Disclaimer: I do not own Danball Senki, the concept and its characters, they all belong to their respective owners. All I own is my OC and nothing else. I also made up some LBXs and attack moves but I make no claim on it because the idea still belongs to their respective owners, just to let you guys know. Also, I made a sketch of what Rei would look like so please check my profile for the link.

Chapter IX: Trade-Off

"No!" I shouted angrily as I slammed my hand on the screen. The throbbing pain was nothing compared to the sight I had just witnessed. My friends were in danger and all because they did it to protect me. Ban and Jin would constantly tell me that it was never my fault but how can it not be when clearly they would all be killed trying to protect me.

"Even if we did get out, I doubt Liberator won't have that droid of theirs prowling about. Man, this is all so frustrating." Asuka frowned in frustration while Jin and Ban tried to contact the others from outside.

"No luck, everyone's too busy or unconscious to ask for help. We have to get out and rendezvous with them." Ban sighed worriedly after he put away his CCM. Jin nodded in reply and I couldn't help but wonder why. Why they were so intent of trying to find the hard way out when the only way everyone will be saved is if they just give me up. Is this how much I really mean to them? I really am a shallow person to see how much they go through just to help me whom they just met recently. I gripped Hel Verse tightly, knowing full well that I should just stop thinking negatively of others. They aren't Aki and wallowing in the past won't save everyone.

It's time for the Tactician Empress to make her move.

"I have a plan but the success of it depends on whether or not the droid will be outside." I finally speak out and everyone turns to me in surprise.

"If it is outside?" Ban asked me and a shaky smile formed on my lips at the excitement that ran through my veins. Since when did I last feel the thrill of a fight? Was it when I first held Hel in my hands or was it when I fought alongside them on the ship? It all feels nerve-wracking to have to let them rely on such a slim chance but if it works then the tables will turn on our favor.

"Then Nidhogg will finally return to where it belongs." I say with finality. I guess my voice sounded so sure for once that I saw their faces feel more hopeful than they were a while ago. With a quick nod, all of us readied ourselves as we slowly opened the door that led to the lobby. We could still hear the sound of fire crackling from the debris, the smoke forcing us to cover our nose and mouth as we maneuvered carefully outside. The place was too quiet, probably the LBXs were all recalled to fight the ones outside the shuttle. I gritted my teeth angrily at the thought of my friends in danger, my thoughts swimming with the ominous things I would to Liberator when we defeated them.

"It's too quiet and I don't like it." Asuka whispered behind me and I nodded, my heart hammering nervously as we kept a look out for Nidhogg. Liberator was never this sloppy, they should have known we would come to help that was why I was so sure that Nidhogg would be waiting for us. If I'm wrong, then the chances of us helping the others would only lower.

*Roar*

As if answering my prayers, all four of us froze as red eyes glimmered from the smoke. A strong gust made us protect ourselves with our hands as Nidhogg's huge wings expanded in a deathly pose of embrace. All of us readied our LBXs as a huge shield engulfed us and we were all sucked into the droid's own diorama.

BATTLE START!

Wasting no time, OdinMkII and Triton ran towards Nidhogg to intercept it. Asuka's Vampire Cat was nowhere to be found but I knew she was prowling about, waiting for a chance to attack. I used this as a chance and had Hel Verse intercept Nidhogg from behind, using the pillars of the rundown coliseum's diorama as a shield.

"Now!" I shout and on queue all four of our LBXs sped out to the droid, weapons ready to aim. Vampire Cat shot out from the skies. Its weapon poised to strike the center of the body. All simultaneous attacks hit their mark and my smile widened as the droid remained intact, its metallic skin producing an ominous glow. Triton and OdinMkII readied at my side as Vampire Cat poised in anticipation from one of the pillars.

"Now what? You said we should attack at the same time but it doesn't look like the droid has any weak points." Asuka called out in question as Jin and Ban turned to me worriedly. I still couldn't shake the feeling of the thrill course through my body as I stared in anticipation at the droid that had yet to make a move.

*Crack*

Everyone turned to the sound and my smile only grew wider when I saw a small crack peeking from under the droid's wings. It's not much but because of such a feat, this victory is finally ours.

"No wonder we couldn't wound it when we were on the ship. A well thought out design indeed. Even a machine, no matter how well made it is will always have a weak point. It all boils down as to how the maker can hide it from the opponent." I point out and frown when the droid closed its wings, the crack hidden beneath the sturdy metallic wing.

"What do you mean? Can a crack really make that much of a difference?" Ban asked before he let OdinMkII push Triton away to dodge the droid's missiles. Triton rolled to the other side next to Vampire Cat just as the droid opened its wings again and I smirked.

Victory is ours.

"Asuka! Use your trident and aim for where the crack is. Jin, use Triton's hammer to ram the trident deeper. Ban help me keep the droid from folding its wings." I ordered. It was like we were in a trance, almost like all of us linked at that same time and knew what to do. I didn't need to give a countdown to tell them when to act. Almost in sync, Jin and Asuka's LBXs vanished and sped to the droid who was still kept busy by Hel Verse and OdinMkII. With a jump, Vampire Cat's trident aimed where I wanted it to, causing the droid to collapse to the side from the impact. Triton jumped from the air, the hammer beginning to glow.

"Attack Function!" Jin shouted as the glow got brighter and Triton sent its devastating attack straight on Vampire Cat's trident.

ATTACK FUNCTION: GROUND WALL

The power of the combined strike caused an explosion that sent all of our LBXs tumbling back. A huge smoke engulfed the arena causing us to heighten our guard at the impending attack from the smoke.

"Is it over?" Asuka finally asked but was quickly answered when a loud roar echoed from behind the smoke.

"Rei look out!" I reacted just in time to Jin's call when Nidhogg's long tail flew from out the smoke and tried to make a grab for Hel Verse. Triton's hammer abated the attack causing it to ram to a nearby wall.

"Triton! Jin are you okay?" I asked worriedly as the smoke cleared and we saw the damage we had dealt a while back. A huge hole that showed the inner mechanism of Nidhogg was visible under its now folded wing but I knew even if it did try to shield the hole, the game had already been won.

"Triton's fine. No damage whatsoever." Jin replied simply as Triton emerged from the rubble and I sighed with relief. Our eyes trailed back to the droid glaring at us with its nightmarish red eyes and I readied my spear as electricity began to crackle from the tip.

"It's time Nidhogg returned to where it belongs!" I shout with determination as the sparks flew and all four of us made a run to the droid. Missiles launched left and right as we each took turns to dodge them and send the entire diorama into ruin.

"Attack Function!" We all said in unison as all our weapons shimmered in a bright light.

ATTACK FUNCTION: THUNDER CRASH

ATTACK FUNCTION: GROUND WALL

ATTACK FUNCTION: DEVIL SOUL

ATTACK FUNCTION: GUNGNIR

All attacks aimed at the droid, the release was just too blinding we all ended up having to shield our eyes from the blast. A loud roar could be heard from the background followed by an explosion that sent even us nearly flying off. Dust covered the entire floor, causing us to cough as the view cleared and we sighed in tiring victory.

There before us stood Nidhogg, or what remained of it, its parts scattered all over the fading diorama, its red eyes fading away as its wings collapsed to the ground. I could see the sight of relief flash across my allies' faces but we knew that there was no time to rest. Everyone outside needed help and we needed to get to them fast.

"We have to go." Ban ushered us quickly into action and we all nodded as we made a run towards the outside of the building. Originally the mission was to secure the building but by the time we made it out, we could see smoke billowing from the upper floor and several LBXs flying down from the building.

"They have the computer chip with them! We'll hold off the rogue LBXs and get to the ship. Rei, you and Jin try to stop those LBXs from escaping." Ban called out and both Jin and I nodded as the four of us split up, Ban and Asuka making their way to the ship to help the others while Jin and I tried to stop the LBXs from escaping with the chip.

"Hel Verse let's go!"

"Triton go!"

Our LBXs jumped out and quickly slashed away at the two rogue LBXs that stopped to buy their other ally time. We could see the LBX with the chip round a corner of the building and quickly made a run, hoping not to lose sight of the LBX.

"There it is." I breathed as we saw it enter a warehouse. The moment we stepped into the building, the whole area was suddenly engulfed in a bright light, making us squint for a second at the sudden entrance of light. Machines from left and right began to start moving as our eyes adjusted to search for the LBX that ran off.

"What on earth is this room?" I wondered and my eyes widened at the sight of bullets being rolled into a conveyor belt. A weapons room? I could feel my body shiver from worry at the thought of being in a room full of weapons. An LBX battle, we can handle but without a diorama to protect us properly, we are literally sitting ducks out here.

"Rei!" I froze from the sudden shout and felt my body slip as both Jin and I fell behind a huge metallic crate that shielded us from the bullets that hailed from the other side. I felt something wet on my hands and my body froze when I smelled the coppery scent of blood.

"Jin! Are you alright." My body went into hyper drive when I saw Jin clutch his wounded arm tightly, his right hand loosely holding at his CCM.

"Just a scratch. Nothing fatal." He winced making my worry only worsen. He risked his life for me after all, how can I not be worried.

"It looks like we fell into a trap. That LBX must be around here, using the bullets from the conveyor belt as a weapon. We have to find it quick before we run out of hiding spaces." He peeked from our hiding place.

"This is bad. I can barely move my right hand and with that LBX prowling about with a deadly weapon, Hel Verse is all we have right now." Jin cursed as he gripped his wounded arm tightly.

"I should have been more attentive. I thought with the droid out of the way, Liberator would have been powerless. I underestimated them." I replied in frustration at myself. They called me the Tactician Empress for heaven's sake, I was supposed to anticipate these things and yet look at where my carelessness had gotten us to.

"No one's blaming you, Rei. You've done well enough by knowing how to defeat the droid. Have you forgotten? We're in this as a team so we all share the responsibilities. Our trust in you got us this far and now it's our turn to lead." Jin assured me making me blush. They… really thought that highly of me? I really need to fix my trust issues. Here I was thinking I understood them well enough only to suddenly be surprised that I really knew nothing of them at all… Their too supportive and it makes me guilty that I've failed to do the same. I really have to make amends.

"Thanks, Jin. You're always the one making me realize these kinds of things. Let me repay the debt." I make a shaky smile of thanks as I rip a portion of my jacket and wrap his wound tightly with it. That's right, Jin can't fight right now which means our power has been halved but I refuse to back down just yet.

I still have an ace up my sleeve.

"Jin, can you use your left hand?"

I breathed in all the air I could muster as I shakily slipped out of the hiding place. Only the sound of mechanisms could be heard as my eyes searched carefully for the rogue LBX hiding somewhere in the room. Jin was nowhere to be found, I made sure he was within safe distance because between us, Liberator needed me alive and not him.

"I propose a ceasefire! I know you're there Liberator and I want to talk." I shout, my voice echoing in the room. I waited patiently for the reply and my body went rigid in anticipation when the machines stopped moving, the room was now deathly quiet which made me nervous.

"A ceasefire you say?" my eyes narrowed into thin slits at that voice and my eyes turned to a stack of metal crates that reached till the roof. There above stood the LBX we were trying to capture, a loaded mini gun was on its right hand while the chip was tied behind its back. I dropped Hel Verse to the ground with a thud and raised my hands in surrender.

"That's right. I'll go with you willingly but in exchange you will have to release my friends." I gambled as I watched the small machine remain unmoving from its spot. Was it contemplating? Or could it be they didn't need me? The many options this could lead into our defeat swirled in my mind as I silently prayed that things would go our way till the end.

"Hmm. A petty bargain and attempt to trick me. You're a few years too early to be trying to fool me." The voice cackled as the gun aimed from the ledge behind me and fired. The zing of the bullet made contact with another sound and my eyes widened in fear when I saw Jin click his tongue in frustration, Triton's hammer managing to block the bullet that nearly hit Jin square in the head.

"Did you honestly think you could fool me with such a simple minded trick? How low you have fallen, Rei." The voice from the LBX cackled as it reloaded the gun again and aimed at Jin. I cursed inwardly, knowing full well Jin wasn't as good as he was with his left hand. He barely dodged the bullet the first time, who's to say the second one wouldn't hit? I ran and grabbed Hel Verse quickly and threw it near the rogue LBX, who quickly aimed the gun at Hel Verse when it landed right next to it.

"Too slow!" I shouted just as Hel Verse's spear stabbed the LBX square on the chest. I quickly made Hel Verse grab the chip and jump away just in time when the LBX exploded. I sighed in relief and turned to Jin, hoping he was alright after what had just happened. I didn't think my plan would fail but thank the stars my aim wasn't bad.

"Jin! Are you alright? I'm sorry I didn't think the plan would fail." I apologized worriedly as we finally both met up and made our way outside the warehouse.

"I'm fine and to be frank, I'm quite glad it failed. I didn't think I'd be able to deliver a blow quick enough with my left hand." He winced making me frown and I shook my head.

"Still, I nearly got you killed! You don't know how worried I was when I saw that bullet just inches form your head."

"Don't know how worried? I think the feeling's only mutual. I thought that maybe you were pushing your luck too much when you proposed that plan and walked out to be a sitting duck to the LBX. I understand they won't hurt you but we can never know. So don't pull stunts like that… but still, thank you. Even if it failed, for you to trust me that much, I'll try to live up to your expectations." Jin smiled softly making me turn red and I shook my head profusely at his implication of failing.

"You already lived up to my expectations, Jin. There's nothing left for you to prove. You told me not to look down on myself and you should do the same." I argued and turned even redder at the way the words sounded. Even Jin seemed taken aback but he chuckled softly as he patted me on the head.

"Really, thanks." He added just as we heard footsteps running towards us and we looked up to see Ban and Asuka with Daiki, Hiro and Kazuya.

"Rei, Jin! That wound-, are you guys alright." Ban asked us worriedly when we finally reunited. Everyone looked worse for the wear but nonetheless they were safe.

"I'm fine but Jin's wounded. We need to get it treated. How are the others?" I asked to which Kazuya replied while we made our way back to the ship.

"I don't know what happened. One minute we were fighting hordes of LBXs and then the next thing we knew, they started dropping dead one by one. By the time we got into the ship, Cobra and Gouda had just regained consciousness. Reina, Jessica and Ami were sent to their room to recuperate while the rest of us tried to look for you."

"Yuuya's keeping watch with Gouda and Ran while Cobra's busy repairing the ship." Daiki added, his cheek sporting a bandage from a wound inflicted by one of the LBXs.

"How about the chip did you get it?" Ban asked and we nodded as we took it out. The chip was as small as a dice and to think the data of NICS was all in this little thing.

The things people do just to follow their own ideals.

"You should all take a rest. We'll be flying back to NICS by tomorrow so you all have enough time for a little sleep. If you'll excuse me, I'll just inform Secretary Kaios of the events as well as the president of Egypt." Cobra instructed us when we were finally inside the ship and he took his leave. Everyone collapsed to their seats with a thud as my eyes remained glued to Jin's arm that Cobra had just finished wrapping.

"Can you move your arm properly, Jin?" I asked worriedly as I watched him twist it before wincing in pain.

"At the minute, I can't but it'll heal so you needn't worry." He assured me as he took his seat beside me which was in front of Ban and Yuuya. Gouda, Daiki and Kazuya had to stay behind in Egypt to help in ensuring safety around the area so they left as quickly as they had arrived. I frowned at the idea of them going off so soon to do another mission when clearly they were still tired after the fight with Liberator. I understand we need to help as many as we can but aren't we just kids? We have limits too, right?

"Well aren't the two of you being a little close there." A familiar voice said from behind us and I turned to see Jessica exit the room with Ami, Reina and Ran. I quickly stood from my seat and ran to them to see how they were doing.

"We saw what Liberator did to you! Are you guys alright? Shouldn't you be resting?" I hovered over them making everyone chuckle which made me frown.

"This isn't funny guys!"

"I'm sorry but who knew you could be such a worry wart? You never worried like that before." Ran piped in and turned red while scratching the back of my head in embarrassment. Now that you think about it, I never really did show such a fuss after the ship incident. Sure I did worry but I was also hesitant then to act like myself around them. How easily I changed just by a single beckoning of a hand.

"But thanks for worrying, Rei. Although we are fine, they didn't do much damage, just knocked us out." Ami assured me but I couldn't help to still worry, they were zapped for heaven's sake. How could I not worry?

"But still. If they really did want to reset the world as they claimed, wouldn't they have already decided to get rid of us? What other motive do they even have by keeping us alive?" Reina theorized turning the suddenly chirpy mood into a grim one.

"Reina-san's right, Liberator did mention that we were meant to be erased, so to still be alive even when they had the chance… what are they aiming for?" Yuuya added as we all suddenly began thinking deeply about this sudden 'mercy' Liberator had presented us.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm glad they're still kind enough to let me live. I don't know what on earth their ultimate plan is but the mere fact they let us live is their worst plan ever. They're underestimating us and I don't like it." Asuka jumped in with much enthusiasm, her face showing a dangerous intensity in them to beat Liberator to a pulp.

"Asuka-san's right! Belittling us was the enemy's downfall. Now they have another thing coming and I'm going to prove to them that justice always prevails." Hiro exclaimed firing us all up. Amidst all the commotion, my CCM rang causing everyone to stop talking. I glanced at the unknown number on the screen and I couldn't help but worry at the ominous feeling the call was giving. I flipped my CCM open and bringing it to my ear, I answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Belittling is such an erroneous term, I prefer to think of it as a 'playing' for a bit before we make our move." The voice behind said and before I could widen my eyes in alarm-

"Make no sudden expression of panic, Rei. This conversation is between you and me. Don't even try to signal for help or put the call on speaker. I will know… I always know." Liberator threatened before I turned to my friends.

"Who's on the other line, Rei?" Ban asked me as I got up from my seat. To think I would have to lie to them. Even after they trusted me but it wasn't that I didn't trust them. I just didn't want losing anyone again. I gripped the phone hard and mustered a nervous smile as I tried to excuse myself.

"It's mom. She's pretty angry that I hadn't been calling them to let them know how I'm doing. I can hear dad practically screaming for her to hand over the phone." I lied, the lie rolling out of tongue seemed so foreign to me as I bid them a quick excuse and went to get some private time. The moment we were out of ear shot, which was outside the shuttle, my eyes glowered at my CCM.

"A well thought out lie, even you had me believing." Liberator chuckled as I tried to control the urge not to yell. I made sure my back was faced against the ship's window, hoping that they wouldn't see the fury that was trying to show on my face.

"What do you want? It's your loss and no matter how many droids you send at us, I know their weakness, you can't fool me. It's our win." I growled causing the voice behind the phone to click their tongue as if they were reprimanding a child.

"I commend you for defeating Nidhogg, even I was surprised that you realized its weakness after only seeing it twice. But I'm not here to praise you, I came here to offer an exchange."

"How ironic. I did the same thing a while back and you said it was such a childish strategy." I replied, my voice laced with sarcasm.

"Childish? Yes, yours was too simple, lots of loopholes to take advantage of but I, on the other hand, made sure there weren't any loopholes in this deal." I could almost imagine the person on the other line smile sinisterly, making me shiver.

"How about it? Your submission to us or their lives?"

"You can't hurt them. I won't let you." I hissed over the CCM. It was a petty attempt and the voice on the other line knew it as it laughed at my pathetic threat.

"It's not like you have a choice. There's a reason why I let them live and it's your fault for trusting in them. The moment you made connections, that was the day you created your own weakness…"

"You expect me to believe a word you say? Who's to say you won't hurt them the moment I surrender."

"I never break my promises, Rei. But even if you refused, there's no way you can watch them get zapped to death." The voice cackled.

"You-, what did you do!?" I snarled over the line.

"That ship is rigged with circuits that not even your pathetic robot could detect. One signal from me is enough to zap them up and fry their bodies in the process. But of course I keep my promises, I made sure that the ship would detect it by the time they land at NICS. If by then they are alive then you must keep your end of the bargain." I gritted my teeth at their explanation, controlling the urge not to run and warn everyone. How could they! Even if I refused… is there really no way out of this?

"Don't even try to warn them by riding on the shuttle. You think I can't hurt you along with them? I've done it before and I can do it again. I made sure that even if you were on the shuttle to warn them, they would all die but you will live. One of the LBXs in that shuttle is rigged after all, an encoding that will be jumpstarted should you try to escape with them. The moment you rode to Egypt, you had already fallen into my trap."

"I knew you were lying! No matter what I choose leads to their death…" I could already feel the hopelessness sinking in, how do I even fight a plan as intricately woven as this? Is this really how far my strategy can help my friends? I really feel so pathetic.

"Lying? Then how about this? I inputted into your CCM a map at where we will pick you up. I rigged their GPS as well to signal your CCM's location is heading back to NICS when clearly you never left Egypt. By the time they will land, a phone will ring, you can hear them but they can't hear you. If you hear their voices then surely I held out to my end of the bargain. Escape is futile because in that area, all eyes are on you. If you really want to save them then this is the only path you can take… Make a decision, the countdown begins… now." The phone goes dead and my eyes look back to the window, everyone busy enjoying their conversations. I gripped my CCM tightly as I looked away from the view. I can't believe I'd be abandoning them the second they trusted me. Is this what Aki probably felt in those last moments? If it's for their sake then maybe I really have no choice but to destroy their trust in me.

How ironic, I was the one always blabbing how trust was such an important factor and yet I couldn't believe I would be betraying them like this. But they risked their life for me and even helped me open my heart again to other people. Isn't this the least I could do? Even if I become a traitor, if it means saving them then I have no choice.

"It looks like it's going to be a solo mission from now on." I whisper, my mind racing with the possible things that would happen when I come face to face with Liberator. I could practically feel my blood boiling and I knew that the moment I meet them, they would see their end.

When I meet them, I'll make sure they go to hell…

Chapter update! Sorry it took a while but here is the next chapter. Looks like everything is falling into place for Liberator but is that really the case? I hope Rei has an ace up her sleeve to get out of this one. Thank you so much for the support everyone. I didn't think the fanfic would get these many views in the span of a short time. You don't know how much this motivates writers like me!

So thank you and please do continue to support this fic by clicking fave or review.