a/n: Balance. Little by little. #herewego

Revolutionary Operation, Type Zero

Kinetic Sky

21. The Suns of Liberty, Act 4

"Oh, my. This really is quite good!"

"Thank you, Your Highness. I learned how to make it when I was younger."

Elise happily sipped tea from her cup while her two advisors looked on in confusion.

"Yes, this is incredibly delightful. The best tea I've had in ages. Bless you, Kiriko."

"I'm honoured," she said with a small blush.

"Now..." Elise set the cup down on the glass table in front of her. The four women sat in ornate wooden chairs around it.

"Yes, of course. At the last briefing, the contamination had reached thirty five percent of the planet's total surface area. I'm sure that the percentage has increased since the last report, but observations have shown that the spread has slowed down to nearly forty percent of its original pace. The movement of the contamination is slowed by water. "

"That's some intelligence report...not that your organization has any intelligence to speak of," the white-haired woman said.

"Alice, hush."

"I'm only speaking the truth. G.U.N has obviously been incompetent; the evidence is all around you. You're busy wasting away because those idiots couldn't be bothered to do their job and put away that psycho doctor when they should have. Now he's taken advantage," she said, glaring at Kiriko.

"The Doctor is not responsible for this," she responded calmly. "We've investigated the events. Metal Sonic is working autonomously...this corruption of the planet has been caused by a hijacking of existing military technology, originally developed by Doctor Eggman but never approved for wide scale use."

"Eggman did build Metal Sonic, didn't he?" Alice asked.

"Yes...the original version, at the least. He was destroyed by Sonic and Amy Rose several years ago, but an undamaged chip from the final battle was recovered."

"His vengeful spirit must have resided in that object," Elise concluded. "I understand now...he is trying to build an empire by taking over the Earth."

"My Queen, with all due respect-"

"Be calm, Alice. Everything will come together soon enough."

"Yes, of course. Forgive my rudeness, Your Highness." She pulled her hat down slightly, obscuring her pale green eyes.

"Where are Sonic the Hedgehog and Amy Rose?" Elise asked.

"In Station Square. Since Metal Sonic deems them the target of his vengeance, they're stalling him until we can come up with a solution. The Doctor is working from Space Colony ARK and we're collecting pieces of the Master Emerald in the meantime."

"The Master Emerald...yes, that will do nicely. I do sense a bad omen for those two in the city...oh, I hope they come out alright. But as for why you are here, young miss. I will explain how this barrier works."

"Your Highness, I cannot allow that," Alice said as she stood up. "I will invoke my powers as the General of the Armies if I see no other option."

"Alice-"

"Do not force my hand, Your Highness. I cannot allow a secret such as this to fall into the hands of an organization like the Guardian Units. They put us into this mess in the first place, and this hole is getting deeper and deeper by the second. Toying with forces beyond their understanding, creating monsters that have nearly destroyed the Earth time and time again...how can we trust anyone within that organization? Who's to say that this girl isn't a spy sent from on high to infiltrate this castle? If you speak a word about the methods behind our barrier, I will have her removed and imprisoned the moment she leaves this room."

"..."

"Not only the pride of the Royal Soleanna Armed Forces...but the pride of this nation. Of us all. If you give away this secret so lightly, your father-"

Alice stopped as Elise turned her head away.

"...don't let what happened to him be in vain," she finished.

"I am ready to listen, Your Highness."

Elise blinked and looked across the table at Kiriko, who calmly looked back at her. "Imprisonment will be a small setback. I simply want to know the method to keeping this barrier intact and rejecting the darkness with such efficiency. My loved ones are in danger and Metal Sonic must be stopped. Whatever I have to do, I will do...no matter the cost to myself. This is who I am."

"A calmness and serenity. Like the water that makes up the ocean. What was that saying," Elise mused. She twirled a lock of red hair around her finger. "Yes...fair winds and following seas. First Lieutenant Hoshikira. I am going to ask you to do something for me before I release this information to you. Something that you may not like."

"What is it?"

"Alice Sirius is my most trusted general, and the commander of all armed forces under the Kingdom of Soleanna. She has spent several years as a member of our own Foreign Legion, operating in dangerous zones. When she says that this secret is important, despite her tone being rougher than I would like, she is very much correct. Therefore, you must make a concession for us here. Liza, if you would."

"I have the notation ready, Your Highness," the blonde woman responded, her voice crisp and even more regal than Elise's. She adjusted her glasses over her orange eyes and neatly set a pen to paper.

"Very good. Kiriko?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I am going to ask you to cut off all ties with the Guardian Units of Nations until the time where you no longer require my assistance. This is the only way that I will be able to provide you with the information that you desire. If you wish to contact your superiors, please do so...but the decision must be made before you choose to leave this room. These are our terms."

Alice sat down in her chair, letting out a satisfied grunt. She cast an eye towards Kiriko, who had her head down in thought. Elise looked on, calmly and sombrely.

"This decision shouldn't be made lightly," Elise said.

"You are correct, Your Highness." Kiriko touched the bracelet around her wrist. "This is a transmission from First Lieutenant Kiriko Hoshikira of the Guardian Units of Nations. As of this hour, I am aborting the current goodwill mission to the Kingdom of Soleanna. Repeat...mission has been terminated due to lack of cooperation from allied forces. Will head to rendezvous point at earliest convenience. Time of transmission, 717 hours Zulu. Over and out."

She unclipped the bracelet from her wrist and set it on the table. Pushing away her chair, she walked over to where Elise sat and got onto her knees, bowing low in front of her.

"My Queen...I pledge my allegiance to you. Whatever I must do, I will do for your sake. Anything...if only to protect my loved ones from this terrible darkness. I will sever all bonds I have in this world, if only I might have your aid for a moment."

"Rise to your feet, dear child..."

Kiriko did as told, staring up into Elise's smiling face.

"You are a woman beyond compare. Remember that, Countess."

"I...Count...ess?"

"All you in this room...hear me. We of Soleanna recognize this woman as the Countess of Sol, Lady Kiriko Hoshikira."

"Ah...I..."

Elise placed a hand on Kiriko's cheek, still smiling.

"It's alright. You'll get used to it quickly. This way, you won't have to worry about any of us locking you up, as long as you abide by the rules of the kingdom."

"R-right...right."

"I suppose we can give the Countess a briefing then," Alice said lazily. "Elizabeth..."

"Of course. My Queen, whenever you are ready to begin, please do so."

"Yes, of course."

Elise layered her hands on top of each other, holding them close to her chest. She closed her eyes and concentrated.

Kiriko watched as a flame appeared out of thin air, flickering to life in her hands and glowing brightly.

"This is the beginning of your understanding. This flame...is the power that abides within me. A terrible curse, but something that became a valuable gift as I came to know it. This flame is the culmination of two powers. Iblis of the roaring, consuming flames...and Mephiles, the embodiment of darkness itself. Separate, they would cry out to each other in order to form a terrible, reality-splitting power...the god that the people of Soleanna have worshipped since the beginning of their days. My namesake...Solaris."

Elise opened her blue eyes. The flames continued to shine brightly, reflected in them.

"My father...was the Duke of Soleanna. He lost his life trying to call Solaris back to this world, to our world. But before that, he...used me to seal the flames away."

"Your-"

"Speak my name, Countess."

"...Elise..."

"Yes. That's right."

"Elise...this power. Is this what you're using to protect the kingdom?"

"It is. And there is much more to tell, Kiriko. Much...much more. Liza, Alice. Make ready the chamber."

"As you wish, Your Highness," Elizabeth said, getting up. She nodded to Alice and they left the room, closing the door behind them.

"Will you share your pain with me as well, Kiriko?"

"Freely, Elise."

"Thank you. You're so trusting...so calm."

"I live for those that I love...I have nothing to fear from this world of shadows."

Elise smiled and snuffed out the flame in her hands.