"Zelda-san, what did you think when you first met Tres?" Abel walked down the hall with her.

She stopped. "Please don't tell Tres this. Just keep it to yourself but…"

"What was it???" he asked eagerly- obviously bored with everything else around him.

She lowered her voice, "I thought… 'Wow! He IS short!!!'"

"Ahaha! You're right; he is very small. Did you know he weighs 440 lbs?!"

"That's like a small elephant!" She placed her hand on her cheek.

"It is! Ahahahahah- o-oh, hello Tres-kun, I didn't see you there!" Abel stopped laughing and waved slightly. Zelda turned around slowly in horror. Yet sure enough, there was her partner in all his 5'5 glory. He didn't look at her; he didn't say anything but the empty silence that was there plagued her with guilt.

"Father Nightroad, Caterina-sama has another mission for you. Prepare immediately," he stated to Abel.

"Again? But I just got back!" He whined and slumped away.

Gunslinger likewise began to go back to his duties. She hugged him from behind while he was still walking so her feet dragged along the ground. Crying, she pleaded, "Forgive me Tres! I wasn't making fun of you! I love your height and your weight! You're perfect for my 5'1! I don't want a man that's 6 foot and towers over me! I like how you're just where I can reach you!" He didn't say anything. "And your weight! I love small elephants! I've never seen one… but you're the closest thing in weight so I love you!"

The Professor, who had heard this last statement of love, shook his head. "You aren't a very comforting individual are you?"

"Tres! Don't hate me! I love youuuuu!!!!!!"

Zelda jerked up in her bed, ignoring the faint pain in her shoulder. Shaking her head, breathing heavily, she placed her warm feet against the cool floor. A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead and off her nose. Staggering, she pulled herself to the door and opened it. A dim light in the corridor woke her up from her mental anguish. Slowly, she straightened her back, righting her posture. She brushed her damp hair out of her face and cleared her throat.

Her bare feet slapped the concrete of what could be called as an underground lair. The Professor had built it secretly in his spare time after an incident concerning two imperial nobles and the Rozen Kreuz Orden. Even in her depressed state, she respected how much time and effort went into building this. Although rather small, it held three tiny bedrooms, a lab for William- which he lived in- and halls to connect them together.

Reaching the laboratory, Zelda pressed on her outfit as if to wipe away the wrinkles. She pushed open the door to see the Professor hard at work and Leon hanging out, leaning against the desk.

"So you finally see the light of day, huh?" the corners of Dandelion's mouth curled slightly.

William interrupted, "You shouldn't be saying anything. If I remember correctly, who's the escaped convict that's been hiding underground for four months?"

He frowned but said nothing. Shortly after she had been knocked unconscious by Tres' gun, Professor found her and quickly informed her how to sneak Leon out of jail. Since the disbanding of the AX was still fresh, not many people would have known. So he forged a note that Zelda delivered to the jail, bailed Leon out and made a run for it. After he was safely hidden away, she hung up her habit and quit being a nun.

The Professor was to keep up a life as a priest during the daytime and by night sneak down into his hideout to plan ways to stop the Orden. Vaclav remained solely a priest and minded his own business after Lady Caterina's decision. Sister Kate and the Iron Maiden were still being utilized for the Department of Inquiry's use. Hughe disappeared entirely.

It was strange that the AX was gone. The AX was her family and now it was broken, shattered into little pieces. All the shards were scattered in different directions. Was it even possible to put them together again? Could Zelda even try?

"Tomorrow," the Professor said suddenly.

"What?"

He looked up, face set. "I found a base. We're going in tomorrow."

"You mean…."

"Yes, we're going to go in and stop them. Once and for all."

Leon scratched his head, "How are we going to do that?"

"We kill their leader, Kain."

For a few moments, no one breathed, let alone spoke.

"We're going to kill a Crusnik," Zelda stated.

"It's suicide! Are you crazy??!!" Dandelion shouted. "That's the most stu-!"

"Well, think about it. Has anything else we've tried, worked? This is the fastest and most clean way to end this. No loss of innocent civilian lives, the Orden will lose hope and world has been rid of its enemy. Whatever you do, no matter how many plans of theirs you destroy, they will continue to push for their goal."

… "So, how do plan on getting into their base or near Kain? How do you know he's even there???"

"I don't know."'

"You're risking our lives in this chance gamble?!"

The Professor's eyes were ringed and they stood out strongly now. "This is the first time we have ever found one of their bases; we just can't miss this opportunity."

"Great, this is great," he kicked the trash can over in a spurt of anger.

Zelda sighed, "I guess since we're all in, we wake up around five, ready our weapons and go?"

Leon shook his head, "Yeah, might as well forget sleep and experience time on your last day to live."

She sighed again and murmured, "We're going to kill a Crusnik."