Always a tough job. We boarded the chopper and tried to rest. Aira as always sat beside me and leaned her head to my chest to sleep. Lastre and Mak are on the opposite side. Mak knelt down and prayed again. Giving thanks for another day that we were alive and another successful mission. After his prayer he sat back to his chair and talked to Lastre,

"What do you think about them girl?" he grinned, "Oh, by the way name's Mak. I'm from Area 26, once known as Davao."
"Well... " Lastre though for a while, "is she Ken's wife?" she asked with pure innocence.
"You heard the kid, my man." Mak said with a sly smile. "Ken's "wife" is Aira," pointing at Aira. "Medic, sniper and long ranged weapon instructor." he looked at her, "And you are?"
"Lastre... Lastre Jean-Mina." she said.
"Jean-Mina?" I said, "You mean... nah... by any chance are you a relative of Ayesua Jean-Mina?"
"You mean Ayesua? Our current director?" Mak said with a surprise.
"She's... my sister." Lastre said hiding her face.
"Half French - half Japanese then, as if race has got something to do with a destroyed world." I smirked, "your age had a big gap, 12-13 years so to say?"
"13... " Lastre then looked at us, her eyes widened. Holding her head she began to scream, as if in a deep pain. Her loud scream woke Aira up.

"HEY HIRO! HURRY UP!" I ordered.

Hiro nodded and began to fly faster. After a few minutes we arrived at HQ with an ambulance waiting. Thanks to the immediate response of the doctors at HQ, she was out of harms way.

"Just what the hell was that?" Mak asked.
"I don't know... I think it's better for me to ask her sister then." I said. Aira also came along with me.

Hitting the elevator. Aira began to ask me, "Ken... when do you think this fighting will stop?"
"I don't know. Today, the next day, next year, next generation? I really don't know."
Aira sighed, "I guess, nobody holds the answer huh?" she grabbed my right arm, "Ken... will you be with me? Till the end of this fighting?"

I didn't answer her. I don't know how. I tried to open my mouth but no words came, only silence. All I can do was to look into her eyes, wondering. Then the elevator door opened, I faced my back on Aira and started to walk away. I know it pains her, but I can't answer her now. Opening the door to the Directors office, she spoke in a clear soft voice:

"Out of all people with the courage not to knock in my door, it is always you Ken." Ayesua, a woman in her early thirties, crossed her arms and leaned back to her chair, "what can I do for you?"

"Lastre, your sister. After the battle, she screamed while holding her head. It's like she's having a terrible headache. I'm worried. Aside from that she was sent into battle without a formal introduction nor a background check from me!" I growled.
Ayesua leaned towards me and gently caressed my face with her left gloved hand, and said, "She's sick for now darling... but no worries, she's as fine as is. Now, I ask you to leave my place please... I am working on something." she just smiled.

I signalled Aira to some along. I asked her to come along with me and visit Lastre in the lab. We arrived, but she's not there? We tried to ask the doctors but it seems that they know nothing of Lastre being sent there. Weird... but how and why?

My mind can't help but think, my eyes won't shut down. Is Ayesua hiding something from us? If she then what is it? I put on some clothes and I will talk to Ayesua again. While walking down the hall, I can hear footsteps following me. While using the elevator, I heard a loud thud from the ceiling... nevermind must be rats again, I think. Walking towards the Ayesua's office... ajar... her door is ajar? I opened her door. Lo and behold!

"WHAT THE?!" I banged the alarm. It's an aragami! A plant type Aragami? It stands 8 feet tall, it has leaves and a flower bud like head. It's jaws are located on it's big trunk like body. It's long vines are holding Ayesua, eating her. Ayesua's right arm and leg are already missing, a part of her head is bruised heavily. Yes, she is being devoured! I tried to think.. F*CK! Without a God-Arc I can't save her! Without thinking, I grabbed a chair and threw it towards the monster. It let Ayesua go. Dodging the monsters attacks I grabbed Ayesua and dragged her out. Closing the sealed door just in time that we got out, I tried to check her pulse. Alive, she's still alive. Using her last amount of strength she grabbed my shirt and whispered something into my ear... "re... move my... gloves..." I did, and when I held her hand... Resonance happened:

Images of a lab... Ayesua, being a God-Eater? The images are mixed-up... her memories flowing into me... finally, Lastre... in a bed with so many things attached to her?

I let go of her. She smiled, and before taking her last breath she said , "Save the White Queen.". Why? What does she want to tell me? What is the "White Queen?" Lastre herself? What is this all about? The Aragami tried to open the door, Leaving Ayesua's corpse behind was a good decision. The Aragami devoured it, giving me a bit of time I needed to open the Elevator. I phoned Aira,

"Ken! Are you alright? You're not in your room when the emergency bell rung!" Aira said.
"Ayesua... She's dead-"
"What did you say? You don't..." Aira interrupted.
"Yes, Director Jean-Mina was devoured. An aragami is in HQ! Everyone do a check on every part of HQ now!"

Lune, gave an order to all available GodEaters to check every corner of HQ. I was exhausted and I passed out. The next morning I woke up with a bad headache... I checked the time, it's already 11 a.m. Man, sleeping too much makes my head spin. A loud knock came, I got up and slightly opened the door.

"Hey..." I said still sleepy.
"Ken Tinasan?" It's a warden officer and my good friend Rai.
"Yes sir... what can I do for you?" holding my head still sleepy, "please come in." opening my door.
"You are under arrest for the murder of Ayesua Jean-Mina. Please come with us Ken." Rai said.
"The hell? It's an Aragami that killed her NOT ME!" I protested.
"Look Ken... I don't wanna do this...there was no Aragami attack last night! Please understand, come with us for now." Rai cuffed me and escorted me to the cell. Then suddenly, like a flash of light one of the guard grunted and fell down. Something had hit him. One of the guard held his service pistol with Rai dragging me with him,

"Give him to me or he will die!" a girl's voice said.

We looked back, a woman, Lastre? No, a bit older... but yes, still it's Lastre. Stabbing the guard in the belly, she used him as a shield and rammed at us. Sandwiching Rai between me and her. She then reached for the cuffs keys and followed to put Rai unconscious. She uncuffed me and I looked at her,

"Lastre?" I questioned her.
Taking the gun from the guards. "Loaded. Good." she looked at me not answering my question, "what are you waiting for? Let's go!"
"Tell me! What the hell's going on?" I demanded for an answer.
"Follow me if you wanted to live and tell this tale. You had just been chosen. That's it." pointing the gun at me.
"Then shoot me then! I won't go anywhere without Aira nor My God-Arc." I protested.
"She's there already. I made sure of it. Both of them."
"Where's there?" I asked.
"Old City... Cebu... Area 59."