When your enemy decides to take things up a notch you'd best play the game or get left in dust.

Resonating with a Colossal

It was the last day of their visit, and yet another restless night for Soma. Not only did his affections for Umiko drive him to jealousy at the thought she was sleeping in the same room as that Sora guy, it also didn't help that her little speech to him had a lot of truth to it. He never saw what was around him and lost something dear to him. And now he had to suffer with the consequences of his negligence and watch as she went to the side of another. His chest started to hurt... is this what he had been doing to Umiko? If that were true then he deserved this pain.

"Mr. Schicksal."

"!" The sound of her voice drew Soma out of his spiraling thoughts.

"We'd best be off now. Director Garland would like to show you guys the areas outside the Anti-Aragami Wall before you go." Umiko explained.

She had been waiting for them outside there room while they finished packing up their belongings after having breakfast. Catching them by surprise when they opened their doors to find her there when they didn't see her or Sora at the Mesh Hall that morning. Umiko looked toward Alisa who was lugging all her luggage.

"No need to carry all that, Ms. Amiella. We won't be out for long." Umiko insisted. "I'll see to it that Sora helps you with your luggage when we get back."

"Oh, uh... thank you." Alisa awkwardly replied, still a little shaky around Umiko after their Resonance yesterday.

"Tst," Soma turned his head away from Umiko and crossed his arms. He hated the mention of Sora's name when it came from Umiko's voice. Even as she said it with indifference, she still called him by his first name while only calling Soma by Mr. Schicksal.

"Ah... Oh! Are we taking the Chopper today?" Alisa said, trying her best to break the awkward tension building among them.

"No, the Director thought we'd get a better amount of sight seeing if we travel by Jeep." Umiko explained before turning around to head toward the elevator. "Director Garland and Sora are waiting for us in the Basement Docking area. Come along."

They silently followed behind her, carrying their God Arcs- if they had them- as she lead them to the elevator and waited for it to reach the lower level. It seemed that sudden display of emotions from yesterday were long gone, it was a little chaotic but Soma felt that a tiny piece of Umiko had appeared that day. Whatever it was that made her open up like that was long gone now and there was no guarantee that it would happen again today.

The elevator doors opened to the God Arc Soldiers' Loading Docks, Soldiers moved around in a busy bundle. One of them caught Umiko's eyes as it stopped in its tracks at the sound of the elevator doors opening and looked at her with its blazing red eyes. She ran up to it and stopped in front of it as it got down on one knee to look down at her.

"Are you going out today Empty Eyes?" She asked it, which it only responded with a sound that sounded like a submarine whistle in deep water and gently rubbed a finger on her cheek. She grabbed the finger and caress it as she looked up at the Soldier. "Take care out there, Empty Eyes. Come back soon, okay."

It let out that sound one last time before getting back on its feet and heading out of the Docks to scout the area with the other God Arc Soldiers. She gave it an uncharacteristic wave as it left compared to her new impassive nature.

"They're waiting for us outside, let's go. I apologize for the delay." Umiko said to them before leading out the open doors that the Soldiers had just left out of.

The Soldiers were by now far off in the distance, jumping over the Anti-Aragami Walls and heading off to their assigned scouting area. Umiko lead them to the corner of the outside Loading Docks where the Jeeps and other vehicle transport were stored. Engineers and Mechanics where scattered around, making sure everything was in upkeep and in the best condition. The worse thing the God Eaters would have to go through is needing a hasty escape and having their vehicle unable to start.

"There goes the last of the Wonder Twins." The Engineers would whisper among themselves as the group passed by. They tried to be quiet but Soma, and most likely Umiko, could still hear them.

"Heh, another bad day for the Aragami."

Umiko continued to walk toward the Jeeps where Garland and Sora stood waiting for them.

"Good to see you all." Garland greeted to them. "We'd best be off if we want to get back by the time your Chopper gets here."

Garland walked over to two already prepared Fenrir Jeeps. The one on the left had the Fenrir logo printed on in white while the other Jeep on the right had it in black.

"Director Sakaki, Sora will drive you and Ms. Amiella. Soma and I will be riding with Umiko." Garland explained as Umiko and Sora entered the driver's seat of their respective Jeep. Umiko to the left, and Sora to the right. They loaded their God Arcs on the Hangar on the side of the Jeep, allowing the other two to see so they could load theirs as well.

"Tst, why would I want to ride with you?" Soma huffed at his uncle.

"Oh, if you prefer riding with Sora, I can swap your seat with Ms. Amiella's." Garland grinned as the hint of hatred entered Soma's eyes.

"I think I'll stay with you and Umiko." Soma conceded, crossing his arms and turning his head away from Garland in slight embarrassment. Garland was playing with his affection for Umiko and his dislike for Sora, and Soma despised it with a great intensity.

"Excellent, now that that's settled, let's move out." Garland smirked at him, making a vein in Soma's forehead pop out. All of them entered into the backseats of their Jeeps after Soma and Alisa loaded their God Arcs while Sora and Umiko started their engines. But then there was a moment where Sora's and Umiko's eyes met. Soma would have been upset with such a moment, but there was a competitive look in their eyes that made Soma more concern than jealous.

"Umiko." Umiko turned her head around at the sound of Garland's call for her to face him. He simply smirked at her which told Soma things where not going to end well. "Leave him in the dust."

"Yes sir." She replied, taking the stick-shift out of Park she revved the engine. "Buckle up."

She took her foot off the Brakes and kicked the Acceleration. Burning rubber, both Jeeps began to race out of the Branch and passed the Anti-Aragami Walls as the smaller extractable doors opened. They took the broken roads of the wasteland as they both tried to cut off the other.

"Umiko, you're driving like a madwoman!" Soma growled at her as the bumps in the road stabbed into him. "Slow down!."

"Over my dead body! Sora's going down!" Soma liked the aggression in her voice when she said that about Sora, but he didn't like the fact that she changed Gears to kick things up a notch. "I need a boost."

She reached over to the Jeep's radio and put in a mix tape, or was the correct term mix disk? She had a mix tape? Soma began to ponder could Umiko actually be regaining back the characteristics that made her 'her.'

They took the roads through the ruin suburbs, which had destroyed houses and streets, until they made it to the city area. Umiko took a Highway ramp to get the higher ground over Sora.

"Ha! Second born! Second Place!" Umiko shouted down at Sora over her mix tape. Soma didn't get it, what kind of taunting is that?

"Not for long!" Sora shouted back up at her. He shifted Gears and shot off to the Check Point leaving Umiko behind in the dust.

"Oh no you don't" Umiko protested as she went faster on the Highway. The place was deserted, who was going to give her a ticket for speeding?

Umiko knew a short-cut, if she continued on the Highway she would get to the Check Point ten minutes faster than the regular way. But in order to make it she would have to kick on the Acceleration since the bridge piece up ahead was broken off.

"Umiko, no." Soma said as she pressed her foot further on the Acceleration as she sped to the broken bridge. "No."

"Yes." Umiko smirked in the rear view window.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes." She put on an evil grin as Soma began to panic when she took the jump. Soma grabbed onto the door frame and his Hoodie, wishing that he had buckled up when his uncle did. They flew in the air for a moment as everything went in slow motion. Soma looked to the side to see a flock of birds flying by as the morning sun blinded him for a moment. Time returned to normal again as the Jeep crashed down on the other side of the bridge. Not wanting to waste another second, Umiko sped forward. Only looking into the rear view mirror for a second to gloat to Soma. "Made it."

By the time she had made it to the Check Point she slid the Jeep to the edge of a broken road that lead into another deserted city. Turning off the Jeep she got out of the driver's seat to lean on the car door, waiting for the others to show up. She grinned as she heard the screeching of car wheels coming in from the distance. And the grin grew even wider as she saw the angry look on Sora's face when he saw she had beaten him. Nonchalantly she walked towards the on coming vehicle.

"Umiko!" Soma called out to her in concern as the Jeep got closer. But Sora slammed on the brakes at just the right moment for the Jeep stopped in front of her and for Umiko to put her foot on it.

"What took you so long?" Umiko smirked at him.

"Mrmm." Sora grumbled in complaint.

"Victory is mine, dear Sora." Umiko proudly said to him as she took her foot off his Jeep and moved over to his side to lean on his door.

"Hmph, what is your demand as the victor?" Sora mumbled in defeat.

"Help Ms. Amiella carry her luggage back to her Chopper when we get back."

"Hm, that doesn't sound like an unreasonable demand." Sora thought aloud before nodding in acceptance to Umiko. "Very well, I will accept my defeat with dignity."

"That's my boy." She tapped on his door before moving out of the way so he could get out of the Jeep. She headed back to her Jeep to get her God Arc, while the others did the same. While they readied themselves, Garland walked to the edge of the road to look out at the city. "Director?"

"I always enjoyed coming out here during my free time." Garland said aloud mostly to no one. "It makes me think of times when this was once a thriving city. Once filled with an enrich culture of people with lives and individual purposes. Now it's a pathetic excuse of what it once was. Then I wonder, what went through the peoples minds as they fled for their lives at the first wave attack of the Aragami? Were they scared? Did they wait for someone to save them or did they try to fight back?"

"..." Surprisingly Soma could relate to that. He had lost count of all the times he had looked out at the City of Mercy and thought the same thing.

"And now look at us. A dwindle of the population we once were, trapped behind walls like prisoners." Garland gruffed before his voice turn to an egotistic confidence. "But then I look into the future and I see a time when this place will be full again with human life. Soon humans will find there place back on the top of the food chain. And hope shall return to this desolate world. I dream for a world where humans no longer have to live in fear of the Aragami."

"And we shall see that your dream becomes a reality, Director." Umiko and Sora said to him, still saluting him even as his back was turned to them.

"Hm, I hope so." Garland said slightly turning to look at them with his eye. "You two are the key to my goal. I'm counting on you both."

"Sir!" They saluted to him again. He gave them a grin at their response when a roar not too far off rang through the area. Umiko ran to the edge to look off in the distance, crouching down on her knee while Sora moved to her side.

"It sounds like a Hannibal." Umiko deduced. "Four of them in fact."

"Looks like there's one for each of us." Sora commented as they both sliced their hand on their God Arc, allowing them to take form.

"Alright let's get'em." Umiko awkwardly cheered to the team, getting to her feet as Akutenshi came to her side. They jumped off the bridge and went to the Aragami before the Aragami came to them.

Both sides rushed each other with a ferocity. Umiko's and Sora's arms changed into Devouring mouths as they took bites out of their targeted Hannibal. For a Hannibal, they went down faster than usual. Kaminari had literally punched her Hannibal to death with brass knuckles she formed from her fists, while Akutenshi brought his hands together to form a buster blade.

Once they were done they jumped up the broken off high road to join the others. Akutenshi aggressively stared at Soma while he stayed close to Umiko, blocking her from Soma's view. He did no form of attack nor growled at Soma, but his eyes still held a fire in them as he stared-down Soma.

"Umiko," Akutenshi addressed her, finally taking his eyes away from Soma. "I request for an extension of time in this form."

"?" Umiko tilted her head at him. "That's an unusual request, coming from you."

"Please, Umiko." He pleaded to her before slanting his eyes at Soma as he looked at him from his peripheral vision. "I desire more time in order to protect you... from the things unknown."

"..." She stared at him. Making him stare at her with pleading eyes as she debated over an answer. Finally giving him her decision, she rolled up her bodysuit's sleeve to reveal flesh. She expose the skin between her lower arm and her gloved hand as she held out her arm to him. "All right, it's the first time you've asked of anything of me. How could I refuse?"

"Thank you..." Akutenshi said as he grabbed her arm and dug into her exposed flesh with his wolf-like canines and sharped teeth.

Soma was about to break them apart when Umiko hissed in pain and slightly flinched, but the smell of her blood made him freeze. Something in him snapped as the whiff of her crimson liquid flowed in the air. He began to shake as his Aragami roared with excitement inside of him. Soma lowered his head and covered his face with his hands, his mouth began to water and his eyes started to glow. He was disgusted with himself at how her scent was so enticing to him. The scent was beckoning to him, begging him to come hither and partake in its liquid bliss. Soma felt like those damn monsters that went berserk over the smell of her crimson essence, or like the one that was biting into her and drinking it up as if it were a soda.

Getting his fill, Akutenshi cleaned up the running blood before retracting his canines from her flesh. Pulling away from her to allow the bite wounds to close up. Releasing her arm, he moved away from Umiko to return her personal space.

"Perhaps we should've checked with the front desk to see if the area was clear." Sora commented, unmoved by what had just happened.

"That would've been a good idea." Umiko agreed. "At least we've cleared the area."

As if jinxing themselves, a roaring shriek like a panther rang out at their side. Coming from behind a Swiss cheesed building was a colossal Aragami. It resembled a Hannibal with the scale color of a Blaze Borg Camlann and the arms of a Pray Mantis.

"It's Ba'al!" Kaminari's eyes widened. Usually this type of Aragami's habitat was in the forest area. "What's an Aragami like that doing all the way out here?!"

"This fast moving bastard will be difficult for us to handle." Akutenshi growled out. The monster of a colossal must have been drawn to the area by the brief moment of Umiko's blood scenting the air. Not only was it stronger than usual Aragami, it might also be possibly be going through a berserk. "We'd best brace ourselves for a long fight."

"Here it comes!" Umiko warned. Jumping back into the area, the four of them met it half way in order to not draw its attention to the others.

The Ba'al took a horizontal slice as its Pray Mantis razor arms sliced the still standing building in half like a scythe. They moved out of the way as the top halves came crashing down. Sora tried to go in for the strike, but the Ba'al moved like a Raptor and slapped him back with the dull end of its razor arm. Kaminari jumped in the air to catch Sora before he smashed into a building.

"Kaminari! Get Sora out of here, hurry!" Umiko ordered. "Me and Aku will hold it off!"

"But-"

"You can join us once Sora catches his breath. Right now he needs you to look out for his back while he recovers, Kamin." Umiko said, cutting Kaminari off before she could protest. Soma noted how Umiko not only addressed her God Arc with familiarly, but also Sora's God Arc as well. It was in brief moments like this Umiko would revert back into her old self, but only for a select few people. She would still behave in that reckless manner while still looking after her team. Umiko 'the person' was there, but her memories were missing.

Giving in to Umiko's stubborn nature, Kaminari carried Sora back to the others while Umiko and Akutenshi distracted the Ba'al.

"This is madness you know." Akutenshi commented to Umiko at his side. Umiko pulled out her Caligula blades from her arms and got into a fighting stance.

"I know. However, we must protect the others." Umiko simply replied to him. As the Ba'al charged at them, she gave Akutenshi one final command. "We must secure the line at all cost."

The Ba'al was upon them in a flash and sliced down at them with its razor arms like an axe. Akutenshi blocked his on coming blade with a cross block of his hands' Buster blade, while Umiko crossed her arms over her head and blocked his other blade with her Caligula blades. The force of the attack caused their arms and knees to bend. And their defense weakened as the Ba'al applied more force. Its blades coming closer and closer as it continued to push down on them.

"Ahh!" Umiko cried out as blade final pushed down toward her face and slightly grazed her cheek. Not enough to draw blood, but soon it would completely break through her block, slice through the skin, and cause so much more damage as it continued its downward path.

But the weight was lifted off of them as the fist of a God Arc Soldier punched the Ba'al in the face, sending it flying three city blocks to crash into a building.

"Empty Eyes?!" Umiko gasped as she looked up at their rescuer. "What are you doing here?"

Empty Eyes was programmed to scout the desolate city 20 miles from where they were that day. He should not have even been in the area. But Empty Eyes only responded with his submarine siren sound as it went down on one knee and held a hand on the ground for Umiko. Accepting that 'that' was going to be his only answer, Umiko jumped into his hand. Gripping his thumb for support as he lifted her up to his chests area and opened them up for her.

"Aku, I don't want to accidental step on you. Head back to the others and secure them, especially Sora." Umiko ordered down at Akutenshi.

"All right."

"I mean it, Aku." She insisted. "Protect them, all of them. I don't want a repeat of last time."

"I promise I will look after all of them." Akutenshi insured to her, placing his hand over his heart as an oath. "You have my word."

She gave him one last look before jumping into Empty Eyes' chests. The Ba'al was getting up, and she was running on limited time to Resonate with Empty Eyes before the Ba'al would rush at them with a fury. While Akutenshi ran to jump up top with the others, Garland got on the communicator in the Jeep to call the Front Desk back at the Branch.

"Director, are you alright?!" The Receptionist asked in concern. "We're detecting the presence of a Ba'al less than a mile away from your location."

"I'm fine." Garland responded, slightly vexed. "What's the meaning of this? I specifically assigned 'Empty Eyes' to another area."

"I don't know, Sir." The Receptionist responded as they heard her typing on her front desk computer. "It was scouting its assigned location when it suddenly ran off. It was like it was smelling something before it rushed off, neglecting its assignment."

"Hmph, I don't know whether to be grateful by that news or concerned." Garland mocked aloud at the idea of his Branch's God Arc Soldier gaining the characteristics of independent thought. He wasn't ordered to come to their aid, it chose to come to their aid. Most likely for Umiko, if not for anyone else. Garland addressed the Receptionist on the other line again as he gave out his orders. "Connect to Empty Eyes' main frame. Give me a status report."

"Roger." She complied, typing through the system as she brought up Empty Eyes' current status. "Calculation's up, Resonance at 85%. Gods Eater, Umiko, damage is at 78%. Damage detected in her arms and her right sides. Empty Eyes has sustained 10% damage... Sir! Empty Eyes' energy is at 35%! They must've not place him in his Charging Area this Morning!"

"!" The others' eyes widened at the sudden news.

"What's the amount of action time remaining?" Garland requested, demanding answers.

"The remaining time of motion is 8 minutes and 57 seconds. However, while in combat the time is drastically lessened." The Receptionist responded. So not only did the God Arc Soldier defy its orders, it defy its self preservation by coming to Umiko's aid while still low in charge. Knowingly risking the chance of being stranded out here just to save her.

"Damn." Garland hissed, breaking his cool mask for the first time around his guest.

"Resonance is at 100%, Sir." The Receptionist informed. Bringing Garland to the battle at hand as Empty Eyes began to hop around on its toes as it took up the form of a boxer.

"Stay on the line and keep me informed at all times." Garland ordered.

"I'll activate the monitor in the Jeep our line is connected to." She replied as a medium screen on the Jeep's dash board flipped into sight. A status screen of Umiko and Empty Eyes like the one from yesterday loaded onto the screen while they got a front row seat of the fight to see the action first-hand. "And remain on the line to inform you of any sudden changes."

Empty Eyes/Umiko went in for a left hook as the Ba'al charged at them again, then topped it with a right upper cut. Recovering itself swiftly the Ba'al dashed in for a slice cut through the stomach, which Empty Eyes dodged by a hasty jump back. The Ba'al twirled around as it tried to smack Empty Eyes with its tail. However, Empty Eyes caught the tail. Gripping it, Empty Eyes began flinging the Ba'al around. Smacking it into close by buildings and the ground before flinging it into a now tumbled building. But the Ba'al insisted on landing a strike as it got to its feet and did a double slice, using its other razor arm to go in for another slice after the first one, landing a cut in the God Arc Soldier's arm. Empty Eyes instinctively gripped the wound with his other arm to stop the bleeding, Umiko on the screen was doing the same thing but Umiko let out a small cry while Empty Eyes made a submarine horn sound. The Ba'al let out a high pitched roar as if laughing at their pain.

"Empty Eyes has received 12% damage in its right arm. Charge remaining is at 5 minutes!" The Receptionist informed.

Pulling themselves together, Empty Eyes got back on its feet again to go for another round. Its God Arc still rested in its back strap as the two of them decided to continue in hand-to-blade combat. Smacking away another incoming slice with their arm, Empty Eyes bent down to deliver a side kick in the Aragami's stomach. The Ba'al cringed down into itself as air was knocked out of it. Not stopping there, Empty Eyes sent a downward punch into its skull thus slamming it down into the ground.

"Remaining time is 3 minutes!" The warning rang out like a dreaded alarm clock. Sora, now fully recovered, stood on the edge of the designated Starting Point.

"Give me your face!" Umiko said aloud, inside of Empty Eyes and on the screen. Empty Eyes grabbed Ba'al by the skull while it was still planted in the ground. Lifting it up slightly off the ground, Empty Eyes began to bombard it with punches in the gut. Empty Eyes brought its head down once to ram it into its upcoming knee before bombarding it with punches again. This time at face level as Empty Eyes targeted its face and its stomach. The Ba'al was a bloody mess before Empty Eyes lifted it in the air again and threw/slammed it down into the ground again, this time it landed on its back. "Don't get up."

Empty Eyes was reaching for its God Arc to finish the job as the Ba'al struggled to get back up on its feet again... but... that was when it happened... Empty Eyes' upper body went limp as its arms fell down to its side.

"Power depleted! Charged time as reached zero!" The Receptionist stated in alarm. "My God, she's stranded out there!"

"Umiko!" Sora, Soma, and Akutenshi shouted out to her in concern.

"NO! Come on Empty Eyes, don't you dare die on me! Not now!" Umiko screeched in alarm through her teeth as she tried to move her arms, but like Empty Eyes they felt limp and heavy. Noticing Empty Eyes' inability to move, the Ba'al put on a monstrous grin on its battered face as it got on its feet again. Seeing the trouble she was in, Umiko struggled harder. "!"

Wanting revenge, the Ba'al didn't go for a one bite kill. It toyed with them, wanting them to wish for death by the time it was done with them. Wrapping its tail around their leg, it began smacking them into the ground and buildings as they took the abuse like a rag doll.

"Come on, come on, COME ON!" Umiko shouted as she continued to struggle inside of Empty Eyes, ignoring the pain she was feeling along with Empty Eyes. Her alarms went off when the Ba'al had enough and slammed them into a tilted building as it got ready to cut into them with its razor arms and teeth. Alisa and Kaminari screamed at what was to come and covered their eyes with their hands. Desperate and unwilling to die today, Umiko's pupils on the screen began to slit as she showed off her canines and sharped teeth. "Empty Eyes, activate Beast Mode!"

Empty Eyes' eyes brightened and glowed as Umiko screamed out the command. All of them widened their eyes in shocked as Empty Eyes began to shakingly move. It growled and roared in pain along with Umiko as she cried out.

"What's happening?!" The Receptionist questioned aloud. "This is impossible. Empty Eyes shouldn't even be able to move. Power is increasing at 15% and is continuing to rise!"

"AAHHH!" Umiko cried out as her and Empty Eyes began to bend down and embrace themselves as they continued to shake. "Come on boy, I know it hurts! I'm hurting too!"

Spikes started to form out of Empty Eyes spine as it continued to shake uncontrollably. And claws began to form on its fingers, along with Umiko's on the screen. She looked hysterical with a eat-crap grin on her face as the transformation took place. The God Arc Soldier began to grow in height, and took a more feral and lean shape.

"YES! THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT!" Umiko shouted, a slight drool escaped from one side of her mouth as her head shot up on the screen. They all flinched back- with the exception of Sora- for a second when her eyes met theirs on the screen, for in that moment she truly looked like a monster. As her head shot up, so did Empty Eyes'. Its eyes were glowing, and the jaws that were sealed up for safe measures opened up to reveal flat but crushing teeth. They looked like they had the power to take a bite out of a mountain and the capacity to take a good chunk out of a building. As Empty Eyes growled at the Aragami, Umiko cooed to it two words. "Good boy."

At her praise, Empty Eyes charged at the unsuspecting Ba'al. It was surprised by the God Arc Soldier's sudden movement and stunned by the slight transformation. The hungry look in the God Arc Soldier's face made the Ba'al freeze with fear. The last thing the Ba'al saw in its life was Empty Eyes grabbing its head and ripping it off of its body as Empty Eyes used his other hand to grip down on its shoulder. Letting go, Empty Eyes watched as the body fell lifelessly to the ground. Roaring in victory with the head still in hand as the God Arc Soldier lifted its head to the sky.

Coming back down from the victory high, Empty Eyes tossed the head to side with lack of interest and stared hungrily at the body. Dropping down on all fours, Empty Eyes began to savagely tear into the body. Ripping apart limb from limb with its teeth like an animal as the Aragami's blood leaked out from its mouth. Growling in pleasure as it relished the taste of its prey. The sight was savage, cruel, and positively frightening. What frightened Soma, Alisa, and Dr. Sakaki more was the fact Umiko was doing the same thing on the screen. But her face expressed the lust of ravenous hunger better than Empty Eyes did.

"Umiko that's enough, you've extracted the core!" Akutenshi shouted at her, begging her to cease. But she continued her carnage of the Aragami, already ripping it in two as she tore through it. She heard Akutenshi, and yet she didn't. His voice was like a mumble to her as she relished in the moment of rare emotion.

"Stop it, you've won already!" Soma shouted at her, desperately trying to reach out to her. However, his voice had as much power over her as a strangers.

"SISTER!" The cry of Sora snapped her back into reality, along with causing the heads of Soma, Alisa, and Dr. Sakaki to turn toward him. Soma's eyes shot open, he didn't believe what he had just heard.

Empty Eyes' head bolted up and turned to looked at Sora. Its jaw covered in blood as it stared at them with a still slightly opened mouth. Empty Eyes marched over to them, breathing through its mouth as it stared down at Sora.

"...Get into the Jeeps." Empty Eyes/Umiko said to the others.

"!" They all stared up at her at such a demand.

"No, you need to get out of Empty Eyes before this state causes more damage to you." Akutenshi said up to her with slanted eyes in aggravation and concern.

"No!" She barked back at him. "If I disconnect now, Empty Eyes will be left with no power and stranded. I'm not leaving him out here to chance his fate with the Aragami!"

"This is crazy, Umiko!" Kaminari shouted up at her. "The longer you stay in this mode, the more your life is drained!"

"!" The others from the Far East Branch worried about what Kaminari meant by that.

"Then it would best if you didn't waste time arguing with me and get in your Jeeps. Because I'm not leaving Empty Eyes behind." Umiko stubbornly shot back at Kaminari. Not wasting any time, Garland got back in his Jeep seat.

"You heard the lady, take your seats." Garland order to the others. "The longer you all argue, the closer Umiko comes to death."

"!" Not wasting a second they all ran to their Jeep. Akutenshi taking Umiko's seat, while Kaminari sat in the passenger seat next to Sora in his Jeep. With all of them in the Jeeps, Umiko picked them up and carried them on her sides like a football.

"All right, let's go!" She shouted as she used Empty Eyes' long strides to move faster as she rushed back to the Branch. "Come on, Empty Eyes. Hold on for me."

Both of them were in agonizing pain, now that the lust of hunger no longer clouded the pain. Taking the short cut she used before, Umiko easily leaped over the break in the bridge. Even landing pass the bridge as she booked it to the Den. Empty Eyes' legs were starting to feel like jello as Umiko pushed him to keep running.

"Don't give up, we're almost there. Come on boy, you can make it!" She softly encourage to Empty Eyes as the Branch came over the horizon. Boosted by the sight, she ran a little faster, trying to the best of her ability not to joist the others in the Jeeps. Once she touched down at the outer Docks she gently dropped the Jeeps on the ground while ducking into the God Arc Soldiers' Docks, rushing over to Empty Eyes' designated Charging Area. Leaning back into his charger, she manually grabbed the chargers and stuck them into her back, not wanting to waste time for the machine to automatically lower the wire into his back. Both of them slightly growled out as the giant plug connected into Empty Eyes' back and electricity suddenly rushed through their spines. Fatigue finally caught up with Umiko as she began to droop down along with Empty Eyes. "Ah, we did it."

"Umiko!" Sora shouted out as he ran in front of Empty Eyes. The God Arc Soldier slowly began to change back. The spikes on its spine receded into it as did its claws, and it jaws slowly sealed back shut to a solid mask as its eyes lost their glow. Its chests finally opened to allow Umiko to fall out. Empty Eyes tried to catch her again like last time, but it was too exhausted. All it could do was twitch its fingers at its attempts to lift its hand to break her fall. It was up to Sora to grab her. He caught her and slid on his knees as he broke her fall. Holding her close to him, Sora began to try and shake her awake as the others rushed toward them. "Umiko."

She cringed as he called out to her again, struggling to open her eyes to face him. Umiko had opened her eyes to familiar eyes as the group and other God Eaters in the area made their way towards the two. She weakly lifted her hand up toward him, shaking as she struggled.

"Brother..." Her eyes looked so pleadingly up at him. Soma recognized that look, that begging look to be reached back for... the same look she gave him that day as she reached out to touch his shoulder. But unlike him, Sora actually gripped her hand. She looked up at their hands than back to him with watery eyes, still basking in the after-rush of emotions induced inside the Resonance. She actually looked relieved and... happy. Her eyes slowly closed again as sleep consumed her. "Thank you for reaching back..."

Soma couldn't tell what she meant by that. Was she talking about the mere act of taking her hand? Was she referring to calling out to her as she ripped through the Ba'al with an Aragami savagery? Or was she referring to something... deeper than that? Something that even she herself didn't know, or remember. The questions swirled around in his head as Sora picked Umiko up like a child. The others of the Branch cleared a path for him as he ran with her back to their shared room to allow her to recuperate and rest. Kaminari and Akutenshi followed after him as he ran off. But through it all, one question rang louder than the others.

"They're... related?" Soma questioned aloud.

"Of course they are." Iida huffed as she broke from the scattering crowd to join them, annoyed at such a ridiculous question. "Twins in fact."

"Twins?!" Soma and Alisa said aloud.

"Jeez, didn't you guys notice how the two looked alike?" Iida mocked back at the shocked two before laughing at their stupor. "You must be crazy if you think the Branch would allow the two of them to share a room if they weren't related."

She did have a point, and Soma did notice how their actions toward each other was more platonic than a physical attraction. Even their words to each other were not out of line for a sibling affection. Soma was just embarrassed and ashamed of himself that he was blinded by his jealousy to not notice this.

"But then... if they're related, why do you challenge Umiko as if she's your rival in love?" Alisa questioned the girl. Her actions toward Umiko were not adding up. If she desire the brother, wouldn't it be smarter to win the favor of the sister?

"Merely an attempted display of dominance." Iida said, waving off Alisa's confusion. "Umiko is different from most sisters, girls in fact. You can't win her over with kindest and nice words, you have to prove to her that you're strong and persistent enough to be worthy of her brother. I may not be winning now, but within time she'll give in to me. If anything it's kinda sad."

"Sad?"

"What do you mean?" Soma insisted that she elaborate her last statement. Iida then turned to look at them for the first time with a look of pity in her eyes.

"They've got no memories of who they once were, where they came from, what day they were born. They don't even remember their last name."

"What?" How could that be? Soma knew for sure she remembered her first name, how come she didn't remember her last name? Let alone why Sora didn't remember it.

"The pure dosage, wiped their memories of any pain. Leaving you to ponder what misery lies in their faded past? What could have driven them to lose everything that defined them as who they are?" Iida continued on, driving her argument home as she looked into their eyes. "They lost everything. Their parents, their friends, for all they know they were born in tubes in some lab far away. They have nothing but each other. Wouldn't you find that scary to wake up and find yourself alone in the world with only a precious few things?"

"God... I never realize how awful their situation was." Alisa gasped out with grief and pity. "I was devastated by the lost of my parents to the Aragami, but I don't know what I would've done if I had forgotten everything including myself. It must be so lonely."

"..." Soma didn't want to linger on the thought. The idea of Umiko in pain, made his chests compress.

"With only so very little in this Aragami-eat-Aragami world, she's desperate to protect what little she has. And she has the relentless determination to never allow anything to tear it apart from her." Iida looked off into the direction Sora left with Umiko. "She's willing to do anything to insure its existence in this world, even at the cost of her own."

"Will she be alright?" Soma questioned about her condition.

"Beast mode is a last option during desperate situations." Garland jumped in, interrupting the threes conversation as he broke away from his discussion with Dr. Sakaki. "We've only been able to see it activated during a God Arc Soldier's Resonance with a Gods Eater. It acts as an Energy Transfer as all power is shifted into a more basic animalistic, or should I say Aragami state as pure instincts take hold of both the users. Energy is used and drained from the Gods Eater's health instead of the God Arc Soldier's charge life. Although strength is doubled, the amount of time is limited before the mode drains all the life out of the Gods Eater."

"Are you saying that Umiko has just lost years from her life span?!" Soma questioned back at his uncle, slightly pissed, but mostly concern as he hid it under a show of anger.

"Oh rest assured, dear nephew. The whole experience merely drained her health nothing more." Garland explained to him. "With some rest and food in her belly, she'll be back on her feet in no time. Unfortunately, Umiko is too exhausted to bid you farewell at your Chopper pick up and I'm not cruel enough to pull Sora away from his injured sister."

Garland grinned as he saw the hint of embarrassment in Soma's face at the mention of Sora and sister in the same sentence. Garland had knew about his nephew's feelings for Umiko and the misunderstanding of the relationship between her and Sora. He just enjoyed Soma's reactions too much to inform him of anything until the very last second. Now that the cat was out of the bag, Soma's reactions were still priceless. It reminded Garland of the times when he would try to get under his stoic older brother's skin when they were little. It was truly like-father-like-son when it came to Soma, but perhaps easier due to the influences inherited from his mother.

"It would seem that our Chopper is here. We'd best be off." Dr. Sakaki informed before giving Garland his usual fox grin. "It's been a lovely visit, Garland. I hope to have the time to come again to see the progress."

"Oh you will, I hope to be able to call on you if anything pops up."

"If it's within my power, I'll see what I can do. But we've been away from our Branch for long enough, it's time to head back."

"I'll see you out." Garland then looked toward Soma and Alisa. "It's been lovely seeing you, dear nephew. And you too, Ms. Amiella. I hope you two will come again for a visit."

"Yes sir." Alisa said to him standing tall, while Soma looked away from him with arms crossed.

"Tst." Soma hissed through his teeth.

Garland had escorted them back to their rooms where they picked up their luggage. Keeping true to his word, Sora had returned to help Alisa carry her luggage back to her Chopper. The whole air around Soma had become awkward at the presence of Sora. As soon as the last piece of Alisa's luggage had been place in the Chopper, Sora had sped back to his sister's side. His God Arc had most likely changed back to normal, leaving only Akutenshi to look after her vulnerable body. Like Umiko, she was all he had and he would do anything to defend her.

Sora was gone before the Chopper began to start, leaving his Director alone on the roof as their guest lifted off. Soma looked out his window, along with the others, back down at the Finland Branch. The place where Umiko was caged, and apparently where God Eaters went to become lab rats.

*** Author's Notes ***

Yeah, I created my own Aragami. And you know what, I don't care if the game steals the design. Heck, I'll be happy if they do. I actually like the idea of new Colossal size Aragami to face off in the new game, if not as a regular then an extra that you can buy as an add on.