The titan ship was nearing Mor Ardain, steering towards the upper level.

For a moment, Sanzang panicked. "W-we can't directly approach the palace, we're not military! We'll be shot down!"

Maria didn't flinch, looking out over the balcony of the ship. "I want you to consider that Special Inquisitior Morag is the commanding officer of this vessel. This military vessel."

Sanzang rubbed the back of his head. "Ah. Brain fart. Thought we were on a regular ship for a moment." He straightened himself up. "I've spent my time making sure the others haven't gotten into trouble, as per your request."

"Good. How are they?"

"Rhod is putting on a strong front, but it's obvious he's been crying. Nim is freaking out, and Kouki has been talking her down from attempting to break free. As it stands, I don't believe she could process enough ether to get out of one of those cells due to her separation distance from Rhod. She'd only end up back in an ether net."

Maria nodded. "I imagine this is something of a nightmare for her. I can't deny I'm angry at Rhod for letting things happen this way, but I won't just throw him to fate. I've consulted with whom I can, and it looks like they'll put him on trial tomorrow."

The ship started to slow, as it circled on the approach to Hardhaigh Palace's docks. Maria had spent much of her time on board attempting to fix what she could of the mess Rhod had created. Morag hadn't allowed her, a potentially dangerous person, to roam free, but she had at least been able to gather some reports.

By all accounts, Nim jumped and lashed out, and Rhod hadn't made much effort to really fix things from there. Attacking a soldier was a serious offence, but given the proper defence, and under these circumstances, then maybe, just maybe...

If Morag hadn't recognised Rhod as the person who insulted her a while ago. She hadn't taken it personally, apparently, but the fact he jumped from the bridge had made it memorable. It meant he was known to have anti-Ardainian sentiment. Which made it so that if the soldier wanted to, he could easily pass the attack off as malicious, rather than an accident.

And that would... well.

Maria crossed her arms, losing focus of the palace. That would be jail time for sure, but would it bump up to execution? Either way, Rhod was at the mercy of strangers. And if Nim couldn't keep a level head regarding Mor Ardain for once, then things were bound to be worse.

Sanzang tapped the handrail, bringing Maria out of thought. "Lady Maria, we must depart the ship in good time. Come."

The cell door started to unlock. Rhod could her the mechanism clunking as a key was turned. It opened.

"Follow me. Any resistance will be met with force." Instructed a soldier.

Rhod got up. "...Aren't you going to tie my hands?"

"No need. If you tried to run, I assure you, you would not survive. Now get up." Said the soldier.

Rhod stood. "Alright, let's just get this mess over with. Are you going to give a speech before you kill me?"

"Just follow me."

A second cell started to unlock. Kouki sat still, as Nim crouched behind him.

"Don't." He said softly. "We are not in any position for fight or flight, leaving only diplomacy."

The door opened, and a pair of soldiers came in with two ether nets. "We're going to move you to the court. Please do not resist."

"Understood. I ask that you are gentle with the other blade. This has been a difficult experience for her." Kouki made no attempt to move as one of the soldiers moved and wrapped an ether net around him, tightening it with some cords.

Nim scooted to the back of the room. "I-I won't-"

"Please, remain calm. We are in no danger so long as you are calm." Said Kouki sagely, even as he lay bound on the floor.

A soldier walked over, and unfolded the second net, silently wrapping it around Nim as she trembled.

The orange phonex stretched out and bit his finger. "Sunny no!" Exclaimed Nim, as it tried to chew the finger off through the soldier's glove.

The soldier ripped his hand out, inspecting the glove. "Can you not." He deadpanned. "I am not paid enough to put up with this." He reached behind, and tied up the net. "Alright, we're moving out. Scott, you carry the crazy blade."

"I did it before!" Protested the other soldier.

"And you never got bitten."

Rhod was marched through the palace docks, surrounded by soldiers. He kept trying to look around for something, anything that might tell him more about the situation. Neither Maria nor his blades were anywhere in sight.

But then, for a moment, in the corner of his eye, he saw something. A nopon dressed in all black, jumping off the ship. And a robotic blade jumping after him. Awesome, so he still had Ninja McNinjaface doing his thing. Whatever it was he was doing. With any luck, he'd get bailed out of here.

The march was relatively fast, and they shepherded him into an elevator, before taking him down to the lower level of Alba Cavanich.

The moment Rhod set eyes on it, he knew. This place might be famous through the world for its technological mastery, it might have the strongest military in recorded history, it might have the legendary Brighid, it didn't matter. This city was doomed. The titan below was hot enough that Rhod knew crops were going to fail, even from here. There was simply no reason you would ever have a capital city somewhere so inhospitable. "Maybe Nim had a point. Without any nature to support this place..." He murmured to himself.

They continued down the street.

"Special Inquisitor Morag has already compiled all evidence surrounding your trial, so it will take place in only an hour." Said a soldier. "She is required to attend, as one of the involved, but must first make a report to Emperor Niall. Once she arrives, you will be tried."

"Ardainian efficiency, huh?" Said Rhod. Even surrounded, he couldn't help but make comments. "Wait, where is this court?"

They rounded the corner, coming into a district filled with factories. A large hall stood at the front. The group came to a halt. Rhod saw a second group of soldiers approaching, carrying his blades. He took a sharp breath.

"What are you going to do with them? I swear, hurt them and I'll... I'll..." Rhod couldn't think of a threat. He simply didn't have the position to make one.

"In the event you are executed, they will likely be added to the Ardainian army's stockpile." Said a soldier plainly. "Unless specifically requisitioned by Indol, on good grounds. Rare blades are quite a commodity, after all."

"..."

The one talkative soldier leaned back a little. "Relax. We don't kill people for no reason."

That really didn't reassure Rhod, who'd fought the soldiers. Still, he had other things on his mind. "How do you treat blades in the army?"

"Soldiers are directly responsible for their blades. Otherwise they are subject to military training and discipline, just as any soldier." Answered the man.

"...Right. It's just..."

"I know, she hates Mor Ardain."

"Wha-"

"I'm the one she punched in the face, after all. We get a lot of hate, us army boys. Mostly used to it. But we can't let things like this go unpunished. Crime would go wild if they thought people could disrespect the army." Finished the soldier.

"...If you think I'll just change my opinion of you after one conversation, especially after what happened in Gormott-"

"It's okay."

Rhod wanted to yell. About Gormott, about war, and how the army just weren't solving the problems that needed to be solved, but he couldn't. You physically can't yell at someone that just told you it's okay to yell at them. "...I hope Maria shows up soon."

Maria was waiting in the town. She'd been hoping to get the lay of the land, and find out where everything was, but currently she was following someone.

A white dress, of an uncommon make. That style wasn't native to Mor Ardain or Uraya. Perhaps... Tantalese?

Long black hair. A terminal case of resting bitch face.

And more importantly, her blade.

"Sanzang, what are your conclusions?" Whispered Maria, as Patroka headed around a corner, into an alleyway.

"My analytical skills aren't quite up to this... but it's undoubtedly an incredibly powerful fire blade." Said Sanzang. "If he's not one of the blade that was stolen, then I'd be surprised."

"...We need to get to the trial, but we can't let this chance slip away." Maria started walking across the street, and sucked air between her teeth. "There is a thin line between excellence and idiocy when it comes to decision making. I believe we shall have to leave Rhod to his own devices for a short while longer."

"Understood."

They walked into the alley casually. There was no way to hide should someone look down it. Maria placed a hand on her hammer, and gently walked, listening. She could make out faint traces of conversation, as she got closer. She stopped, at the corner.

"We're ready, Jin. Akhos is in position to knock out the communications between the guards, and Mik's moving the payload now."

Maria listened intently. If this wasn't suspicious, what was?

"Good. Remember what I've showed you about these streets? The escape routes?"

"We've got them. Evac point is the F-O-F, as agreed. It's Nia's first involvement of any sort, she's keeping the engine online for the Monoceros. Sure hope she's got the stomach for this..."

"It's something of a waste of potential, I agree." Said the man. "But she's new to this. Give easy jobs to get things started."

"Alright. And remind me why you're not showing up? Could probably use an invincible, supersonic warrior, y'know."

"I'm trying to keep a low profile in the public eyes. Me and Malos will be the strike team for the final phase of our plan."

"Okay, okay, whatever. Enjoy the show."

Maria heard footsteps coming towards her. Her heart stuttered. Getting discovered here would be a two-on one fight if these people attacked. She turned, and was about to sprint, when Sanzang stopped her and walked out, to her absolute bewilderment. He bumped into Patroka, and stumbled back.

"Oh, goodness. Didn't see you there, ma'am."

"Watch where you're going, idiot." Patroka brushed past.

Sanzang saw the man she'd been talking to. Dressed in pure white. With an angular mask, and a long, thin nodachi katana. Looking at him like... He felt a chill in his core. There was something about this man. But he pushed it aside. "Oh, excuse me? We're looking for some directions, to the court?"

"Go back down the alley and head straight." Answered Jin.

"Wonderful." Sanzang turned, and walked away. Once he was sure they were out of earshot, he brushed his hands off. "My apologies for resorting to trickery."

"You are forgiven. It is a lesser evil than what may be at play... we must find that woman. Decent people don't need escape plans."

Morag was recieving a very troublesome report from Niall.

"It appears Torna are operating in the city, if our sources haven't been tricked." Said Niall, as he went through a heap of paperwork. "Aegeon, the photographs?"

His blade took out a few pictures, and passed them to Morag. "It appears this woman is organising something in the factory district, but we're not sure what." He said, standing to attention beside Niall.

"I'm required at a court shortly. Shall I prioritise this matter?" Morag studied the pictures.

"No, I've seen the reports." Answered Niall. "The trial won't take long, and the guard has been increased to accomodate your time there."

"Thank you, your majesty." Morag set the photographs down. "We'll do everything we can to uncover the truth." She bowed, and left, Brighid in tow.

Niall sighed. "Thank you, sister." He whispered, before sitting straight and taking a fresh pen. "Aegeon, could you pass me the reports on the abandoned industrial zone..."

Ten minutes later, Rhod saw Maria approaching. "Oh, there you are. Did something happen?"

"I'll discuss it later. Can you handle the trial without me?"

"Wh-what?!" Rhod tried to run forwards, and was barred by the soldiers. "Why?!"

"I need to follow someone. I think they're who we're after, and this could be our only chance." Maria turned to leave. "I'm afraid... you're just not worth the trouble, right now."

"Come back! I need you here!" Yelled Rhod, as Maria was leaving. She went without a word. It was almost surreal watching her go. Being left to fend for yourself in an environment where you're powerless was nothing less than terrifying. And being told you're not worth the trouble, too... That really did cut deeply. "I... uh..."

"Whew, harsh." Said one of the guards. "She must really not be too pleased with you, eh?"

A few minutes passed as Rhod sunk into despair. He couldn't talk to his blades, he just knew that Nim would probably make the situation worse, and Kouki might not be alright at all, being held in an ether net all this time.

He heard footsteps. The soldiers straightened. "Special inquisitor. We can proceed with the trial immediately."

"Are you certain?" Asked Brighid. "I can't see his companion anywhere."

"She just told me I was on my own." Mumbled Rhod. "...Get it over with. Kill me."

"You're not likely to be killed." Said Morag. "If you're really sure, then let us proceed."

The courtroom was a large circle, with perhaps twelve people sitting in a semicircle, staring down Rhod. His blades were finally placed in speaking distance to him, and the two nets were removed.

Rhod could feel the ether flow between the three of them restart, and immediately looked over to Nim. She was liable to do something stupid and attack. But she was making no motion to. She was just looking over at Kouki, a hand over her core.

Maybe, just maybe, the trial would go well.

Maria moved through the area. Patroka wasn't aware of her. Because otherwise, why would she have met up with her two associates?

The one in blue, Akhos, was directing along a cart, with the top covered by a cover. And the man in black was seeing them both off. All three had their stolen blades. Fighting them would be suicide at best.

And they split up, Mikhail heading down one of the streets, as Akhos and Patroka went with the cart.

"What are they trying to do?" Asked Sanzang.

"We need to know what's in the cart." Replied Maria. "It's safe to assume it's illegal. But they could be manufacturing things, or smuggling, or maybe they're going to sabotage production."

"...I don't think we can halt them."

"No. The guards might be able to bring them down eventually, however." Pondered Maria. "But if such a gambit failed, then I would likely be harrying the architect's will rather than furthering it."

"Maybe you should go and get the help of some more guards... Ah, oh course. Go and bring Morag. She ought to respond to such a dire situation." Sanzang looked back. The courts weren't that far away.

"I'll go. You stay here and keep watch."

The judge had been quick to assess the evidence he was presented with. "Assault of a soldier, and resist of arrest. How does the defendant plead?"

"..." Rhod bit his lip, and looked over to Kouki.

Kouki shook his head, eyes closed. He seemed to have a certain feeling about him, ever since he'd entered this building. More of a... presence, like a guardian totem. Rhod liked it.

"Not guilty."

"On what grounds?"

"The attack was purely an act of panic." Said Rhod. "I had no ill intention towards your soldier, however after the first move I couldn't defuse the situation."

"...Could the soldier in question, Brahms, give his statement?" Said the judge.

"I was sent by the Special Inquisitor to investigate the presence of a Gormotti trailing the procession from the shadows. I cornered him at the top of the stairs, and an Uraya guard accused him of Tornan affiliation. I moved closer, and his blade struck out."

"Torna?" Questioned one of the judges. "If that's true, then we have no choice but to ask you many further questions."

"I'm not with Torna, I'm one of the ones who was sent to stop it." Said Rhod, looking up at the judge.

"I can confirm this." Said Morag. "His associate is an Indoline, and has provided proof."

"Very well. However, I cannot allow your action to go unpunished. Please wait here, while we decide your-"

BOOOOOOOOOM.

Rhod grabbed the podium he was behind, as the building shook, and a spray of plaster came from the ceiling. "Wh-what the hell was that?!"

"Eek! What have they done?" Nim tried to run for Rhod, hitting some kind of invisible barrier. That explained why they took the net off her, at least.

"That came from the industrial district!" Kouki steadied himself. "Calm down Nim. It doesn't concern us."

Morag shot to her feet. "The factories! Judge, contact the first aiders. Carraig unit, with me! We need to respond, prioritise any survivors!"

Rhod suddenly felt a surge of determination. "I can help! Let me come and heal the wounded!"

"Can I really trust you?" Said Morag.

Rhod didn't have the patience to try and prove anything. "Yes. I promise I'll do everything I can to save lives, and you can kill me if I don't!" He ran over to Nim, and started looking for some way to disable the barrier.

Brighid walked over and tapped a concealed button. Nim sprang out, and Kouki followed.

Morag charged through the streets, the Carriag imperial guard close behind her, and Rhod behind them. There was a terrible plume of smoke rising from one of the buildings. People were trying to move in to help, but the area was almost totally destroyed.

"Lady Morag, they've hit the ether net factory." Brighid looked at the smoke plume.

"Curse it! The materials there would have made a much worse explosion. Unit, evacuate any wounded from the factory immediately. Rhod, focus on saving lives, doctors can treat the rest later!" Morag sprinted down the street, for the blast area.

Rhod kept up, and came to see Maria, fighting Patroka in front of the gates. "Maria!"

Maria either didn't hear him or didn't care, swinging wildly as she tried to hit Patroka, who twirled her cannon in a deadly dance of avoidance. "You murderer! There were people in there! How could you?!"

"Simmer down, idiot." Patroka said with a smirk, before bringing her cannon up and firing a blast of flame. She looked over to Morag and Rhod, and the soldiers spreading out to encircle her. "Oh, look who's here. Torna says hi."

"You will not leave this place." Morag walked forwards with a steadfast posture, drawing her whipswords. She flicked each wrist, and an arena of blue flame appeared around the area. "If you have attacked innocents, you will pay."

"Tsk. Perdido, keep the Indol woman busy for a minute." Patroka crossed her arms and sauntered forwards just a little, taunting the people she was faced by. "We've planted a second bomb in your storehouse for the ether nets. You could run now and try to defuse it, or bring me in." She leaned forwards. "And I know full well how important ether nets are to the city security."

Maria was being pressed back by Perdido's four-pronged assault, and shouted. "She has allies nearby! Be wary!"

Morag spent one second thinking. "...Carriag unit. All men, check the stores, and alert first aiders to get to the blast zone. I will handle this."

"Yes ma'am!" Echoed the soldiers.

Morag pointed a sword forwards, and advanced. She moved in a flash, and Patroka rolled back to evade her whip, before there was a crack of lightning and Akhos swept in, parrying with one twinblade and moving back himself, as Maria scrambled to avoid being separated from her allies.

"All... according..." Akhos fixed his glasses. "To the script! Right into our ploy- without its Special Inquisitor OR ether nets, Mor Ardain is good as dead. Long time no see, you two."

"You are gravely mistaken if you think I will allow myself to fall here." Morag started to glow with a golden aura, a link flowing back to Brighid.

The fight instantly descended into chaos. Morag and Brighid took point. She went in against Akhos, quickly locking blades with him and then making a sweeping strike to try and force him back. Patroka hefted her Decimation Cannon and started to pump out a stream of explosions, but Morag was like a mirage on sand, always a little out of reach. "Radiance!" She whirled a whip grandly, and brought a stream of blue fire crashing down, as Akhos scrambled to move, changing his target.

Rhod jumped in, bringing his knuckle down for Akhos. He wasn't as skilled as Morag or as strong as Maria, but he had the guts. "Concentrated Blow!" He knew what he was doing, aiming where he did. Akhos tried to dodge, and he did. Leaving Patroka exposed, and Rhod closed in, with weapons far nimbler than Maria's hammer. He rained down blows against her barrier, before a blast sent him staggering back. He dodged out of the way of a swift strike from Akhos, and switched to his Twin Rings. "Shuriken Pitch!" He let it fly, and it found its mark against Patroka, before returning to his hand.

"Focus fire on Patroka, Ahkos can't defend her!" Morag had grabbed all Akhos' attention, leaving Maria free to run in and leap, holding her hammer high. "Judgement Hammer!" It came crashing down, and Patroka stumbled a bit, before Perdidio pressed in, and Maria was forced to switch to defensive. "Locked Gates."

Rhod darted around the side, fury sparking, and threw himself into a renewed assault, slashing, slicing, and then backing off to spin a ring around his head. "Restoring Disc." He caught the weapon and handed it back, re-equipping his knuckles. "Okay, let's hit 'em!"

"You won't break the script so easily!" Another crack of lightning, and Rhod went stumbling, as Maria packed up her hammer. "As one, dear sister." Akhos suddenly broke free of Morag's duel, going straight for Rhod, as Patroka fired a salvo at Morag, trying to preoccupy her. Akhos passed back his twinblades, as Perdido marched in.

"Cruel World!"

"Diamond Flight!"

Morag moved forwards as the two pulses of energy resounded, mixing into a Flame Bolt. The Cruel World stripped the ether from the air around her... but she was in the way of Rhod and Maria.

There was a blast as the bolt detonated, and a few seconds of smoke obscuring vision. Morag went stumbling back, her hat falling to the floor, singed.

"Now!" Shouted Morag, as she forced herself to stand.

Rhod didn't hesitate to charge Akhos, and with one blow he sent a twinblade spinning out of his hand, then a quick left hook and a move into a kick... Then he felt it. Like a deep gasp of fresh air in his lungs, a gold aura appeared around him.

"We're in perfect sync!" Called Nim. "Kit and Sunny will help out!"

"Throughput... Straight!" Rhod moved faster than ever before, and his fist collided with Akhos's chest. He had to shield himself from another blast from Patroka, aware his barrier was running thin. Akhos charged in desperation, holding his remaining blade with both hands and aiming for the face... He knew what to do, and stuck his gauntlets to the side just in time.

"No!" Nim grabbed Ahkos' wrist, sucker punched him, and Rhod watched as Sunny stretched, and bit down on Akhos' nose, triggering his ether barrier and shocking him just long enough for her to stamp her foot and cause a shock of earth ether, then throw him back.

Maria ran, dropped her hammer and pole vaulted, ascending into the air and stretching out her legs. "Fall, arrogant fool!" She crashed into her target, and he went down like a sack of bricks, and then instantly switched to put pressure on Patroka, stopping her interrupting.

Morag was simply indomitable. "Brighid."

"For Ardainian Honour!" Brighid was present in an instant, as blue fire licked at every crack in the pavement, every possible weakpoint on Akhos. "Will-o'-the-wisp!" The fire surged to assault Akhos, and there was a volcanic blast, the ether in the air trembling.

Nim called to Rhod. "I... I'm ready! We'll draw out our full power!"

Rhod got into his stance, and stared down Akhos. "Time to throw down! To protect lives!" That was the bond he and Nim shared, ultimately. He'd realised it back in Uraya. But he hadn't put it into practice until now. Whether they did it by science or blade magic, the result should be the same- people spared tragedy. He slugged once and then gave a full-strength backhand, before Nim caught the gloves.

"I am the Earth Priestess!" She punched once with each hand, the force making resounding thumps, as Kit and Sunny both focused their Blue-Orange rays of energy onto Akhos. "And I won't let you defile the world!" She jumped back, the rays cutting out for a moment, and Rhod knew what to do, snatching the knuckles one final time, and driving them into Akhos as Nim let a final burst of power out.

There was a tiny, fraction of a second where time was stopped for Rhod. He realised his wounds had been wiped away like dust on glass. Morag's and Maria's, too. Then the explosion from Mega Eruption hit. Akhos was thrown clear away, as Rhod and Maria was hit badly too, backing away to try and pick Akhos up.

"Be careful! This walkway platform is-" Morag started to call a warning, as Rhod realised what was happening.

The area he was over wasn't built on solid rock like the rest of the city. It was a walkway at the edge of the industrial zone. There was a clunk, and it gave way.

The fall was directly into the Cloud sea.

"Wow, you sure look like crap, Akhos." Said Mikhail. "Aww, but dear ole' Patroka's still pretty."

"Stick your head in a titan weapon, Mik. It'll improve your looks when it fires." Retorted Patroka.

"Bickering aside... all... to script..." Coughed Akhos. "Another hit and I'd be down for the count."

"Ugh, let me heal ya, you numbskull." Nia walked over, and took one of Dromarch's rings off her hip. "Ev'rything went okay, yeah? No more ether nets?"

Patroka shrugged. "There's probably a few more knocking around in the storage of other places. But for the most part, no."

"Then we can move unopposed." Said Jin. "What of Indol's team?"

"...I'm not sure." Said Patroka. "They fell into the clouds, and Morag couldn't send a search party since she had to deal with the number you did to her unit. Probably drowned."

"No. They're not dead yet." Said Jin. "People can float easily in the Cloud sea. Where will they wash up?"

"Uuuugh, don't give me cleanup duty. I know we're gonna kill them now, but I need. My rest." Grumbled Patroka, sitting down.

"No. I'll go." Said Jin. "I'll make an example of them, since they're currently the leading figureheads against us."

"I'll come too." Added Malos. "I need to see what Sever can do against a driver. Patroka, you're in charge until we get back."

Author's notes: Okay, so I'm planning to end the story soon enough. However, before I do, I could send Rhod and Maria to Tantal, or Leftheria. Or even the Cliffs of Morytha.

But, I'm under the impression nobody actually cares about this fic, so I won't unless asked.

I mean, seriously, of the two comments I have one of them was a guy telling me he wasn't going to bother reading the fic. Kind of disheartening, but I don't like leaving things unfinished. The other is two lines long, but I do really appreciate that one.