Disclaimer: See previous chapters

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Chap. 32

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Central Hanger Area

The clan of Nightwatch had regrouped once again in their usual meeting place. After the incident with Baron and the confrontation of the Death Dealers, Charles had suggested to everyone not to go out on any more missions until Silent Line and the group agreed (Although Elijah wasn't too thrilled with being stuck). During this time period, the team set about to make themselves as prepared as possible, equipping and tuning up their ACs as best as they can. Elijah and a few others also worked in the simulators in order not to soften up as it were. After being released from the hospital, Koemai went through both physical training and physical therapy, all the while with Diana at his side to help him through. It is now two days before the contract date and Charles had called everyone in.

"Alright, guys. We've received the word. The contract is set up for Silent Line. As you already know, the Death Dealers have obtained the same contract and it's a free-for-all for us. We will battle the Death Dealers before the Line and the group that wins gets to go on further to the planes that are in wait in the same area as well as refuel and reload for ammo." There were a few nods from the group and he continued. "Once in, we will be transported into the Line where the planes will be shot down. If we're lucky, we get through halfway and will be able to go the rest of the way. Now, besides the satellite cannons, there are other defenses. A new set of MTs guard the territory, each with incredible weaponry and armor. If you face them, do not hold back. And…" He paused, recalling the shadow of the mysterious AC he had seen before. "There may be additional defenses that we are unaware of. In any case, inside the bunker, I believe there is a control system to disable the satellite."

"Believe?" Diana questioned.

"For a satellite of that power to be able to target objects so precisely, the controls must be nearby." Charles reasoned. "That bunker is the best bet."

"Fair enough." Baron replied. "Then what?"

"With the satellite controls off-line, we can pass through the rest of the way without incident. Mission complete."

"Okay. No problem." Koemai nodded. "Just get through insane odds and win. My kind of mission."

"Pretty much." Charles grinned slightly. Serious again... "Because of this, I believe we should all take a break tomorrow." Some of them blinked and he went on. "No sense in being stressed out before the big day, eh?"

Elijah smiled. "Sound like a vacation. I can deal with that."

"Good. We'll regroup here 0900 hours the day after tomorrow."

Hanger (Glaive)

"Hey, you did it."

After finishing his tune-up work with Havoc, Elijah went to visit Cain to see how he was doing and was pleased when he saw Glaive, now outfitted with a spherical orbiter weapon and extra ammo on the back. The extra boosters had to be removed for it though, decreasing Glaive's speed. But the machine would still be remarkably fast and now it was more armed.

"Yes." Cain said after finishing his work on the FCS (Another suggestion from Elijah). "I said it was a good idea, didn't I?

"Yeah, but you just have this way of doing things your own way."

Cain nodded in admittance, but replied. "That doesn't mean I won't accept advice when given."

Elijah smiled as looked back at the machine, but blinked when he saw something else. Just beneath the extra ammo there seemed to be a third part, one that Elijah had not seen before.

"What's that?"

Cain looked up at what he indicated. "Something else." His tone darkened. "Something…for Reaper."

Elijah hadn't noticed and asked excitedly. "Really? What?"

"You'll find out when we get there."

"So, what are you going to do tomorrow?"

Cain closed up the cockpit. "I have some personal business to take care of."

"Personal? You're still going to…?" He stopped himself in afterthought. "Oh wait, now I get it. Her." The young Raven then grinned. "I think I'm finally starting to understand how you talk."

"Really? Hm."

"I feel a little nervous, but excited." Elijah said, putting his hands behind his head. "It's kind of like, being part of history, ya know?"

"Mm…."

'Mm?' Elijah turned Cain to see his former teacher's eyes seemed distant. He moved his hands from his back, folded his arms and stood in Cain's sight path. "Okay, what's up? And don't you dare tell me it's nothing."

Cain took a step past Elijah, continuing to look outward. A moment a silence went on before Cain finally replied. "I want you to take the name of Justice."

Shock instantly came over Elijah's face. "What?"

"It seems to suit you more than it suits me now."

"Doesn't suit you?" Elijah shook his head. "Okay, now you aren't making any sense…again."

"This mission…and everything that has happened has changed me. I am not the same person I was before. At least, that's what I believe." He turned to Elijah, now looking directly at him. "When we get in there, Koemai will need your help."

"What are you talking about? You'll be there. Besides, I've got a name, remember."

Cain turned away once again and began to climb down the ladder. "It would be best if the hands of Justice and Vengeance stay side by side. That's only going to happen with you."

Elijah was frowning deeply as he watched Cain descend. Nothing Cain was saying was making any sense. "You're talking as though…" He stopped and then it clinked, hitting him with a bolt. "You're not planning on coming with us, are you?"

Cain stopped at the entrance of the hanger "If we meet up again, I will take up the name of Salvation." Not seeing Elijah's stunned face, he walked on.

"See you in Silent Line."

Hanger (Professional)

"So what the idea with sending everyone off like that? You're not getting cold feet now, are you?"

It was the afternoon the next day and the hangers were quiet save for the automated machinery that was active on the ACs. Charles was in the cockpit of his own, doing some last minute tune up work when Ellie approached him with the earlier question.

"You know if you keep implying, I may actually start to think you were trying to discourage me." Charles replied from within.

Ellie leaned her elbow on the AC. "I just want to be absolutely certain you aren't obsessed to the point where you can't think beyond getting there."

"You think I'm dangerous."

"You're a Raven." she answered "Of course you're dangerous."

"Hmhm, fair enough." he chuckled. He stuck his head out, but didn't face her. "I want to do this the right way. But to do it the right way, I have to make sure everyone gets through this alive."

"That sounds good." Ellie replied. Charles nodded and went back inside and to work when Ellie questioned him again. "So how are you going to spend the rest of the day?"

"Don't know. Maybe I'll run some tests…"

"No." she cut him off with a sweet voice. This caused him to stop in slight confusion, but she continued. "You're going to take me out to dinner." She peeked in and smiled. "And don't even think about refusing this time."

Charles remained quiet for a moment, trying to decipher this woman. But, like most women, she was hard to figure out for him. "I thought you said I was dangerous."

"I like dangerous." she replied slyly. "Come on. I'm just asking you out to dinner, not a date." Her tone lowered. "It may be the last."

Charles now stared at her. "Are you afraid?"

"No. But I'm a Raven. I have to be prepared for the possibility. We all do."

Charles shut his eyes wistfully. Ellie looked at him for awhile and soon a smile curled up his face. "Classic or Chinese?"

"Surprise me." she smiled back.

Dormitory

Nighttime. Koemai had just returned from his training exercises in the gym. While many of the others went off their separate ways, Koemai remained behind to work out. Normally he would have been at a bar, drinking his head off, but his injuries wouldn't allow it. The last thing he needed was to get into another bar fight (Kind of his hobby). So rather, he decided the best thing to do was to stay behind, watch some TV and relax. After that, he went though his therapy training in order to work out the kinks in his body. He was much better than before, although he was a little sore in parts of his body. But he'll just have to get over that. Silent Line was waiting and he wanted to be at his best. He was about to sit and watch some more TV when his 'nurse' entered the dorm right after him.

"How's your side?"

Koemai frowned a bit. Ever since he had been released, she's been hounding him about his injuries repeatedly, making sure that he took his medication as well as limit his training, except for today. He knew she meant well, but it was beginning to get to him. But even so, he hadn't minded being taken care of by her.

"Just fine."

"Oh really? Let me see."

Koemai began to back away a bit. "No really, it's…guh."

Diana jabbed her hand into his side, causing him to wince. Forcing his face straight and the pain away, he touched her arm.

"Don't worry. I can handle this, really."

The woman didn't budge and her hand continued to stay in the area of his side. However, it wasn't as painful as before. Quite to the contrary, she was moving her hand in a massaging manner. Koemai noticed this after a minute, but only because she had moved closer to him. Her eyes were downcast, but the motions continued, beginning to border on arousing. And that line was crossed when she slid her hand under his shirt and onto his skin, massaging it still as she moved closer still, leaning on his still body.

"Diana…" he said breathlessly. In truth, he still wasn't sure of her intent and he didn't want to make the mistake of getting lost in his emotions. But her intent, it seemed, was quite clear.

"Shh…"

With her opposite hand, she grabbed the rim of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head. Koemai silently allowed it and she tossed his shirt aside. She lifted her hand away from the sore area where a light bruise was revealed, the site of the injury.

"Are you sure you can handle it?"

Koemai blinked and then cockily replied. "Of course. This is nothing."

"Good."

Diana suddenly lifted her eyes up and brought her lips to his. Koemai was surprised by the suddenness of it as well as the pure passion that coursed from her. But that did not stop him from returning it, kissing her with equal force and hunger. Their arms found their way around each other and both were losing themselves in the throes of passion. Even the soreness of Koemai's body wasn't stopping him, although it was there. Diana broke away slightly and moved her lips next to his ear, smiling seductively.

"Because I would hate to have you pass out. At least not until afterward."

Another kiss ensued. And then some…

Kisaragi Medical Facility

Cain strode through the shallow halls of the facility. The place was quiet, with a few machines beeping off in the distance. But he paid them no mind as he walked to his destination. Room 5G. Opening the door, he entered in to find his beloved Aria lying on the bed, just as she was in the previous hospital. Only the machines monitoring her were different. He wanted to smile at seeing her; for him, it felt like it was too long. But the smile never came and he settled for sitting beside her, grabbing a nearby chair in order to do it.

"Hello dear. How are you? Yeah, stupid question." He reached forward and tenderly held her hand. "It's going to be a long day tomorrow, huh? It looks like we're both taking risks; you with this operation, and me with Silent Line. But I don't want to lose you, either in this hospital or by…"

He didn't want to finish that sentence, because he knew he would think about Bane and that would get him angry. He didn't be like that around her. But this wasn't any better. To think that she would have to go through this while he was away on probably his most perilous mission. He could have foregone going with his clan, but they needed him. Plus, he couldn't allow Bane to complete his promise. Uncertainty was on all side and that upset him greatly.

"I miss your voice…so much." A single tear slid down his cheek and onto her hand. "I wish I could hear you now. You always knew what to say."

He wiped away the tear streak on his face and released her hand, only to reach onto the back of his neck and unclasp the necklace he wore, which held their wedding bands. Holding them between his fingers for a while, he soon reached behind her neck and fastened it around her.

"I'll come back for these. Then we can put them back on together."

Cain had never been one to make a promise, save one, and that was to her. Now he made another and he wasn't sure he could keep it. 'No. I have to. There must be no other way.'

A knock came at the door and a young man stepped in. "Sir. We have to get her ready for the operation."

"Come back later."

"But sir…"

Cain turned his head to the side and the orderly blanched at the death-glare he was receiving from the Raven.

"This is my wife. I would like to spend some more time with her. Come. Back. Later."

The orderly didn't waste a second in leaving.

Next day

The sun rose on that day, but was not able to shine. Gray clouds covered the skies over the Cortex. In the gathering room, Ellie entered inside, wearing a black jumpsuit with the silver emblem NW and a bird in the middle to match, specially designed for the clan. Charles was already there, dressed in a similar uniform.

Ellie shook her head, amused. "Figures you'd already be here."

"Of course."

A couple of minutes later, Baron and Eljiah entered in. Both were holding their heads in some sort of pain.

"What happened to you two?"

"Drinking contest." Elijah then gave a thumbs-up. "I won."

"You cheated." Baron moaned. "I don't know how you did, but you did."

Elijah placed his hand back on his head. "Keep it down. My head's still throbbing."

"That's supposed to be my line."

Turning to the entrance, they saw Diana and Koemai entering in as well. But more obvious than that, their hands were joined together.

"Hey you two. Whoa, what's this?"

Koemai moved behind her and clasped her waist in his arm, grinning all the while. "What does it look like, shorty?"

"Oh well. You missed your shot, Elijah." Baron chuckled.

Elijah's face flushed. "Shut up."

"Don't worry cutie." Diana grinned dangerously. "You and I can always have a little fun on the side."

"We did not need to know that."

Half of the group jumped when they heard Cain's voice and turned to find him standing against the wall on the far side of the room.

"How long have you been here?"

"Long enough." was the simple reply. He then glanced over the both of them. "So you two are back together. Now I won't have to hear you bicker all the time."

"That's right." Koemai shot back. "Now you can hear us…well, perhaps I shouldn't say." He glanced at Elijah. "After all, there are children present."

"Shut the hell up!"

Despite this, everyone chuckled at the display and even Elijah had to admit that it was pretty silly and laughed himself. The humor soon died down and Charles addressed them in all seriousness.

"Alright. Everyone is here. You all know what to do. All we have to do now is do it."

The group nodded and Charles looked over at them all. This was what he had wanted and more. A fully forced fighting team created from some of the best Ravens around. He had no doubt that they would complete their mission. It would be difficult, but he was confident now that they would be able to enter into Silent Line.

"We are Nightwatch. We have watched; we have waited; now we act."

Baron raised a fist. "Let's do this."

The team soon moved off to their individual ACs. Koemai, Elijah and Cain walked the in the same direction as their hangers were linked together. Koemai stopped in front of his Bloodhand AC and grinned.

"Time for the Hands of God to do their thing. Vengeance…"

But he was shocked when Cain continued on his way, not saying a thing in return. He was about to shout out to him when Elijah stepped in.

"And Justice."

Now Koemai was really confused. "Justice?"

Elijah stared at the retreating Raven. "Cain told me…" His face tightened with conviction and he looked back at Koemai. "I will be the hand of Justice."

Koemai folded his arms. "What happened to Salvation?"

"Salvation…will come…" the younger Raven replied. He looked back to see Cain entering Glaive. "At least, that's how he would say it."

"Yeah, he would." Koemai agreed softly.