Chapter 4
As a messenger, I am able to bend the light of my soul, the AT-field as mortals call it, as both an offensive and defensive weapon. Since my……….revival, I have had little need for offense. The few times I have used my AT-field in offense have in defense of my friends. As for my mind reading powers, I have not used them. Well, that is untrue. I did use them once at the request of Goddess Sayoko. She was reluctant to ask me to use them, but she was beside me after to make sure I had no……..issues.
Much has been happening as of late. Much of Heaven is on alert as Hell goes through its leadership transition. Queen Hild has been assassinated, and now Queen Mana reigns. Sadly, this occurrence has caused Sayoko to be unavailable.
I can say now that I miss her.
That is something else that I am truly happy to say. As of late, I have been finding my friends behavior less and less confusing.
Of course, this allows me to get confused regarding other matters.
I have truly been happy these last few years. More deities in Heaven have been 'warming' up to me, to use the phrase. My friendships have grown stronger.
Sadly though, I recently learned that even friends can keep secrets from the people they care for.
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Terra 2
"He what?" Yui said. She, Dawn, and Arael sat across the table from Sentaro and Kristine in a restaurant on the south side of Japoness. Dawn had been able to temporarily get away from her mother for a time.
"Sentaro seems to have gotten a few powers from Mom." Kristine said.
"How?" Dawn asked.
"We think it happened when I went through Arael into Mom's mind." Sentaro said.
Yui and Dawn slowly turned to Arael.
"I don't know." Arael said, "I never attempted that before."
"You haven't?" Kristine asked, "But you said……."
"I said I would try." Arael replied, "I was willing to try anything to help Sayoko."
Yui smiled at Arael, then turned back to Kristine and Sentaro.
"So why are you telling us this?"
"I've been training Sentaro." Kristine said, "So far, he's done well, but…….."
"Keeping my powers a secret is becoming harder." Sentaro said.
"Why do you not tell Lady Belldandy?" Arael asked, "Or your mother, Sayoko?"
"Because they will worry." Sentaro replied, "So far, only Kristine, Celes, and now you three know."
"We were hoping to tell Mana." Kristine said.
"Mana is going to be busy for quite a bit." Dawn said, "Making sure Hell is firmly under her control has been very busy and tiring work."
"Yeah," Yui replied, "As well as trying not to get stabbed in the back."
"Despite her difficulties," Arael said, "I believe Mana shall……….." Arael's voice trailed off. Yui looked at Arael concerned.
"Arael?"
The Angel continued to stare blankly across the table. Kristine waved her hand in front of Arael's eyes.
"Hello? Anyone home?"
Sentaro stood up. "I'll go call Uncle Keima, maybe he can help."
"Hurry." Yui said. She watched Sentaro hurry off, then turned back to Arael. "Come on Arael snap out of it!"
Arael did snap out of it. She then blew Kristine, Yui, and Dawn right through the wall of the restaurant.
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Other side of Japoness.
"Keima!" Lime shouted across the dining room of their restaurant. "Phone!"
Keima walked over. "Who is it?"
"It's Sentaro." Lime said.
Keima's mood darkened slightly.
"Why is he calling?"
"Keima….."
"Alright alright." Keima grabbed the phone. "What is it?"
"GET SOMEONE DOWN HERE NOW!" Sentaro practically screamed.
Keima moved the phone from his ear.
"Must you shout?" Keima asked.
"DAMMIT KEIMA!" Sentaro shouted, "Get help over here! Arael's gone nuts!"
Keima frowned. "Arael doesn't go nuts Sentaro."
"Well then you tell me why she's attacking Dawn, Kris, and Yui!"
Keima paled. Before he could reply, alarms began to sound all over Japoness.
Attack alarms, last used when Gartlant attacked, at least as far as the people of Terra 2 were concerned. Keima whipped out his communicator and hit the call button.
"Yes?" came a voice.
"Cayla! I need to speak with Mom now!"
"She's in a meeting right now." Cayla replied.
"Cayla I'm telling you right this very second to run in there and tell her we have a very big damn problem down here. If you don't believe me have the SysOp check Terra 2 Japoness. But for Grandpa's sake hurry the hell up!"
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Heavens
Yggdrasil control
Alarms blared all over the control room. Urd stared at the main screen, stunned, as did most of those present in the room. They watched as Arael blasted apart a building that Yui and Dawn had tried to hide behind. Somehow, the two got away, as well as the buildings occupants.
Peorth came running into the room.
"What the hell is going on?" she shouted.
"It's Arael." Urd said, "She's attacking Japoness."
Peorth's eyes went wide. She dove at the SysOp terminal and rapidly typed commands.
"I hope that's Gungir you're charging up." Urd said, "Because I seriously doubt you're going to stop her with anything else."
"I'm not trying to stop her." Peorth said, "Yet." Peorth typed a few more commands, then stared at the small screen in front of her. She then grabbed a phone. "Cayla, I need Belldandy here now. Get Asuka, Shinji, Rei, and Mist too!." Peorth then slammed the phone down and typed more commands.
"What are you doing?" Urd asked, "Japoness is getting destroyed!"
"It will be handled." Peorth said, "Just like last time. I've set up the system in a holding pattern. Anything thing Arael does will be kept track of and fixed when this is over."
"We can end this right now." Urd shouted, "We can use Gungir! Hell, get Sayoko here and send her down in Unit 04!"
"No."
"Why the hell not?"
"Because it isn't Arael's fault." Urd turned to see Belldandy walking quickly into the control room. "Is it Peorth?"
Peorth shook her head.
"No." she said, "The secure files have been broken into. One guess what was taken."
Belldandy sighed. Urd just looked confused.
"What the hell is going on Bell?" she asked.
"Adam had a link to each Angel." Belldandy said, "With that link, he could bend them to his will. Someone has discovered this and accessed Arael."
"Arael is under mind control?" Urd asked.
"In a way." Belldandy said. She then turned to Peorth. "Have the others been alerted?"
Peorth nodded.
"Good." Belldandy turned and looked at the main screen. "Have you contacted Yui, Dawn, or Kristine yet?"
"They don't seem to have their communicators on them." Peorth replied.
Belldandy whirled around and stared at Peorth in shock. She then turned back and looked at the screen again.
"Well shit." Belldandy muttered.
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Terra 2
"ARAEL!" Yui shouted, "Stop this! What's the matter with you?"
"She's not exactly listening." Kristine muttered as Arael waved her hand towards them. The air crackled as an AT-field ripped above them and sliced off a chunk of building. From around the corner of another building, Dawn jumped out and sent off several force bolts. The bolts slammed into Arael, sending her crashing to the ground. Within moments she was back on her feet. The Angel raised both hands and sent an AT-Field wall at Dawn. The wall slammed into the Valkyrie, sending her crashing through the wall of a building.
"Damn it." Yui said, "What the hell is wrong with her?"
"Has she been feeling well?" Kristine asked.
"She hasn't been sick." Yui replied, "Course she never does."
"Well something's off about her." Kristine said. Then her eyes went wide. "Time to move!"
She grabbed Yui and raced down the alley. The spot where they had been standing exploded into a pile of rubble.
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Heaven
Yggdrasil control.
"I don't know how they've survived this long." Urd muttered, "That AT-Field should be tearing them apart."
Peorth frowned. "That is odd."
"What?" Urd shouted, "You want them torn up?"
"Peorth is right." Belldandy said, "In training, Arael has repeated shown how accurate she is."
"It gets better." Peorth said, "She hasn't killed any mortals. So far, it's just property damage."
Urd blinked, then looked at the main screen.
"How the hell can no one be dead. I mean…..look!" she pointed at the screen. There were now several buildings in the area either destroyed, close to being destroyed, or on fire.
Belldandy stared at the screen a moment. Then blinked when a thought hit her.
"Peorth," she said, "you said in order for Arael to fight off the link, she'd have to be more mentally stable."
"Yes…." Peorth said, "That was the theory."
"What if she is fighting the link? Right now."
Peorth frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Arael hasn't hurt or killed anyone." Belldandy said, "She hasn't even used her mind reading powers. All of her attacks have either missed, or haven't been strong enough to cause harm."
"I think Dawn might object to that." Urd said.
Belldandy turned and looked at Urd. "The Valkyries training is rougher then what Arael is throwing at them."
"Let's say it's true." Urd said, "Arael is fighting the thing controlling her. How do we help her?"
"Simple." Came a new voice. Everyone turned to see Asuka and Rei standing in the doorway to the control room.
"We remind her that there are people who care for her." Asuka said, "Then let Arael handle the rest."
"And how do we accomplish that?" Urd asked.
"One word." Asuka replied, "Yui."
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Terra 2
Yui, Kristine, and Dawn sat behind a building breathing heavily.
"Doesn't…..she….get….tired…..?" Dawn wheezed.
"S2 engine." Yui said between gasps, "……..she's got……unlimited…….energy."
"Well," Kristine said, "………we don't……."
"So how……are we…..going to stop…her." Dawn asked.
Before the other two could reply, they heard footsteps running towards them. All three formed force bolts and waited. Then a figure rounded the corner.
"DON'T SHOOT!" the figure shouted.
"HOLD IT!" Kristine screamed, "Dammit Sentaro!"
"Sorry Kris!." Sentaro said.
"You should get away from here." Yui said, "You could get hurt."
"No he won't."
Everyone turned around at the sound of the voice. Standing a short distance behind them was Asuka and Rei.
"Mom!" Yui said, "Boy am I glad to see you!"
"It's Arael Auntie Asuka!" Kristine shouted, "She attacked us!"
"I know." Asuka said.
"How do we stop her?" Sentaro asked, "She's wrecking the entire city! She'll kill everyone!"
"She has yet to harm anyone." Asuka said, "Well, other then you three." She added, pointing at Kristine, Yui, and Dawn.
"You want to explain that?" Yui asked, "In Japanese."
"Yui," Rei said, "You of all people should have figured it out. You've trained against Arael. What's different now then in training?"
"Well Arael has yet to actually come close to hitting me." Yui said, "and all my shots go…….." Yui paused, realization coming to her.
"I hit her." Yui said.
"Yeah," Kristine replied, "So have Dawn and I. It just sent her flying….."
"Kris," Yui said, "Think about it though. Our force bolts physically hit her."
"Yeah, so? What's your point?"
"Why isn't she blocking them with her AT-Field?" Yui asked, "She does in training. Why not now?"
Kristine blinked. "You're right."
"But it still doesn't help us in stopping her." Dawn said.
"Actually," Rei said, "There is a way."
Yui looked at Rei. "There is?"
Rei nodded. Yui took in a deep breath.
"I want to be the one to do it." She said, "Arael is my friend. She…….she deserves to go quickly."
"We don't plan on killing her." Asuka said.
"But how….?"
"Yui," Rei said, "Arael isn't in control of herself, at least not fully."
Yui frowned. "What do you mean?"
"It's a long explanation." Asuka said, "But to sum it up, the reason she isn't hitting you and why her AT-field isn't blocking anything is because she isn't doing it. She's fighting whoever is controlling her."
"So what are we supposed to do?"
"Believe it or not, talk to her."
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Arael walked quickly through the streets of Japoness, glaring from side to side, looking for her targets. The mortals scattered out of her way as she moved past. She ignored them. They weren't a threat to her at all.
"Hey Arael!"
Arael stopped dead in her tracks and whirled around. Standing down an alley was Dawn, jumping up and down, waving her hands.
"Come on Arael!" Dawn shouted, "This way! Come and get me!"
Arael's eyes narrowed and she started down the alley after Dawn. She followed Dawn through several twists and turns. Then she came to a long wide section of alley. Standing in the opposite end was Dawn, waiting patiently.
"Took you long enough." Dawn said, "Well? Aren't you going to get me?"
Arael started towards Dawn when she was surrounded in a blue sphere. The Angel pushed against the sphere. The sphere crackled, but held the Angel captive. Kristine appeared from around the corner, her eyes glowing white as she struggled to maintain the force field around Arael. Asuka, Rei, and Yui then entered the alley. Yui moved up to the sphere and looked up at Arael. The Angel snarled and slammed her fist into the shield.
"I know you're in there Arael." Yui said, "It's why you haven't hurt me."
Arael snarled again and threw a punch at the shield. This time though, her fist stopped well before the shield.
Yui took note, and continued.
"Arael, you're my best friend. I know this isn't you. You have to fight it Arael. I know you can." Yui waved her hand back towards Asuka and Rei. "We believe in you Arael. We won't turn our backs on you. You're……..you're part of my family."
Arael's hand was now shaking. Her face contorted between rage and pain.
"Please Arael," Yui whispered, "Come back to us."
Arael grabbed her head in both hands and screamed. As she screamed, she fell to her knees and began to rock back and forth.
Yui watched then glanced back at Kristine.
"Let her loose."
Kristine stared at Yui stunned. "But she's……"
"DO IT!" Yui snapped.
Kristine released the shield. Arael tumbled to the ground and onto her side. She continued to rock back and forth. Yui dropped to her knees beside Arael and gently pulled her into a hug.
"I'm here Arael." Kristine said softly, "We're all here for you."
Arael gave one final cry, then went completely limp. Asuka and Rei quickly moved to Yui's side.
"Is she…?" Rei asked.
"No." Yui replied, "She's not."
Asuka quickly pulled out her communicator.
"Belldandy," Asuka said, "Please get the infirmary ready. We'll be bringing up Arael shortly."
"It will be ready." Came Belldandy's reply.
Asuka then moved beside Arael.
"Yui, grab her arm."
The two stood Arael up between them, the Angel's arms hanging over their necks. Asuka then looked at the others.
"Start memory wipes." Asuka ordered, "More help will be coming down shortly."
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Hours later.
Heavens
Peorth, Belldandy, Mist, and Asuka stood before Kami-sama in his office. Kami-sama's face held a very serious look.
"Terra 2's status?" he asked.
"All memories of the incident have been wiped." Belldandy said, "For now, the people of Japoness believe they were hit by a severe plasma storm. Though Keima is complaining of a rather adventurous life as of late."
Kami-sama nodded.
"And…..Arael?"
"She is in the infirmary." Asuka replied, "Still unconscious."
Kami-sama nodded and turned to Peorth.
"How did this happen?"
"The system was hacked." Peorth replied, "The hacker broke deep into the secure files to find the information on Arael."
"I assume steps have been taken?"
"Yes sir." Peorth replied, "Arael's information has been moved completely off Yggdrasil and into an unattached terminal. We are also moving the rest of the secure files onto that terminal."
"Any clue to the identity of the hacker?"
Peorth glanced at Mist.
"Mist and I have looked through the information we've gathered, and we are in agreement." Peorth took a deep breath. "It was Loki."
Kami-sama sat up straighter.
"Loki is dead!" he said, "Gungir leaves nothing behind!"
"Draco was also dead." Belldandy spoke up, "yet he was present at Mana's coronation."
"True. We must determine where they are located." Kami-sama sighed, "The Council is seriously divided over this issue."
"But Arael wasn't at fault." Asuka protested.
"It won't matter to Saturn." Kami-sama replied, "As far as he will be concerned, this is just further evidence that Arael should be destroyed."
Peorth then spoke up. "I'm working on a fix so that Arael's link is permanently shut down."
Kami-sama nodded. "I will assist you in anyway I can. For now, Arael is free to roam heaven." He then turned to Asuka. "Tell Yui that Arael must stay in heaven for now."
"Yes sir." Came the replies.
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"They took away your toy I see." Draco said with a smirk.
"She accomplished her task." Loki replied.
"She didn't kill a damn thing!"
"You read the file." Loki said with a glare, "It was possible that she would fight against me. Still, she did accomplish her task. Saturn is demanding her destruction, Kami-sama is denying it, and thus, the rift in the Heavenly council widens."
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Arael slowly opened her eyes. Above her was a white ceiling. A quick glance around showed her she was in a small bedroom, a dresser and shelves lined the walls. There were a few pictures on the dresser, but the Angel couldn't make them out. Arael slowly sat up, then climbed out of the bed. She winced slightly as she stood up. A part of her wondered exactly how long she'd been on that bed.
Arriving at the dresser, Arael looked carefully at the pictures. One was of the Ikari family, Shinji, Asuka, Yui, and Rei. A second picture was of a smiling Yui standing beside Sayoko and Keima. But the final picture caused Arael to pause. It was of her and Yui, from way back at Yui's sweet sixteen party. Arael determined it must have been taken by Asuka or Shinji, because the picture contained a sleeping Yui, and a sleeping pink haired Arael next to each other. Arael reached out picked up the picture. She then sat back down on the bed and stared at the object she now held.
This was the position she was in when Yui found her.
"Arael?"
Arael didn't look up.
"How long was I unconscious?"
"Almost a week." Yui replied, "we moved you here yesterday."
"It really happened," Arael whispered, "didn't it?"
Yui knelt down in front of Arael and looked up into the Angel's face. Arael seemed on the verge of tears. Yui grabbed one of Arael's hands.
"It did happen." Yui said softly, "But it wasn't your fault."
"How was it not?" Arael asked.
"Think Arael," Yui said, "Were you in complete control?"
"I……" Arael frowned. She seemed to be deep in thought. Yui waited for several long moments before she heard Arael speak again. "I do not know."
"Arael," Yui said, "Peorth has a file about you. Few people know of it. It's about…….how you were created by Adam."
Arael slowly turned her head to Yui, giving the guardian her complete attention. Yui also felt Arael's hand stiffen.
"Adam put something in you, in all your brothers, a link, something that would allow him to control you completely." Yui winced internally as Arael's hand began to clench. "We think that a god named Loki found out about the link, and used it."
Arael looked away. "Then I am a danger to you. Perhaps……….I should be………..destroyed."
"NO!" Yui shouted, "Dammit Arael! Don't speak like that! First off, Peorth and Kami-sama disabled the link! They did that two days ago!" Yui moved around the bed until she was looking back in Arael's face. "I don't want to hear you talking like that again. I hear it enough when Saturn speaks. I don't want to lose my best friend."
Arael finally allowed the tears that were building up to fall.
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I stayed at Yui's home for several days. Yui talked to me frequently, as did her mother and father. Her father even attempted to teach me 'cooking'.
Sayoko and Mana arrived as soon as they heard what had happened. Both refused to leave until they were certain I was alright.
I have even heard that Kristine, Sentaro, Keima, and Lime have been asking about me. Sadly, I am still unable to leave the Heavens, but Kami-sama himself has told me that it won't be long before I can leave again.
I have said I have few friends in the Heavens. I now know who my true friends are. Those that believed in me no matter what my actions were.
This experience has led me to this: I will be 'damned' before I give up on any of my 'family' or my friends. They didn't give up on me, I won't give up on them.
And God Loki, you had better watch out, for I plan on 'kicking your ass'.