Chapter 10: To confront the future, one must face the past.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Shion, I will show you this again, and I want you to accept this as one of your memories and to tell me everything about it.
Out of nowhere, a hospital room emerges and engulfs Shion inside. She sees a bed and a woman on it. It is her mother. She then hears a door open behind her and she sees a young girl and what appears to be here father walk in. Behind him… is Febronia.
Shion: That's me…my father… and Febronia!
Young Shion: Mommy!
The little girl is very exited. She runs straight through Shion and towards the bed.
Shion: Oh!
The man and Febronia follow the little girl and come up beside her.
Young Shion: Mommy! Daddy took me to the park! We had lots of fun!
Suddenly, everything begins to shake…
Jr:I- I know what I did…
Jr was in one of his memories. There were URTVs in extreme pain. The ones Jr blasted where laying dead on the ash filled floor. The ones still alive were grabbing their heads, trying to keep the Song from driving them insane.
Jr: I couldn't stand the Song. I broke the mental link, and they all succumbed to the Song. Except… Albedo. He… he was contaminated my U-DO. Turned into the freak that he is now. I followed him to that lab… where it happened.
The scene changes and Jr once again finds himself in the hexagonal lab.
Albedo: (laughing maniacally) The Song...the song is...I... Mirror, mirror, on the wall...show me...define me! I am the infinite telomerase! I am not an anti-existence! I am the perfect chain!
Jr: We… our minds… They were meant to counter the negative energies of U-DO. But Albedo… it entered his mind. He sold his soul to gain the power that he has now! And… it was my fault…
Ziggy: This… I don't want to see this again… Not ever.
Ziggy is inside the memory that he recalled when MOMO named him Ziggy.
Child: Thanks, Dad!
Ziggy: Ahhh... I wanted to get you a real one if I could, but... I just couldn't get one...
Child: Oh, no, it's great, Dad! He's so cute! Hey, Dad, what's his name? Did you give him one yet?
Ziggy: Nexus 6.
Child: That's just his model number, isn't it? That makes him sound like a robot.
Ziggy: Ah, yeah...
Child: Hmm...I know! How about Nex? It's short for Nexus 6! What do you think, huh, Dad?
Ziggy: Y, yeah...That's a great name...!
Child: Really? Come on, Nex! Let's go! Come on, boy!
Nephilim 'Ghost': What happened to this boy? Why do you not want to remember this? Why do you wish to stop being human?
Ziggy: I took the decision not to exist anymore. That decision was violated. I was brought back to life against my will.
Nephilim 'Ghost': You took your own life. Why?
Ziggy: Because…
Nephilim 'Ghost': I will show you.
Ziggy: Don't… please.
Nephilim 'Ghost': You must face your past just like everyone else.
Ziggy: So… so be it…
Joachim Mizrahi: Hallelujah! "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it..." "...and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them..." "...and they were judged every man according to their works!" "And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life..." "...was cast into the lake of fire!" "Rejoice, all ye! The time for feasting has come!"
MOMO was reliving the scene when her father fell from the building. She turns away, just like last time, to avoid seeing the impact of her father's body against the ground. But this time, she had more control over her emotions.
MOMO: Daddy… Nephilim, was Daddy an evil man?
Nephilim 'Ghost': Nothing is as simple as good or evil. It is all in the eye of the beholder.
MOMO: But…
Nephilim 'Ghost': Did that not answer your question to your satisfaction? What if I told you that your perception of 'daddy' is not precise? Are you ready to accept the facts about your existence, or will you tell yourself they're not true?
MOMO: I… I have to face the truth. I can't run away, just like I'm sure my friends aren't running away from their 'truths'. Tell me… tell me what I have to know.
Nephilim 'Ghost': The facts may be painful, but I believe you are ready to face them.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Tell me, Chaos. What are you going to do?
Chaos: I am doing what is best for humanity, but it feels wrong…
Nephilim 'Ghost': Is reaching Lost Jerusalem really worth so many lives?
Chaos: Humanity must return to their point of origin. There… happiness will be achieved. There… are always sacrifices involved. The greater the goal, the harsher the path that gets us there.
Nephilim 'Ghost': But you've grown attached to this group, haven't you? Are you willing to give them up in order to achieve your goal?
Chaos: …
Nephilim 'Ghost': Allen, you have no painful memories, at least none like the others. Pain can make one strong. Perhaps that is why you are so weak?
Allen: He- Hey! Some little girl isn't going to tell me I'm weak!
Nephilim just stares at him with her usual expressionless face.
Allen: O… kay. Maybe I am weak. So what!
Nephilim 'Ghost': You must become stronger. Become a man, or you will become a hindrance to the group. And you will never obtain the love of Shion.
Allen: Hey! Who said I wanted it!
She again just stares at him.
Allen: Okay, okay! I do love her. What can I do…? Hey, I'm not that cowardly. I picked up a weapon and shot some Gnosis when the Woglinde was being attacked.
He offered, hoping for a good response.
Nephilim 'Ghost': That shows you have potential, but where were you the other countless battles your team has faced?
Allen: Behind them… cheering! But that's not enough I suppose… I only got in the way. What can I do?
Nephilim 'Ghost': Talk to Snake and Otacon. They can help you become a better man. Otacon was once like you, but he faced his fears and look at him now. He may not be a fierce warrior like Snake, but there is a great determination in his eyes.
Allen: Yes, I've noticed that…
Nephilim 'Ghost': Jin. You know one of the adversaries that awaits your group better than anyone.
Jin: Yes… Margulis. He was my master. Taught me the ways of the sword and how to control my Uber powers. But then he tried to recruit me for the U-TIC organization. When I refused, he tried to kill me. He said either I was for the cause, or against it. That's when I gave him that scar on his face. I managed to escape and I haven't seen him since.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Are you ready to face him in combat?
Jin: Yes. I know he has grown in power, but so have I. I will stop him and his insane cause along with Shion and her friends… my friends.
Nephilim 'Ghost': I am glad to hear that. You are indeed a strong man.
Jin: Thank you…
Nephilim 'Ghost': Snake, you are a very strong man. You have faced all your problems and found a way of life to live. One that would benefit others and help you live with yourself after all the people whose life you've taken. But with your new purpose in life, you have atoned for that. But there is still one thing that lingers over your head. Fox-Die.
Snake: I am ready to die at any time.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Are you sure?
Snake: I just want to live long enough to help Shion and the rest.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Do you not want a chance at a normal life after this?
Snake: Normal life? I'm four thousand years in the future. Nothing here is what I would call 'normal'. Besides… Meryl… She was my last shot at a normal life…
Nephilim 'Ghost': You shouldn't give up.
Snake: Your right. But there's still the matter of Fox-Die. It could take me at any moment.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Before you can live, you must choose to do so. Then… live.
Snake: You sound like Naomi…
Nephilim 'Ghost': Otacon, you have become a strong man, but there is still great sorrow in you. The women you have loved or cared for have died. This has left a great gap within you. But from this you learned that you have to search for love, not wait for it to come to you.
Otacon: How… do you know this?
Nephilim 'Ghost': All of your thoughts and feelings go into me. Otherwise, I couldn't help you. I also want to ease your pain.
Otacon: Ugh, no offence, but… you're a little young for me.
Nephilim 'Ghost': …I am not coming on to you. This is serious. I am trying to help you. Please don't try to cover your pain with humor. Your feelings cannot lie to me.
Otacon: I am sorry. But only a woman could ease this pain. I am so… lonely.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Do not give up hope yet. Perhaps you will find love in this new world.
Otacon: Never thought of that… I guess I haven't gotten used to the idea of living in this world the rest of my life. But perhaps I will find someone here…
The shaking stops, but it is because the memory has frozen in place.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Shion. What you will witness next will be very painful. I want you to see it without shutting your eyes or turning away. Only then will you become 'whole'.
Shion: O… okay…
The shaking began again and everyone in the hospital room began to panic.
Shion's Father: What's going on! A miltiaquake!
Febronia: I don't think so. Look! Outside the window! What is that!
Febronia was pointing outside the window. Shion moves over to see what she is talking about. As she looks outside the window she sees…
Shion: The Song of Nephilim!
Young Shion: Daddy, what's going on! What's that strange music? Ahhh!
The window suddenly shatters and a large being storms inside.
Shion: Daaaaad! Damn it! A Gnosis! A Goblin type!
The Goblin lands on Shion's father, crushing him. Young Shion is tossed to the side and hits her mother's bed hard. But despite her pain, she quickly gets up and starts running towards the Goblin. Suddenly, she is picked up off the ground.
Febronia: Shion! Stay away from that thing!
Young Shion: Febby, let me go!
Shion: Febby…?
Young Shion: I have to help daddy!
Febronia looks up and sees that the giant Gnosis is still pounding Shion's father with its huge arms. He was completely crushed.
Febronia: Oh, god!
She covers Shion's eyes, and still carrying her, begins running towards the door. She is stopped dead in her tracks as Gnosis begin to walk in. They are… Athra 26.
Shion: Oh, no…
Febronia: Ahhhh!
She looks around desperately for another exit as she backs away from the slow moving Athra 26. She finds none, but sees the Goblin tearing up Shion's mother while she laid on her bed defenselessly.
Febronia: Oh, god! Please have mercy!
She looks out the window and sees the Song of Nephilim stop in mid air, the shaking stopping with it. The Song was now blocking the sun, engulfing the room in darkness. Febronia runs over to the window while still carrying Shion, who was now crying uncontrollably. She had to run between the Goblin, which was still busy with Shion's mother, and her father's corpse. She looks out the window to see if she could jump down, but it was too far down. There, she sees a war torn world. It had happened so suddenly. Soldiers combating Gnosis and small, identical looking children with rifles, marching in unison could be seen far below.
Febronia: What…? Oh!
She quickly turns around at the sound of the Athra 26. They appear to be disoriented. That was buying them some time. Febronia looks out the window again and finds that the building has a fairly wide ledge. She puts the crying Shion there, away from the oncoming threat.
Febronia: Shion, I love you…
She says, as tears begin to swell up in her eyes.
Young Shion: Febby…?
She managed to say, between sobs.
Febronia: What ever you do, do not move! You will be just fine…
Young Shion: Febbyyyy! Don't leave me!
As much as it pains her, Febronia turns away from the window and faces the Athra 26.
Febronia: You're not getting her, damn it! Even if it costs me my life!
She charges at them. She strikes at one of them, but she is quickly brought down to the floor.
Young Shion: Feeeebbyyyyyy!
Shion had disobeyed and had stood up on the ledge to see inside the room. She sees as the Athra 26 viciously consume Febronia's flesh. Then a large figure appears in front of her. It was the Goblin, and it had her parent's blood all over its waving, translucent body.
Young Shion: Ahhhh!
She takes a step backwards, but steps on nothing but air. This causes her to stumble backwards and to fall off the building.
Young Shion: Ahhhhhh…! Urghh!
She lands on the roof of an ash-covered car and is knocked unconscious. The older Shion runs over to the window to see what had happened to her. She didn't remember any of what happened after she fell. All of this was hazy to begin with. It was hard for her to get to the window with her dead father and Febronia still getting eaten in her way. But she gathers the courage and manages. By the time she got there, there were two soldiers checking her young self's vital signs.
Guard 1: She's still alive!
Guard 2: It's a miracle! The ash must have broken her fall, but I'm sure she still needs medical attention.
Guard 1: Yeah, but let's get her to a transport ship getting out of here first. This place has gone to hell. We should do the same and get out of here.
Guard 2: I'm not giving up my home just yet. You go ahead and take the girl outta here.
The first guard puts his hand on the other's shoulder.
Guard 1: Promise me I'll see you alive again, brother.
The second guard puts his hand on his brother's arm.
Guard 2: I promise. Take care of the girl. I'll see you soon.
He says as he hugs him for the last time. He picks up his rifle and runs off to battle the Gnosis while the other carries Shion off to safety.
Shion: They… never see each other again…
Nephilim 'Ghost': So? What will you do now, Jr?
Jr: I have to… defeat Albedo. I repent for what I did, but I accept it and I wont let it hound me anymore. I will face him, without fears. Without regrets.
Nephilim 'Ghost': And what if you feel that pain again? The pain from the Song.
Jr: I won't give in to it! I will be with my friends through everything. All the good and all the bad. I will discover what Albedo and the U-TIC are doing, and I will stop them.
Nephilim 'Ghost': I am glad for you. And perhaps the truth may come to you soon. I am sure you will accept it and confront it like the man you really are.
Ziggy: My wife, my stepson and I were eating dinner peacefully at our home. And then… and then… I can't. I don't want to.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Then I will show you.
Before he can protest, he is inside of his old home, watching the dinner he began speaking of. His son was giving his dog some of the food he was eating.
Ziggy's Wife: Honey, I told you not to do that. It is not a real dog. It cannot eat food. Right Jan?
Ziggy's Stepson: Okay, mommy. Hey dad. Can you come with me to walk Nex around the block?
Jan: Sure thing son.
Ziggy's Wife: Now don't stray off too far. Remember, you have to do your homework before you go to bed. And isn't it getting dark?
Jan: The weather is good now. It's not so hot. Besides, I'll look after him.
Ziggy's Wife: Well, okay honey.
Ziggy's Son: Yay! Let's go dad!
Jan: Wait. Did you hear something? I think someone's in the living room.
As Jan begins to get up, two men carrying assault rifles burst through the kitchen door opposite of him.
Jan: Get down!
He throws himself back and lands on his chair. The chair tips over and Jan falls backwards, putting the dinner table between the armed men and himself. His son and wife don't have the same instincts as him, for he is a soldier, and they stand up. Before they can do anything else, the men open fire.
Jan: Nooooo!
He yells, but he cannot be heard over the gunfire. He wanted to get up and help his family as a stream of bullets tear through their bodies, but he would just be shot down. The gunfire finally stops and the men run away as their victims bodies fall to the ground in a pool of blood. Jan quickly gets up and runs to his family. When he sees them he almost vomits. They were completely covered in blood and had gunshot wounds all over their bodies.
Jan: Son!
He runs over to him and lifts his head up. There is a blank stare in his eyes. Nex was nipping at his master's lifeless arm, his A.I not comprehending what had happened. Jan moves over to his wife and finds that she is dead as well.
Jan: Noooo! Oh, god noooo! Pleaaaase, NOOO!
He begins to weep between them as his knees become stained by the on growing pool of blood. He weeps there for a few minutes until anger begins to creep up inside him.
Jan: This… is my fault. Those damn bastards were terrorists. They were here… for me. Why… Why did they have to pull my family into this! WHY! I should have been more careful. It's all my fault…
His anger subsides and he gets up melancholically. He leaves the room out of sight. Footsteps going up stairs can be heard. Minutes later, the sound of a gunshot echoes off the walls.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Are these the memories you are trying to get rid of?
Ziggy: Yes…
Nephilim 'Ghost': Before you may become complete, you must accept the entirety of your memories, just like the others are doing…
Snake: Look, I don't believe in that 'wanting to live then living' crap. I'm sure Anderson- I mean Octopus, Baker and especially Liquid wanted to continue living, but they still died from Fox-Die. What chance do I have?
Nephilim 'Ghost': Perhaps you are right about their will to live, but you now have something they did not.
Snake: And what would that be?
Nephilim 'Ghost': Have you forgotten already?
Snake holds up his hands and he surrounds them with blue electricity.
Snake: Oh, right. These little tricks. I'm not even sure how I do it, but I can't really complain. You telling me these will help me survive Fox-Die?
Nephilim 'Ghost': It is all up to you. If you truly wish to live, you will find the way. These new 'abilities' will guide you there.
Snake: I guess I'll buy that…
Otacon: So… uhm… what do you wanna talk about now?
Nephilim 'Ghost': We are waiting for the others to be finished. Only Shion and Ziggy remain now. Some of you, especially them, had to face more than the others.
Otacon: Oh, I see.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Once they are done, I will speak to all of you together. I ask for your patience, as I am and have asked of those remaining.
Otacon: No problemo.
He says, as he sits down on the invisible floor in the middle of Space.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Are you remembering your childhood, Shion?
Shion: Yes… I remember my parents were Uber humans. My mother became ill when I was very young. But it was just flu or something. She went to see a doctor and he gave her some medicine. After that, she began… losing her mind. She had to be hospitalized in this awful place. She just became worst. She couldn't even communicate with us. My father wondered if it was some type of allergic reaction to that medicine, but he was told it had nothing to do with it. That it was bound to happen regardless. Even now I still can't figure out what did happen.
Nephilim 'Ghost': You will know soon. But first, continue telling me. We are almost finished.
Shion: O…kay… Well, what else can I say…?
Nephilim 'Ghost': Febronia. Tell me about her.
Shion: I have… some memories of her, but… I can't really remember too well. She must be important to me. I looked like she gave her life for mine…
Nephilim 'Ghost': How about Febby? Does that bring up any memories?
Shion: Febby…? I… think so. I can now remember that after my mother became ill and was hospitalized, my father couldn't take care of us alone.
Nephilim 'Ghost': So what did he do?
Shion: He… hired a nanny! I just remembered! She became like a mother to me, since I could barely remember my real mom. I can remember I loved her very much… This is all coming to me so suddenly!
Nephilim 'Ghost': What happened to her?
Shion: She… oh god! Febby! Febronia was my nanny! Oh, god, oh hooo hoooo…
She brought her hands to her face, weeping her nanny's death, for she had never had a chance to.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Let it out Shion. But it's not over yet. There is more you must know, but the others must be present, for it involves everyone's purpose for fighting.
Ziggy: I stand by that decision. I cannot live with myself after that. I cannot go on…
Nephilim 'Ghost': You must. You will become stronger. Everyone has accepted their past now. Only you remain. You must stop blaming yourself. What happened was inevitable. You were not the only officer who lost their family. They too were targeted. You were the only one that did not die by their hand, but by your own.
Ziggy: It was my fault. It was already known that others of my division suffered similar terrorist attacks, but I did not believe it could happen to me. I did not take the necessary precautions. And to think, I was going to take my child out at night to walk his dog. I was an idiot…
A single tear begins running down his face. He reaches up and touches it. He looks at it in confusion.
Nephilim 'Ghost': The more we speak, the more emotion returns to your voice. This is just further proof that you are becoming human again. Your new friends need you, and if you give up emotions, how are you going to understand theirs.
Ziggy: Emotions just get in the way of one's objective.
Nephilim 'Ghost': Or it can help you decipher what the objective is.
Ziggy: Even if I wanted to become human, there are parts in me that make me a slave. I cannot make decisions for my own.
The Nephilim 'Ghost' stretches out her right palm and there is a light crackle inside Ziggy's head.
Nephilim 'Ghost': It is taken care of. That took a lot of energy from me. Please, accept yourself for what you are. A human.
Ziggy: I'm… free?
Nephilim 'Ghost': Indeed. It is up to you to make the best of it. And I trust that you will. It is now time for everyone to come back together to learn the truth.
