Chapter Twenty-Four: Calm Before The Storm

(A/N: Sorry if the chapters seem like it's going from short to long, long to short. So...forgive me. I don't own Xenosaga, but Shane belongs to me. ME!!)

The white A.G.W.S Simeon flew away to the outside of the station known as the Song of Nephilim. Inside, the white-haired U.R.T.V Albedo had his eyes closed, obviously thinking of something. A small grin came onto his face. He opened his blank eyes to see a bright light shaped like an oval with people inside of it. Then, a big round area appeared in the oval.

So this is the Y-Data...

I do not exist for your pleasure...

He saw the blue-haired android KOS-MOS appear in front of him with her face guard over her red eyes and her arms spread out in an protective motion. He chuckled dryly. You call this protection? He thought as KOS-MOS disappeared. His eyes widened to see both Shion and Shane naked and holding each other. The silver-haired girl's eyes opened to show her eyes were black.

Wha...?! You...!!

The white-haired man gasped, breaking out of his trance and chuckled to himself. He held his head and looked at the emptyness of space in front of him. He was back inside his machine. "He really didn't want anyone going in there… Oh, well…that just makes it all the more interesting!" He let out an insane laugh. ''Very interesting...''

Back in the Song of Nephilim, the group looked at the hooded man who had his arms folded across his chest. Shion stepped forward then narrowed her eyes questionly. "Who...are you?'' She asked. The hooded man shook his head at her. "Who? What does it matter? Or…do you need a name to describe me? A definition by words is merely a means to deceive oneself. It's meaningless before the truth,'' he said. "What matters is how you perceive things. The slightest shift, then life and death no longer have any meaning."

"Huh…?"

''Uh, you have to excuse Shion, sir. She's kinda slow about certain things...'' Shane said only to have a cold glare shot back at her by the said woman. "You don't get it?" Jr. got up slowly as he shook off the pain from the shock of the force field he had hit. "Well, how about I show you…" The hooded man looked over to see the red-head glaring at him.

"Get out of the way…"

"Hm?"

Jr. growled angrily then yelled, "I said, get outta my way!!" The man grinned from under his mask hidden from everyone's view. "Ah…you've got guts, boy. Why don't you make me move? Shouldn't be a problem for a U.R.T.V., now should it?"

"You're damn right!" Everyone watched the hooded man transform into an hideous monster named Ein Rugel. Shane stepped away from Ziggy and grabbed her sword. ''...Shane.'' She looked back at him. ''I'm fine,'' she told him. Even though...I know something's definitely wrong with me...I can't even hear Rukia's voice..

After Shion and the others defeated both Ein Rugel and Doppelwogel, a mist surrounded the area and then disappeared. The hooded man landed down in front of them, keeping his arms folded. "It's useless. The laws by which we are governed are just too different. Isn't that right, boss?" He said looking up at the ceiling. The group said nothing. "Well, then… I think our friend has already left. And it's about time for me to make my exit. I have a busy schedule to keep…"

"Wait! What are you trying to accomplish?! Why did you come here?"

"You wanna know? Then come to that time, to that place… You know what I mean…" He looked over at Shane who tensed up and narrowed her eyes. "Huh?" The hooded man chuckled as he began to vanish. "I'll be waiting for you, Shion,'' he said and disappeared. KOS-MOS looked around the area with her red irises. "The Song of Nephilim has ceased all functions. The Rhine Maiden is clearing away the remaining Gnosis,'' she told everyone.

"I see…" The brown-haired woman looked to Jr. "Jr., are you all right?"

The red-head nodded slowly and held his head. "Y-yeah,'' he said in a shaky voice. "…And you guys? Man…who was that? He has an aura of incredible power…"

"I don't know… I don't…understand any of this…" She looked over to Shane who had picked up her gun on the floor, checking to see if it was still loaded. She narrowed her eyes then turned her head away when the silver-haired girl looked in her direction. "Let's go back, Shion,'' chaos told her.

"Yeah…''

After returning to the Durandal via the Elsa, Shion, MOMO, and Shane appeared on the bridge after taking the elevator up. ''...Shane.'' The silver-haired girl looked to Shion then looked away. ''Shion, I have some stuff to explain to ya and--'' The woman placed her hand on her shoulder, shaking her head. ''That can all wait. When we get to Second Miltia, we can talk.'' Shane looked at her as she nodded some. ''Yeah...if I'm still 'here', that is.''

''Huh?''

''Ah, it's nothing!'' Shion looked at the girl then walked over to the rest of the group. Jr. was standing with MOMO who hand her hand in his. "Are you okay?" he asked her. She nodded slowly. "Yes… That man, he said he was searching for the key inside me… He…probably…" She began to shake then calmed down when the red-head placed his hand on the left side of her face. "It's all right. It's not your fault." She looked down, seeing the bracelet Jr. had given her. ''Oh, this charm! Maybe I have this to thank for my safe return,'' she told him, smiling some.

Shelley turned to look at the pink-haired Realian with a somber look on her face. "Main cannon ready to fire. Target: Song of Nephilim." chaos turned to her. "You sure about this?'' He asked.

MOMO looked to Shane who nodded slowly. "Yes… Please…for their sake."

"chaos, do you think this'll put the Kirschwassers to rest?" Jr. asked the white-haired boy. "Well… Their thoughts and feelings now exist within MOMO. Their wish…finally came true…" The red-head looked down at the floor, gripping his fists. "…I hope so. Maybe…that's…what Albedo wanted…"

"Jr.…" The silver-haired girl placed a hand on his head, looking to the side as he began to shake his head. "It's… It's because I couldn't…"

"Little Master!" Shelley said looking at her young superior. He looked up at her and nodded. "Yeah, go ahead." He looked up at Shane then turned red, slapping her hand off his head. Outside in space, the Kukai Foundation fired a bunch of lasers at the Song of Nephilim, its aim precise and perfect. Suddenly, the lasers reflected off of the station, making everyone inside the Durandal gasp in shock. "Wha?!"

"Wait! Something's wrong… It's…" The remaining gnosis were flying/swimming away but they were pulled into the Song of Nephilim. "…The Gnosis! The remaining Gnosis…they're being…?!" A beeping noise came from Shelley's console as Albedo's face came onto the communication monitor. He had a wide grin on his face, laughing maniacally. "I wanted to have more fun, so I came back for a visit."

"Albedo… I swear I'm gonna…!"

''I'll kick your perverted ass when I get my hands on you!'' Shane yelled. The white-haired psycho chuckled to himself. "Now now, cool your jets. Hold off on the emotional outburst until you see my entire performance…"

Chapter Twenty-Four: End

A/N: At the beginning of the chapter where Albedo looks at the Y-Data and sees KOS-MOS, Shion and Shane...just so you know, Shane is NOT GAY. Thank you and continue to read, please.