'What happened?'

'Where am I?'

'Why am I…'

Aegis Island

Neo's eyes burned with rage, sparks erupting from every footfall as she bolted across the landscape. Johannes, arrogant as he was, would likely be on one of the last ships to safety. The man had always had a penchant for theatrics. At least, that was what she assumed… until the tell-tale sound of sniper fire reached her ears. A battle was raging on the center of island. And as she had awoken alone on her transport, she had a feeling she knew who it was.

Her fingers bled as they scraped across the metal flooring, her body crouching and skidding to a complete stop. Within seconds, the wounds began to close as she changed direction. With a burst of speed, all reason forgotten, she bolted towards the heart of the island. Johannes would pay.

. . .

Liar. Traitor. Backstabber.

With each passing moment, the voice grew louder and louder, echoing off the walls of her tortured mind. Upon her arrival, she found the source of the commotion… and it froze her blood in her veins. In Aegis's heart, the 1st Unit was locked in steady battle with an unidentifiable creature. And off to the side, tossed carelessly on the ground, was Shio. Even from her position, she could see the irregular angle at which her head was resting. Her neck was broken, likely from a high fall.

The sight of Shio's lifeless body destroyed her, rage building even further when the Aragami below spoke patronizing words. She recognized the sound of that voice. After betraying their pact, the Director had taken Shio. He used her core to feed a world-devouring monster… then, he became a monster himself. Neo couldn't understand it. Why had she been saved? Shio was the one meant to live, not her. Why had he deceived her? Why would he… why… why? In that moment, her vision began to fade. In a murderous rage, she confronted him. He had broken her trust. And now, she swore it would be the last thing he ever did.

Her hatred overshadowed all sense. Her teammates' voices were nothing more than muffled sounds on the wind. She heard nothing and saw nothing. Only her target.

Driven purely by instinct, she attacked the goddess, as she appeared the most fragile to her. Correct in her assumptions, Neo found herself in close combat, working around the God as he tried to protect his other half. She feigned him, scythe clattering to the floor as she shifted her strategy. Claws, legs, and spark were her only weapons as she went relentlessly after the Aragami woman.

Her body moved on its own, following her mind which was driven only by its desire for vengeance. Neo wasn't certain when she reached a third-level Burst nor did she care. She cared only about tearing her betrayer to shreds… and that yearning only grew stronger as the battle went on. The more she fought, the louder the voice became. The stronger her drive to kill. Her focus became so great that she barely noticed the shift in the air, and fell victim to a divine wave that sent her flying.

Pain flooded her senses as her skin burned… but she didn't care. The only thing driving her forward now was impulse. A nagging ache to rend his flesh. To end him. To devour. Yet her body wouldn't move. She was airborne. Was she being carried? She didn't know. Neo's mind only continued to fade as hollowed voices reached her ears. Only snippets were audible, roughly every few words. But it was enough. Enough to hear a single word that sent her into an unimaginable bate.

"She was not a monster!"

Who was shouting? Was it her?

"Silence!"

Yes. That voice was definitely hers.

"I have had just about enough of you. Of all of you!"

The air around her was spinning. Her eyes were clouded, showing her the world through a faded veil… She was angry. She was lost. She was tired. The voice rose into a deafening roar as she finally reached her limit. Someone was calling for her. Reaching out to her. And after so long… she no longer had the strength to fight it. What was the point? Shio was gone and the world would soon follow. Even if they were to survive, to make it to the new world, humans wouldn't want her in it.

"Gyah!"

Was that Ichiro's voice? It must have been. He was in so much pain. She had hurt him again. Just as she always had. Further proof that she had no place with them. That she couldn't be saved. The last of her humanity was slipping away. She knew she had run out of time. But that was alright. He hadn't been able to finish her off then… but maybe now, after seeing her true form, he would. With all of her remaining strength, she turned to him in a final moment of clarity, and willed her lips to move.

"I'm sorry, Ichiro… for all that I have taken. All that I have done. I tried so hard to be what you wanted… but I couldn't."

"Neo… p-please…"

He had said something to her. She knew he did. But she could not hear him. She was too far gone. The world faded away from her as she finally let go.

Then, it turned red.

No longer was she restrained by thoughts of morality or concerns of others. No more was she hindered by thoughts of humanity or norm. She wasn't normal. She wasn't human. And with that acceptance, she was finally able to give into the darkness. She heard only the voice driving her forward, a wicked smile forming on her slips. She did nothing but fight, the wish to kill her only remaining desire. She felt nothing, even as her body flew, crashing into a metal wall.

She rose to her feet and rushed forward toward her target… then came to an abrupt halt. The incoming beam was moving off course. Skidding to a stop, she narrowly avoided the divine light. But evading one strike only brought another as she felt the ground tremble beneath her feet. Then, hell rained down from above.

. . .

Neo was trapped. Her body was twisted, pressed uncomfortably beneath the rubble. She tried to move, but she couldn't. Her lower half was pinned down by a large object, some sort of debris. It was painfully crushing her. Throbbing followed her every shift. Yet still she fought, trying to wrench her body free.

How long was she there in the darkness? She didn't know.

But soon, her confines began to tremble, her cage coming loose around her. Something was striking the rubble. It was helping… but it wasn't enough. She waited and waited, the faint sound of impact reaching her ears as something hammered desperately against the wall. Was it her target? She wasn't sure. She could only wait for the aggressor to reveal itself.

Suddenly, movement.

A well-placed strike knocked a beam off balance. The crushing weight shifted, giving her some space. Then, the ground began to shake once again. Neo couldn't tell what was happening, but she had no intention of sitting idly around to find out. Ignoring the pain, she pulled and yanked, trying once again to free herself from her prison. She twisted and turned. So close. A little more. Then, finally…

Freedom.

Her body came loose from the rubble trapping her. With a strong push, she dislodged another beam, slipping into the open air. Her right leg ached under the strain of her own weight. It was damaged during the collapse… but she was unconcerned at the moment. She was far too fixated on the alarming sight unfolding before her. The Alda Nova had awakened, and was slowly lifting towards the sky. How? Why? She wasn't sure. And she didn't have time to ponder it. Something was moving in her line of vision.

With a new target in sight, Neo charged, tackling him to the ground. She was sure she recognized him, but… No. It didn't matter. Angling her claws, her arm lifted to slit his throat.

"Neo."

A voice halted her movement. Another presence spoke to her, drowning out the angry roar. A young woman. No, a child.

"They are friends."

'…Shio?'

"Remember."

Her mind raced as images began to fill her mind. She could feel a strange sensation pulsating through her. It felt like a resonance, a mental communication. And in that moment, she could feel a sense of clarity wash over her. Turning, she gazed upward at the Alda Nova as it lifted slowly into the sky. Shio was there. Shio was alive. Shio had been saved… and she was reaching out to her. Calling for her.

And for the briefest moment, she felt peace. Shio had reached her… and a quick glance downward revealed the face beneath her. Ichiro was gazing up at her. He was giving her that look again. That mournful expression he gave when he wanted to help, but knew he couldn't. That look of remorseful affection. Neo hated that look. She didn't deserve it. She couldn't bear to look at him. She couldn't bear for him to look at her.

Kill him!

The voice was returning. She couldn't keep him safe. Ripping her gaze from his, she climbed off of her guardian. He was calling out to her, but she refused to look back.

Without a second glance, Neo fled into the tunnels below.

. . .

Her leg trembled beneath her, stabbing pain coursing through her body with every movement. But she didn't dare stop… she was being followed. Even after all she had done, still he reached for her. He was relentless. He was insatiable. He was…

"Neo. I know you can hear me."

'What…?'

Another voice was calling out to her. Was it his? No, it couldn't have been. It was too calm. It was someone else. One familiar yet foreign to her in that present moment. Where was it coming from?

"I know what you were trying to do."

"I also know what drove you to do it."

'Who…'

Neo shook her head and kept running. She didn't have time to concern herself. She was losing control. She had to get away from him. She had to escape. She wouldn't hurt Ichiro again. She couldn't bear it. She couldn't… control it.

"My anger was never towards you."

The voices were beginning to overlap, leaving her mind in a state of absolute chaos. The pleading voice of her guardian. The mysterious voice echoing all around her. The sinister voice in her mind.

"Neo, please! Don't make me do this…"

"Go ahead. Take your best shot."

The New Type ignored his pleas. She was lost in a clouded crimson fog. Her body moved on its own, driven by the force that commanded her. The Aragami within. Ichiro was speaking to her again… but this time, his voice was not his own.

"I should have made amends sooner."

Who was that? What was happening? The Earth spun uncontrollably as her world and the next began to merge, blurring the line between dreams and reality. She could hear the voice again. It was pained. She could hear the quiet, shuddering breaths. She recognized them, from a time long passed.

Her body was tossed aside, a searing pain coursing through her cape. Someone had shot her. Turning her head, she saw two approaching forms. She vaguely recognized the blonde woman… but the other…

"I won't ask for your forgiveness."

That voice… Was it…?

. . .

Far East Branch - Aragami Containment Chamber

Against the edge of the containment chamber, a platinum blonde head leaned against the wall and blue orbs gazed listlessly forward. Soma sat stone still; his eyes the only movement as they watched the woman's chest slowly rise and fall. It had been a few days since he'd read Neo's final message to him, answering only a few of his questions while inviting plenty more. He had been furious when he first learned of her perceived treachery. That she had sold out one of their own. That she had turned on her. That she had turned on them. But upon reading her email, he learned the truth. Their assumptions had been wrong. His friend had never betrayed Shio.

She had tried to save her.

With careful planning and forfeiture of her place on the Ark, she had given them the tools necessary to sneak Shio onto their ship. And he was tasked with taking her with them to safety, leaving Neo behind as a vessel for the Alda Nova. And while learning of her true intentions should have brought him relief, it only made him feel worse. Through both her words and her actions, he finally realized the extent of the damage he had done. Neo had felt inadequate next to Shio. Then expendable. Eventually, she felt replaced. As a result, she was willing to step away, allowing Shio to take her place entirely.

He wasn't angry with her anymore. He was just upset. He wanted to thank her for trying to save their friend. For being willing to take her place. But more importantly, he wanted to apologize for making her feel the need to… and he was beginning to fear that he may soon lose his chance forever. Neo's Oracle energy had been growing weaker over the past few days. Her life was slipping away, and no matter how much treatment she received, it seemed that there was no coming back for her. If he didn't take action, Neo would die never knowing how he truly felt. She would leave this world thinking that he despised her. That she was nothing more than a vile creature in his eyes.

And Soma had no intention of letting that happen.

Sighing, he rose to his feet and made his way forward towards the sleeping woman, an idea crossing his mind. He had learned from his interactions with Neo that she could hear him, even in her sleep. And while it wasn't the way he had originally intended, he decided it was finally time to tell her what he felt. He wanted to tell her when she awoke… but if she never did, this would be his final chance. Resigning himself, he sat at her bedside. It was now or never.

Looking around him, he quickly examined the empty room. Hamasaki, Alisa, and Sakuya were currently conducting field operations. Kota and Lenka were out patrolling the perimeter for new recruits. Sakaki likely wouldn't return for a few hours. It was just the two of them… and with no one to overhear, Soma gazed down at his old friend, letting the words spill forth.

"Neo. I know you can hear me. There's… something I've been meaning to tell you. First, I want to thank you. I know what you were trying to do. And now… I also know what drove you to do it."

The woman gave no signs of responding. Her eyes remained closed, her breathing slow and steady. Yet he knew he couldn't falter. Even with no indication that his words were reaching her, he pressed on.

"Look, I… I'm sorry. You were right. Back then, I didn't mean for you to hear what I said… and, at the time, I meant every word. But my anger was never towards you. I was angry… with myself. You did nothing wrong. I… was the wrong one. You are not a monster, Neo. And I should have made amends sooner. It should never have gotten this far. I won't ask for your forgiveness, but… I just wanted you to know."

The New Type remained silent on the table, offering nothing in return. Her mouth remained pressed in a straight line and her limbs remained still. Maybe she hadn't heard him after all. Shaking his head, he leaned back in his chair. He had done all he could. Now, he could only continue to wait. And he was prepared to, when she finally she reacted…

In the worst way possible.

The tell-tale buzz of static reached his ears, small sparks dancing along the surface of her capes. Startled, Soma scooted backwards away from the coming discharge. But a few moments' pause revealed a false alarm. Or so he thought. With a crack, her body surged, releasing a small wave of current through the table and her cords, shorting the wires and disabling the bio signal monitor. Scowling, Soma glared at the broken device, now no more use than a paperweight. They hadn't considered the possibility of such an event in their haste, and he made a note to apprise Sakaki upon his return. For now, it was of little concern. He could still feel her Oracle cells. He could still sense her… for the moment.

In the ones that followed, that quickly began to change. Following her burst of energy, her signal grew weaker, dropping rapidly without any warning. Her Oracle signature, which he had been tracking over the course of her recovery began to fade. In seconds, the aura wavered, plummeted, then vanished, leaving her silent. In an instant, she was gone. It was as though she had been waiting for him; holding on to allow him more time. With every other loss, Soma hadn't had a chance to say goodbye. Neo had changed that, giving him just enough time to offer his farewell.

But that thought only served to upset him even more, bringing further into perspective how one-sided their relationship had always been. Even in death, she was looking out for him, putting his own needs and desires above her own. And that was his breaking point. Her passing was the final straw in a series of events that had finally proven too much for him to bear. He couldn't take it. He was broken.

Slowly approaching her bedside, he gazed down at her still form. His hands clenched into tight fists as he hung his head. Neo had left him… for good this time.

Something within him snapped, spilling forth all of the pain and sorrow he had held on to for so, so long. And for the first time in over a decade… Soma cried. A silent tear rolled down his cheek splashing onto the lab table below. Then another. Her peaceful imaged blurred beneath him as water filled his eyes. He felt his world falling around him as he collapsed into despair. Sinking slowly back into his seat, he laid his head against the table, his arm covering his face.

Why did this happen? Why after so long? She had reentered his life only to be torn away from him once again. It was like some form of sick joke. He couldn't save Shio. He couldn't save Neo. He couldn't save anyone. Why couldn't he protect the ones he cared about?

The raging storm of self-loathing pulled him into the depths. Darkness surrounded him as he sat by her bedside, his shoulders racked with silent sobs. He was angry. He was remorseful. He was lost. And now, he was alone.

But his pain was surprisingly short-lived.

Suddenly, a dim light appeared in the endless blackness, seeking him, reaching for him. A hand extended, pulling him from the crashing waves of hopelessness. It comforted him, soothed him, as it had so many times before. It was a small hand. It was a gentle hand, with small pinpricks resting against his skin.

'Wait…'

His entire body went rigid and his tears paused. No. It wasn't possible. He had felt her fade. Yet, he could feel the warmth. Slowly, in utter disbelief, he lifted his head. Blinking away the moisture in his vision revealed his own gloved hand… and a smaller, clawed one, placed gently on top of it. And as his eyes traveled upward, following the arm, they reached her shoulder. Then her neck. And finally, her turned head, where a blue and golden gaze silently held his own.