Proto Merkabah.

A place of outdated technology and buried secrets.

Daddy's place.

The remnants of a lost dream, and a forgotten past.

My past.

What was the purpose of its creation? What was the purpose of my creation?

If Daddy meant for this place to be a monolith of peace, then why did he attach such dangerous weapons into it?

If Daddy meant for me to become his replacement daughter, then why did he leave me all alone, with no knowledge of my own existence?

I have to stay focused. Right now, there's a very wicked man planning to use Proto Merkabah to destroy lots of people. I can't let Daddy's good name become tainted any further. And I can't let that man abuse Daddy's creation just to satisfy his awful needs.

Just like he did to me.

I mustn't think about that now. I'm inside Proto Merkabah now, leading my friends to the main reactor, where we can put a stop to that man's plans. It's strange, but even though I don't remember ever setting foot on this station, I can accurately recall every single location onboard. I can remember the total number of stairs, the total measurement of each room, and even the original plans for rooms that weren't included in the final development. But most importantly, I remember the location of the main reactor.

With this pre-programmed knowledge, I've managed to lead my friends through the shortest route to Proto Merkabah's core. Despite some heavy resistance by the Gnosis blocking our path, we managed to reach the main hallway without too much difficulty. As we were nearing the reactor, I began to feel a sense of anxiety overwhelming me. My head began to swim in a sea of dizziness, tiny spots started to dance around my eyes, and a small burst of pain was beginning to build up in my stomach. I don't think I was experiencing fear, but rather something similar to the stage of delirium that humans experience as a result of intense fever. Yes, I felt sick, and the feeling grew larger as I made it closer to the reactor room. But despite the noxious effect I was feeling, I managed to keep my balance and continue running toward the room, making sure that no one would grow concerned about my condition.

But why was I feeling this way? What was this sudden rush of tension and nausea surrounding me? I think I might know the answer, but I don't want to accept it. I mustn't concern myself with what happened in the past, or what consequences I may have received from it. I can't become a burden to my friends any longer, I have to help them any way I can. All of the people on Second Miltia are depending on us to succeed as well. I won't fail any of those people, or my dear friends…or daddy.

As we reached the entrance of the reactor room, I noticed that Jr had picked up his pacing so he could be the first one to reach the room. Was he experiencing the same feelings of dread that I was? Did he also sense the force that awaited us? Judging by the way he was looking around the room frantically, I could tell he knew something was waiting for us inside.

"You're late!"

The sudden shout hit me like a shot in the dark. An icy chill spilled from my back and formed all around me, freezing me in place. All of my self-confidence and determination disappeared in an instant, and I was instead overtaken with a wave of sorrow and despair. This time, I was definitely experiencing fear.

The chilling voice continued to speak, but I was so absorbed by my fear, the only sound I could hear was the intense beating in my chest. My vision fell into a blurry state as well, my eyes swollen with damp moist, too dry to form into tears. I just couldn't bear myself to look up, to have those devilish eyes pierce into me again.

An unexpected thud snapped me back to reality. There he stood, in the same level as all of us. I should have been more prepared. I knew we would have to face him eventually, but I was also secretly hoping that we wouldn't. Seeing him again, after only a few hours since our last encounter...I just didn't know if I could handle it.

As if sensing my newfound fear, a couple of my friends put themselves in front of me, as if forming a protective shield. Although this hindered my view a bit, it was too late to hide the gruesome reality of our situation. It only took a glimpse of his face for me to remember everything that I tried to forget. The first time I encountered him, as he sat in a throne decorated with the bodies of my long lost sisters; tenderly holding one of them in his lap, then snapping her arm in two, discarding her like trash. And the twisted grin on his face as he drew his knife, making it dance around in front of my face, before he instead turned the blade toward himself, severing his own arm and head, all while laughing endlessly at his own self torment, as well as my own.

And then there was the indescribable feeling of having my body and soul violated and torn apart by his hand. I don't know if I can ever forget the pain I felt, the feelings of sadness, helplessness, fear, and loneliness. Worst of all was that one feeling I experienced, as he nearly reached the contents of the Y-data within me. I couldn't describe what I felt at that time, but it made me sick to my stomach. But strangely, at the same time, I couldn't stop thinking about Jr, how I wanted to see him again, how I wanted him to save me, and how I wished I were in his arms instead…

"Well then, what shall we do now?" He spoke again. "Shall we continue where we left off?"

Shortly after, a mysterious energy began forming around the man, spreading out in all areas, then taking shape into a ghostly projection of himself.

"Wh-what is that?" Jr questioned. "Are you…how are you doing that…?"

"Don't be so surprised;" He answered. "This is the power of will, a fundamental power that exists within everyone. What you are witnessing is simply your perception of it."

As he continued with his description, I briefly tried to analyze what this strange phenomenon was. The power of will? I've never heard of a story where a human could generate large amounts of power by his will alone. And yet my sensors couldn't detect any other causes of this mysterious ability. It couldn't even be classified as Ether. It was truly something new…something scary.

"So…go ahead..." He mocked. "Feel my pain for yourself!"

Instantly, the bluish aura flowed back inside the man's body, leaving only a small trail of energy emanating from his hands. With a simple gesture of his right hand, the man beckoned us to challenge him. But the twisted smile written across his face proved that he didn't consider us as an actual threat.

Immediately, Jr and Shion were discussing battle strategies, but I was too preoccupied to pay attention. My eyes were fixated on that man the entire time as he stood there, just a few feet away from us, eager to battle, yet also in no hurry to start.

When I first met Ziggy and the others, and I discovered that we were all heading for the same destination, I felt so excited and happy. Not only did I travel with a wonderful group of people, but I also had experienced many things, places, and feelings by doing so. As an observational Realien, it was like an enlightening journey. As a lonely girl who had longed for friends, it was a dream come true. And even when I found myself in scary situations, such as our battles with the Gnosis, I still enjoyed the experiences I received from those encounters. I was able to learn new abilities that I never imagined possible, and I became a stronger person because of them. I also managed to help lots of people, finally taking the first steps to honor daddy's final request. I truly felt like I was living the role of a heroine, just like in my favorite stories.

But ever since I met that man, everything changed. If I was reliving a fantasy story, I knew there would have to be an evil villain to challenge the heroine, and I had already encountered a couple of men who could easily fit the role. But nothing could have prepared me for him. Even after hearing mommy's lectures about there being more bad people in the universe than good, I could never have imagined a more horrible person than him. His actions were completely inhuman, even worse than the mythical monsters and beasts I have read about. I don't think even the Gnosis were capable of such cruelty.

And I was the one he unleashed his evil upon. My body still burns with the pain he caused, and my heart still aches over the sight of my sisters lying scattered and broken, all because of him. And I still haven't fully understood what he did to me. Even as I stare at him now, I don't feel anything. Not even fear. Have I lost the will to smile, to laugh, or even cry? Have I lost everything that made me feel like a human being?

"MOMO."

A voice called out to me. A familiar and kind voice, which brought me back to reality. It was Shion, who had her back turned to me as she spoke.

"Whatever happens, I promise that I won't let Albedo harm you ever again." Her soft tone was sincere and refreshing, filling the emptiness inside me. "I know you must be scared, but I want you to know that we're all here now, and we will all protect you no matter what." With her back still turned, she extended her left hand to me.

"Have faith in us, MOMO. Have faith in me." I slowly reached out, and clasped my hand with hers.

I felt a smile form around my face, as well as a few teardrops around my eyes. All the emptiness and doubt I felt seemed to have vanished, if just for an instant. Hearing Shion speak to me, promising my safety, and showing just how much she and the others cared about me, made me cast aside any regrets about ever embarking on this journey. Even after everything that happened, I wouldn't have traded my time with these people for anything in the universe. My days with them were truly the happiest in my entire life, and I'm so grateful to have such wonderful friends. As Shion softly tightened her grip around my hand, and turned to look at me with her gentle, caring eyes, I realized that what I truly found wasn't friendship, but what I've desired all along. Family.

Once again, a surprise voice brings me back to reality. But instead of a gentle whisper, it was a piercing roar that erupted around the room, followed by an explosion of sounds. The sudden noises caused me to clutch Shion tightly, as I tried to shield myself from the terrifying sounds. Even with my eyes tightly shut, I could still hear the sounds of bullets, ether, and screaming all around me. These were the sounds of war, a chorus of pain and violence that I'll never enjoy listening to. I decided to round up enough courage to open my eyes, to take a glance at the source of all the commotion. What I witnessed was my worst fear; my friends had begun the battle against that man.

In one corner, Ziggy was attacking that man with his blade arm, slicing away at him with great malice. In another corner, chaos was shooting his beautiful yet deadly ether spells from his hands. In the center was Jr, firing a volley of bullets directly at our enemy. Everyone was moving approximately twice as fast as normal, perhaps due to an ether boost before the battle.

Standing a few feet away was KOS-MOS, who was only watching the ensuing battle. I could see her hand positioned just above her gun holster. She looked like she was ready for a quick draw, just like in those old 'cowboy' stories I read about. It seemed Jr, Ziggy, and chaos chose to be the offensive, while KOS-MOS stood on the defensive.

I didn't want this, to just sit back and watch my friends take on this monster by themselves, risking their lives for us. I should be helping them. But seeing the rage and intensity that the three of them were delivering, I know that I'd just get in the way. I've watched them fight from the sidelines before, whenever I needed to rest, or when Ziggy or Shion insisted that the battle would be too dangerous for me. But this was different. Everyone was fighting with more anger and hate then usual. They wanted this to be a fight to the death, and that concept frightened me. Even worse, I know that this man could be far more dangerous than an entire army of Gnosis.

Something was wrong. Even though he was outnumbered three to one, that man was evading their every move at approximately 0.65 seconds before Jr and the others even made them. Could he actually be faster than all three of them, even with their ether boosts? Ziggy suddenly advanced with his blade from behind, but just when it looked like he would be the first to make a direct hit, that man immediately turned around and blocked the blade with his own arm.

At this moment, it felt like time stopped around me. Seeing that man stare directly at Ziggy with those horrible eyes and that inhuman smile caused my heart to beat rapidly. Ziggy was left wide open, and that man looked like a hungry wolf about to strike his prey. I wanted to scream out loud, to run over there and try to help Ziggy. He's done so much for me. Even now, he was risking his life for me. If anything happened to him, I'd never forgive myself. Thankfully, Jr and chaos were both mere inches away from helping him, but would they make it in time? Everything was happening so fast, but to me, it felt like an eternity.

I must have blinked one too many times, because before I knew it, that man had disappeared, leaving a bewildered Ziggy, Jr and chaos. A small but dreadfully familiar laugh filled the room, and everyone turned their attention to the source. There he stood, a good nine feet away from everyone, arms folded and his expression as cocky as ever. It seemed that he didn't even take adults seriously. Did this mean that he was invincible? No, there's no such thing. There had to be a way. But what else could we do?

Would I have to end up helping after all? I…I don't think I'm ready.

I think he just glanced over to me. No, it was just my imagination. Wasn't it?

I found myself clutching Shion's hand a little tighter.

Without any more delay, chaos was the first to continue the attack, by running directly towards the enemy! This was strange; I've never seen chaos take such an offensive maneuver before. What was he doing? He doesn't have the physical strength to fight the enemy head on. Wouldn't it have made more sense if Ziggy took the offensive instead?

What was I thinking? I don't want any of them to endanger themselves! Is there no other way? Why must everyone fight? Daddy, what should I do?

Just as chaos was about to collide into the enemy, I was prepared to close my eyes, but in a shocking last second twist, chaos jumps straight into the air, right above the enemy! I looked up in surprise, seeing chaos suspended in mid air, almost like he was flying. But a sudden explosion brought my head back down to the action below, as a cloud of smoke sprang forth from where that man was standing. Maybe chaos' unexpected maneuver was meant to be a distraction, while someone else struck at the enemy. But before the smoke even began to clear, Ziggy immediately rushed right into the blaze. His body then disappeared into the smoke, and a deep, piercing sound soon followed. 

The smoke soon evaporated, and in it's place were the two figures of Ziggy and that man. Imbedded in that man's chest was Ziggy's arm blade. I guess even the attack that followed chaos' diversion was a diversion in itself. Ziggy and the others have succeeded in taking that man by surprise. Now we just had to wait and see if this meant the end of the fighting.

But even as that man began his usual, horrible cackling, I already knew Ziggy's attack wouldn't be enough. After all, how could a strike to the heart affect someone who didn't even have one? As that man started to speak, he immediately grabbed the blade buried into his chest, and began to push it further into himself.

Shocked, I instantly buried my face in my hands, trying to block out all sight and sound of that man's sickening maiming of his own body. How could someone enjoy harming his own body? How could someone enjoy harming anyone, for that matter?

Slowly, I opened my eyes, and warily looked toward the direction of the battle. Ziggy's blade was no longer jammed into that man, and he didn't appear to have suffered any damage at all. I'll bet it was the result of his strange healing ability. Not even nanomachines could repair the body in such a short time, let alone regenerate entire body parts. I found myself feeling a little angry. If he were given such a wonderful gift, why would he use it to hurt people?

Without warning, that man suddenly lifted his hand into the air. Looking down at Ziggy with a bloodthirsty grin smeared across his face, his hand instantly came crashing down, striking Ziggy violently across his face. Before I could register what happened, before I could scream, or even blink, Ziggy's entire body instantly flew across the room, landing hard on the cold metal floor. The resulting thud sent a short jolt across my body.

"Ziggy…!" His name barely escaped my lips, as I was now too frightened to even speak. All I could do was watch, as the man who had protected me for so long, lay battered and beaten on the floor, unmoving. I felt my eyes beginning to dampen, and I tried to stop myself from thinking that Ziggy might not recover from that attack. No, that can't be true. Ziggy is the strongest person I know. There's no way he could be beaten so easily. After a few agonizing seconds, Ziggy's body finally began to stir, filling me with relief. Thank goodness he was okay.

Jr and chaos were now advancing toward that man. chaos reached him first, and unleashed a fury of punches toward the enemy. But none of them were able to make contact. Rushing toward that man's right, Jr added a hail of bullets to the assault. But just as it looked like the bullets were about to make contact, the evil man flipped into the air, almost as gracefully as chaos did, and dodged the bullets completely. Swiftly, he dropped into the ground, right behind chaos! Before chaos even got a chance to face his opponent, the enemy delivered a low kick toward the young man's feet, knocking him helplessly in the air. Even worse, before chaos could even touch the ground, that man delivered another blow, which sent him spiraling across the room, just a few feet farther from Ziggy. I covered my eyes just before he hit the ground, but the resulting thump still stung in my ears.

Before I could examine how badly hurt chaos was, my attention quickly focused to KOS-MOS, who was moving toward the enemy without any hesitation. She was moving at incredible speed, but that man already saw her coming, and retaliated by shoving his arm into the ground. After doing so, a strange, hideous looking black ball sprung out of the ground, and moved toward KOS-MOS with even greater speed! The ball collided with the android woman, leaving a trail of thick, black smoke surrounding her. The blast didn't look as serious as some of the previous explosions, but I was still concerned for my friend's safety. As the ink-like smoke cleared, KOS-MOS stood still, looking completely unharmed. But the android then sank to the ground, kneeling on one knee. Her face didn't show any change of emotion, but I could tell that she was in pain, unable to move.

Ziggy, chaos, and now KOS-MOS. One by one, that horrible man was injuring my friends, and delighting in their torment. The only ones left now were Shion and…

Jr stood, glancing over our fallen comrades, one after another. He then looked directly ahead, at the person responsible. Without saying a word, the boy slowly walked over toward that man. With another disgusting smirk on his face, the evil man started walking toward Jr's direction.

I could feel the anxiety rushing to my brain as the two figures moved closer to each other. I felt so scared for Jr as he marched toward his possible death. If Ziggy and the others didn't stand a chance, how could Jr possibly succeed, especially on his own? I wanted to run to his side, to convince him of letting me help him defeat this enemy. I wanted to prove that if we worked together, we could all make it out of here alive.

But despite my eagerness, I still wasn't able to convince my legs of moving.

Just as Jr and that man were but a couple of feet away from each other, they both stopped suddenly, and stared at one another. As Jr stood tall and unafraid, as he faced an enemy he had little chance of defeating, I felt myself staring at him in wonderment. From over here, Jr resembled the very model of the brave heroes that I've always read about in my stories. Proud and true, facing frightening odds, but remaining ever determined with just his courage and faith to protect him. I've never noticed how gallant Jr looked…not to mention handsome.

I found my face suddenly increasing in temperature as I recalled that last notion. I've never really thought about boys that way. I never even bothered to notice. And yet, I've always enjoyed the more romantic elements in those stories. A noble knight risking honor and glory to save his beloved from a demonic sacrifice. Old childhood friends revealing their long hidden feelings for one another on the day before their final battle; A young princess changing the very fabric of time just for the chance to prevent her lover's death. These beautiful tales of love have always brought me happiness, but I don't think I've ever dreamed of actually experiencing it.

But as I continued look at Jr, my heart began racing into rapid beats, and I began to really think of him in a new light. A young prince, full of strong spirit and great willpower; and now he stood against this great enemy, risking his life in order to protect the universe. And me.

…. This time, that man was definitely glancing over to me.

Just then, Jr immediately dashed toward the wicked man, drawing his twin guns, and igniting the room with an earsplitting roar of bullets. But in that instant, the evil man shifted his entire body toward the left, evading the bullets entirely. Without any hesitation, Jr turned and fired another volley of shots toward the enemy. But despite the great speed of the bullets, that man's speed was impossibly greater. Even weapons-grade Realiens couldn't dodge that much gunfire, and I certainly wouldn't be able avoid even one. But Jr continued firing, which at least resulted in that man keeping his distance from the boy.

But suddenly, the evil man changed his course, speeding right toward Jr! I wanted to close my eyes, but before I could shut them even halfway, that man was already within reach of Jr. But just as he was about to strike, the boy demonstrated his own incredible speed, and jumped into the air, flipping directly away from his attacker. But instead of trying to land a safe distance away, Jr appeared to be directing his landing right toward the enemy's position. Why would he do such a thing? Unexpectedly, Jr collided right into the enemy's shoulders, and instantly wrapped his legs around that man's neck!

For the first time, a look of surprise appeared on that man's face, replacing his usual arrogance. In retaliation, he began to thrash his neck about in an attempt to pry Jr off of him, but the boy's hold was too tight. When that failed, he then stretched his arms upward, reaching toward Jr. But before his hands could reach him, Jr drew one of his guns, which was illuminating a bright spark. He then pointed the charged weapon directly on top of that man's head.

This time, I definitely closed my eyes.

A large explosion could be heard from the distance, briefly shaking the ground around me. I then wondered if it was smart for Jr to unleash such a blast up close? I immediately opened my eyes and looked toward the room.

A small gasp escaped me as I saw Jr lying on the floor, unmoving. A rush of fear quickly surrounded me, but it only took a few seconds for Jr to show signs of life, as he slowly rose up. The boy stumbled a bit as he stood, and let out a small groan as he grabbed his left shoulder. What a reckless thing for him to do, injuring himself just to get a close shot at the enemy! He could have gotten real hurt!

Despite my anger toward him, I could still feel a small smile forming around my lips.

But what about that man? Did Jr's risky attack pay off? Both he and I were staring at the cloud of smoke that was surrounding his position.

"Jr!!" The shout came from Shion, which nearly caused me to jump in surprise. Quickly looking at her, I immediately saw the cause of her alarm. Directly in front of her was that man, appearing out of thin air. At first I was concerned about her safety and mine, but it turned out that we weren't his targets, for he was instead moving right toward Jr, who was still facing the explosion! Shion's warning managed to catch the boy's attention, but by then it was too late. That man had already made contact with his prey.

I covered my mouth in horror as I saw Jr's mixed expression of surprise and pain. I opened my eyes as wide as possible, trying desperately to see how much damage Jr has received. As if being courteous, that man moved a few steps back, leaving a clear shot of the injured boy. Instantly, Jr dropped on his knees, clutching his stomach tightly. His eyes were shut tight and his teeth were gritting against each other. The horrible man stood directly above the injured boy, no doubt mocking him, as he looked downward. Without giving him a chance to recover, he delivered another deadly blow to Jr, causing him to soar across the room at frightening speed. The boy let out a sharp cry as he crashed onto the hard floor.

"JR!!" I responded with an equally loud cry, a small trickle of tears escaping my face. For a while, he lay face down on the floor, motionless. My breathing became more frantic as the seconds ticked by. Finally, the boy's body began to stir about, filling me with immediate relief. Slowly, Jr attempted to stand, his legs shaking erratically. The boy's injuries seemed too severe, however, as the most Jr could manage was to stand on his knees. Jr's head slowly rose up, his face decorated with injuries. His eyes suddenly widened in surprise, and Jr quickly lowered his head back down, letting out a violent cough. A large amount of blood then escaped his mouth, and dropped onto the floor.

I was so horrified by the sight of Jr's blood that I felt that I would pass out, just like before in that man's fortress. Clearly amused, the horrible man let out a bellow of laughter at Jr's expense. He then lowered his head to the wounded boy, and started speaking to him. I had to close my eyes and concentrate on their area in order to hear the conversation.

"It's a good start, Rubedo," he began, "But something tells me you won't be able to continue the performance. It's unfortunate, but this won't be enough to quench my thirst." What did he mean by that? The evil man then leaned closer to Jr, and whispered too low for me to continue hearing. But judging by the shock in Jr's face, he must have said something truly horrible. That shock was instantly changed to anger, the angriest I have ever seen from him. I found myself shuddering for a moment. I couldn't bear to see Jr this way. Not only was he hurt, helpless, and alone...but when he looked that angry…

He looked just like...him…

Full of vigor and fueled by rage, Jr quickly rose to his feet, and lunged toward that man with his fist. The punch missed its target, but instantly Jr threw another punch, and another, and then quickened his attacks against his enemy. The speed of Jr's punches were incredible, but my scanning revealed that the adversary was anticipating every single one of Jr's attacks 0.95 seconds before he made them. At this rate, it would be impossible for Jr to land a direct hit.

Suddenly, that man began to retaliate with an awesome array of his own punches, and every single one had managed to connect with Jr's body. No longer able to defend himself, Jr's body jerked wildly as he was swarmed with an endless fury of attacks. As the punches grew louder and faster with each hit, I could feel the tears in my face growing as well.

Then, the wicked man suddenly ceased his assault on Jr, leaving the boy battered and bruised, yet still standing. But before Jr could even catch his breath, the enemy quickly moved to Jr's right side, taking hold of the boy's right arm. As he wrapped both hands around the weak points of Jr's arm, that man gave out another grotesque grin, and proceeded to separate the joints supporting the boy's arm. An accompanying scream filled the room, freezing me in place. I was so shocked by the sight in front of me, I couldn't move, shout, or even cry. I was frozen in fear.

After recovering a little bit of my senses, I looked at Shion, who also seemed too scared to move. No, I know the real reason she hasn't helped was because of me. I can't let her sacrifice a chance to help the others just for my sake. Boldly, I grabbed Shion's left arm.

"Shion, please, you have to help him!!" I pleaded. The older woman turned around, with a surprise look on her face. Her look then shifted from surprise to concern. I could tell that she was hesitant about leaving me unguarded.

"Shion, don't worry about me!" I assured her. "Please, they need you!"

Her eyes began to lose focus, like she was in deep thought. After a few seconds, they focused back to me. For a while, she stared at me, showing her doubt to me. I looked back, hoping that I could reflect my confidence in her through my own eyes. The woman's face then appeared more focused, as if she had made a decision.

"MOMO, listen carefully." She spoke to me. "As soon as I rush in to attack, I want you to make a run for it. Run away as fast as you can, back to the Durandel, if possible." I wasn't prepared for that response, even though it was so typical, coming from a maternal figure like Shion. I didn't want to disobey her, but I couldn't just leave everyone behind. I can still try and help everyone! Without giving me a chance to respond, Shion blurted out "Just go, right now!" and immediately turned around, ready to engage the enemy.

But before she had the chance, the enemy was already standing right in front of her.

Shion instantly froze in place, staring at the large man peering down on her. I found myself unable to move as well. The most I could manage were my eyes, as I slowly looked across the room, concerned for Jr. The boy was lying completely still on the floor. I wanted to continue looking at him, to make sure that he was still breathing. But right now I was worried about Shion. As I looked back at her, a small gasp escaped my lips, as I witnessed that man touching her face!

Shion was trembling in fear, as that man's hideous fingers slowly danced around her cheek. If I didn't know what he was capable of, this cruel gesture would almost look like a tender caress. Is this how I looked when he held me in his grasp? Is he going to put Shion through the same torment that I suffered? I can't just stand here. I have to do something!

But I can't. I just can't. All I can to is stand here and cry, while another person I care about suffers. I've lost so many sisters already; I can't bear to lose another one. I shut my eyes, and concentrate with all my might, praying for someone to save Shion. If God answers the prayers of Realiens, please let him hear mine!

An explosive sound became my response. Hastily opening my eyes, I watch as a cloud of smoke spread from that man's back. Looking toward the room, I can see Ziggy and chaos both running toward Shion's location!
I felt relieved, as well as grateful. Considering how Ziggy had protected me in the past, and how he was now rushing to protect Shion, maybe he was really an angel sent by God himself. Mommy would probably think it would be silly for a Realien to believe in such things, but I really didn't think believing in something that helped protect your friends was silly at all.

My relief wavered, however, as I noticed how that man did not look concerned in the least. In fact, he hasn't even bothered to turn around to face his two attackers. What if he was planning something awful again? Just as Ziggy and chaos are close enough to make contact, the confident man suddenly leaped upward! Everyone in the room immediately looked above. I found myself almost straining my neck trying to watch, as that man soared higher into the air, almost reaching the ceiling. He then stopped, completely suspended in midair, and looked down on us. I could barely make him out from that altitude, but it looked to me like he was smiling.

Just then, a large amount of fire began to surround the airborne enemy, forming together into some sort of shape. The shape suddenly became clear; it was a bird. It was actually beautiful, yet haunting at the same time. Suddenly, I could feel panic swelling up inside me. Whatever that was, it was very powerful, and it was about to be used against us!

"Everybody move!" warned Ziggy, already aware of the danger. But it was too late; the burning creature was already descending down to us. I looked toward the room, and saw all my friends desperately trying to move out of harm's way. But before I could see any more, a large figure suddenly grabbed me, covering me in complete darkness. Before I could react to this, I felt a sudden wave of heat surround me, as well as an inhuman screech, like nothing I've ever heard before. The searing heat was becoming too much for me, and I felt my self passing out, drifting away from everything.

Shion, Ziggy, Jr, KOS-MOS, and chaos. Please be all right. Please…  

To Be Continued