Chapter Nine: It all Started with the Truth

It had been three days since Ryuko last fought Uzu and she still hadn't seen any sign of Senketsu which was seriously stressing her out more than she would admit. Apparently, she didn't do a good job of hiding it because Mako noticed.

"Aw, cheer up Ryuko!" Mako slapped her friend hard across the back. "I'm sure he'll come back. Just don't stop looking for him!"

"I guess. I'm just worried about him because he was having problems. Something was wrong, and I don't want him off doing something crazy." Ryuko mumbled as she bit into her sandwich. It was a chilly Saturday morning and the two of them were sitting in the commons, which was a place with a bunch of stone tables outside, next to the academic buildings. Ryuko just had so much on her mind. She had midterms coming up for most of her classes, along with the responsibility of being involved with Nudist Beach. And she had been challenged by one of the elite four but she didn't know why. She thought that after her defeat her classmates would laugh at her, but surprisingly they approached her and congratulated her. They saw it as amazing that she had stood up to him for so long. Ryuko was just lucky to be alive. She had no clue the department heads were so strong. What was Satsuki like then?

"Guess what!" Mako suddenly announced. She stood up proudly and pulled out a uniform from her bag. "I got promoted a rank!" the uniform was still gray but it had two stars instead of one on it.

"Wow, congrats Mako," Ryuko was thoroughly impressed. "How'd ya do it?"

"Gamagori says I'm working real hard and that I deserve to be treated better. So he gave me the uniform so I could keep the others in check."

"That's great. Now they'll treat you better. But if they start using you again, I'll come in there and crush them myself." Ryuko added as she finished up her sandwich.

After concluding their meal, the two went to the library and started on their work. Ryuko had a lot of catching up to do as usual. She tended to procrastinate her work until the last possible moment. As they worked, Ryuko's thoughts began to wander. Senketsu had been acting different ever since they'd been captured after that prison stunt. He'd said he was examined by the capturers. Maybe they had put something into him! That would explain a lot. That was also why she'd lost to Sanageyama. And Nui, she hadn't seen her in a while either. She wondered just who was that girl. She seemed to know a lot more than she was letting on to.

A loudspeaker in the library blared jolting Ryuko from her thoughts and Mako from falling completely asleep. "Every student is to appear in the plaza right now. Stop everything you are doing and head over there. This is an important announcement regarding the future of your academics." Ryuko let out an annoyed groan and packed up her stuff. She and Mako headed towards the plaza along with crowds of other students all complaining about being interrupted. There were a couple people wearing bathrobes and towels. The plaza was crowded, just barely enough room for all of them. Once they had gathered there large screens ascended from the ground surrounding the plaza. Ryuko craned her head to see past some tall people blocking her way.

"Do you know what's going on?" a cool voice sounded next to Ryuko and she turned to see Aikuro next to her.

"I don't know. I hope it's not something related to our club. I'm afraid it might be. Sanageyama fought me out of the blue in class one day. Why would he attack if he had no reason too?"

"Good point. We have to be careful. I'll tell Kinagase to stop operations momentarily." Aikuro whispered.

The blank monitors turned on and loud music began to blare from the screen as images filled it. There were images of fighting people, buildings being destroyed and utter chaos.

"Students of Honnouji University, this upcoming week will be a time where you will be tested over and over again. You will be pushed to your limits physically, mentally and emotionally. It is Fight Week!"

There were murmurs from the students as they processed what Satsuki had just said.

"Instead of Fight Week at its usual scheduled time, we will have it earlier. I have decided that it would be appropriate to spring this on you now, to test your readiness. Think of it as a pop quiz. Depending on how well you do your grades will reflect that. Additionally this next part is for one of the current students attending this school, Matoi Ryuko."

Everyone in the crowd turned to look at Ryuko and she glared back at them trying to force her apprehension away. This was it. Satsuki had found out and was going to shut down their operation once and for all. Aikuro squeezed Ryuko's shoulder assuredly. Or no, maybe this was for what she had done all those weeks ago. Now she was going to get her punishment.

The screens all went black but menacing music was playing now from it. "It appears one of my elite four, Sanageyama Uzu has taken an interest in you, Matoi, and feels that you should be thoroughly tested to see if you are worthy of your position here. You have caused thousands of dollars of damage to college property as well as disruptions of everyday life to those around you. Adding onto your complete disregard for authority you have attempted to drag others down with you." Ryuko froze up on those words. Is she talking about Nudist Beach?

"Therefore Matoi, you are challenged to prove otherwise; to prove your worth as a human being and as a fighter. Prove to me that you are worthy of your position here at Honnouji University. But in order to do so, you will go up against all four department heads."

All four? There was no way she could do this now! She didn't have Senketsu! She was as good as naked if she went against the heads without her jacket. Aikuro squeezed her shoulder harder.

"Should you fail in even one of your fights, you will be expelled. This announcement is now over. Return back to your activities." The screens rolled down and the students all casting apologetic glances at Ryuko parted around her as if she was a disease. Only Mako and Aikuro stood by her. "Don't worry Ryuko, we'll help you anyway we can." Aikuro finally let go of her shoulder which was red and throbbing. "In fact Nudist Beach will strike during that week. I'll make sure," Aikuro walked away determined and Ryuko looked after him in horror. "Oi, you can't be serious can you? We're not ready!" But he didn't turn around or stop. He just raised his arm in a see you later gesture.

"Don't worry Ryuko, you'll do fine. Even without your jacket you can kick butt." Mako cheered as she shadow boxed an imaginary foe.

Ryuko felt too much pressure riding on her shoulders. "I'm gonna go for a run Mako, do the rest of your work by yourself."

When Ryuko came back from her run, hot and sweaty but feeling much better, she saw Senketsu waiting for her in front of her dorm door.

"Senketsu you came back," she stated not knowing what else to say.

"I did. I heard the announcement and I just couldn't leave you to do it by yourself. Although I don't know how much help I can be. Ryuko... I still don't feel like myself. I don't know what's wrong with me." Senketsu looked so depressed that Ryuko crouched down next to him and gently put a hand over his bent figure.

"Senketsu, we'll figure out what's wrong and we'll fix it. I know it's not your fault that you're feeling or acting this way. I'm just glad your back. I missed ya," Ryuko added as an afterthought.

"Oh Ryuko!" Senketsu flung himself at her knocking her down.

"Hey calm down," she growled before letting herself hug back the black jacket. She was just glad to see him in one piece.

"Wakey wakey you slobbering pig!" a high pitched, irritating voice tore Ryuko from out of her pleasant dream. Ryuko sat up, a puddle of drool on her pillow and blankets all over the floor, and looked around confused as if she had really heard that voice. She saw Mako sleeping soundly, shrugged and then laid down again before choking on her scream. Bending over her pillow while perched on her desk was Nui in all her creepy glory.

Ryuko sat up so fast she almost knocked heads with her. "What do you want?" she growled quietly so as not to disturb Mako.

Nui hopped off the desk and went to stand by Ryuko's bed. "It's about your father's murder. Come with me, I have to show you something important."

Adrenaline ran through Ryuko's veins, waking her up fully. Did Nui really find something? "Fine I'll go but make it quick I have to wake up early tomorrow."

"Don't worry silly. I'll get you back safe." Nui waved her hand as if this was indeed a silly concern for Ryuko to have.

Ryuko swiftly changed and put Senketsu on. Why are you going with her? I don't think this is a good idea. Senketsu voiced but Ryuko shushed him. She wanted to find out the truth about her father. He was such a mysterious man that it was hard to know anything about him. And if he had been truly murdered than she would be a step closer to finding out.

"Why this late at night?" Ryuko asked as she followed Nui out through the dorms. It was two in the morning. They took the back exit and waited for a pair of guards to pass them before heading towards another dorm building. The moon shone brightly making it harder for them to hide.

"Because silly, it was the only time I could get you. Now be quiet unless you wanna get caught." Nui whispered as she eventually lead them to a manhole.

"Down here?" Ryuko asked, disgusted by the thought of having to go into the sewers.

"Oh don't tell me a pig like you is disgusted by the sewers?" Nui giggled and Ryuko glared at her but said nothing as she pulled the manhole lid and hopped in. It was dark and dank in the sewer but Ryuko's senses soon adjusted to it; except for the smell of course. Nui jumped down after her and they walked on the slim pathway that was just a couple of inches above the filthy water. Ryuko lost track of how far they went, and she was about to ask Nui to turn them around when she suddenly stopped. Ryuko bumped into her and ended up falling flat on her ass. Damn that girl was built like a brick. She hadn't even budged when Ryuko walked into her.

"We're here silly, now get up," Nui giggled as they started the climb up a ladder. They climbed until they reached a grate and pulled it open. Nui exited first with Ryuko right behind, whose eyes opened wide with shock. Replacing the grate quietly she found herself in a bathroom of sorts and it was absolutely huge. Everything was made of white marble accented with blue. And the bathtub and toilet were made of solid gold from the looks of it. Ryuko let out a low whistle as the two girls exited the room and entered a hallway of sorts. Plush blue carpet covered the floor and huge tapestries hung from the walls. Every few steps there huge chandeliers from the ceiling but they were off. The house was decorated lavishly but it lacked any warmth or feeling of happiness.

"Never seen such a nice house before, pig?" Nui asked as she skipped towards a room at the end of the hall. Ryuko swallowed her frustrations at Nui's alternating use of silly and pig.

"Is this the Kiryuin mansion?" Ryuko asked.

"What does it look like sweetie?" Oh so now she's using sweetie.

"How'd you know how to get in?" Ryuko asked. She had dreamed of getting in here one day and now her dream had come sooner than expected. But Nui did not respond instead waiting patiently for Ryuko to catch up.

Ryuko approached the door Nui was standing in front of and swallowed deeply before pushing it. She didn't know what lay on the other side, but she knew it couldn't be pleasant.

The room she entered was blue as well. A desk, a canopy bed and a couple of dressers made up the furniture but that wasn't what stopped Ryuko cold. It was the blade on the wall. There hung up as a trophy of some sort was a blade identical to the one Ryuko had, except it was purple. "Is that... it that..." Ryuko couldn't formulate words as her brain tried to process what was happening.

"That's the other half of your scissor blade, Ryuko," Nui cooed in the flabbergasted girl's ear. "You see your father was a smart man Ryuko. He was an inventor and he invented something that Satsuki really wanted. So she tracked him down and set the house on fire to ruin him, his inventions and you. But your father escaped with you. However he couldn't let her get her hands on the things he had made, that he was going to pass onto you."

Nui moved from where she had been on Ryuko's right side to her left, trailing a finger along her jaw line as she passed by. Ryuko's eyes were wide in shock and weren't focused on anything. Nui then grabbed Ryuko by her shoulders from the back and placed her head on her left shoulder. "He went back to the house and he would have made it out with the items, but she was there. She attacked him and he fought back. She managed to get a part of the scissor blade from him, but some falling beams separated the two of them. She decided to leave; she wasn't going to die in that fire. But your father, he knew he wouldn't escape, he was wounded by her blades and so he did what he could. He left the stuff in the basement, hoping that one day you would find it. And find it you did." Nui let go of Ryuko and walked up to the blade letting her finger run on the edge.

"She kept this blade here as a token of her victory and as a weapon she could use. She may have lost everything else, but at least she had this." Nui turned to Ryuko. "I'm certain you must have at least seen her as she fled the house. But your memory must be foggy, it happens with traumatic events like these."

Ryuko's mind was racing a mile a minute as she struggled to comprehend this. So her father had been killed. She had always thought it weird that he cared so much about the presents that he had never made it back. Her hands clenched up. Careful Ryuko, Senketsu warned. You don't wanna get caught up in her words too much. Try to calm down.

"How do you know all this?" Ryuko asked at last fixing her eyes on Nui. The blonde haired girl smiled an all too sweet smile.

"I know because she tried to do the same to me. She destroyed my family, and all our credibility. And I've been hunting her down for years. I was there that night. I was the one who chased her away from your father. She told me everything. She wants people that are a threat to her, her corporation, and to her plans, to be eliminated."

"What are these plans of her's?" Ryuko asked and she could feel her veins starting to burn, the blood in them boiling.

"I don't know the full extent yet, but nothing good. Nothing short of world domination. Do you know of Revoc's?"

"Yea," Ryuko barely managed to grunt out through clenched teeth. Revoc's was a globally renowned clothing brand, favored for its high quality and low prices.

"Her mother runs that corporation and Satsuki will be next in line. She's helping her mother build up an army to take over the world. Revoc's is just a cover for world domination, as Honnouji University is a cover for a school."

Ryuko clenched her fists harder. Oi, Ryuko calm down, your heart beats crazy, your anger is surging into me, and I can't deal with all of it! Ryuko, stop. Senketsu's pleads were largely ignored.

"She's just using us!" Ryuko... yes she is using us. Senketsu's voice sounded darker but Ryuko didn't notice. "She's trying to destroy the world!" Yes she is! We have to stop her! "She killed my father!" She killed him in cold blood; she made you suffer all for her own selfish goals.

Ryuko suddenly felt the urge to use her hands for something. She pulled out her scissor blade and started wrecking the room. Her blade dragged across the bed, foam and springs falling out, the dressers were smashed to bits, the floor's wood gouged. Nui stood there watching a bright smile on her face. She didn't flinch as Ryuko threw expletives and furniture around.

"Fucking Satsuki, I'll kill that bitch! I knew something was up when I got here. She just wants to finish me off, well not before I do. That fucking bitch, I'll fucking end her, I fucking swear I will!"

Ryuko...calm down...I can't take in all this...anger, Senketsu's pained voice warned her but she ignored it. It's all her fault, we have to punish her for it, the dark voice advised her. Ryuko didn't care how much noise she was making, she was going after that bitch. In fact she hoped all the noise would attract the president to her. She smashed through the door and stood breathing hard at her end of the hall. Senketsu's eyes were swirls and he vibrated all over her body uncontrollably.

Ryuko sensed a presence at the end of the hall and looked up to see a pretty girl at the other end. She looked to be but one year older than Ryuko. She was wearing black heels with a white skirt, blue collared shirt and a white suit jacket. Her hair was long and black as midnight, while her eyes were as blue as the oceans themselves. Hanging over her eyes was a pair of eyebrows that were deeply furrowed in disapproval.

"Are you Satsuki fucking Kiryuin?" Ryuko demanded raising her blade and pointing it at the girl. The light from the room behind her illuminated her blade making it more menacing than ever.

The girl who was standing in her own light, provided by the doorway of an open room, frowned. "I am indeed, Matoi. Now what are you doing in my house?" But Satsuki wouldn't get an answer to that.

"You killed my father and now I'm going to kill you!" Ryuko screamed and her jacket responded. Fueled by her anger it transformed but into something truly hideous. The leather jacket seemed to liquefy and rose up around her bonding itself to her skin. Her body contorted as it tried to keep up with the new positions her flesh and bone were being forced into.

She left out an anguished cry as her back arched back so far it seemed as if she had snapped her spine. But then she straightened up again and all Satsuki could do was watch in horror for now. Ryuko no longer resembled a human. Her knee high boots were covered in spikes that pulsated blood; they must have been connected right into her veins. She was still wearing a skirt but it was too short, showing the blood running down her thighs. Her waist and abdomen had been contracted so incredibly that they were barely the width of Satsuki's hand. Her body on top was a mangle of armor and exposed skin, with Senketsu's eyes bulging out comically. A high collar supported her neck and her head was completely smooth, covered in black that enclosed her facial features, leaving a zipper closed in an angry scowl where her mouth was.

"Satsuki," Ryuko garbled and Satsuki wondered what had happened. Was this same fate awaiting her in the future? We could make it happen now if you want us to do it. Junketsu's sickening female voice replied and Satsuki shuddered. She had so many questions about this situation but she didn't have time to think about them or to get them from Ryuko, who was clearly not in her right mind.

"Life fibers Override!" she announced just as Ryuko came speeding down the hall, blood spraying from every joint as she moved. Junketsu quickly transformed leaving Satsuki ready for Ryuko's oncoming blade with her own sword, Bakuzan. The impact caused by the two blades meeting shook the house and Satsuki tried to not let her fear show. Sanageyma had fought Ryuko, but certainly this wasn't the power he had felt. Something was wrong. She was sure of it. And where something was wrong Nui was a part of it.

"Ragh!" Ryuko growled and swung again.

Gamagori was awoken from his sleep by a loud explosion. Running out of his room to get a better look his eyebrows went up in shock. Smoke was pouring out from a gaping hole in the Kiryuin mansion and he could just make out two figures in the middle of the air duking it out. What was going on?

Guards were running around frantically not knowing what to do. "What's happening?" he barked as he approached a small blonde haired guard. "Lady Satsuki is fighting something. We don't know how it got here."

Gamagori stiffened. His lady needed his help. He raced back to his room while barking out the orders to his guards. "Keep an eye on her. And keep the damage contained. We don't want the rest of campus to know."

He quickly changed out of his coconut patterned pjs and slipped into his three star goku uniform. Following the fight in midair he raced towards it to try and get closer to it.

"Matoi listen to me," Satsuki grunted as Ryuko pummeled her in the stomach. "You're not in your right mind. I wasn't the one who killed your father. You have it all wrong." Satsuki had been trying to convince Ryuko otherwise for the past ten minutes but to no avail. Her words only served to incite the girl even further.

"Argh!" was Ryuko's response and she aimed another fist at her opponent who neatly dodged before kicking her attacker. Ryuko howled at the pain before Satsuki grabbed her by both of her shoulders and tried to see what was going on through the mask. But before she could say anything Ryuko's zipper mouth zipped open and out came a gush blood blinding Satsuki. She grabbed at her face to wipe away the foul tasting liquid and Ryuko used the chance to raise her blade and bring it swinging down hard. Satsuki couldn't block in time and she was sent crashing to the ground, a half block from Gamagori.

"My lady!" he cried as he reached her. "I have failed you yet again. I let an enemy get their hands on you!"

Satsuki cut her subordinates apologies short by pushing him away. "Not now, it seems Matoi is not herself."

"Matoi?" Gamagori asked as he looked up into the skies to see Ryuko rushing down to meet her enemies.

"Yes, she is not in her right mind. We must return her to it." Ryuko landed next to Satsuki who had her blade ready for the flurry of jabs and thrusts that Ryuko sent at her.

"Gamagori, get Mako." Satsuki had a brilliant idea. If she couldn't get through to her, she knew someone that hopefully could.

"But Lady Satsuki, I cannot leave you here to fight her," the giant protested.

"Go!" Satsuki ordered as she bent backwards and dodged a huge blast from Ryuko's blade that halved the building in back of her.

"Very well," Gamagori bowed and pulling out some car keys from his pocket, clicked a button. The garage in his building opened up to reveal a pink car there. He hopped in and pushed the pedal to the very farthest it would go.

"Get out of my way. Open the gates!" he ordered as he swerved to avoid people. The gates opened up and soon he was roaring down student pathways and over benches as he raced to Mako's room. Mako was unaware of what she was about to be thrown into and was dreaming of food when Gamagori slammed the door to their room open scaring Mako out of her dreams. Her snot bubble burst as she sat up. "What. What's happening?"

"No time to explain Mankanshoku. Get in the car and I'll tell you later!" Gamagori yelled, only his head fitting in through the dorm door.

Mako followed him into his pink car and soon they were zooming off again pushing well past the speed limit.

"Man this is crazy, here I was having a great dream about food and then you were in it helping me eat the food and then all of a sudden you appear in real life. I'm so happy!" Mako squealed from the passenger seat.

"You were dreaming about me?" Gamagori stumbled on his words as a light blush spread on his cheeks. He forgot the severity of the situation momentarily.

"Yea and you were super nice and stuff. And we were eating spaghetti from the same plate when we accidentally got the same noodle and we both wouldn't let go of it so we tried to see who could eat it first when-oh Gamagori-senpai there's a bench there."

Gamagori who had been too absorbed in listening to Mako's story didn't notice to where they were driving. He shifted his eyes back to the road just as the car tire hit the bench. "Hold on!" the car spun wildly as he tried to hold onto the wheel. Mako just put her hands up and shouted "Whee!"

The car spun until it crashed through the gate which hadn't been opened up in time. But none of its passengers had been hurt. The same couldn't be said for the car, which was dented. Gamgori sighed heavily his brows furrowing. "I was supposed to drive Lady Satsuki with this." Then he grabbed Mako whose head was still spinning from the ride and carried her under his arm. He ran towards the sounds of battle trying to explain on his way. "Mankanshoku your friend Matoi is in trouble. We cannot seem to get her back to her regular state. We need you to help calm her down."

"Sure no problem Senpai." Mako smiled from her position under his arm.

They got to the scene where several buildings had been demolished by the fight and guards were running around putting out fires and helping injured members. Ryuko and Satsuki were still going at it and there was a lot of blood around them, but thankfully none of it seemed to be Satsuki's, although she had a nasty bruise around her left eye. Matoi was spraying blood out from her joints; more was running down her thighs. She had seemed to have lost a lot already and Gamagori was surprised she hadn't fainted yet.

Gamgori lifted Mako above his head and she raised her arms in an airplane position. "Go Mankashoku, save your friend!" with that he threw her and she flew straight into the fight. She decelerated by grabbing onto Ryuko's neck and spun around several times before slowing down and coming to rest on the ground.

"Ryuko-chan!" she grabbed Ryuko's face between her hands. "It's me Mako. Stop what you're doing, it's wrong!" Ryuko's head struggled to escape her grip but Mako forced it to stay there. "Ryuko can't you see what your doing is wrong! You're hurting a lot of people." Mako turned Ryuko's head to the left where there were guards being carried away on stretchers. Then she turned her head to the right where fires were consuming some of the buildings. Finally she returned her face back to look at Mako's face. "Stop this. This isn't you!"

But Ryuko just growled, "Move," and when Mako shook her head no, Ryuko pushed her back hard flinging Mako into Satsuki's hands that were ready to catch her. Ryuko then moved closer to them and raised her blade high up with her left hand. "Move," she growled again. But yet again Mako shook her head. "I know you don't really want to hurt her Ryuko, don't do this. We were supposed to finish college together. We promised." Ryuko glared at Mako's expectant face, but it was hard to tell what she felt.

"Then I'll hurt you Mako, to get to her," Ryuko moved to lower her blade but suddenly her right hand stopped her left hand. "What are you doing?" a deep voice came from Ryuko but it wasn't her anymore; the voice didn't belong to her but to a separate entity.

"I'm not going to let you hurt Mako. She's my friend." A strained voice that finally belonged to Ryuko, came from her mouth, as she struggled against her own hand eventually causing it to drop the blade. Now that the blade had been dropped she had control over both of her hands. She began to pull away at the stuff covering her face. She yelled out as she tried to pull it off and everyone watched as slowly Ryuko's face was becoming more and more visible.

"This isn't you Senketsu. I won't let you make me something I'm not!" with that Ryuko freed her face from the black fabric, and with that the suit left out a scream that was a cross between the sound a whale makes and a deflating beach ball. Ryuko pulled down on her chest fabric and blood burst out as she did so. Her face contorted in pain. "I let my anger get the best of me, but it's not right." At last with a final scream from the clothing she ripped it off and it lay in tatters around her. She collapsed to her feet in her own pool of blood and laid there.

"Ryuko-chan!" Mako rushed up to her friend and cradled her head in her arms. Gamagori approached Satsuki and bowed before her. "Is my lady alright?"

"I'm fine. We have to see Matoi to a doctor."

"After she attacked you?" Gamagori stood up looming angrily. "Why after all that-"

Satsuki frowned and Gamagori stopped himself. "I feel Nui had something to do with this. Also I want you to check how she got here so that nothing like this can happen again. It may answer the question of how Nui is getting in and out of our campus without people knowing."

Gamagori nodded his head and then called over some guards to provide medicine.

Satsuki stumbled over to her room drained. That fight had been tough. Ryuko was far more powerful and talented than given credit for. And Junketsu put a terrible toll on her body. She could tell that, despite not wanting to admit to herself, she wasn't strong enough to wear a kamui causally like Ryuko seemed to do. She had thought that her pure will would be enough to control it, to fight it, but it was so hard.

Satsuki untransformed and fell to her knees her legs not able to sustain her without the extra power of Junketsu to support her. Feeling a bit weak? Junketsu smirked and Satsuki angrily ripped it off her shoulders. It fell a few feet from her but soon hopped closer. Satsuki was about to tell it to stay away when coughs overtook her body. She ended up on all fours, blood dripping out of her mouth. She stayed like that, coughing painfully and waited until it subsided. Junketsu's sleeve was touching her face. Try as you might your body will be mine soon. Satsuki slapped the sleeve away and grabbing Bakuzan in one hand and Junketsu in her other, she threw the jacket against the wall and pinned it there with her sword.

Over my dead body.

Junketsu's eyes narrowed. That will be my pleasure.

Satsuki wiped the blood from her mouth and then turned and left the room, her heels click clacking away until the sound of them finally disappeared, and in the silence Junketsu's low chuckle could be heard.