samantha forced back her tears, the steady clop-clop of a horse's stride drew the crowd's eyes to the right for a moment.
"Our paths, they did cross, though I cannot say just why.
We met, we laughed, we held on fast - and then we said goodbye.
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud 'til they unfold!"
Dressed in his finest IDC ceremonial uniform, Blake Wallis led a riderless stallion to the coffin. The horse was flanked on either side by Lloyd Cunningham and the BEAT captain. McGrath's boots had been placed backwards in the stirrups and the saddle equipment jingled softly as Blake tugged on the reins. Behind him, Lloyd and BEAT leader marched with clockwork precision, rifles shouldered and uniforms almost gleaming. When Blake reached the casket, Lloyd and BEAT leader split off to form an honor guard stationed one where McGrath's head would have been and one at his feet. The other Phantoms joined them and formed a small perimeter ring.
"In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name!"
Blake led the stallion around the coffin with slow, carefully measured steps ... once ... twice ... by the third circuit, hardly a dry eye could be found amidst the mourners. Even the normally stolid Jedah Dohma seemed affected. When he finished with the third circle, Blake began to lead the horse away. Lloyd and BEAT leader both offered a textbook-perfect IDC style salute. The remaining BEATs then filed in, forming a double line all around the casket. Each of them wore the bright white combat uniform of the BEAT patrol and carried a rifle in hand, contrasting starkly against the midnight-black strike force outfits.
"A voice from the past, joining yours and mine,
Adding up the layers of harmony ...
And so it goes on and on: melodies of life
To the sky beyond the flying birds ... forever and beyond ..."
At a signal from the BEAT captain, the IDC soldiers snapped their rifles into position close to their bodies. BEAT leader raised his hand in a sharp gesture and the soldiers twirled their rifles in a complex and intricate pattern. A second gesture, and the soldiers locked their rifles into firing position. BEAT leader dropped his hand; the soldiers fired. The IDC's Crystal Rifles made no sound, but each barrel let loose a glittering trail of golden dust that arced high over the funeral display. The soldiers fired twice more before shouldering their weapons and standing to attention. Lloyd and BEAT leader then saluted and the soldiers answered the gesture with their own. Nearby, Regina's eyes glistened with unshed tears, yet her voice did not hesitate even the least bit as she sang her heart into the song. Chan wiped her eyes on Hiryu's scarf.
"So far and away, see the bird as it flies by,
Riding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky.
I've laid my memories and dreams upon those wings.
Lift them now and see what tomorrow brings!"
Blake reappeared from the side and marched to the coffin, stopping three paces in front of the covered casket. He then offered a military salute before taking an edge of the flag draped over the coffin. This he pulled up and neatly folded, following a complicated series of movements. When the flag was about half-collected, Blake straightened and saluted again. He then took Lloyd's place by the casket as the other Phantom ran through the remainder of the procedure and efficiently folded the battle flag into a small, square bundle. Blake and Lloyd laid McGrath's various medals upon the flag where they glimmered in the light of the setting sun. Farther back in the crowd, Sakura was weeping freely and Gouken made no effort to check the tears streaming down his face.
"In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?"
Blake, Lloyd, and the other Phantoms now approached Samantha with their bundles. As his closest friend and nearest relation in the IDC, Samantha would inherit McGrath's possessions. Blake carried the flag with its attendant medals and solemnly laid them in Samantha's hands. She clasped the folded flag to her breast for a moment before setting it aside on the table, medals tinkling. Next, Lloyd stepped forward as Blake resumed his guarding position around the coffin. Lloyd presented McGrath's weapon, a well-worn and faithful C-10 Crystal Rifle that he had used for over ten years. The next member down handed over McGrath's uniform with his boots stacked on top of the fabric, the entire outfit newly cleaned.
"A voice from the past, joining yours and mine,
Adding up the layers of harmony ...
And so it goes, on and on: melodies of life,
To the sky beyond the flying birds ... forever and beyond ..."
Samantha finished receiving McGrath's possessions, whereupon Blake and Lloyd led her directly to the coffin. As Regina sang in the evening air, Samantha kneeled down to where McGrath's head should have laid and there she offered a short prayer for him. She ran her hands slowly and lightly over the unforgiving surface of the coffin, tracing out the place where he would have rested. Then she bent over and in the tradition of IDC soldiers who had lost a loved one, placed a kiss on the casket. She closed her eyes for a brief moment as she did so, then stood up straight and turned to face the crowd. Samantha did not look back until she took her place again, escorted by Blake and Lloyd.
"And if I should leave this lonely world behind,
Your voice will still remember our melody.
Now I know we'll carry on: melodies of life,
Come circle 'round and grow deep in our hearts
As long as we remember."
Regina held her voice beautifully up to the very last note before letting it sink out of hearing. Jill continued playing until she drew the song to its conclusion; by this time, every mourner present was either weeping freely or choking back tears. Regina walked past the casket as she took her place amongst the crowd, murmuring, "May peace find you wherever you are, Ernest McGrath. You've earned it." She brushed a tear away from her cheek. The BEAT escort stood aside a little as the honorary pallbearers came by. Blake and Lloyd took a position at their head; meanwhile, Ryu, Ken, Zeku, and Captain Commando filed down either side. At a nod from Blake, the six pallbearers reached down and picked up the casket. As they bore it through the crowd and to his chosen resting place, many of the assembled reached out to touch the coffin. The BEAT escort filed alongside the small cavalcade, their white uniforms standing out uncomfortably against the black of the crowd. Gill stood out to deliver the eulogy and waited until the coffin had passed before speaking. All eyes turned to him.
"Ernest McGrath was a friend of mine," Gill told the crowd, "and it is my greatest honor to be able to say this. When the threat of the United Front arose, Ernest was the man who made possible its downfall. When the Russian diplomats were taken hostage at Cairo, it was Ernest who led the rescue mission that set them free. When the War of Ascendancy broke out, it was Ernest's leadership that helped saved the IDC's Fifth Army from destruction. He was the greatest soldier the IDC has ever seen. He was the most zealous in his endless quest for knowledge. In strength of character he had no peer, for his spirit was refined in the forge of sorrow and suffering. He fought not for himself but for others. He was the best and there is none better.
"It is to we the living that he has laid a final challenge. The most fitting tribute, perhaps, to offer such a man is not to speak his praises - they declare themselves - but to pursue his excellent standards. He was always striving to better himself and he has left that shining example to us. Now the decision is ours. Will we be content to remain as we are? Or will we follow the path that he has shown and also dedicate ourselves to improvement - both of self and of the world? Do not weep or wear a sad countenance; Ernest would have none of that. Know this: so long as his memory and his example remain with us, no man can say that Ernest McGrath has truly passed away!"
Several hours later, when the last rays of the sun had long vanished and the earth had been piled over McGrath's grave, Regina found Blake and Lloyd alone in the hotel lounge engaged in a game of chess. They looked a bit ragged but otherwise none the worse for wear. Both of them had changed out of uniform - T-shirt and jeans for Blake, trench coat and khakis for Lloyd. To his credit, Blake's dragon-style defense was holding up well under a withering assault by Lloyd's white pieces. When Blake tried to sneak one of Lloyd's pieces off the board, the British man caught his arm and Blake sheepishly gave the pawn back. "Aren't you worried about Samantha?" Regina asked after a moment. She seated herself on the thick carpet by the glass table where Blake and Lloyd waged their miniature war.
"She'll come around eventually," Blake answered. "It's not like we haven't lost people before - Wildwind, Redrider, Scorpion, Crescent ... and now Starcrash. It's what McGrath used to tell us: you say your goodbyes and keep going, because life goes on. Samantha will recover." Part of him wondered why Regina had asked of their concern for Samantha rather than McGrath, but for all practical purposes they had already given him up for lost. Still, hadn't Keith Carter-Jones gone missing after the War of Ascendancy, only to show up a month later at headquarters none the worse for having lived off the wilderness?
"Regina," Lloyd asked, "were you ever married?"
Regina nodded. "Once. I visited a young Dacian man who was down on his luck. I asked him what would make him happy, and he said that he would want to be with a girl like me. And so I married him. We had six children; those were happy times that I still fondly look back upon. He was a good man and I asked the Almighty to reserve a special place for him in Heaven."
"Let me get this straight," Blake cut in, at the same time neatly knocking a pawn off the board with his light-squared bishop. "You got married, just like this?" He snapped his fingers for emphasis as he stared at Regina. Lloyd stared too.
"Well, of course," Regina replied, talking as if it were an everyday occurrence.
"But ... you married him!" Blake exclaimed. "And just because he was having a bad day? Would you marry me if I asked you?"
"I might," Regina answered gravely. "Think: you humans are given the gift of mortality and so you lead brief lives on this world, often full of bitterness. It is because humans are mortal that they are driven to experience far more than their short lives could ever hold. I, on the other hand, am immortal. When you see the world as I do, then you realize: what is fifty, a hundred years more or less? It is life, not time, that counts. Happiness ... that is the important part. I made my husband happy and so I consider my time well spent."
Blake arched an eyebrow, then shrugged as if you convey the feeling of If you say so. He frowned as he returned to studying the board where Lloyd was threatening an unveiling attack on his king. Lloyd, meanwhile, posed another question. "Then your children are demigods upon that world?"
Regina shook her head. "No. Although I am a goddess, while I wear this human form I cannot pass my divinity on to my children. If you and I, for example, were to have a child, he would be entirely human and possess none of my power. Only a child born in spirit form can inherit divinity. My sister Marin also had mortal children whom she loved very much."
Lloyd swept Blake's knight off the board and the younger man's defense collapsed. "Then you understand what anguish must be in Samantha's heart. No doubt you also buried your own husband."
"I did, but I didn't grieve for him," Regina answered. Blake shifted a pawn on the board. "Life does not end when a person leaves his body. I see the physical world and the spiritual world through the same set of eyes; to me, death is only a transition from one world to another." Lloyd advanced his rook and Blake tipped over his king in acknowledgement of defeat. "So take this promise with you: one day you will be together with Ernest again. Although I can't find his soul, he hasn't died yet. I am told that his time has not yet come. I believe that he will return."
Suzaku Castle, Japan
Four hours have passed
The moon rose high into the heavens that night, illuminating all of the world with its soft, shimmering light. Gouken's grave on the summit of the mountain, now empty, gleamed in the radiance. Much farther down, the castle loomed forbiddingly in the darkness mixed with light. The soft rays of the moon slid on farther to illuminate McGrath's newly dug grave and its simple headstone. Had anyone been watching, though no one did, they might have seen a tree standing suspiciously close to the grave. Of course, it wasn't a tree, though the moonlight gave poor indication as to what it might have been. It remained motionless for most of the night as the moon wended its stately, graceful course among the stars of the sky.
Finally Dadallent turned his face to the ground to consider the earth. Slowly he stepped around the grave of the fallen soldier and perhaps a keen observer would have seen in his regal stride a glimpse of the great prince Dadallent had once been. He gently turned over a clod of the earth with his booted foot. Then he shook his head and began to speak. "I know you too well. You are not dead. You are merely lost. For a certainty ... you would not allow yourself to be killed. The Master of the Fist also lives. I sense his spirit; though it is far away now, yet it shines invisibly in the unseen world. But he is greatly weakened and can be of no assistance in the upcoming conflict.
"My only friend ... my greatest enemy ... my one true rival ... I had high hopes that you could free me from my curse. Find your way as I shall find mine. When you return, I will be waiting for you. For the sake of honor, I will watch what you now cannot and I will take your mission upon myself. Until we meet again ... my life to you, Ernest McGrath." Dadallent bowed to the headstone, a slow, deep bow of ultimate respect. He drew the Psychisaber with nary a sound and placed the coldly gleaming blade to his palm, his fingers brushing against the hilt. Slowly, very deliberately, he closed his right hand around the fearsome weapon until blood ran in rivers down the blade. The blood trickled to the tip of the short sword and dripped to the ground at Dadallent's feet, and the pact was sealed.