Chapter 14: Dark Veils

"Renton?" A quiet voice timidly called across the room. Renton lifted his head and quickly wiped his face. But when his hand reached up to wipe away any falling tears, his hand only touched dry skin. Frowning, he glanced down at his hand, and realized that no tears had ever fallen from his eyes.

"I'm sorry, nothings wrong." He turned around in Eureka's bed. The kids were staring from the door, their eyes revealed the little trust they had in his words. It didn't seem fair to him, he was trying with all his strength to be strong. But with what had happened, he wasn't sure he'd be able to keep up with anything anymore.

"Did you see mama?" Maurice asked from behind Maeter. Renton smiled against the weight of his cheeks.

"No…yes" He finally gave up in the fight. The kids just stood there, staring at him. "I'm not sure when Eureka will be coming back. I've tried to be strong Maurice… Maeter… And Linck." The urge to cry built inside his chest, but no tears would purge from his eyes.

"You mean mama's not coming back?" Linck started and his voice began crack. Renton stood up and immediately shook his head. He ran forward and took Linck in his arms.

"No, I'll bring her back Linck. I promise, that no matter what happens, I'll bring her back." Linck nodded, and took the comfort in his embrace. Maurice and Maeter ran forward as well, and Renton took them into his arms. They shared each other's strength, just as a family should. Renton actually felt a smile pressing at the tips of his lips, never having felt so close to the children before.

"Renton!" A voice broke through the calm that had just settled in the room. The kids broke away and Renton shifted his gaze to see Irik breathing heavily at the door.

"What is it Irik, what's wrong?" Irik quickly shook his head, trying with everything he had to gain back his breath.

"The Izumo is here, they were lucky to not be that far away from the city. But that's not why I'm here, I'm here because of Anemone." He coughed a few times, speaking to quickly for his throat to keep up. Renton's frown creased tighter, and then stood up.

"Anemone, what do you mean?" He asked with utter confusion to how Anemone got into the subject, or why Irik was even here.

"Listen Renton, the Xellien has been spotted outside." Irik paused when he noticed a shocked expression succumb to Renton's face. "Holland didn't tell you, for reasons I'm sure you can assume. But there is something you should know, and that is that Anemone is waiting outside for you right now. The Izumo is waiting not to far away, preparing to make a clearing for the Gekko-Go. Anemone was sent out, and even though Commander Jurgens doesn't know of it, or even Holland. Kon, Klera, Dominic and I have a plan to get the Xellien. It deals with the new prototype, a new one that can't be piloted without two occupants. One is required to fly and direct the LFO itself, while that other manages detection and battle systems." Irik finished, his quick breath was finally slowing down. And it seemed as if the sweat on his head was finally drying. Renton wasn't sure how to react. Too many thoughts were bouncing around in his head. His eyes were wide, staring right back into Irik's own eyes. But they were lost in the idea. Irik didn't break eye contact, he understood that Renton was confused and unsure. So he stood ready for the answer, what ever it may be. After a few more moments of complete silence, Renton took a deep breath and nodded.

"Alright, but let me do something." He turned around and knelt down next to the kids. "Linck., Maeter… and Maurice." His words were firm and confident, yet there was a small hint of concentration. "I know that Eureka has been gone a long time… and I know that you guys know why. I wish it had never happened, and that me, you, and your mother could have just gone on living." He paused and looked at the ceiling, as if searching for the running solutions.

"Renton… we know that you'll come back." Maurice said with a natural tone. Renton sifted his gaze back into Maurice's eyes. The two stared at each other, and then Renton switched his gaze between the other two. All three were smiling with understanding, something he needed at the exact moment.

"You three are incredible." He whispered and took all of them in his arms. "You are such a strength." He pulled away and stood up. "Stay strong for me." He spoke softly, only loud enough for them to hear. After one final glance, he stepped out the door and into the hall with Irik.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Irik asked, and almost laughed at the idiotic question.

"Yes." Renton replied in all seriousness.

"Good, then follow me." The amusement disappeared and the two started down the hall. Irik led Renton through several twists and turns. His first thought was the Hanger, but then again, that did seem a little obvious. Instead of the hanger, Irik led him to a room that he was too familiar with.

"Why are we here?" Renton asked, and glanced around the cramped space. It was the same room where he had run from the Gekko-Go, where he thought that he would never see Eureka again.

"Because Anemone is waiting just outside." Irik responded while resting his hand on the latch lever, he motioned his hand at the hatch door.

"Shouldn't I grab a parachute or something, encase she misses?" Renton questioned, looking at Irik's hand uncomfortably.

"She'll catch you." He simply replied and pulled the lever. Renton fell through and light instantly surrounded his eyes. His hands reached up and shielded his eyes from the overloading colors. An energy was quickly building in his lungs, and it slowly felt its way to his throat. The urge to scream was about to break through, until he suddenly felt hard ground slam against his legs. A shift of momentum shot through his body, and he fell backwards into a comfortable seat.

"Gah!" He muttered as the light dimmed all around him. He opened his eyes to see that he was now inside of a very white cockpit.

"Hey Renton, how are you?" Anemone's cheery voice came over some speaker that Renton couldn't find.

"Anemone? You were literally waiting just outside?" Renton said while he rubbed his tender legs that were still ringing from the sudden landing.

"Well I kinda would have to of been. Otherwise you wouldn't be landing at this height." She laughed on the other side and Renton rubbed his head as a head ach formed.

"Where are you?" He asked and observed his cockpit carefully. There were two panels on either side of him, both being lined with mini screens and several buttons. In front of him was the usual steering wheel, and the accompanied controls behind it. Though one thing that was strange, was a large helmet sitting on the control panel. He reached out and took it, carefully looking over it with great detail.

"This isn't like the Xellien, the cockpits are separate… And it's lonely over here." She whimpered in a small voice.

"What's with the helmet… and where is the control to clear the view screen?" Renton asked as he suddenly noticed the cockpit had no view out.

"That Helmet is your view screen. This way the cockpit door can be sealed shut with a tighter metal that won't be breeched so easily. But don't worry, slide on the helmet and hit the button just bellow the left jaw area." Her voice was as energetic as always, but for Renton it was nice change of mood. He brushed his hand across the side of the helmet, and found a small panel button. Before he pressed it down, he lifted it to his head and slipped it on. The helmet's inside was lined with several soft padding, as to manage a tight and comfortable fit. All light was sealed off, only leaving darkness in its place. Carefully he traced along the helmet again and pressed the button. The whole view screen suddenly blinked to life. The cockpit faded into view, but the cockpit door suddenly faded out. Then the controls started to fade slightly, being replaced with several glowing green wiry lines. It suddenly felt as if he were floating in air. Everything around him became faded, and he could see the Gekko-Go flying just above them.

"Hey Renton!" Anemone's voice came from the side. He turned his head to see that a thick wall no longer blocked his site from Anemone.

"Incredible." Renton gasped in complete awe "I've never seen such a technology before." He continued to glance around the cockpit. Occasionally soft red lines would point at a button and display a description box just off to the side.

"I know, I was pretty impressed myself." Anemone admitted and she nodded a few times. Renton took one more glance around, and stopped when his eyes fell on an incoming ship from the far off horizon. His interests of everything disappeared, and he remembered the whole point of him being here.

"Has she been spotted yet?" Renton asked in a darkly soft voice. Anemone frowned and glanced over at him. The helmet didn't project an image pass his head, but she had a good idea of what he was thinking.

"We're hiding until she comes into sight." She responded in a now less energetic voic. Gently she looked away, finding it uncomfortable to look at him.

"Anemone?" Renton started as if he were about to ask a question, but seemed to have stopped himself.

"What is it Renton?" Anemone asked carefully and firmly. She wasn't going to let him lock it up inside.

"Well, have you ever felt a connection with Dominic?" The question wisped from his lips. Anemone frowned and tilted her head, considering the question.

"I've loved Dominic, and I've always felt that with him nothing can go wrong."

"No… I mean, an actual connection between the both of you. Like, even when you're apart, you can almost feel each others thoughts." Renton turned his head to look at her. Anemone looked up in surprise, but understood what he meant.

"A few times before, only scarcely, but I think it was just random thoughts bouncing around in my head… which isn't too uncommon." She smiled as if about to laugh, but it faded due to the situation.

"I see… Because, Eureka and I have had a special connection with each other, or at least I think we do. About a month ago, she and I had a dream together. Although the dream was uncomfortable, I was still able to feel her. We were connected, and I could literally feel our thoughts coming together. It was because of that feeling that I think we were saved from the strange dream. Of course, now we know that the dream was due to the inverse drive." He stopped and paused for a second. "The reason I bring it up, is because over this last month, I've had dreams of her. At first I thought they were happening because I missed her, and some of them were. But there were a few that felt so real, as if I could reach out and touch her. In those dreams we were both apart from each other, and we couldn't even hold hands. But even with that great distance, I knew it was her." He stopped, leaving a strange silence in his place. Anemone was looking directly at him, not even breaking her gaze. "Back before the second summer of love… There were times where we connected with out even seeing each other." Renton stopped as his voice trailed off into his own thoughts.

"Renton…" Was all she could think of, but she knew she couldn't stop "I've seen how you two look at each other, how you two just hold each other. I love being around you and Eureka, it brings me an energy that I had almost lost…" She paused for a moment

"You two have something incredibly special Renton, something strong and unbreakable. When the two of you are together, you bring about an aura of pure love and care. I get that same feeling with Dominic." Her voice trailed softly and silence settled in the comm.. Anemone opened her mouth to say something, but something shook the prototype with a loud band.

"Attack from behind, the computers are flipping out from the massive jolt. It'll take a second for them to heat back up to battle." Renton yelled as all the computer screens flashed around them, and dark spots faded in and out as the computer attempted to project the images in the helmet.

"I got a lock on the unit… it's the Xellien!" Anemone confirmed in a steady voice. Renton nodded and gripped his controls. The computer had finally caught up with the sudden action.

"We have to disable it." Renton whispered to himself.

---

"Incoming unit from the back!" Gidjet yelled for everyone to hear.

"S.U.?" Holland asked, only glancing over at her station for a brief second. Gidjet squinted at the controls, and the flinched back in surprise.

"No… It's the Xellien, and it's passing right under us." She paused for a moment "A new unit is finally being picked up on our radar. The computer doesn't recognize the design." Gidjet said in her confusion.

"Woz?" Holland said the name, knowing that it would be enough. Woz glanced at the computer screen. His hands were quickly moving across the controls.

"It's not a design I've seen before… and it doesn't follow any conventional systems. All I know is that the Xellien wants it." Woz spoke in a stressed voice.

"Lets get something on it, make contact with their communications." Holland looked directly at Gidjet before turning his attention back to the view screen. Already he could see swarms of KLFs falling from the U.F. ships. But just as they did so, the Izumo twisted out from the clouds, and launched its own onslaught of units. The battle was about to begin… he only hoped Renton was safe in his room.

---

"Make contact with the Gekko-Go." Jurgens commanded from his chair. The communications officer nodded at his station and began working at the controls.

"We're picking up a total of fifty KLFs from the enemy… and five S.U.s." A women announced from the front of the command room. She paused for a second, looking over the controls with partial confusion. "They aren't influencing any attack on us or our KLFs… They seem to be following the new prototype and Xellien. What's odd is that they wont engage them." The women's voice revealed her obliviousness to the situation. Jurgens leaned back and pondered all that was happening.

"One of two things… They want the new prototype, or some one is there that they want… But it can't be Renton." He gazed out the view port, searching for the hidden reason of odd actions. A frown started to submerge his face.

"Secured connection established." The communications officer announced. Jurgens nodded in gratitude and took hold of the comm. microphone.

"Gekko-Go, this is the Izumo, we are picking up several U.F. ships. With the way things are turning in the tides, we're about to be hit with a pretty big wave. Get over here as fast as you can. We'll try to cover you as long as possible." He paused and waited for a reply.

"Hey Yurgus, just another lovely day in the swarms of battle, eh?" Holland replied through the comm., his sarcastically cheery. Jurgens sighed and gingerly shook his head.

"You have Renton right? The U.F. has no reason to stop when they know they have the advantage to the situation." Holland sighed at what Jurgens had said. A seriousness of the situation was setting down in all of the cracks.

"I know Jurgens… Yes, he's onbor-" Holland strangely stopped in line of speech. There came no reply for a long time.

"Holland?" Jurgens frowned down at the speaker, wondering what could have caused the sudden stop of conversation.

"Please no…" Holland whispered back in a voice of pure hope and weakness. "Matthieu, check on Irik and confine him to his room, and Stoner, check on Renton!" Hollands voice exploded from the speakers.

"Holland, what is it?"

"Sorry Jurgens, we have a problem, although I'm begging that we're wrong." Jurgens frown creased tighter at the weakness in Holland's voice.

"Why?" Jurgens asked in dark curiosity.

"Because if I'm right… then we've lost this pointless war."

---

"Renton." A voice broke through the speakers, one that made Renton's entire body flinch. It was hers, and Renton had no doubt.

"Eureka, what are you doing?" Renton asked in all of the confusion. The prototype was quickly speeding along the ground. Dirt and wind swirled behind it as its giant mass flew pass. The Xellien was quickly following behind and avoiding the line of debris. But five ominous figures surrounded them, not even attempting to disturb the battle between the two. Each one was silent, and even though their outer appearance was pure and white. The obvious darkness beneath their hard shells was bulging with sinister control. They were known as the S.U.s, perfect examples that spell out the evil behind the U.F.s design.

"I'm here to take you Renton. I know you don't understand, so I don't mind your resisting." She spoke in a cool soft voice. The very essence of the tone calmed his tense muscles. The grip on reality was slipping, and he knew it. But he wasn't sure he wanted to resist… as long as he could be with her… He shook his head massively.

"No… no…" He kept repeating to himself. Something was affecting his mind. His first thought was the inverse drive, but he knew the bigger reason was Eureka.

"Renton, please come bac-"

"EUREKA!" Anemone's voice broke the distance between them. "What is wrong with you?" She yelled as the Xellien crashed into the Prototype. Eureka didn't respond, it seemed as if she didn't have an answer. The two LFOs clashed with each other. The S.U.s hovered darkly and waited until the moment was appropriate.

"Eureka, Renton has been in pain, cant you tell? Haven't you noticed that those feelings and emotions aren't yours? Those are artificial emotions to confuse you. I'm sitting next to Renton right now, and even though I cant see his face…" She stopped when her voice started to crackle. Renton tilted his head up, surprised to see a wet streak running down her neck.

"A tear." He whispered, and looked around the cockpit. A realization was starting to breach his thoughts, a new idea with new paths to take. His eyes searched around the cockpit, as if everything he glanced at had a new meaning behind it. "Eureka… I'll get you back. I'll save you from the chains that are holding you down." Renton clenched his teeth and clenched the controls. Anemone tilted her head up in utter shock. The willingness to fight was now flowing through Renton's movement. He turned his head towards Anemone. "I know what I should do." The words flowed from his mouth, holding the very armor of courage and confidence. Anemone felt the energy starting to pour into her own confidence. Renton was now living again, and he was ready to save the one he loved.

"I'll help you Renton, we'll get her back." The two clutched the controls with a new strength. The Prototype twisted around and four rocket burst to life. Beams of blazing fire pushed the Prototype forward, right into the Xellien. The two struggled with each other. One of the S.U.s turned down, seeing that the battle was starting to waver. The S.U. dipped down and took immediate action.

"Incoming S.U." Renton firmly ran his voice into the comm..

"Understood." Anemone responded in the same tone. The two were now in sink with the same object in mind. Eureka was trapped, and it was there mission to save her. The Prototype picked up its legs and kicked off the Xellien. It flipped into the air and latched onto the incoming S.U.. The Prototype lifted its arm and three blades shot out from the wrist. The arm fell down and shoved the curved blades right into the S.U.s cockpit.

"Down." Renton muttered as he pulled on the controls and the arm followed the lead. Anemone twisted her own wheel and the Prototype let go and turned back towards the Xellien. The Xellien was standing back down at the ground in peculiar patience. Renton's hand twitched as he gazed down at the tall LFO.

"Are you alright Renton?" Anemone asked, some how must have noticed his strange twitch.

"Yeah…" He replied and motioned her to continue down.

---

"Holland, Renton is not in his room." Stoner said through the ship's internal comm.. "The kids say he left with Irik, and that he was going to save Eureka."

" Dang it NO!" Holland yelled with a curdling anger. He raised his fist and slammed it down on the arm rest. Every one twisted their heads towards him in surprise.

"Holland?" Ken-Goh asked in a odd tone.

"The Xellien is concentrating on that LFO… That must be where Renton is." Holland stood up and quickly rushed over to Gidjet. He rudely reached down and pressed a few buttons. "Matthieu, lock Irik in a cell if you find him. Stoner, I also want you to start searching for Irik. If either of you find him, I want to report to the other, and then me." He quickly reached down again and pressed a few more buttons. "Jurgens, we have a problem. I think Renton is in that LFO down there. I don't know how he got in… but I'm sure of it." Holland locked his eyes on the speakers and waited impatiently.

---

Jurgens raised his head at Holland strange comment.

"I think I know why." He shook is his head in disbelief "Vice captain, get Dominic. I some how have a feeling he'll understand the situation a little better then we do." The vice captain nodded oddly and followed her order. "Sorry for not informing you Holland. That LFO is a new prototype design. It can only be used in battle while two people are piloting. Where else would she get a spare pilot…" Jurgens rested his face in his hands "What was I thinking." He muttered.

"What do you mean Jurgens?" Holland inquired through his impatience. Jurgens raised his head.

"They're out there for Eureka." Jurgens let out a single laugh "I'm such an idiot. What could I have been thinking. Of course Anemone would do this. She would want to help Renton, at least with the way she is now… for what she has become."

---

"I have the truth Renton, just let me show you." Eureka's cool voice sifted through the comm..

"Eureka, please stop this." He begged back into the microphone. "Don't let the kids suffer any longer." Renton waited for an answer. He could only imagine how she would react to what he had said. But as time went along, no answer would come. With all the energy and understanding he had gained, it started to drain again. Saving Eureka was his knew hope, but it was drowned down as he realized there was nothing to support it. Every hit against the Xellien left a painful feeling in his chest. The battle was turning on his self, and he felt as if they were loosing.

The Xellien pounded against them with chaotic fury. It lifted a leg and shoved its knee right into the Prototypes stomach. Once again the computer began to flicker from the massive impact.

"Everything must be a little loose. The computer systems are reacting to easily to the impacts." Anemone spoke into the comm. as the Xellien landed another kick at them. The Prototype fell backwards through the air.

"We were winning… what could have happened." Renton glanced up at Xellien, which seemed as if it were falling away from them. But the truth was, they were falling away from it.

"Controls are stable again, hold on Renton." Anemone stressed her voice as the Prototype gripped its board and stable itself. The abrupt stop of movement pushed their bodies deep into the seats. The Xellien slammed against them and wrapped its legs around the Prototypes arms. Gently each reached across and gripped a hold on the right cockpit. The jolt caused Renton to shake around in his seat. He could hear Renton scream as everything started to fall away.

"Just a little late, but hey, we're not all perfect." A voice chuckled through the comm.. Renton looked up in shot, and just over the Xellien's shoulder, he could see the Konner's old prototype flying towards them. An energy started to build in Renton's body, a new hope that wasn't built on false truths.

"Kon!" Anemone yelled in excitement.

"As always." He responded in a cheery voice. As Renton watched, he could see two S.U.s charging towards Kon.

"Konner!" Renton quickly yelled into the comm..

"I got am, just watch." His voice was slightly smirkish, and Renton watched in horror as the S.U.s charged at the Kon. Just as they were about to rush into him, Kon twisted his LFO to the right and lifted his board with his feet. He then twisted in the air and shoved the board right into the S.U.s head. It knocked the enemy backwards, momentarily setting it off balance. Kon then swerved down and charged at the Xellien.

"Then we still have a chance." Renton sighed as a wave of relief washed over his body. He shifted his vision back up to Konner, and then gripped the controls. Now he was ready to continue this battle and save Eureka. But a strange feeling locked itself around Renton's eyes as he watched. Fear surrounded his body, but disbelief would let none of it in. The Xellien let go of them and turned around towards Konner. It then raised its arm back, as if ready to punch. The arm pushed forward, and a long spike shot out of the forearm like a harpoon, but the spear never detached itself. Konner rushed himself right into long tipped blade. All the sound around Renton muted as he watched. For a split second, he though he could hear a faint screaming voice. Whether or not it was Anemone's or his own, he couldn't tell. Either way, the voice buried itself deep into his stomach. It writhed inside his bowls, leaving a strange pain he had never experienced before.

"Kon?" Renton whispered filled the empty air. Everything stood still like he was looking at a picture. A new screen appeared before his eyes. Inside the small box he could see a dark glowing red room. Konner's face was soaked with face, but even through his fatigue Renton could see a smile on his face.

"Renton, I trust you with what I'm about to say… and you too Anemone." The world stopped for one moment, just on a bare whim. "Me and Klera would be married… but its hard when you're aboard a ship." His voice crackled and a drip of blood fell from the tip of his cheek.

"Let every one know… that I didn't go out here die. That I've always feared fighting another being... but I always did what I needed to do." He stopped and glanced up at Renton. "I know it sounds corny Renton, but let Klera know that I loved her… and that she was the only strength I had for a while." Tears started to stream down the man's cheek "I didn't want to die Renton, but that seems unavoidable now. There are so many things I've left unfinished… Renton, don't leave things to the last second. Don't waste what time has given you." With on last nod of gratitude, everything sped back up to normal speed. The Xellien's harpoon blade retracted back into the wrist. Only a second later, the old prototype exploded along with Konner inside. Renton now felt a yell burst from his lips, and he had no control over it. But as he watched, the yell drifted into nothing, and he froze in place.

"Eureka." He whispered silently. The Xellien turned around and gripped their LFO. It reached forward and tore off the cockpit door. Renton gazed into an abyss of nothing. He could hear Anemone's yells, telling him to move and run… but thoughts were locked away from his mind. He didn't know what to do or how to do it… nothing would come. Carefully the Xellien lifted a hand in and took hold of him. The moment he was safely away from the Prototype, the Xellien shoved the battered prototype backwards. A large screech pierced the air as the prototype was ripped off its board and sent periling back down to earth. Gently the Xellien lifted Renton up. The cockpit slid open and Renton fell into one of the seats.

"Renton, are you alright?" Eureka rushed to ask as he slipped into the chair next to her. Renton looked around the cockpit carefully, searching for something or anything that would shut away the pain he was feeling. But as he searched the controls, the panels, and the screens, nothing would come. His eyes finally fell on Eureka, who was looking right back at him. Her eyes were filled with care, concern, and love.

"I don't know anymore." He spoke in a quivering voice. The two looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Finally they fell into each other's arms. All the pain in his chest started to drift away as he held her. A new feeling spread through his mind. He was there for her, and she was there for him.

"Don't run away Renton… please." He felt her crying into his shoulder. The feeling was blissful, but some where in the back of his mind he could feel that same lie. That lie settled itself into his thoughts, and he pondered it. "Renton, is it you?" She asked as she held onto him. He frowned in confusion, and he shoved the lie from his conscience. From then on, everything holding his mind back disappeared, even the battle.

"Yes." He responded in a curious voice, and wondered why she had asked. But then as thoughts went on, he suddenly felt a long lost connection rebuilding with her. "I'm real this time." He whispered back, and felt his own eyes moistening, but the tears never fell. It entered his thoughts that she must have had occasions where she saw him, but it wasn't truly him. He had had instances of the same stature, and each time it left a dark indent in his mind.

"Please don't leave me again." Her voice softly called up into his ears.

"Not again Eureka, I promise." He responded gently. They stayed that way for a long time, just holding each other. Eureka pulled away, a renewed smile on her face. Renton smiled as well, but it faded as a strange feeling swirled inside him. Eureka tilted her head at him.

"What is it?" She asked at his frown.

"Its weird… I feel like I shouldn't forget something, but its not coming." He rubbed his head as a head ach started to form. Eureka leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. It surprised him, but he didn't deny it. She pulled away with the same soft smile.

"We're heading out, just trust me Renton." She put her forehead against his and then turned back to the controls. The Xellien shot forward, and they were on their way to the U.F..

---

"Anemone!" Dominic yelled as he jumped out of the large shuttle. Ten more men followed his lead, one of them being captain Jurgens.

"Commander, I still don't understand why the U.F. would just leave like so. Are you sure that there isn't some other reason… perhaps they're waiting for us to pull out the rest of our forces?" A man spoke insistently beside Jurgens. Jurgens didn't seem to hear him. Instead, his attention was on Dominic running towards the crash of the new prototype. He carefully kept an eye on Dominic's face, waiting for the expression that would reveal the outcome of this battle. As they walked forward, an orange 606 flew above, and landed not to far from the shuttle. Holland, Matthieu, and Stoner hopped out.

"Don't worry Yinik, sadly… we'll be alright." Jurgens shook his head and then started walking towards Holland.

"Sadly?" Yinik frowned at the strange choice of words.

"How do things check out?" Holland asked as he rushed up next to Jurgens.

"Not sure yet, but we'll find out in a second." Jurgens nodded at the new prototype where Dominic was tugging on the emergency latch lever. He finally pulled it with a strange of desperation. The cockpit door slid open and he dived in. Anemone was inside, lying peacefully against her seat.

"Anemone?" He carefully put a hand to her cheek. Her eyes softly drifted open, staring right at Dominic.

"We lost." Anemone whispered with tears swelling in her eyes. Dominic smiled gently and lifted her up out the seat.

"It's not over yet." He whispered back and still held his kind smile. Anemone looked into his eyes hopefully as if wanting to believe what he was saying, but she shook her head.

"What about Konner?" She started to take deep breaths, trying to keep herself from crying. "And now the U.F. has both Eureka and Renton." Dominic shook his head and pulled her close. She pressed her face into his shoulder and let her cries emerge. Dominic looked down at her with concerned eyes.

"Dominic?" Jurgens called from bellow.

"Anemone is alright, but Renton is gone." Dominic carefully scanned the area uncomfortably. He felt a new strange feeling starting to swell in his own eyes. "And there isn't a shrapnel piece left of the previous prototype." His voice became harder to hold as he spoke, and Anemone cries became louder against his chest. Jurgens shared a face of sympathy towards them.

"Dominic, I'm not holding you here any longer, neither Anemone. I want you two to go back to the Izumo, you're off duty for now." Jurgens motioned towards the shuttle. Dominic tried to share a smile of gratitude, but it was strangely difficult. The two left towards the shuttle, leaving the other men behind.

"Have we lost the war?" Matthieu asked with true intent.

"Not yet, but nigh close." Holland responded and sat down on the ground. His eyes drifted over the new prototype and its battered shape. Jurgens sat down next to him.

"We just lost our most powerful weapons." Jurgens paused and snorted "And we gave them to the enemy." Holland let out a single laugh himself.

"I get a feeling that we aren't lucky enough to have this war end that quickly. This is all going to drag on for a while." Holland stood up and gritted his teeth. "It's all too common." He muttered and turned around. Jurgens nodded and stood up as well. Above them the Izumo glided slowly. A small black shuttle dropped out and shot forward. It headed up and disappeared into the clouds.

"What was that?" Holland curiously asked as he saw the shuttle disappear.

"Our personal special operative." Jurgens responded simply "He'll follow the U.F. ships and keep a good track on them. His skills consist of infiltration and spying. I have no doubt that he'll be able to keep a close watch on Eureka and Renton. But then again, I've put my hopes into false things before." He shook his head solemnly.

"His name?" Holland asked before walking away.

"His operative name is Artisen."

---

Renton sat in the seat as they flew along. Something was nagging at the back of his mind, but he wasn't sure what it was. Turning his head down, he noticed the compac drive, or at least he though it was the compac drive.

"Eureka… what is that?" Renton asked and pointed down at the device. The more he examined it, the stranger it seemed. It wasn't like a normal compac. Four black lines traveled across the corners and met at the top. The top itself had thick black extension. Four black spikes pointed out and curved back in. Each one pointed a small sphere that was floating in a small crater in the device. Three more black lines swirled around the sphere and wrapped around it. The small sphere gave of a dark purple glow. Even with all these strange features, the oddest of all was the inside. Rather then there being a hollow green glow, it was a dark shade of purple that pulse slightly. On the inside, several thin lines that traced the glass. Occasionally a red little glow would follow the lines and then dissipate at the end.

"The compac drive… why?" Eureka asked and tilted her head in mild confusion.

"I don't know… it's just." Renton rubbed his temples again as another head ach began to form.

"Renton, we're finally here." Eureka nodded out the view screen with a small smile of excitement. Renton frowned and looked up to see a large ship. It reminded him of the orange one that Dewey Novak had use in his assault of the command cluster. But this one was a pure white that lined with black edges. The white metallic shell reflected the sun's brilliant rays.

"What is that?" Renton muttered with awe. Eureka shared a quick amused glance at him.

"I'll show you once we land inside." She pulled on the controls and the Xellien dived in.

Once they had landed, Eureka led Renton down the halls. He wasn't sure why, but he felt extremely uncomfortable in the setting. Everything before him seemed threatening, besides Eureka. So during the walk down the long white halls, he kept his eyes on Eureka. Four men followed behind them, each one holding a sturdy gun, and every now and then they would pass other men walking the opposite direction. There were several doors that lined the halls, but other then that, the place seemed pretty plain to him. After turning many corners, they reached a door lined with the U.F.'s popular symbol. Each guard turned around and stood ready, while Eureka stepped forward through the door.

"You can finally meet the one that told me the truth." Eureka whispered back as they stepped into a dimly lit room. Renton flinched when he heard the doors close behind them. He quickly summed up his surroundings. The room was large, but plain at the same time. An immense chair was propped up at the back, it almost resembled a throne. Just above it was large green flag with the symbol of the U.F. Sitting in the throne was a woman who seemed to be in her twenties or thirties. Her eyes were half closed against them. They didn't seem bored, but rather they seemed to be cold and locked. Her hair was a raven black, and she wore a white angelical dress. Eureka moved closer and Renton followed. When he was only a few feet away, he noticed something strange about her eyes. They were a piercing light blue that reflected an exotic flare.

"Eureka, Renton." She smiled towards them, but it seemed lifeless. Eureka bowed before the woman, which caught Renton off guard. He wasn't sure who to follow, but he did trust Eureka, so he bowed as well.

"I want Renton to know the truth." Eureka's smile still remained as she spoke. The women nodded thoughtfully and turned her gaze towards Renton. He broke his gaze at her once they made eye contact, but quickly managed to sustain the contact again.

"Renton, my name is Rekina." She answered in a fluent voice. Slowly she stood up in her seat and stepped down from the throne like chair. Her draping cloths flopped on the steps behind her. She didn't stop until she was directly in front of Renton, staring deeply into his eyes.

"Rekina?" Renton responded in his obliviousness.

"Yes, I'm one of the last heirs to the sages." Her stature was proud, but Renton say no sign of pride in her face. "The truth is going to be revealed to you Renton, listen carefully." She paused and stepped backed to her throne. "Dewey was a brilliant, even though his actions were recently wrong. We're not sure why he took such rough actions towards the Corralians, but we think differently Renton. The U.F. no longer desire to destroy the Corralians, we only wish to sustain peace. The Pacific Operation Forces are pathetic. They don't want to serve the people, but only control them under a false will. For a long time the P.O.F. have inserted false information into the minds of others, especially the Gekko-State." Renton took a step back in surprise. "Commander Jurgens never wished for the people's freedom. He believes in the old ways of the U.F., and we have changed. That is the true reason they split off from us. Every one is being fooled by these false truths. So Renton, what do you choose?" Renton's eyes were wide in pure shock. He wasn't sure what to think, there were so many different emotions mixing in his body. A foreign thought touched at his mind, making him want to believe. But there was something else there as well, something he recognized as his. But then he considered what she had said, and if she were telling the truth. Slowly Renton turned to look at Eureka, who was staring back at him with soft and gentle eyes. Their violet aura soothed his thoughts as he felt the connection between him and her.

"Well Renton, what do you decide?" Rekina asked with an icy drift. Renton shifted his attention back to Rekina. When ever he looked at her, the strange feeling became thicker.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Renton carefully challenge. Rekina raised a single brow.

"One only sees what one wishes to see, Renton. I've told you the truth, now it is up to you to decide whether or not to except the truth." She responded with simplicity. Renton looked away, finding it hard to grip the words. Nothing was making sense, he was being proven wrong. If it was true, then what was he going to do? All the thoughts trashed at his mind. There were still friends he trusted, people he loved and cared for. The thought of them being enemies haunted the very thing he thought that made him. A strange weight started to settle on his now tender shoulders. Desperately he shifted his gaze once more at Eureka and her smile of absolute kindness. The tender gaze made his decision clear. Hesitantly he lifted his gaze back up to Eureka.

"I trust Eureka." Came the still answer. Rekina smiled in soft satisfaction.

"I'm satisfied that you have decided to take the right path." Rekina's voice frosted the air with its drifting touch.

---

"Dead." Klera muttered in her thoughts. She sat in a medical room, hugging her legs together atop a medical bed. All the computers softly beeped at her, but they made no break into her thoughts. It was colder then she could ever remember, and she could remember some pretty cold places.

Back before she had met by Konner and Jake, and ever further back before then, when she was on the Rehk. The Rehk was her trusted companion. Angered orders from Captain Gail rang in her ears. But before the Rehk, there was her and the roads. Walking across the silent roads reminded her of death. The memory was merely ghost images in her mind now, but she could remember the feeling of just being alone. The warmth and friendliness that Konner had brought into her life was a saving rope. Everything was casual, ordered, and planned, but Konner was different. This was the man that introduced something different to her. Even though he was friendly and talkative, he always seemed silent and quiet around her. As time went along, he finally came up to her one day. The talk between them was simple and short. Through time they had become great friends. She could even remember the day that Konner had confessed the love he had for her… but at that time, she was ignorant of things that didn't make sense to her, and things that didn't make sense to her, scared her. She turned him away and they remained friends. It wasn't some time later until she finally pushed away her fears and embraced the true feelings she had.

A soft laugh forced its way out of her chest, but it was muffled through a painful cry. The smile hurt too much to feel against her cheeks. The door slid open, and the soft steps of human feet followed along the floor. A man wearing a doctors coat looked around the room uncomfortably.

"Klera." He started in a unsure voice. Klera frowned and looked up at the man. His eyes were wondering around the room aimlessly, searching for something other then her eye contact.

"What is it… was the test negative?" She asked from below. The thought was still processing in her mind, but this was all she had left of Konnor, and she wanted to care for it.

"No… the test was positive." The doctor attempted to smile, but it was failed at first try. His frowned deepened and he finally held his eyes with hers. It became deathly obvious that something was wrong. "Klera… There was a strange residue in the test. I ran what I found under several procedures, and it confirmed." He paused and sighed one last time.

"Klera, after all you've been through, you don't deserve to hear this, but that wont get us anywhere. You have a cancer that infects the main arteries. The cancer has been dormant for a long time now, and I'm afraid the infection has spread to deep for removal. There is a minor chance that you could survive with some special drugs, but the risk of loosing-" He trailed off and finally broke his firm gaze. The air in the room became still against them. Any possible hope was now drained from Klera's body, leaving her completely lifeless. Gently she reached down and rubbed the hard metallic brand around her finger.

"I know." She called in a trembling voice. "Time?" She asked while tears glided down her reddening cheeks. The doctor closed his eyes and slipped off his glasses.

"A year." He replied.