This chapter will be presented in songfic format. The song we will be using is Genesis of Next.
Regular talk - "yay!"
Telepathic conversations - (yay!)
Personal thoughts - yay!
Over-the-phone REGULAR TALK - yay!
Over-the-phone singing - yay!
Motion in the song is noted like ((this)).
Please keep in mind that the FIRST person will be singing JAPANESE and the second will be singing at the same time in ENGLISH. Don't worry, you'll see.
The suggested listening music for this chapter is Genesis of Next, as you SHOULD know, is by GLOBE. On headphones, preferably. And somewhat loud. Increase volume as you go along. Full version, too. It's about ten minutes long, so you'll hear it a few times.
Disclaimers: Half-star Productions can not take liability for Cyborg 009 or the song Genesis of Next. Cyborg 009 is the exclusive property of Shotaro Ishinomori and Genesis of Next was composed by Tetsuya Komuro, performed by Keiko and Marc Panther (GLOBE). All characters not part of the White Angel Organization or from the realm of Heaven and its suburbs are the property of their creators.
H A V E F U N !
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Riprendere
Chapter Ten (Part One): Prestissimo
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Mika: ((dials Sadie, waits for her to pick up)) Hey, Sadie!
Sadie: huh?
Mika: I've been working on Riprendere while you've been sick. Do you remember most of the story?
Sadie: no…not really.
Mika: Okay, so, two years after D.S. al Coda, the White Angel Organization teamed up with the remnants of the Black Ghost Organization. They stole what was most precious to generation three to get them to come after them. However a rogue angel, Mirllyne, was living with one of them. With her help, as well as all of generation zero and the cyborg team, they made it to Heaven. They were lead by Death into a hall in a destroyed city named Lunapolis, where she revived the most dangerous angels from their stasis. And after that, the seven deadliest sins were revived in their church. The whole time, Tsukasa and Zaffiel had been plotting with Albireo, who was resurrected for the occasion. And now that both teams are in Heaven…((phone line breaks up))
Sadie: crap. ((redials Mika)) Hello?
Mika: Hello?
Sadie: hello genesis?
Mika: yes!
Sadie: can you hear me?
Mika: Yes?
Sadie: where am I?
Mika: Hello?
Sadie: Hello genesis, can you hear me!
Mika: yes! Where am I?
Sadie: hello?
Mika: you just get into…
Sadie: yes?
Crystal: ((picks up the line and enters the conversation)) hello?
Sadie: where?
Mika: the next genesis…
Crystal: yes, genesis of next.
Sadie: hello?
Mika: you just get into…
Sadie: yes, you are alone…
Crystal: alone on this planet.
All three: OVER.
((Enx and Anya pick up the same line))
Mika, Sadie, and Crystal: Nine…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…two…ONE!
Albireo laughed a cold and cruel laugh. He could see Kage flying toward his perfect fortress with all the angel and human soldiers just waiting to gut their so-called army. His sister would be able to get up soon, most likely just in time for their arrival. He figured that it would be senseless to beat Zaffiel up at this point; why not just leave her for the cyborgs? They'd be mad enough once they found out that they had never lost anything and had come for next to nothing.
He turned, hearing footsteps behind him. There stood Tsukasa, glowering at him. She was panting, but regardless, she had obviously walked there alone. Albireo drew his lips into a tight smile.
"Nice to see you're well, dearest sister." He said, meaning it in the most evil sense. She took a few more steps toward him and frowned.
"Where is she." She demanded. He smiled even more now.
"Where is who?" He played stupid, although he knew very well whom she meant.
"WHERE IS MY ZAFFIEL!" Tsukasa screamed, sending an extremely green blast of magic at him. He backed away, holding his hands up, but he was still smiling that crazy man's smile.
"She's making sure that our troops are ready. We have some very special guests coming, little Tsukasa. The only reason – the only one – that we healed you was so you could help us fight." Albireo said. Tsukasa glared holes into him. He did the same to her. "But know this: you are completely disposable to me. So is Zaffiel. I could give a shit less about the two of you now."
"Enala was right. I was high when I had the idea to resurrect you. I hope you die again, you bastard." Tsukasa snarled, turning and storming out of his office and out to find Zaffiel.
It didn't take long. She ran into Marco along the way, who pointed her in the right direction. From there, she felt strong enough to run, and she did. Zaffiel was in a different uniform this time, one quite unlike her other.
The shirt she wore was originally black, but had been colored on with blue, gray, purple, yellow, pink, green, and almost every other color a storm could be. It swept into a low neck and showed some of her shoulders, with slightly widened sleeves and loose to her waist. Holes had been cut jaggedly in the back so her wings were free. Her short skirt was gray with tiny blue drops all over, and a few inches below at her knees, her black boots began. They buckled on one and laced on the other. Her hair was down and held from her face by a gray headband. She waved a hand dismissively and turned to see Tsukasa.
"Oh my God, Tsukasa." Zaffiel said as the short brunette attacked her with a hug. "I thought that he killed you! Are you okay? You shouldn't be here, that you…"
"No, I do. This is the one chance we have to kill my fucking brother for fucking good." Tsukasa said. She backed away and looked up into the angel's blue-gray eyes. "Zaffiel. This is my fault. All of it. Don't fight, please, my Zaffiel. I could never stand to loose you."
Zaffiel shouted an order, then looked back at Tsukasa. She knew that Tsukasa, under normal circumstances, would be kept all day in her room under lock and key. But these weren't normal circumstances. This was the time when angels did not live in Heaven, where hell was just reality, where anything could happen if you so much as blinked. It was also a time where the forbidden was occurring everywhere you looked.
"What, you can tell me." Tsukasa said. Her bright eyes were downcast, as not to show her building grief over this matter. Zaffiel smiled.
"I will fight, Tsukasa. You will come with me, will you not?" Zaffiel said, now looking up into the sky above them. "The world has changed, not us, for once. But now we have the chance to change it again, change it back to a place without Albireo. Will you, Tsukasa? Come with me, and we can stop him together."
Tsukasa looked up into the night sky and saw the stars. They could keep shining without her, but they could shine even brighter without the threat of Albireo. Taking one step away from Zaffiel, she pointed to her clothes.
"I'll be right back. I need to change into traditional robes. This is war, and not everything is fair in it, especially numbers." Tsukasa said, once again walking off. Her office and room weren't far from where she was now. She dashed in, changed, and returned to Zaffiel.
Zaffiel could remember the last time she had seen any of Chaos' family in dress robes. It had been when she was only a little girl, but still, it was hard to forget that time. Tsukasa wore the black robes now, but beneath them, Zaffiel could see Tsukasa's own bright green ones. They were tied at the waist with an electrically green cincher, and the black robe's sleeves were sewn for about an inch slightly down the arms to reveal the bright green beneath.
"Albireo's are red underneath, right?" Zaffiel asked as the youngest child of Chaos returned, her robes billowing as she walked.
"Yeah, they are, I forgot." Tsukasa replied. "They were supposed to be black like his soul…but, I guess that they forbade that because of…"
Arien came flying toward them, already in her uniform. Her eyes looked panicked and her breathing was heavy.
"They're here, Tsukasa." Arien said, now standing in front of them. Tsukasa knew how she would react. It was for the best of things, she assured herself. Zaffiel gave her tiny shoulder a comforting squeeze to show that she was ready for what was coming, too.
"All of them? Pandora? The new Prometheus and Pandora and Kage and Etoile? Epsilon, Alpha, Omega and the sins? They're here?" Tsukasa asked.
"Yes, ma'am. And the cyborgs look ready to fight." Arien replied.
"Well then, let's get into our stations. Tell Mango that she can release whenever she's ready. As for me…I'll finish getting ready. Zaffiel?" Tsukasa said, her face in a complete smirk. Zaffiel bowed her head and followed after Tsukasa.
"Let's do this."
((Anya begins to play))
Mika, Sadie, Crystal and Enx:
Hizashiburi no kimi no half smile (Without being able to forget your first half smile)
Wasurerarezu hajimaru genesis of next (in a long time, the genesis of next begins)
I can't get you out of mind
Hitori tatazumu Please tell me why... (you're standing alone please tell me why)
But there's no easy answer
Etoile laughed at how easy the doors were to break through. She laughed that there was no security system. She even laughed at their fine predicament. But as soon as one guard showed up, she shot him down with a blue blast from her hands. And, at that too, she laughed.
"I don't see why that was so hilarious, you sour bitch, but okay, if it makes you happy." Kage muttered, bringing up the rear. Moonlight streamed in front the broken doors, lighting their path down the dark hall. Mirllyne was ready with small flames lit above her hands, as were Tie and Chang.
"So far, so good. Let's only hope that it keeps that way." Kage said audibly, walking to keep up as they continued into the darkness. Her staff glittered, too, as the darkness grew deeper. She didn't like this. People were watching.
"Get out here." Jet said. "COME OUT AND FIGHT US!"
Kage, Etoile, Mirllyne, Fear, Oblivion, Yami, Hikari, Dal (D.S.), Polaris, and Energy all prepared themselves. Arien came flying down and smiled.
"Nice to see that you finally showed up. They've been waiting for you. I would go get them all before Tsukasa and Albireo kill them." Arien suggested slyly to generation three. Sadie danced a little, then darted off without second thought. Ra followed, as well as Eleanor and Deak. Riko grunted, then sprinted to catch up.
"Any others?" Arien asked, then sighed. "Well, okay."
Enx looked in their direction and melted into the ground, only to be seen moments later running with the fading golden traces. Arien giggled. A cage of ice formed around them, and in an instant, the three with fire shot at it. This only made Arien laugh harder.
"Okay, the joke ended ages ago." Etoile said, finding one of Polaris's hands. She clasped it firmly in her own and nodded to the other angel.
"What's the point in trapping us? Aren't you more worried about them?" Mirllyne asked, now drawing Excalibur.
"Oh, no, not at all. The only reason was to lock them out. You see, we have a little surprise waiting for them." Arien said, an icy dagger forming in her hand. She aimed it for Joe. "Understand our reasons for doing this, but it's a necessary thing for our survival."
"You tricked them." Albert said. Arien formed another dagger and shot it toward him, but he shot it down before it could get within two yards of him. "They never had anything stolen from them…you just wanted them to get at us!"
"Aren't we the perceptive one." Arien said. The ice cage lowered in time for all the bullets they all shot to fly off into the darkness. "Oh, don't think that I'm letting you go. Think of it more as…letting them have access to you."
"We split up. Joe, Francoise, Kage, Mirllyne; Epsilon, Death, Albert, Jet, Lust; Tie, Tirzah, Kim, Lily, Greed; Chang, Geromio, Pride, Oblivion, Fear; GB, Alpha, Kronos, Fate, Pyunma, Sloth; wait…we left Death back with Ivan on the Dolphin…okay. So then Hades, Polaris, Yami, Envy, Wrath; Energy, me, ISV, OV, Gluttony, Dal; Greed, Zeus, Poseidon, Pandora, Hikari. Am I forgetting anyone?" Omega said. She checked around. "When they get back, they can divide themselves up. For now, go where you may, but no two groups go the same way."
Etoile stood alone, watching as the others ran off. What trouble would she be able to get into alone? What, with her sword? She smiled and performed a simple searching spell, and within two seconds, was charging off down a hallway toward Albireo. When a procession of soldiers, including Arien, passed through the perpendicular hallway, she was careful to fly above them. If she caused chaos now, there would be no fun.
Mika and Crystal: Genesis of next
Please tell me! Is this a test?
Hey baby, do you need some help?
You are alone... lonely planet
Sadie stopped and imploded the keypad, which despite what she thought, also imploded the door. Ra's fingers drifted without a second thought to Soul Eater. Magma played around Riko's hands as she stepped into the darkness.
"What's in there?" Enx asked, popping up out of the ground. Ra's mouth hung open in shock, as did Deak's. For there, in the darkness, there was absolutely nothing.
"We've been tricked." Sadie said breathlessly. From behind her, a form with pink hair and red wings drew, holding a dagger. Sadie whirled around, caught the dagger from Fiella, and pointed it.
"What is going on. Why have we been tricked." Sadie wasn't even asking. She was beyond demanding. Fiella shrugged and vanished, only to reappear in her full uniform of pink and red.
"That, you will have to find out for yourself." Fiella said. Her pink hair was tied up in pigtails, and the shirt she wore was a sleeveless red one with a pink heart with a black "X" through it. The skirt was pink and reached to her knees, cutting off there for tight red socks and Mary Jane pumps that were pink. A quill of arrows was strapped to her back, and the bow was in her hands, which were decked out in frilly pale pink lace gloves. Her red wings flapped and she flew above them.
"You can ask my sister about it, but I doubt that you'll even get a half-assed answer, even from her!" Fiella called, laughing. She shot an arrow and purposely missed, just to get the cyborgs to jump. She smiled.
"If you think you're scaring us, bitch, you're sadly mistaken." Ra said, getting into position with Soul Eater. "You're just a little girl with a pair of fake wings and a skirt. What are you against us?"
"I'm an angel." Fiella said, and pointed an arrow for Ra. However, when she shot it, it went flying straight back at her. Ra smirked and swung the blade to the angel, who instantly backed away.
"And I'm a cyborg with a legendary sword." Ra answered. "Let's count the differences, shall we?"
Sadie and Enx: genesis of next
you just get into
alone on this planet
lonely planet
It wasn't hard for Etoile to avoid all the swarms of soldiers and angels. A few she even knocked out, just for fun. Albireo's office was just ahead, she could feel it. She imploded the keypad and kicked the door down.
"If it isn't Etoile. So, they brought you back, too?" Albireo said, wearing robes identical to Tsukasa's, only with blood red robes beneath the black ones. "It seems like the past is repeating itself, with Prometheus and Pandora, you and me…"
"It's nice to see you too, Albireo. Now, what are you up to, since you never did like to be alone." Etoile responded. He smiled. Seeing this, Etoile deepened her frown. "You fucker! Who do you have hidden?"
Albireo was laughing. Etoile drew her sword, but then sheathed it and giggled. She could reverse the situation.
"I know that you've seen my clone of you. I'm sorry if they did a bad job of recreating you. But we didn't know that you were going to come back to life. I didn't know that I was either, if it makes you feel any better." Albireo said, pacing now. Etoile began to gather energy.
"My sister was the one who did it." He continued. "Her and that stupid angel, Zaffiel. Do you remember her, Etoile?"
"I only remember you and what you did to her!" Etoile screamed, clapping her hands and hitting the wall with them. The office began to collapse around them. "Well, Albireo, this is your show, so what are you going to do?"
Albireo jumped over his desk and grabbed the phone. "SEND HER IN, MANGO! AND TELL EVERYONE TO EVACUATE, NOW!"
(Get the hell out of here right NOW! I transmuted the building and it's falling apart! RUN!) Etoile also sent out her commands. Albireo ran out the door in the back of the office, and in trade, a dark figure walked out. Etoile's eyes opened, and this time, she drew her sword. This was almost worse than the clone of herself.
Mika and Sadie: Mata nozoita itsu mo no kagi ana (Peeking again through the usual keyhole)
Yami ni ussura jibun no kage dake (In the darkness is faintly just your own shadow)
Nokotta kizu boku wa iesezu (My injury that remained without healing)
Soko wa lonely planet (You're over there lonely planet)
No sooner had Kage heard what Etoile said was she flying up and out of the massive building with Joe hanging from one of her hands. Mirllyne was right next to her with Francoise. It wasn't easy to dodge the falling rock, but somehow, they managed to get out alive.
"Well, that didn't take too long." Mirllyne said, landing. "We hardly even got down that damn hallway. Why was Etoile screaming like that?"
"I forgot her!" Omega screamed, obviously angry at herself for this. "Damn bitch! I bet she just went to kill Albireo!" She froze. "What if…"
Dal looked around frantically. "They should all be fine. They have some abilities, don't they?" She looked frantic.
Out of the remaining building burst Kronos and Fate, with GB, Pyunma, Sloth and Alpha in tow. She and Omega ran to one another and clasped hands. A spectacular green light wrapped around them, and then the building completely fell to pieces. Hundreds were now left in the night of Heaven.
"Well, we have nothing left. Nowhere to run." Kummi said. She stepped out of the rubble and faced the ones that had gathered together. "You've been scattered, as have we."
Indigo flames flew from her hands, and she took flight. Mirllyne unleashed her own flames as she began to run clear across where the building used to be. From behind a particularly large slab of rock, Polaris flew, and aimed something out of both hands. Dal danced eagerly from foot to foot.
(They have…you won't believe me.) Etoile said. As she did, Kage whipped out her halberd and fended off one of the many soldiers that had fled the base.
(Try me.) Kage ordered, continuing the fight.
There was silence in all their minds as all of them fought someone. There was a large BANG from afar, and then a loud shout of "SHIT!". A figure wearing blue jumped out of the wreckage, and gold flew behind them as rockets burst from its feet.
"ALL CLEAR!" It was Sadie, and she screamed down into the destroyed building. From the area under her, a huge swell of magma burst forth, turning all of it into a pile of ash, and the rest of the cyborgs that had run off emerged. Riko stepped out, magma dancing around her slim hands.
(IT'S A MECHANICAL DEATH!) Etoile screamed mentally, terror in her voice. Kage hit the soldier and flunky angel she was fighting, then flew up to find where Etoile was fighting. As she did, the mechanical version of Etoile approached the groups on the ground. Kage flew rapidly off, scared to leave Joe, but knowing Etoile needed help.
(I'll be back, I promise…but having a clone of Death…is, well, deadly.) Kage said as she flew. She could see Polaris and Mirllyne's shadows as they fended off Kummi, and several more shadows of various angels.
"Nice to see you're alone." Enala smirked, pleased to find Kage this way. Kage whirled around to find the other angel, flying at her height, sword in hands. Enala lunged for Kage in mid-air, but Kage flew even faster than before, hands already pressed to transmute her halberd.
Crystal and Enx: Mitsume au shunkan toki ga tomatta (The moment we stare at each other time stopped)
Jyareau kotoba subete ano mama (Words we played on together all just as they are)
Toki no itazura daki ai nagara (Gimmick of time while we were holding each other)
Tobira wo shimezu tobi dashita... (Without closing the door we started to fly...)
"DAL!" Ra shouted, throwing off a soldier. Dal turned to face her, panic already setting in. She'd just got done fighting off two angels and a few more soldiers. She cast out a hand to freeze the soldier Ra was fighting, which the latter proceeded to beat. Once Ra was done, she sprinted over.
"Is it just me, or…" Ra paused to take a breath. "Or are they multiplying for every one we knock out?"
"You're right." Dal replied. "Watch out, here they come!"
Four angels flew down to attack them. Ra held up Soul Eater to two of the oncoming angels and shouted with all she could "LUNAR BLADE!"
Tsukasa watched from high above, riding on a cloud with Zaffiel and Albireo. They weren't going to enter the battle until the opposing force was completely worn out, and then, they were going to strike the temple. With the false Etoile and Death, this time was sure to come fairly soon. Zaffiel looked at Tsukasa.
"They're not doing all that bad. I'm surprised, that I am." Zaffiel said, crossing her knees. "Where are the two of them that we need?"
"Over there. Etoile found them." Albireo pointed, and both Zaffiel and Tsukasa's eyes followed. There was Joe, fending her off as best he could. Albireo smiled at it. Joe was obviously loosing and Etoile was not tired at all. She was throwing blue blasts at him faster than he could dodge, and it was beginning to show, even from their distance.
"You see, dear sister, without me, who would you have had to orchestrate this?" Albireo said, smirking in a very smug manner. Tsukasa rolled her eyes.
"If I weren't around, who would have resurrected your ugly ass?" She asked. "Look, Enala found Kage."
It was easy to see the wildly green blasts exploding in the west. Every once in a while, there was a flash of silver or brown, which had to be their hair flying around them. From the distance, there were no specific sounds, but it was obvious that they were screaming at one another.
"Aw, how cute. They work so well together." Albireo commented. "We have to destroy the temple before they can get to it, or else we're fucked any way we look at it. Think about it: if they're able to kiss before we get there, we'll end up just being their prisoners for the rest of eternity."
Tsukasa let out a sigh, leaning into Zaffiel. She hated to admit it, but Albireo was right for a change. Zaffiel gently laid her arms around the girl, ignoring the look they got from Albireo. If he intended to spend the remainder of time with them, he had better get used to this soon. Tsukasa continued to observe the fight they'd been hoping for since they'd met Marco and Pierre.
"That doesn't look good, that it doesn't." Zaffiel commented, tracing the star-shaped scar over the petite girl's eye. "How long have you had it?"
"Not long…not long at all." Tsukasa replied, tracing it now for herself. Zaffiel frowned.
"Did he do it to you?" She demanded.
"No, I did it to myself. Listen, Zaffiel…before Nirine was killed…she told me…" Tsukasa began, sitting up, but then something happened.
"You die right here, right now." Oblivion said, holding a crossbow to them. Her gray wings beat and she kicked Albireo so he fell off the cloud. "You two are next". With that, she loaded an arrow.
"Hold on tight." Zaffiel said, grabbing Tsukasa tightly in her arms. In one powerful motion, she leapt free of the cloud and began to fly like all hell.
Sadie and Enx: I can't get you out of my mind...((repeat eight times)) I CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND!
"So, you never thought you'd die like this, right?" Enala said, pressing Kage's halberd into its owner's neck. Kage continued to breathe evenly, afraid to make any movements in case the angel decided to call the earth to her needs.
"You're right, I thought I was going to die when I gave birth to my son." Kage replied, blindly drawing a transmutation circle from the blood that was dripping down her arm. Enala smirked at this and applied more pressure so blood began to ooze from the other angel's neck.
"But, you know, I really should be going. Etoile needs me." Kage said, clapping her hands together and laying one on the circle. In an instant, the ground surged up to send Enala flying backwards. Kage laughed, caught her staff as it fell, and charged off to find Etoile.
Etoile, at the moment, was still fighting the mechanical Death. The robot showed no signs of slowing her attacks down, whereas the real angel was beginning to have trouble moving. She wanted Kage – no, she needed Kage – to heal the bones she was sure had been broken. When the building had collapsed, she'd transmuted a shield, but it had been incomplete, so her right arm had all but been crushed.
"You know, for the angel that was supposed to be the strongest of them all, you are quite pathetic." Mecha-Death said. Her pink eyes flashed.
"Don't move, or I'll kill you." A voice said from behind her. Its owner was none other than Albert. Etoile just about heaved a sigh of relief and tackled him with a hug, but remembered the circumstances and restrained herself.
"And what can you do? You are no better than I am – made of steel, made to kill." Mecha-Death asked, still facing Etoile. Albert was caught by her question – it was one he'd asked himself several times.
"No, you've got it all wrong." He said, smiling now, recalling the conclusion he always came to. "I'm still part human, and no one can ever make me otherwise."
With that, both he and Etoile shot the robot at the exact same time. She fell to the ground in a heap of sparking metal, eyes wide open and mouth in a tight smile.
"I owe you one, big time." Etoile said, letting out a huge sigh. "She probably would have killed me if that went on much longer."
"Don't mention it." Albert said. "You look awful. What exactly did she do to you?"
"There you are! I've been…oh my God…" Kage stopped short of them, gaping at the sight of the robot on the ground, the battered angel, and the cyborg wiping his gun hand down. "Are you…okay?"
"I think a few bones are broken, but it's nothing that you can't fix, right?" Etoile asked. "We took care of it…" She kicked the robot, "in case you were wondering."
((Anya changes the key))
Mika and Enx: Kagirareta sekai no naka (Inside the restricted world)
Anata wa ima nani shiteru no (What are you doing?)
Mitasarenai yokubou wo (Being a bit selfish,)
Chotto shita wagamama butsukete ( you relieve your unsatisfied desires)
Things were not going well.
Kronos and Fate were frantically trying to defend the fainted form of OV, who had been knocked out by Fiella. About five feet away from them, Joe, Francoise, and Mirllyne fought desperately against Kummi and Mecha-Etoile.
The sins had no choice but to sit by and watch, considering they only had power when people really began to sin. This hadn't happened yet, so they all watched intently, though they would be able to feel it when it happened.
Pandora, Poseidon, Hades, and Zeus all fought together to fend off Arien and Enala. And when Fiella came flying over to help the opposing side, things only got worse.
(Etaf! Please come help us!) Fate begged, close to tears. When Fiella had finally figured it was pointless to keep fighting with them, she flew off to aid her sister. Fate had sunk down to her knees, wondering what was to become of them.
"Are you feeling okay? I can take you back if you aren't." Kronos offered, kneeling to look into Fate's eyes. She was shaking, and tears rained down her cheeks.
"She's going into hysterics! Slap her to get her out of it!" Someone called from above, and looking up, Kronos saw that it was Polaris. He did as she instructed, and Fate curled up into him to continue crying.
"Is she okay?" Polaris asked, landing next to them.
"I don't know what happened…we were fighting with Fiella, and suddenly, she was a mess." Kronos answered, running a hand through his unruly hair. "Should I take her back to Death?"
"Wait until Etaf gets here. You know how strong their connection is, and she'll be able to tell you. As for me…would you like me to stay?" Polaris said. "Look – some of them are coming already."
Deak, Tirzah, Jet, and Riko came sprinting across the ruins, all aiming behind them to oncoming soldiers. Riko would occasionally shoot magma with the bullets, and at one point, Deak shot a missile from her arm.
"So, look who's here. Isn't it cute?" Arien said, spinning on her heel. "Enala! Fiella! It's pointless. Break up, find the other angels. Take them out, and come back for these idiots later."
No sooner had she said this than did the twins depart, both in their different ways. Arien lazily held a hand up so a wall of pink ice formed between herself and the oncoming bullets. Kummi came dancing over, throwing flames at Joe and Francoise.
"You will stop. And you will do it now." Fear said. Her eyes were a dangerous shade of red, and her face was set into a horrid grimace. "Run. Run far, to the west. You must get to the temple before Albireo and Tsukasa."
Joe and Francoise wasted absolutely no time with this, Joe grabbing her and entering acceleration mode. Mirllyne looked to Fear, who nodded in reply. She took off after them, and all the while, watched for Kage. But what she saw instead was Zaffiel carrying Tsukasa, and in heavy pursuit was Oblivion.
(Kage? Are you alive?) She called, desperate.
(Yes, I'm fine. How are they? How are you?) The reply was almost breathless, as if Kage was flying.
(We're heading for the temple. We need Etoile if we're going to be able to do anything, though…Can you meet us there?) Mirllyne asked, drawing Excalibur and launching herself into the skies.
(Absolutely.)
((Anya changes keys again))
Crystal and Sadie: Ikiteiru dake datte (You say you're just living...)
Totetsumonai kotona no ni ne (even though it's an unreasonable thing to say isn't
it?)
Koibito no aijyou toka yakimochi ni (Lovers' love and so forth with jealousy)
Toki wo torare namida nagashi (the moment is seized tears shedding)
Death sighed, staring out the windows of the Dolphin. Omega had been right: were she out there, everyone would have already died. She smoothed her skirt down and walked back to find something to drink, all the while, her wings littering feathers.
"DEATH!" It was Kronos, without a doubt. Death wheeled around in almost surprise, coming face to face with a shocked Kronos carrying a fainted Fate. Behind them came a hysteric Etaf, saying how sorry she was about everything.
"Is she alive?" Death asked, her voice rising. She danced out of nervousness, wringing her hands. She finally stretched one out to clasp Fate's and found it warm and quite alive.
"Can you keep her here? We're bringing OV too." Kronos asked. Without saying thanks, he left Death and Etaf standing there, Fate now resting in Death's arms.
Kronos ran head-first into Lily, who was making a run for the Dolphin. Terror was written plainly across her face, as was outright shock. He stepped aside and continued off to find where OV lay.
"Kronos!" Panthos shouted. It was a welcome sight to see the puppeteer uninjured, but what he held was not quite so good. He had Omega half leaning up against him, hair mangled and face bruised. On purple eye was surrounded by swollen flesh of the same color, and the other was closed.
"Is she…how bad?" Kronos asked.
"I'm alive." Omega said. "Find me my sister. And Somnis while you're at it, if it's not too much. I know Verita's already down."
Kronos nodded. "Where are you two going now?"
"Oh, you know, just to the end of the world. Akio and Rona are still there, and man, we could use them just about now, right?" Panthos answered, closing an eye and pointing off with his free arm to where it was. "We'll be back soon, don't worry, and Omega'll be just fine. Right, Omega?"
"THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL HER!" Omega suddenly screeched, startling the others out of their minds. She bolted upright and vanished, leaving them in silence.
Where she reappeared was with Zaffiel and Tsukasa, who were attempting to strangle Alpha. However bruised she was, Omega slammed her fist into Zaffiel's head and yanked her sister away before anything more could happen.
Both were crying as they held one another. Soft green light floated around them, as if trying to comfort the damage that had been done. Zaffiel wasn't really hurt by what Omega had done, but was rather pleased by what had happened.
"Zaffiel…" Tsukasa said, tugging on the angel's shirt. "I should tell you what Nirine said."
"Oh, no, you're not going to get to do that. I already know." ISV said, arriving just as the light died away around the sisters. "Y'see, she told me before Mirllyne killed her. So, Tsukasa, just keep it held back for a while longer. As for now…"
Alpha and Omega stood up, wiping their tears away, completely healed.
"I've got this. They're almost to the temple. Go catch them before anything happens." Tsukasa hissed, hands held in front of her. Zaffiel took off into the sky toward the temple, and Tsukasa unleashed wildly green light from both hands.
"Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" She demanded, robes billowing as the power in her hands built. Alpha had shielded herself the first time, but the second round, she didn't think she was going to get so lucky.
((Anya changes keys))
Crystal and Enx: 21st century hontou no ai (True love in the 21st century…)
Tonari no seki no otoko to (isn't it a case of)
Igami atteru baai jyanai (quarreling with the guy next to you?)
Samishi gatteru basho jyanai (Isn't it a case of getting lonely?)
"There it is!" Mirllyne shouted. Joe was running at a normal speed now, Francoise's hand held within his own.
The temple was very plain: a set of wrought iron gates, two stone pillars, and a sheltered area just up from that. Joe and Francoise smiled to one another and finished the distance there, with Mirllyne just ahead.
"Here it is. Kage should be arriving any second…" Mirllyne said, pausing in front of the gates and taking a deep breath. Through the night, there was a piercing scream that rose above all the other ruckus.
"LET HER GO, YOU BASTARD!" Etoile roared, clapping her hands and dropping to the ground. As her hands hit, a spear rose up, and she took aim somewhere above. Looking up, Mirllyne saw Albireo.
"You stupid angel! Why should I let her go? She's already served her purpose, and that purpose is about to die!" Albireo shouted back, kicking a squirming Kage away to the ground. Joe could see that one of her wings was snapped at a ninety-degree angle so she couldn't fly, and understood then what they were dealing with.
"Don't touch her." Etoile said. "She'll heal herself. Go after him."
Kage wasn't moving. Francoise rushed over to her, but Etoile shot a small blue blast toward her.
"I said, leave her alone!" She shouted, pulling the sword from her waist and holding it at the ready. "Mirllyne, not yet! It's too early, and they'll just make everything worse! Keep them out of trouble!"
"No, Etoile. At any cost, we have to do it, because we don't know what he's planning." Mirllyne replied evenly. Etoile glared at her.
"Fine – get Kage somewhere safe at the very least." She said. "You two: stay safe. You don't want this…"
Albireo struck her from behind. She whirled around and kicked him upside the jaw, loaded with magic for extra measure. Mirllyne ran over as they fought to where Kage lay and gently felt the damaged wing. Blood seeped out of it, staining the other feathers. Joe got closer, almost afraid now of both of them.
"Hush, say nothing." Mecha-Etoile grabbed Francoise from behind, covering her mouth with one hand and binding the cyborg's hands with the other. Francoise dared not scream, for fear of what the robot would do to her if she did. She struggled, but to no avail, causing the fake Etoile to be amused.
"The gang's all here." Kummi remarked, tossing a flame between her hands. Mirllyne's head snapped up so quick that her neck hurt. "Oh, how sad, the big scary angel got hurt by Albireo! Ha! Some violent bitch she is!"
"Shut up, Kummi." Mirllyne snarled, flames flickering to life on her palms. "Run far. I don't care; I'll get you two back together. You don't want her to touch you."
For the second time that night, Joe took off running far away.
Mika and Sadie: 21st century hontou no ai (21st century true love)
Furite kuru hikari wo miyou (Should I watch the light fall down?)
Nan ka ime-ji wo tsukamou (Should I grasp some image?)
Nan ka fure-zu wo sagasou (Should I look for some phrase?)
Dal collapsed, completely exhausted from fighting off all the lower-ranking angels and soldiers. Ra was in the same state, and neither of them really felt like doing anything but taking a long, long nap.
"D.S.!" Joe shouted. Dal looked up to see him running amid all the fallen soldiers. He had blood trickling down one of his arms.
"Where's Francoise?" Dal asked as soon as he was close enough. Everyone else had long since abandoned this place, so it was safe to speak openly.
"I don't know…one second we were at the temple, Albireo showed up…and then Mirllyne told me to run. She's going to send Francoise as soon as she can." Joe explained, taking a deep breath. Dal looked nervously over her shoulder. What she saw would have shocked her, but this was a battle, and nothing was really surprising any more.
"Miss us? Did you even notice we were gone?" Panthos said, walking out of the air, extending his hand. Next to him, head bowed, was the indisputable form of Rona, one of the guardians of the end of the world. Joe recognized her in an instant.
"I never imagined us meeting again under these circumstances, but it's a pleasure to see you again, Joe." Rona said, brown eyes just as alive as the last time they'd met. She rearranged her green skirts and placed a brown strand of hair back behind her golden headband, then looked out to where they stood.
"Tsukasa's been here. Speaking of the devil…" Rona said, gazing up. A white light came tumbling out of the sky, and as it hit the ground in a white blaze, it appeared to be Polaris.
"Whoa, what exactly is going on? These two show up, and it's 'oh, Akio, want to help us?', and now…" Akio muttered, white tuxedo stepping out of the air, the same as Joe had seen him last. "Look, it's Joe. Rumor has it that you're the new Prometheus."
Joe turned his head slightly, then remembered. "Yeah…that's what everyone seems to be saying."
"Fantastic! We have our work cut out for us, Rona!" Akio said, patting Joe on the head. "Now, where's the lady?"
"This one?" Mecha-Etoile asked, stepping out of the shadows. Akio did a double-take on the situation. Mecha-Etoile held Francoise's hands behind her back and a short dagger to her neck.
"That's never the real Etoile, right? She wouldn't do that, partly because she's been dead for a good long while now. Unless…" Akio wondered aloud, trying to figure it out.
"Let her go, you fake." Rona said calmly. "Francoise, hold perfectly still."
Rona turned her scythe around to the silver blade and raised it over her shoulder. "Your creator was a fool, you couldn't be more different from Etoile if you tried. Prepare to die." With that, she charged toward the robot and swung her scythe around to cleanly remove the fake wings.
"Your point?" The robot asked, smirking. Rona just grinned in return.
"This is!" Akio shouted, severing her left arm clean off her. Francoise stumbled away in shock.
"NOW IT'S TIME TO DIE!" Etoile cried from far above, falling right toward her mechanical copy. She drew her sword and smiled a haunted smile.
There was a gigantic pillar of electrical blue light that shot up, and then nothingness. Etoile stood over the robot's ruins, laughing. She clapped her hands and laid them down, and when she raised them again, she held a new sword.
"Oh, and when she finally comes, she doesn't say 'hi, Akio, nice to see you. By the way, thanks for helping…'" Akio said.
"All that to you as well as a nice big fuck you for not coming sooner." Etoile replied. "But thanks for showing up when you did, or else we'd never be able to do anything. And why the hell didn't you help poor Polaris?"
"I'm fine, really…just shaken…" Said angel said, sitting up. "Dal's been here, so it's not their fault."
"No, it's probably not. Anyhow, now that you're back together, stay that way. I don't give a fuck about what anyone else says, we can't afford to have you separated. I know Kage healed herself, so that's good. Now then, we need to find Tsukasa. Hopefully, someone already did."
((Star Kitten dials in and key changes))
Crystal and Enx: Sagasanakute iikarane dakara (If you don't look for it, it's fine, alright?)
Watashi no koreppocchi no yume nante (Therefore, since my so-called "small dream" is just broken)
Kakera dake de iikarane soshite (fragments, it's fine, alright?)
Ai wo dare ka ni agete hoshiino (So, do you want me to give my love to someone?)
Zaffiel sighed and shifted her position on the cloud. She had been watching as their first attempt at making a robot was killed, and then remembered about the clone of Death they still had. She thought about that for a few moments, then closed her eyes and shook her head.
"You know, you'd get a lot farther if you just came down." Tsukasa said, suddenly appearing next to the angel. "Oh, Zaffiel, why does it have to end like this? Why does it always end in such…such…"
"Chaos?" Zaffiel suggested. "You are his daughter, you know."
"Yes, as I've been told all my life. And that I'm that rotten bastard's sister. The only child people loved was Gaia – and no one even remembers her any more." Tsukasa finished, seating herself on Zaffiel's lap and kissing her.
"No matter. The bastard just wants us to kiss at the temple before Prometheus and Pandora, correct?" Zaffiel asked. Tsukasa nodded. "Easier said that done, obviously. They're keeping them together at all costs, so it's not going to be easy to pry them apart."
"I'll be back. You should come down, you know." Tsukasa said, vanishing once more into the fray. Zaffiel released another sigh. Rose pink hair waved about in a breeze, a sign that her temper was rising.
Oh, what the hell. She thought, waving a hand and stirring up the gathering winds. With a smirk, she left the cloud and rode down into the growing battle.
"You're here," Tsukasa whispered. "There they are. Mirllyne and his mother are following them around like parents do. It would be cute, but considering it's them, it isn't cute. Anyway, who do you want?"
"Kage." Zaffiel said. No sooner was the word out of her mouth than was she charging at the other angel. Kage turned just in time to see the rose-haired angel holding a sword at her and seized Joe.
(Hold on as tight as you can!) Kage said, pressing Joe's head into her chest and flying up as fast as she could. Mirllyne was right next to her carrying a shocked Francoise.
"What was that about?" Mirllyne asked the older angel. Kage shook her head, caught between shock and puzzlement.
"I'm not entirely sure myself…Joe, are you okay? Is Francoise alright as well?" Kage said, flapping her wings to maintain her altitude. Francoise nodded, and Joe looked up to confirm he was fine. "We're going to have to get back down there sooner or later…come, Joe."
Like he had any choice in the matter to do otherwise. Kage flew down, coming face-to-face with a petite brunette.
Mika and Sadie: Nigete onegai moshi ima nani mo kamo kuzurete (Please run away! If everything crumbles now)
Sukui motomeru shigunaru de saemo (even if my distress signal)
Watashi no toiki saemo todokanakutemo (and my deep sigh won't be answered)
Ashita wo kesazu ni ikireru kana (Without skipping tomorrow, I think I can live)
Ikireru kana ikireru kana... (I think I can live I think I can live...)
Etoile had stopped to think, which made for a good change in their current situation. Out of utter nowhere, a pink-haired girl came sprinting, with another girl who had pale orange-blonde hair. Their faces had looks of horror written on them.
"You're ordinary humans! Where the hell did you come from?" Etoile demanded, seizing the two of them. The one with pink hair actually started to cry.
"P-p-please don't h-h-h-hurt-t-t-t us!" She stammered. "We worked for Albireo…but we had to run…"
Etoile let them down. "I don't know who you are…and I doubt you know who I am. Let's keep it that way, because what I'm going to do…well, I may not be coming back form it this time." She gave a dry laugh. Then she saw Kage, who was in the middle of fighting Tsukasa. "Be right back. Hold still."
Joe was standing off to the side, as instructed by Mirllyne to do. He sighed a bit, and then he heard something, something rather like wings beating. Sure enough, there was Etoile, but she had a new sword.
"I'm half expecting Destiny and Cielle to come, but they're long dead." Mirllyne commented, landing neatly next to Joe. "I want the two of you to try and get to the temple. It's east from here. And try not to let anyone see you, okay?"
Joe and Francoise smiled to one another. They knew exactly what to do – or at least, Joe did. They joined hands and Joe clicked the switch in his back tooth. Within seconds, they were running through heaven at mach two, ignoring everything else.
With them gone, Mirllyne turned back to face where Kage was fighting.
(There are humans up here! They know what's going on and how to fix it!) Etoile announced, looking straight across toward Mirllyne. (Do you want to keep them with you for a bit while I help Kage?)
Mirllyne thought for a moment. (Sure, why not. I'll even take them back to where the base used to be. Think that would help?)
"That'd be excellent." The pink-haired girl said, now standing next to Mirllyne. "I'm Lusia, and this is Mango." Mirllyne looked away from them to see Etoile wave happily, then ran right into the fray that had become Tsukasa and Kage.
"This way. Come on, we might have to have the cyborgs help us." Mirllyne urged, starting to run. Lusia skipped lightly after her, and Mango ran alongside her.
"There's only one problem with that…Marco gave me the specs on the newer cyborgs, so before the base was destroyed, I came up with a virus that infected only their systems. It'll wear out eventually…but until then, they're frozen right where they stand." Mango said. Mirllyne froze.
"You mean…we don't have any of the third generation?" She asked. Mango nodded solemnly. "We need to hurry. Is it reversible?"
"No, not until whatever's going on at the temple happens. And even then, I'm not sure what exactly will happen." Mango said. "Why?"
Mirllyne frowned. This was not good, not good at all.
Joe and Francoise dropped out of acceleration. They were breathless. They stood in front of the temple, just as before, but this time, the moon was much higher in the sky. Stars exploded to the sides. It would be perfect, were it not for the sound of explosions going off every few seconds.
(Oh my God, what the hell happened?) Fate nearly screamed, panic eating her voice. (None…none…none of them are moving!)
(It's a virus that was developed. The rest of you are safe, all but the third generation cyborgs. Just calm down. Joe and Francoise, I will be there as soon as humanly possible. Etoile…I don't know about her. In the mean time, amuse yourselves.) Mirllyne explained as calmly as she could.
"Why, hello there. What a pleasant surprise this is." Zaffiel said, grinning smugly. Both Joe and Francoise took up fighting stance.
"Ready when you are," Francoise whispered.
Crystal and Enx: Akai sora wo jiyuu ni tobu tori ga (The birds that fly freely in the red sky)
Hane wo yasume kimi no soba ni nemuru (sleep by your side resting their wings)
Yume no naka de kimi wo sagashi mitsuke (in my dreams, they search, finding you,)
Itoshii lonely planet (My dear lonely planet)
Polaris sighed and planted her sword in the ground. "Well, Dal, this is getting to be insane. We keep fighting them off and all they do is come back."
"There aren't any more of them. Should we see if we can find any of the other angels?" Dal asked her older sister. Polaris sighed again.
"We could try. It might take a bit of work, but we could certainly see what we could find. I know that Death is back with their ship and…you are here with me. The rest, I don't know. Where did Akio and Rona get to?"
"Right here." Rona answered. "Joe and Francoise ran into Zaffiel. Shall we go help them?"
Dal nodded. "Where?"
"The temple. Polaris, are you going to stay here? Epsilon and Omega needed something." Akio said. Polaris nodded, and Dal took off into the night.
"Look…I know this isn't easy for you. It isn't easy on any of us…Fear is going to overload if we don't do something soon. We need to get Kage and Etoile to stop fighting Tsukasa. Time is the most important thing right now, and not even Kronos can do anything to slow it down. He's tried. Epsilon and Omega do need help. They need to stop the fight." Rona said. Polaris blinked her mismatched eyes.
"Absolutely. Are…are the children of the shrines going to be here at all? I know it's night…but won't at least Selene or one of them come? This isn't like them." Polaris said. Akio scratched his head.
"They're supposed to show. I don't know when." He said. "Now, come on. We've got to stop them from killing one another. We do in fact need all three alive. Goodness knows what's going to come of all this."
"I hate being here and not being able to do anything!" Artemis shouted, rounding on Helios. "Polaris just asked where the hell we were! We're right here, but we can't go anywhere!"
"Because we need to wait, my darling sister. Do not worry, the time is coming soon. We've know that this is going to happen for centuries. You should be able to wait a few more minutes, or even a couple of hours. Besides, all of us have to be here, not just you." Luna explained, folding her hands in her lap.
"I feel bad for poor Fear," Eos said. "And for the sins. Nothing to do but sit and watch, lest they destroy Heaven and many of the suburbs. We have it easy next to them. At least we get to help."
Artemis took a deep breath and sat down impatiently. "It's just that…well, everything was destroyed because of those damn angels. They try and blame all the dark angels for this! It's an outrage! Then…I could kill the bastards myself, but…"
"We are not allowed to interfere until Prometheus and Pandora have sealed our fate." Artemis, Diana, Luna, Selene, Umbra, Eos, Apollo, and Helios said in unison.
And at the temple, Joe and Francoise faced Zaffiel, ready to settle destiny once and for all.
To be continued…