Chapter 11: Juste Comme une Prière (I'm Trying to Call You Here)

I sigh as I stare up at the great statue that dominates the majority of the room I'm standing in.

Elegantly carved, with lovely features and an almost lifelike quality to it, I'm almost entranced by it. The anime hardly did any justice to how beautiful the statue of Harmonics Messiah was and I have to wonder as to just how amazing the real thing must look.

The cathedral around me was made of a white material that flowed all around, strange swirls drawing the eye to the statue in the centre of the cavernous room. It's a beautiful day outside and the building takes full advantage of that fact. Any electrical, candle, or magical lights are kept to much smaller alcoves dedicated to statues of what I assume are heroes or lesser deities. And through ingenious precision, the statue at the centre has a sunbeam all to itself. There were benches or perhaps pews around the edges of the room, but they were far from filling the majority of the room like the religious enters that I was more familiar with.

I don't know what to say, or think.

Do I pray?

Do I plead?

The Colony Maker is sitting in the back of chapel, near the entrance we'd walked through. What did she think of this place? Did she know what it was? Did she care?

Over a week has passed since the encounter with the Steam Maiden and the subsequent run in with the small Star-vader unit, and I'm not entirely sure how I'm handling it.

"Excuse me?"

The quiet contemplation that I've been caught up is shattered by a woman's voice calling out to me.

I cast my eyes at the source, and there's a woman dressed similarly to a nun standing beside me, although there is a great difference from a traditional nun's habit in the form of her thigh high stockings and hotpants. Her hair is a shade of violet and her pointed ears peek out of it, but despite all that there's an air around her, that makes me wary.

She offers me a smile, "You don't look like you're too at peace, do you perhaps need an open ear?"

"No, it's just… I'm not sure how I should do this…" I mutter, not quite able to meet her eyes.

She nods, "A lot of people find themselves a bit overwhelmed, especially first time visitors. What I recommend, is that you simply take few moments, gaze upon the Saviour, and hold your prayer or wish or whatever have you in your thoughts."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll try, thank you," I reply, getting another smile and nod from the nun before she walks away.

I breathe deeply through my nose.

Harmonics Messiah… even if you only hear a snippet of this prayer… please, help me, help everyone repel the forces invading Cray. Whether it's through lifting the ban on Interdimensional Crosstalk, or empowering whoever you feel is best, or, or whatever.

Please… I just… I just want to go home.

I let out the breath, sigh, and then turn away from the statue.

The Colony Maker stands as I approach, and we stride out of the cathedral.

The air fills with noise, there's a small square of sorts before the entrance of the holy building that we'd just stepped out of. The sky is clear, sunlight cheerily bouncing off of the windows of the buildings mashed together on one side of the cobblestone street. Most of the city's like that. Colony Maker had noted it as an efficient use of space. There's a few vendors, selling snacks and such, even as children dart about in play with their respective parents and siblings chase after them.

It's peaceful. Idyllic, even.

As if the capital of the United Sanctuary, Hy-Annsil, was utterly untouched by the ravages of the Star-vader invasion.

But, that was wrong.

It's visible.

In the slight tension present in all parents keeping a close eye on their children.

In the way that the vendors will sometimes turn their eyes to the sky with worried grimaces.

In the way nobody comments on the occasional person, man or woman, old or young, sitting quietly on a bench with a haunted look on their face.

Moving past all of them, we find ourselves joining a crowd headed towards one of the main thoroughfares. In a way, Hy-Annsil strikes me as being similar to the Europe I know from movies and tv, mostly small crowded streets where the pedestrians are just as crowded and there are few larger streets that still seem crowded. Another thing that strikes me is the melting pot of races here; Angels, High Beasts, Elves, Humans, the occasional Cosmo Dragon, even Demons, Vampires, Abyss Dragons, and those considered more traditionally dark.

It's interesting, how Cray is so similar but so different from Earth…

As we walk there's the sound of a scuffle and some shouting from a side street, but we ignore it and carry on. Moments later, I hear a voice shout, "There you are! Parameter alter! Code 13.a! Permissions 050715!"

Turning, I catch sight of a small dragon barrelling towards the Colony Maker and I. I felt my gut sink. His body was predominantly blues either powder or cobalt, with pinkish red bits and bobs jutting from him, and a quartet of damning black rings either encircling some odd devices floating above his shoulders or around his wrists.

Gravity Ball Dragon, the Grade One in the Ride Chain for Schwarzschild Dragon. And he was the one who sealed away Blaster Blade, Blaster Dark, and Dragonic Overlord. I wonder if that means he's the same being, and his body changes with each Grade or if they're all unique bodies? Probably the second one… I mean, there's Phantom Blaster Dragon's Ride Chain but Fullbau, Blaster Javelin, and Blaster Dark were all separate from the dragon…

He scrambled in our direction, his eyes wild as he cried, "Parameter alter! Code 13.a! Permissions 050715!"

My mind blanked for a moment, trying to register the context for that. There didn't seem to be any. What? As he reached us, he used magic or whatever to float, looming above us. Taking a moment to think about it, I give the Colony Maker a look as if to say, "Does he mean us?" Before turning back to him and declaring, "You what, mate?"

The various pedestrians had all backed away at this point, and I can hear people in the distance calling out. The dragon's panting, visibly disturbed and seemingly ready to snap when the Colony Maker answers my question, "Statement: Those are the codes and orders needed to alter mission parameters and form a battle group with the nearest commanding unit, priority being those with Ego."

I can hear shouting, and from the looks of it some knights have burst onto the scene, but they're a footnote to what the Colony Maker declares, "And I… I refuse to do so. I will not abandon you."

I'm nearly shocked by her words. She was choosing me over the Star-vaders, even though the option was right in front of her? I swallow, making a show of staring the dragon in the eye as I speak, "And I'm gonna have to refuse as well, as I'm no puppet of the Star-vaders."

"You defective scrap!" He roars as he brings one of his claws up in a swipe at my chest, but I'm pulled out of the way by the Colony Maker grabbing my shoulder and spinning me out of the way. She uses the leverage to swing her own fist into his snout, causing him to flinch back but he's stopped by me grabbing one of his arms and twisting my body to slam a knee into his stomach. I let go of his wrist this time as he reels back, looking more than a bit blindsided. I'm tempted to press the advantage, but the memory of a small girl's form collapsed against a tree trunk stops me.

One of the knights that I'd noted earlier steps forward, sword drawn and levelled at us as he announces, "The three of you, surrender now!"

I'm tempted to continue on fighting Gravity Ball and it's clear that he's just as willing, but in the face of the number of knights surrounding us… I put my hands up, I wouldn't win that fight even if I tried.

…ugh, my time here on Cray's been a mess.

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I sigh as the three of us are lead through the halls of what seems to be some sort of specialized prison, the few present features making it resemble the stark construction of an Earth prison. There are still differences though, in the fact that the halls and building are scaled up for larger races, the clearly more advanced technologies built into the cameras observing us and such, along with the fact that what few cells we've passed seemed to lack the bars I'm more familiar with prisons having.

Actually getting to this prison had been something of a trip, having been hauled into some heavily armoured vehicles and driven to a decidedly nondescript building despite its size, and I'm fairly sure magic's at work within it as it's a good deal larger than its exterior should allow. As we are led through, some of the knights split off and drag Gravity Ball Dragon with them despite the Cyber Dragon's protests, and eventually they move to separate the Colony Maker and I. Are they separating us for interrogations? I can only assume that much… Seeing what appears to be the start of panic on her face, I reach over and give her shoulder a squeeze as I murmur, "It… it'll be okay. Just be honest about what we… what I've dragged you into and what's happened since we met in Star Gate."

"I understand," And with that, she allowed herself to be pulled away. I hope she'll be okay…

After some more walking, I'm led into a dimly lit room, a table with some chairs set up around it set up in the middle. Seems that I was probably right about them interrogating us, unless they were separating us to kill us quietly.

I rather hope that's not the case.

Still, I take a seat, and sit quietly in the room, waiting for something to happen.

There're no clocks in the room, but I know that hours have passed when the door finally opens and two figures walk in. One I don't quite recognize, a knight in pseudo-samurai armour, his dull blue hair pulled into a ponytail and his expression dour. The other I recognize as someone I'd have wanted to avoid, an imposing dragon whose colouration was hidden under layers of armour and clothing (a surprisingly classy cravat at his throat), though some sort of azure energy was emanating from him and glowing through his armour, and his yellow eyes were fixed in a glare at me.

Claret Sword Dragon, the bastard asshole who will lead a rebellion against Blaster Dark Diablo in order to tear up the United Sanctuary in order to put under military rule, his military rule. That, of course, then ends with him calling Aurageyser Dragon using some bastardized form of Stride which tears up space and time something fierce, and then Aurageyser kills him when he stops being useful. Even if I wanted to steer him away from that, he just didn't exist in the lore for long enough for me to have any reason beyond wanting to avoid all the trouble he could cause.

The dragon's glare deepens as he pulls over an appropriately sized chair, while the knight simply takes a human sized one next to the dragon, very un-coincidentally on the opposite side of the table from me. I suppose I'm lucky that they aren't armed, but it's still an intimidating situation I'm in. The knight clears his throat, "Now then, I'll need you to clarify some of the information that we've received. Your name is?"

"Trent Blackmore, is the name I'm using," I answer, because it's not like that is my actual name.

The knight's eyes sharpen even as Claret Sword shifts menacingly, "That isn't your real name?"

"Well, if I'm just a butterfly dreaming I was human, at least I'm not trying to usurp someone's life," I waffle, philosophizing a bit on my situation.

Claret Sword growls in response, "You are one of the Star-vaders' tin toys, not a human."

"First, learn some philosophy you uncultured swine, as I was paraphrasing Zhuang Zi. Second, before I woke up in this body, I was a normal guy, home from university for the summer, living it up in Canada," I grouse, my back talk earning me a snarl from the dragon. Still the latter half of my declaration stops them short, Bedivere likely having some idea of the nations of Earth through Alfred while Claret Sword would have Kanzaki as his source. When they don't say anything, I remark, "And the penny drops."

"You make these claims, but I know that you are simply a spy, set amongst us by the Star-vaders to foster animosity and suspicion amongst us. Now tell me, why have you come here, admit your purpose!" The dragon all but roars at me, one of his fists coming down on the table between us and denting it.

I shrug, "I'm here to see if I can't get Alfred to help me get home, seeing as my only hope is probably through the Star Gate, which is deep in enemy territory at the moment. The other reason… was a personal one."

"To help that Star-vader escape, I suppose?" The knight asked, watching me intently.

I have to stifle a snort as I answer, "Hardly, that guy's no friend of mine, nor did I know he was here. I'd have honestly preferred it if he had never showed up before me, as it would have kept me off the radar."

"For what reason? So you could sabotage our defences? Or perhaps feed the Star-vaders intel from behind our lines?" Claret Sword accuses me even as he tries to loom over me from the opposite side of the table.

"Are you kidding me? I just said that my main goal, passing through the Star Gate, is impossible right now due to the Star-vaders' occupation of the nation. Besides, I'd be more than willing to give what knowledge I have of their movements to someone qualified," I remark, giving another shrug as I do.

The knight leans forward, his eyes sharpening, "And, what knowledge would that be?"

"Ah, ah, ah. You want me to scratch your back, you gotta scratch mine. Even if I want to kick the Star-vaders off Cray, I'm not just going to wallow in a jail cell or let you guys off me once I've told you what I know," I argue, causing both of my interrogators to tense.

The dragon growls, the noise seemingly causing table to vibrate, "And what is it you want?"

"A guarantee that the Colony Maker and I will be allowed to go free, no matter what happens." It's all I can really ask for.

"You want us to just let a pair of Star-vaders go free?" Claret Sword sneers down his snout at me.

I smile, "If you want to know what I know, then yes. Besides, she and I are on the lam from the Star-vaders."

The pair of them share a look, neither of them looking to happy with my response. Eventually, Claret Sword sighs, "Fine then. What did you do to Vowing Sword Dragon to cause him to change so?"

"Are you talking about his Яeversal? Because I'm fairly sure that was Chaos Breaker, not me," Seriously, these guys, this basic stuff…

The knight shakes his head, "We're not referring to that, we're referring to the fact that he is no longer running roughshod across the Dragon Empire and has instead taken to calling himself the Яogue Eradicator, Vowing Double Blade Dragon. He cited a person matching your description as the cause, saying that he first encountered you in the town Higuma near the border of the Dragon Empire and the Dark Zone, and then second time when in a fugue state after being defeated by Wolf Fang Liberator, Garmore. It was after the second encounter that he took on this new "Яogue" form and said that you had led him to it while he was struggling against the Void."

I stare at the knight, my eyes then dart to Claret Sword who looks like he isn't going to tell me this is a joke. Licking my lips, I speak, "I thought it was a dream?"

The looks they send my way in no way hide the disdain they're feeling for me at the moment.

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As I'm led through the prison to what I presume is my cell, I needle Claret Sword as best I can, "So, how's the room service in this joint? I mean, I know it's not going to be like the Marriott but I can at least hope."

"Cease your prattle."

Drab grey halls slide past in my peripherals, "Then can you tell me about the amenities? Like, is there an ensuite bathroom? Do I have a tv in my room, do I have pay-per-view? Actually, if I have pay-per-view, how would I pay it? When I check out? Do they prefer cash or credit, because I only have cash…"

"Desist in your inane blathering!" I'm really getting to him, I think I can see his shoulders shaking.

I shake my head, "Wow, the service isn't great here, I'll have to complain to the management."

"If you do not stop talking, I will see your head removed!" The dragon is shouting now, as he swivels about to loom over me.

I'm about to reply when another voice interrupts. This voice is deep, and rumbles through the hall, like the echoes of an avalanche, "No, Claret Sword Dragon, you will not. That would be my job."

"Of course, sir. Well, Star-vader, this is your guard, you'd do well to show him proper respect," Claret Sword switches between submissive and smug as he speaks, before stepping aside and then out of my view, his footsteps trailing off as he goes.

I can't speak.

Standing in front of an open cell is another dragon, this one clad in onyx and azure armour, what scales that are visible being purple and black, wearing a tattered red cloak with a furred collar, and a great, jagged crystalline pole arm in one hand. I know this dragon, but the sight is corrupted by the great crimson-black ring spinning slowly behind his back, dying his form in a terrifying light.

This is not the Raging Form Dragon that I know of.

He's been Яeversed.

That's not supposed to happen. This isn't supposed to be happening.

I shake my head, "This, no, it can't, you can't- This shouldn't be happening! You were never Яeversed! I remember who was! I played a damn Glendios deck, I should fucking know!"

"Shut up."

The command stops me short, and I stare at the dragon, working my jaw as I try and put what I'm feeling into words. Instead, the Abyss Dragon, points to an opening in the wall, "Get in your cell."

AN: I AIN'T DEAD YET!