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 X: Reunion's Revenge

The bustling city of Egypt was the perfect place to conceal an attempted kidnapping.

It wasn't like I was going to fight back though, Liberator made sure of that when they used my friends as hostages. I just hoped that they were holding out to their bargain though because if they didn't, then there was no point in cooperating. Fighting was useless too, because they had somehow hacked my CCM so it was completely useless. With no money and in an unknown territory, Liberator really had planned this all out and it made me upset to know that all this time we had been playing into their little game all along.

*Beep* *Beep*

I felt my CCM vibrating in my pocket and glared when I saw an unknown number. So they rigged it to only accept calls from them. Flipping it open, I clicked the answer button and placed the CCM to my ear.

"I did what you want, now tell me where I have to go." I growled earning me a chuckle from the other end of the line.

"Always the impatient one are we. Very well, look for a huge amusement park called the Sky Theater and then upon entrance show them the CCM. Someone will be there to pick you up by the entrance of the Heaven's Wheel. By that time, you will receive a call from your comrades and I would have kept my end of the bargain. Of course, escape will be futile if you think you can fool us. The entire theme park is covered in explosives, try to escape and the civilians pay the price."

"Monster!" I hissed, my blood boiling to think that not only did they use my friends but as well as the innocent civilians in the theme park. Only laugh returned, as if to mock me, before the call ended and my CCM died. Pocketing my useless device, I sighed as I looked up and saw the huge Ferris Wheel not too far from where I was. I gripped my bag tight, Hel Verse resting inside as I sucked in a deep breath and trudged forward.

I could already imagine their worried faces and I frowned. They trusted me and I lied to them by hiding this 'problem' from them. It was out of safety but it would make them think that I had belittled them and didn't deem them worthy to know of this. I really did trust them, after what they had done for me… it was the least I could do for them.

Consider it as my little payment for them.

As I neared the vicinity, my eyes widened when I saw many people entering the park. Apparently, today was some holiday, so families, friends, and couples flocked the park. The timing was just too perfect and it made me worried at how many people would get hurt or killed if I became too reckless. It's no surprise why the police have such a hard time tracking them down, with their fool-proof plans, they had really planned all of this very well. Unlike my strategies that are usually based on luck from the opponents, Liberator's was like an equation, linear and direct, each step fully analyzed to make sure it would have no mistake.

"Hold it, where's your ticket?" A guard stopped me and I rummaged my bag for the CCM. The moment I opened the phone, an odd logo appeared on the phone and the guard's eyes scrutinized me suspiciously before he gave me a black VIP ID and let me through. I could feel several eyes watching from a distance and I knew that this ID was my tracker. As I scanned the vicinity, I noticed that I was the only one branded with the black card. It only goes to show that even this park was under their control and reckless actions in here could spell trouble for the hostages that kept pooling in from the entrance.

"Welcome, Miss! Are you going to ride the Ferris Wheel?" A staff asked me when she saw me loitering near the huge ride. The moment she saw my ID, her face turned serious as she suddenly ushered everyone out of the line.

"Sorry but we have a maintenance break so please come back later!" She announced, earning her a few disappointed sighs and complaints as the people began to trickle down. The moment there was no body left, the staff turned to me and ushered me to take my seat in the waiting compartment.

"Your escort will be here soon, Ms. Fujiwa."

"So you're a part of them then? Did you ever think for a second that erasing people would be the best reset for this country? What if your family was deemed unworthy? Would you be able to take it if they delete them too?" I asked her, wondering why there were people who thought that such an idea was good for the world. Judging the value of one's life is not up to humans… we are not in control of who deserves to live or not.

"Humans have always been in constant war with one another. Wars happen because of different ideals or for selfish reason. I'm not too worried about my family, the war took them away… What we need for a better world is when 'worthy' people are the ones who rule it. Corrupt politicians care about money and power but if the right ones are chosen then war can be avoided. If people with the same mind think alike then surely there would be no war. So we have decided that removing the 'banes' of society will make the world progress. You who lost someone to the selfish reasons of this world should understand and yet…" She could only trail off before she shook her head as she gave me one final glance.

"You will understand soon enough, if you will excuse me." She quickly excused herself as she walked away. She's right, I had lost Aki because of the incompetency of this world but we lose people on the long run and yet along the way we gain new ones to help us grow. If you erase the wrongs in this world and only leave the right ones then how will the world prosper? The 'optimum' reset Mizel dreamed of is a monotonous world, one cannot simply be perfect… they were once imperfect too. To use the people's hatred for society just to make their ideals real… just who are the wrong ones here?

"Hehhhh… been a while since I rode a Ferris Wheel." I flinched at the voice and I looked up to see a hooded person about my age enter the compartment. I scanned outside for the staff, wondering how someone had gotten in without being seen.

"You needn't worry. I'm part of them too." The hooded person assured me and I glared as the doors shut and the Ferris Wheel began to move, the compartment rising up as the whole view of Egypt greeted us from below. It would have been a wonderful view but because of my situation, my eyes were more glued to the person in front of me. I had expected that my escort would have been far older than me but this hooded person looked to be just a year older than me, the figure and outfit was enough for me to deduce he was male.

"To use someone so young. Really, Liberator has no shame." I scoffed earning me a chuckle that made my blood turn cold. This laughter… only the pitch is different but this laughter sounded just like the one on the other end of the phone, the one who had always been calling and threatening us this whole time.

"Caught on haven't you? That's right, the one making all those plots to get you here, it was me."

"You bastard! Many people are in turmoil because of you! You justify the perfect reset because you dream of a peaceful world and yet look at yourselves! Starting wars using LBXs, you're no different from those people you want to erase." I spat, my hands rushing out to grab him by collar. The impact sent the compartment tilting, causing him to hit the seat and force his hood down. Autumn red hair greeted my eyes causing me to back away as his hazel eyes looked into mine.

"N-no… impossible…" I could only say, my hands loosening as I collapsed back to my seat, the shock was enough to leave my mind blank. It's no surprise really, because the last time I saw that face was when I was young… when he was still alive. So did this mean that the police were lying? That all this time they hid his true status… but why? Was it because they knew of Liberator? Could it be that everyone knew except for me? Does that mean Liberator is part of the police force too?

Just who is telling the truth?

"It's been a while, Rei. Far too long to be exact." Aki finally said but I was too shocked to even make a reply. Aki's alive… and yet… Back then, I had refused to believe he had died. I had assumed he faked it and ran off somewhere. I kept hoping we'd meet again if that were the case but I was young then and as I grew old I had accepted that he had left me and I closed my heart for fear of losing anyone I would learn to trust. Just when I finally opened up thanks to Jin and everyone, Aki then suddenly appears. To be honest, it would have been alright but now… I couldn't even feel elated at the thought that the person who taught me how to use LBXs would actually be alive and standing before me as an enemy.

"Everyone told me you had died, Aki. All these years I had grown up believing that and for fear that everyone would only be the same, I had closed up any form of connection. If you had been alive then why? Why didn't you tell me and look where we are now… to think you would join the enemy's side." I demanded and for a moment I thought I saw a hint of guilt in his eyes before he turned back to his seat, the guilt still there as he looked at me and sighed.

"I'm sorry for what I had done but the police wasn't safe and seeing as your parents were part of the force, I couldn't risk it. No one in the force and even in NICS can be trusted, Rei."

"What do you mean they can't be trusted? NICS helped in stopping Mizel and preventing the total annihilation of earth. How can they -,"

"It's because of them that my family died, Rei! I'm sure they told you the reason for our death was because of revenge by the people my father betrayed. Well guess what, they lied to you! They hid the truth because they didn't want it to be broadcasted lest they be scrutinized by the public." I cringed at his voice because never before had I seen such a frightening look on his face. He was ruthless in battle, yes, but to see that side of him outside of the field was a different story. I couldn't understand why the police or even NICS would do something so terrible to Aki's family. Wasn't his father the reason why they cornered those terrorist? So why erase them when they clearly have a witness protection on them? Did my parents know the whole thing about it? Why didn't they say anything to me, it wasn't like I was going to blab it out to the world, I knew better than that.

"I can see the questioning look, Rei. You were always so easy to read. We trusted them too, you know. I thought we had finally found a safe place rather than always running away from the police force. My dad betrayed his friends to protect his family and look what they did. But I guess it was karma for what my dad had done. If he hadn't trusted people so willingly then we wouldn't have ended up like this…"

"I thought the same too, Aki. I thought that it was better to never trust people so that it wouldn't be so painful when they betrayed you but I was wrong! Jin, Ban, Jessica and everyone taught me that that wasn't the case. Had you gone to us for help then surely we would have done something!"

"We were young, Rei! What could have possibly done to help me? Are you even willing to abandon your own family to help me? It's naïve to think that such things can be easily fixed by just trusting in each other. In this world the strong devour the weak, war always happens because we want more power. The threats are erased to make way for power-hungry mongrels. I'm just returning the favor by doing the same. By erasing the bugs that corrupt and hinder our society. I'm just using Liberator as an excuse to make it happen. We just have the same goal but even they will be erased when I complete the encoding." He laughed evilly.

This wasn't the Aki I grew up. The one who smiled and laughed and enjoyed fighting alongside LBXs. Where did that boy go? Maybe it was true that he had died. The boy I knew died on that day. The person standing before me isn't him. Revenge isn't the answer and doing it wouldn't even bring his family back. To be consumed by such hatred and distrust… I would have become like him had it not been for everyone in NICS. They saved me from this kind of fate and it's only right I do the same for Aki.

"It's true that I didn't have the power to protect you then, Aki. I wish I did then maybe I could have saved you. You were my first real friend and to see you like this… I'm partly to blame for it." I apologize to him just as the ride ends and the compartment's door opens. He was surprised at my apology, probably not expecting it but I had to say it, maybe if I can reach out then maybe I can save him.

"What is that? Worthless apologies like that might've worked before but I'm not even sure I can trust you too, Rei… No can be trusted except yourself." My eyes widened at his answer before a pair of hands reached out and stopped me from making a run to him.

"Aki wait! Please listen!" I called out, trying to shake out of the guards' grasp as I tried to reach out for my friend. Don't say it like that, that no one could be trusted. I don't want him to go deeper into a place he might not be able to get out of…

ATTACK FUNCTION: GROUND WALL

ATTACK FUNCTION: GUNGNIR

I felt their grip on me loosen just as two familiar LBXs landed on either side of me. Even Aki's eyes widened in surprise at their arrival as his eyes glowered to the sky. I followed his gaze and my eyes could only stare in disbelief as the Duck Shuttle hovered above us, everyone jumping down the ship and getting ready with their LBXs who stayed on their shoulders.

"Are you alright, Rei?" Jin asked me his left hand gripping tightly on his CCM which made me worry. So the wound on his right arm hasn't healed yet then.

"I should ask the same to you. What are you all doing here? I thought Liberator had made sure you would all be heading back to NICS by now. I made that deal to keep you all safe so why? How?"

"Did you honestly think you Liberator was one step ahead of us? They didn't hire my dad just for show, Rei. It was Liberator that sprung into our trap not us." Jessica scoffed, her playful smirk staring cautiously at the followers of Liberator that started showing up.

"One step ahead? What are you talking about?" I questioned, wondering why I didn't know any of this. Were they making sure I didn't know so it would have been believable? I clicked my tongue knowing full well that I had actually been used as a scapegoat just to trick the enemy.

"Let's just say that NICS finally took care of the mole issue as well as the electric traps in the shuttle. Luckily, Reina-san managed to track you down when she noticed that your signal didn't correspond to the NICS protocol signature. That was when we rushed over here when we managed to hack your CCM thanks to Otacross and Reina-san." Yuuya explained just as my CCM beeped and I saw the screen back to normal, the virus that Liberator had implanted had started to delete itself thanks to Otacross and Reina.

"We also had Ami, Gouda, Daiki and Kazuya take care of the traps and bombs around the park while Liberator was too busy thinking they had the upper hand while we made our way here. " Ran added just as Hiro pointed to Aki who was still unmoving behind his men.

"Looks like your plan failed, Liberator! It's the duty of the heroes to beat you up so in the name of justice, be prepared to lose."

"Give up, Liberator! There's nowhere left to hide." Ban announced making me eye Aki who seemed so quiet in all of this commotion. The feeling of being so close to achieving something you've longed for yet only to be destroyed so quickly. I was grateful that we had stopped his destructive path but this silent feeling of his scared me.

This was the Aki I didn't know of after all.

"Give up? After all the time and effort I put into all of this? You think I'll just give it up! Hahahahahaha! How naïve you are. You think you've outsmarted me but clearly you're the one who's fallen into my trap." I shivered at his maniacal laughter just as the ground below us shook causing us to grab for each other. The sky started shimmering in a weird borealis-like color, making out a shape of a box-like shield that covered the whole amusement park.

"Welcome, everyone to the Sky Theater!" Aki laughed just as the Heaven's Wheel behind us shuddered and began to split as a gaping hole opened from the ground to reveal an airship, the same black carrier that kidnapped all those kids. I felt a hand enclose in mine as I turned to see Asuka and Jin motioning me to the Duck Shuttle where everyone was heading.

"Run all you want but escape is futile." Aki chuckled darkly just as we got into the shuttle and our intercom resounded in the shuttle.

"What the heck is going on? One minute we were disarming the traps and the next thing we know, we can't get in the park because it vanished. Is everyone alright?" Kazuya called from the other side just as we looked out to see a black expanse of space from outside the box-like cage.

"We're fine, Kazuya. It seems Liberator used something on the park so we can't see from outside too. See if everyone outside can find a way around this trap and we'll see if we can find something in our end too." Ban explained before the intercom buzzed with a 'roger' and we watched Reina computing something on her computer.

"Looks like Liberator trapped us in some sort of holographic diorama." She hypothesized before we all nearly lost our balance as the shuttle swerved to the left.

"Rogue LBXs are attacking the shuttle! Everyone get ready to fight." Cobra announced from the deck making us all turn to each other and nod as we ran to the control pods.

"They are so going down!" Asuka shouted excitedly just as we released our LBXs and our eyes widened at the wave of LBXS rushing towards us.

"There's too many! How can we beat them all?" Ran announced through the intercom just as Minerva Kai used its attack function and decimated a couple of LBXs with Hiro's help. Ban and Asuka did a tag team to finish on their side just as they ran to aid Yuuya and Jessica who were struggling with a few rogue LBXs that cornered them near the carousel.

"I located sixteen control towers in each ride in this theme park. Two for each of you. If you get rid of them then we can get rid of the LBXs." Reina informed us just as we spotted a control tower by the carousel's tip. Yuuya finished it off and we watched as several LBXs started falling from the sky. A map appeared next to our screens as my eyes scanned at where we were and what control tower was close to us.

"The control pod will be difficult to use since the park is too big. We have to go down and do it ourselves!" I announced and everyone turned grim as we watched the horde of LBXs hovering over us.

"It's too risky we can't allow it." Yuuya argued but I shook my head as explained the plan.

"Like the control pod, the towers also can't reach that far. The LBXs will be divided and it'll be easier to take them down that way. Metamo-R can guard Reina-san from Aki's ship while be use the chance to try and take down the tower." I explain followed by a collective silence from everyone. It was a risky move since we couldn't measure just how many LBXs were for each tower. Chances of them being too many for just one person is not a good strategy especially since one of us isn't at his good shape. My eyes trailed worriedly to Jin's face, wondering if maybe it was a good idea if we didn't follow my plan after all.

"We'll do it. If we don't we'll only be swarmed by the number and it won't be long before they corner us. Getting their divided attention will be better." Jin suddenly voiced out causing me to frown and shake my head.

"My plan's too risky so I take it back. You're injured, Jin. I'm not sure it's a good idea if we split-,"

"It's either me who gets hurt or the whole world. You put your faith in me last time and I'll make sure you didn't make a mistake. I can handle it so trust in me." He cut me off which took me by surprise at how adamant he was about it. Back then he would have argued at the dangers in the plan, so for him to openly say that my plan was the only best bet we had… I didn't think he trusted me this much and it made me realize just how much everyone in this room believed in me.

If that's the case then I have to believe in myself too.

"Fine but because this is my plan, I have the responsibility of watching out for you so two of us will be destroying our towers as a pair." I argued which made everyone nod and Jin smile.

"Sure thing."

"Smooth, Rei. You just want to go with Jin so just admit it." Jessica chuckled just as we got out of the pod which made me turn red when everyone chuckled.

"Jessica! This isn't the time for that." I frowned, quite glad Jin was out of earshot since he was the last one to get out of the control pod.

"Then when is the right time? Out of all the people in this room he's the one who managed to get you out of that shell of yours. For you to trust in him that much must mean something's there."

"I…I." I stopped with what I was saying and just looked away with a blush marring my cheeks. It wasn't like that really, everyone did their part in helping me open up… it just so happened Jin was the first out of all of them. But Jessica is right, in fact, fine I admit that maybe deep inside I did harbor some sort of feelings for Jin that went beyond just admiration and friendship. But to say it so openly, I wasn't ready for that yet.

"Maybe after all of this, Jessica. Maybe I'll try to start off in the beginning again before I say it." I whispered which earned me a loud 'yes' from my friend.

"Hah! I knew it, I win the bet." She whooped making Jin turn us just as the shuttle was getting ready to land and we would begin our mission.

"What bet?" He questioned making me turn red as I clamped Jessica's mouth shut from shouting any more than she had too. Everyone's laughter echoed the room, with me knowing full well they knew what Jessica was talking about.

"Nothing, Jin! Missions about to start so let's focus on that first." I reminded everyone but rather than the grim feeling we were facing a while ago, for some odd reason, everyone seemed so determined as if they knew the outcome of this battle would result in our victory. It didn't help that the feeling rubbed on me too as I stared at the shuttles gate that dropped open and I knew that our battle to save the world had now begun.

"Is everyone ready?" Ban announced making Hiro pump his fist as he gripped his LBX tightly in anticipation for the battle.

"In the name of justice we'll prevail!"

"Hiro-san." Yuuya chuckled at Hiro's excitement for serving justice.

"I've been waiting for an epic battle like this, Ban. Vampire Cat and I will defeat everyone standing in our way!" Asuka jumped head first onto the ground making us all sweat drop.

"Ever the excited one but I'm not going to lose too." Ran laughed as she followed Asuka down the shuttle.

"You better make sure you're going to live up to that bet, Rei. I'm not going to let it go." Jessica reminded me which made me blush when I noticed that it was only me and Jin left.

"Ugh, Jessica!"

"I trust you'll have my back?" Jin asked me, making me sigh at Jessica's reminder as I tried to control my hammering heart and turned to Jin.

"When have I ever not? We're finishing this and we'll all go back home together just as planned." I reminded him earning me a light smile as he patted me on the head.

"Alright." He only says as I watched his figure descend the shuttle. I gripped my CCM tightly as I stared at the exit of the shuttle, determination in my eyes and trust in my heart that everything will end right here and now.

Aki had told me that NIC could not be trusted, had it been the 'me' before then maybe I would have thought so too but meeting everyone and learning to open up more thanks to them- it made me realize that Aki had been stuck in his own world of solitude that was why he hated the world. I wasn't able to save him back then but it doesn't mean that won't be able too. Maybe this time, with the power I had, I can save him from this path of destruction he's walking on. Like my new friends who saved me from my own shell of solitude, I will do the same for Aki-

This time, I will save Aki and Liberator will finally be going down.

Sorry for the late update. Like I said in my other story, college has already ended for me so while waiting for graduation, I made sure update the all my fanfics. A battle between NICS and Liberator... who will win in this battle where the earth's destruction is on the line? Stay tuned and don't forget to fave and review!