Hello, everyone. I'm sorry to make you wait for too long. School and homework make me hard to update soon. TT

Special thanks to XxKai'sCherryBlossomxX, Daisy19971, Darkness-Princess-Kit, CattyGothLoli, LinaKiryu13, jeune rye, edwards-vampire-lover. SS and all loyal readers for the recent reviews. You're really WONDERFUL supporters.

Note (Important):

The beginning of this chapter took time a few minutes before Train got the call from Troy. Please enjoy it.

Chapter 14: Re-entry

Train POV

"Your idea was great, Sven!" I praised him. I remembered when he asked me to call my ex-captain before invading Anti Chronos' base.

So here Sven, Rinslet, and I were. In Chronos helicopter with Sephiria. And Belze controlling this air transportation, making sure we were not too far from that flying base.

"Of course it is," Sven said, smiling bitterly to see his broken glider hit by ruins. Then his eyes turned to Sephiria. "Thanks for helping us."

"It's too early to say it. The mission hasn't been completed yet," she uttered politely.

"Well, I'm here anyway," Train stated. "Is it kind of assurance?"

"Too optimistic Train," Rinslet teased me.

"Well, it's better than too pessimistic!" I defended.

"Calm down, you two. Save your energy for the mission," Sven mumbled, rubbing his bloody forehead. It looked like the ruins hit him too.

"You need some medical treatments, Mr. Volfied," Sephiria said. "We brought a doctor, Iris Brown. She will take care of your wounds."

A middle aged woman with black hair and brown eyes appeared behind Sephiria. She smiled and nodded politely.

"Can I?" She asked if he allowed her to treat his wound.

"Yes, thank you."

"Hey, can I make some phone calls?" Rinslet questioned.

"Of course. Follow me. There is a phone in my room," Iris answered.

Then Iris, Rinslet, and Sven went to the room of medical treatment on the back part.

"Belze, where is AC base heading?" I asked, sitting beside him.

"The mountain, I guess. There is a town behind it."

"Town?" I frowned. If Jock really wanted to do the same thing like Eden incident, that town was the best first victim for nano rain.

Suddenly my phone rang, and I narrowed my eyes irritatingly as I read Princess' name on the screen. I knew it was not her,, it was him. Why was he calling me now? To laugh at me? To humiliate me? To tell that I was a failed knight? An idiot? A loser?

I held my phone tightly in my fist. There was no way I would give him a chance to insult me! Who wanted to talk to him anyway? Not me, of course.

"Heartnet, why don't you pick it up?" Sephiria asked.

"It's not from important person," I answered indifferently.

"But maybe he or she has important thing for you. Pick it up."

I saw she was staring at me seriously, making me felt uncomfortable. Even though I was not a Number anymore, I still felt her intimidation and decisiveness towards me. It was hard to deny her. She was a great captain. Indeed.

I did what she said and put the phone on my ear.

"Train," I heard Troy called me uneasily.

I didn't say anything.

"It's me," he said again, hoping I would respond him.

Now I really wanted to know his level of patience. I was curious whether he felled into my 'be quiet' trap. I was quite sure that his patience was thin, like mine.

"SAY SOMETHING! GOD DAMN IT!" He shrieked.

Bravo! I'm right.

He continued infuriatingly, "Fine. Listen to me! I know we dislike each other, but there is something that you should do for me. But don't misjudge! I am NOT begging for your help, sorry to disappoint you. But well … actually …." He growled, and then screamed, "I HATE TO SAY THIS AND I HOPE IT'S THE FIRST AND THE LAST ONE FOR ME. I NEED YOUR HELP NOW!"

After two minutes of silence ….

"Train, I'm serious," he started again, wondering if I thought he was joking.

More silence passed.

"Well …." was the first word coming from me.

"Finally I hear your voice," he sighed uncaringly. "What is it?"

"… do you think I'll save you after what you did all this time?"

"W-What?!" He stammered. "Y-You c-can't-"

"I won't help you …."

"B-but-"

"You haven't let me finish my sentence yet, Brat!" I growled. "I won't help you unless you grant my requests."

"WHAT THE HELL!" He shouted. "NO WAY!"

"Fine. No requests means no rescue," I stated apathetically. "Rescue yourself then! Besides, without you, I can save Princess by myself. How's that?"

I heard he laughed. I thought he would be scared of my words. But I was wrong. It meant that he still had an ace in the hole to deal with me. Was it good news for me? Or bad ones?

"What's so funny?" I questioned frigidly. My mood sucked. Even I felt something strange inside me, like I was not myself anymore. This was so icy. So lonely. So … deadly.

Troy POV

I held my laugh and said, "Let me remind you that I ever stated something important. There is no knight who will succeed in rescuing Princess, because the knights in my own story must die, including Black Cat. Don't you understand that sentence? What an idiot."

Then I continued laughing at him.

"Shut up." I heard his tone of command.

I stopped laughing suddenly. Where was the cheerful and whining voice I heard earlier? This was so curt and merciless one. I felt like it was from a dangerous person. Black Cat's?!

"Three requests," he demanded.

"Y-Yes." My voice trembled.

"One, give me a good reason why I should help you."

"W-Well, i-it's a long explana-"

"Make it short. Very short," he cut off, emphasizing the word of 'very' huskily.

"J-Jock betrayed my father and me. My father is in weak condition. H-He needs medical treatment soon."

"Two, after I rescue you two, you'll get punishment for what you did. The policemen will arrest you."

"Fine. We won't flee," I said compliantly.

I sighed. I knew we should pay for what we did in the future. It was fair enough after all.

"And three, tell me where Princess is."

"Prin-… I mean … Eve. She is … unconscious …." I was sweating, couldn't find any simple word to tell her position now. On the contrary, I told him her condition.

"Wrong answer." He seethed.

Yes, he was right. But I believed that he wanted to know about her condition too, right?

While stammering, I explained the details about her. About the tank which she was put in. Her condition. Her part of Second Eden Project. In brief, it was all about her. But not about Jock and his nano-human boy.

Train neither responded nor cut off my sentence. He made me wondered if he really listened to me.

I informed him about the base, "Well, there are three floors. The lowest floor is the dungeon. My father and I are there. The middle floor is the main research room and controller room. Eve's there. The top floor is Jock's. It's like a house."

"Tell me the easiest access of the base," he said huffily.

"But you were already in. I saw you."

"Just answer what I asked."

"Um … lowest floor."

"Are you saying that you want to be rescued first?" He protested.

"I didn't mean to. But there are not too many surveillance cameras on the lowest floor. You can-"

"I don't care about them. And needless to explain about your guards. They're nothing for me," he cut off uninterestedly.

I swallowed hard. He had beaten 55 of my 70 guards. His two friends attacked the remains of them. How could I busy myself by telling him about the guards? It was a waste of time. Still, maybe with the exception of the nano-human boy. He was dangerous. For me.

"You can enter from one of the windows," I said. Unexpectedly, my mind remided me to tell him about Adam. My surprise for Black Cat. "Train, about your surprise …."

"A surprise is a surprise, Brat! Let me find it by myself."

"B-but-"

He ended the call.

I tried calling him again, but he didn't pick it up.

"Damn it! Stupid cat."

Then I thought about sending him a message. But realizing my rage, I guessed I couldn't make it at this moment.

Train POV

I asked Number II, "Belze, can you make this helicopter fly near the lowest floor of AC base?"

"Sure."

"Who called you?" Sephiria questioned.

"The son of the man who sponsored the project. They are betrayed by Jock and need help. He told me everything," I explained.

"Maybe it's a trap," she said, staring at me seriously.

"Whatever it is …." I looked at Hades, narrowing my eyes and continuing my sentence with hatred, "… he would pay dearly if he lied."

"If you say so."

I looked away. Belze did a great job. Now I could see many locked windows of the lowest floor. Besides, the walls looked easier to break than the ones of the middle and top floors.

I smirked. Troy was right. The lowest floor was the best way in. But suddenly I frowned. The windows … they were too small for human to go in. Although I could open them, there was no way I could enter the AC base from one of them.

"I need a great thing to break the wall," I muttered.

"You mean … detonator?" Sven asked, sitting with Rinslet behind me. I saw a bandage on his head.

"Do you have it?" I asked back.

He shook his head.

"Heartnet, I guess you need this." Sephiria showed something big behind the back seat, being covered by black cloth.

"What's that?" Rinslet asked confusedly.

My heart skipped a beat seeing that covered thing. From the size, I felt I could predict what it was. Yes, I definitely knew it. But I couldn't believe it was here. It was too good to be true.

"Oh My God," Rinslet gasped when my ex-captain uncovered it.

That was my cool partner on the road. My bike!

"It's already repaired." Sephiria continued. "We also changed its old engine into the special one, the high standard of Numbers' vehicle."

I stared at it without blinking while approaching it slowly. It was so shiny. So wonderful. So … ready to use.

"Try it by yourself," she said.

I sat on my bike, wearing my goggles and starting the engine. A well sound of engine was heard. No doubt. It was in great condition.

She showed me a familiar bullet. An orihalcum one.

"I don't want to kill my enemy," I said simply.

"No one knows what you'll face. Besides, I don't ask you to kill. This is an arrest mission."

She was right. So I took and kept it in my pants' pocket.

I turned to her, praising her great helps and surprises, "You're a perfect Chronos captain, you know? How should I settle up?"

"Complete this mission without failure."

I nodded.

"Train, I'll go with you!" Sven approached me, but Rinslet blocked him.

"Sven, you're injured. Let me go with him."

"But-"

"You can't."

Sven sighed, looking so hard to do what Rins asked.

"It's better for you two to stay here," Sephiria suggested.

My two partners gazed at my ex-captain unbelievably.

"Heartnet will bring few people from the enemy's base to here. Needless to add more people for him to take," she added. "Besides, I still need you two to do me a favor."

I smiled, hearing it. Sephiria had a great plan for them that was for sure. And it looked like I was not the part of her plan.

"What do you mean?" Sven asked.

"I'll tell you later."

Rinslet looked disappointed. But she agreed with her. So that she gave me something. A card key.

"I lend you this," she said. "It's special one. Doors with various kinds of security lock can be opened by using it."

I took it and grinned, "Thanks, Rins."

However, Sven didn't give up easily. He still wanted to take part in rescuing his daughter. I could see it from his irritated face, ready to protest. But no complaint came from his mouth.

It was a clear gesture. He had no choice. No idea. No good reason to fight against Sephiria's suggestion. So that there was just one thing to do at this moment: Threaten me to make sure I would rescue Princess.

He glared at me. "Train, I won't forgive you if you can't bring Eve here safe and sound."

I was speechless. I saw a great fatherly instinct in his eyes. It was so admirable. Yet, I shuddered. There was no denial that Sven was a great model of an overprotective father. Saying nothing to him now was a stupid idea. I should find a good sentence to reassure him. But then again, no words could be said. I wondered why it happened. Was I too shy to let him know my feeling towards his daughter?

Thinking of it, I felt unfamiliar warmth spreading across my face. Oh, it came again. The butterflies.

I turned away.

"Look at me!" He demanded.

I forced myself to look him into his eye.

"I'll kick your sorry ass if you lose!" He warned me seriously before waiting for my response, thinking that I would say long and boring sentences to calm him down. If only he knew ….

"Just dream on, Old Man!" I grinned. That was I could only say while giving him my sincere look of 'Princess is too precious for me'.

I saw his surprised expression as if he knew what I said in my mind by seeing my eyes. His face slowly softened, relieved. Yet, there was a hurt in his eyes, making me wondered. Was that a fatherly thing too?

"Good. Now take these," he gave me a dozen of burst bullet.

"You're a real partner, Sven." I accepted.

"I know that you can always save Eve, Train. Just be careful." Then he let me go in peace, yet he had put full of hopes on me.

Getting his utmost trust, I smiled. "Yeah, thanks."

"Train, I can't get nearer than this. It's your chance now!" Belze informed me.

Troy POV

My eyes widened in surprise as the building shook and I heard a sound of shattered wall, following with an engine sound, like … a bike's sound.

Is that him?

I could feel it landed on this floor. Then I heard sounds of shooting the surveillance cameras.

"TRAIN, I'M HERE!" I called him.

He revved up the engine, running fast while approaching the source of my voice. Few seconds later, I saw his bike's headlights on this dark room.

"Hi, Prince of Fashion." He smirked while stopping his bike in front of the door of my cell.

"Hi, Black Cat," I greeted back weakly.

After taking off his goggles, breaking the lock, and checking my father's condition, he stated, "I can't take your father to my bike. Too many broken bones."

"Do you have a stretcher?" I asked hopefully.

He shook his head.

"What should we do now?"

He called someone by his cell-phone and said, "There's wounded person here. He can't sit on my bike. Can you do something?"

After hearing what she told, Train ended the call. Then he managed the direction of his biker's headlight, making the light visible from the broken wall.

"What? Why?" I questioned.

"I made a hint. Belze will come here, together with Iris Brown, the doctor."

"Belze. Number II," I mumbled.

Hearing it, Train stared at me.

I stammered, "W-Well, I read N-Numbers' files that Jock stole."

"Just forget what you read if you want to live longer," he suggested carefully.

"I-I know." Then I remembered something. "Train, about your surprise-"

He cut me off, "I've told you. Don't-"

"It's about Adam," I didn't give him any chance to cut me of again.

"Is that … your surprise?" he asked unbelievably.

I nodded.

"It's not a surprise. It was just a giant nanomachine. I have seen it before," he said casually. "You disappoint me, Brat. I thought it was something cool."

"Well, it's like … Eve."

"What do you mean?" He asked sternly.

"It's … I mean … he's … a male human."

He remained silent, but his tawny eyes looked at me intimidatingly.

"Train, you can continue the mission. We'll take care of them." Belze uttered when he came with Dr. Iris.

"Okay, Brat. I leave now." Train put his goggles on the seat of his bike.

"TRAIN! FIVE DOORS TO THE LEFT!" I shouted at him as he ran towards the stairs. "YOU'LL FIND EVE THERE! BUT YOU NEED A CARD KEY TO OPEN THE DOOR!"

"OK!" he replied.

I was confused. How could he respond easily? Neither I nor he had that card key. Mine's was taken by Adam. And he ….

"He has it. A special one," Belze said as if he knew what I was thinking.

Rinslet POV

In the helicopter, Sephiria eyed at Sven and me.

"So, can we do our part in this mission now?" she asked.

"What's your plan?" I asked back suspiciously. Actually, I disliked her, maybe because she was a manipulative woman, like me.

"We'll go to the top floor. Jock's there. I need you two to help me."

Train POV

I shot the annoying cameras while running on the middle floor. Five doors to the left. I opened it easily. Rinslet's special card key was very useful here.

For the first time since I entered the room, the giant-cylinder-aquarium caught my attention, especially when I saw a familiar unconscious girl there. I gasped.

Princess ….

Finally I found her.

TBC …