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 XII: Intentions of the Abandoned

I groggily lifted my eyes open to see a metal ceiling hanging above my head.

I froze at the sight and scrambled off what I assumed was a bed and my eyes widened as I stared at the small cell I had been locked up in. Memories of what had transpired in the theme park made me clench my hands into fists, the thought of what Aki had done still lingering in my mind.

Why?

I had thought I was close enough to reach out to him. The slight wavering in his eyes made me think that maybe I could still save him from Liberator and yet… at those last few moments, he had stabbed me in the back. But it was to be expected, right? After all, I had left him, and it shouldn't be a surprise that he would harbor a deep grudge for it.

I guess Aki's right, I am too naïve.

"I see you're awake." My head whipped to the voice as my eyes narrowed into thin slits at the sight of that familiar hooded figure standing across from my cell, that snarling demon mask covering his face.

"Aki… just drop the act." I growled earning me a chuckle as he took off the mask to reveal his hazel eyes dancing in victorious glee, that smirk of his so sinister it made me shudder.

"Oh, come now, Rei. I'm just trying to lighten the mood." He merely replied making me scoff as I positioned my body to face him.

"Lighten the mood? How is locking me up in this place helping in lightening the mood!" I snarled back angrily making him click his tongue as if reprimanding a child who had done something wrong.

"But don't you see, if I let you out then you'd flee. We can't have that now, can we? You're the main star of the show. Without you this whole plan will never succeed."

"But I thought Liberator's ideals were never of your interest? What are you really plotting, Aki?" I asked him suspiciously, the sinister smile on his face only widening as he laughed hysterically at my question.

"You catch on quick! Liberator's goals have nothing to do with me. I had, from the very beginning, never considered their plans anything but trash. They are merely pawns for what my real plan is." He cackled making me clench my fist even tighter at the sight of what was once my friend.

Is there really no way to save him?

"Real plan?" I questioned further, hoping maybe somehow to get a gist of this whole plan he's so hell-bent in accomplishing. Maybe…if I manage to at least stop it, then maybe I can save him from this whole revenge thing he's got himself in. I just hope Jin and the others come soon. Aki's a tough opponent to battle and without my LBX, I doubt I stand a chance in escaping. If maybe all of us can persuade him-

"They won't come." As if reading my mind, I see Aki casting me a mocking look making me frown at his reply.

"You're wrong. They'll come and we'll save you." I retorted and this time it was his turn to scoff.

"You speak highly of them, Rei. But people will leave you. It's always been that way." He reminds me which makes me rise up from my bed and stare him straight in the eyes.

"People never leave, Aki! If our bonds are that strong enough then people will always come back no matter how far apart they are from each other. Had you told me you were alive then I would-,"

"You wouldn't have been able to do anything. Even your parents couldn't protect me if they tried. Had I told you then the police would have killed me."

"I wouldn't have let them! Why are you making it so hard for yourself to see that there's still a way out of this?" I argued back at him but he had no time to retort before the door opened and another cloaked figure entered the room, signaling Aki that it was 'time'.

"Looks like the machine is now in place. Time for me to go." He only said, his hazel eyes hardening as he turned away from me and made his way out of the cell room. My ears failing to hear his response to my questions.

"I'm sorry, Rei. There is no way out."

"Let go of me!" I struggled from the grip of the two cloaked figures who held me on either side of my arms as they led me to some unknown room. Several pods circled a huge metal chair, my eyes widening as a gasp escaped my lips at the sight of all the twelve kidnapped children inside the pods, the rise and fall of their bodies the only sign they were still alive.

"Welcome, Rei. This is the heart of Liberator's cause, the very room where the New World will be created." Aki welcomed me from where the chair was at, his hazel eyes dancing in sadistic glee which sickened me. I had to keep reminding myself that this was no longer the same person I met when we were young. I kept repeating that but I didn't want to think that he was completely gone. That I could still save him and fix this whole mess we got ourselves in.

"New World? Is that really your plan? Didn't you tell me that you had no interest to join the cause?! Weren't you only after revenge?" I argued back, hoping to dissuade the Liberator's from siding with Aki. I thought my plan to cause a dissonance within the group would have turned to my favor but the moment Aki's lips contorted into a frightening smile, I knew that I'm lightyears too early to be clashing with the very person who could breakthrough my strategies.

"I see what you're trying to do and I've already taken care of that. Have you noticed why all the members in here are wearing cloaks? I'm still your best friend so I did the utmost caution not to startle you but you were requesting for it." Aki merely chuckled darkly as he walked to me and with a fluid motion, unhooded one of the men and I felt my blood turn cold.

Could one even call this being before me a 'human'? Reddish robotic eyes remained lifeless as remained motionless next to me. His entire body looked human but the eyes and several parts of his body were the clear indication that this thing before me was only part-human. The shock on my face was enough to make Aki laugh, my eyes staring back at him in complete horror.

"See, what did I tell you? There's a reason why 'Nidhogg' is a unique creation, Rei. I knew sooner or later the people who joined Liberator would catch on to my trick so I beat them to it. It was hard at first but you'll get used to making robots out of human corpses." He stated, my mind completely blank as to how he could stomach it. How deep is his lust for revenge anyway?!

"Y-You…you monster! How could you? Was your revenge worth all the lives of the people you killed?" I could only scream at him before my eyes widened at the words that had left my lips. A rueful smile made its way to Aki's lips, his eyes for a second briefly betraying the hurt in them at my own words.

"It's no surprise you would call me that, Rei. But you should know how I learned something like this." He said as he lifted the sleeve of his long-sleeved black shirt, his right hand then taking out a knife from his pocket and slashed it through his left arm, my eyes cringing before widening into huge saucers at the metallic skin peeking from the wound Aki had dealt to himself.

"My father was the tech-expert of the group so it's no surprise he'd teach me a lot of those tricks since I was young hence why all of my LBXs are custom made- Hel, Nidhogg, and Nemesis were no exception. On the day they bombed my home, I lost both my whole family and my left arm. You can't imagine how excruciatingly painful for me that day was. Running in the night, my eyes barely able to keep track of anything from loss of blood, I could have died but the thought of the very people who swore they'd protect us and then betrayed us kept me fighting for my life. When I made it to a nearby factory, I burned my serrated wound there, my scream echoing but I tried to bear it. Because nothing was as painful as losing everything to the people you trusted and that was the day I knew that no one could be trusted." Aki narrated to me, the image of his small frail and wounded body playing in my mind.

*Plip*

His image started to blur as I felt something wet and hot trail down my cheeks. Was I crying? I knew it… even though I should hate him for what he had done to these people, even though I should hate him because he is the enemy, in the end, he was still my friend through and through. That even if he had become so clouded with revenge, he was still the same person who had taught me how to use an LBX, the very first person I could consider my friend.

How ironic that the very thing that brought us together would actually tear us apart.

"Don't give me that look, Rei. I don't need your sympathy. I only told this to you to remind you of your words. Even you have already realized it. I can't go back… I'm so close to achieving it, all my sacrifices will finally bear fruit and I can't let you stop me. Even if it means that you would call me a monster…" Aki replied as he wrapped a torn piece of cloth around the wound he inflicted and turned his back to me, the two robotic corpses following his lead while their grip remained tightly around my arm.

"But this is wrong, Aki! I know I have no right to say that I know what you feel but did you at least for once think that you didn't lose everything? Am I not your friend?!" I tried to reason with him, my arms being harshly strapped to the chair's arm. Even my foot and neck were tied to prevent movement but I still tried to fight, the motivation to save him from all of this still burning in me.

For once, Aki was silent to my cries, his back always faced to me as if he was refusing to look me in the eye. The two robots had already left, leaving us both to ourselves but it didn't stop me from calling out, hoping he'd see through, for once I wanted to see his eyes waver to let me know that deep down, he still had a chance to change.

"You are my friend, Rei. Above all else, you are a very important friend. I thought you of all people could at least understand." He finally murmured as he turned, a syringe in his hand as he approached me making me struggle in panic at what he was going to do.

"I do understand, Aki! But what I don't understand is why you are willing to go through with it even if it means nothing but sorrow will come out of this. You call me your friend and yet why are you trying to tear those bonds away?!" I yelled despairingly back at him.

Aki remained quiet, as if letting me vent out everything I wanted to say. The moment I said my lines, my body had already succumbed to exhaustion, my breath ragged as I stared hopelessly at my friend and what he was turning into.

"Of course you do, Rei. You always understand but you overlooked one thing-," He replied and before I could ask him what it was that I could have possibly overlooked, I felt his lips against mine causing my eyes to widen and failing to notice that he had already injected the syringe on my neck.

"I tore those bonds away because I wanted it to be something more. I guess it's too late now even if you finally know my feelings." I heard him whisper as the effects of whatever he injected into me took effect, my eyes hazily watching his blurry image back away from me, hazel eyes reflecting an emotion that took me by surprise.

The eyes that reflected overwhelming guilt before fading into the shadows as emptiness replaced them.

-3rd POV-

Jin stared at Rei's LBX on his hand.

He still couldn't understand as to why her own friend would turn his back to her. Those hazel eyes that looked back at him, he knew those eyes very well. It was the eyes of hatred. Was it possible that Aki had hated them solely because they took Rei from him? The only person who understood the boy well enough was Rei and Jin knew from those eyes that she held a special place in Aki's heart.

Something that for some odd reason, did not sit well with Jin.

"Jin, are you alright?" Jessica asked him causing Jin to merely nod as he hid Hel Verse back in its case before looking out to the dark sky as the Duck Shuttle soared into the night, following the Black Carrier that loomed from above them.

Reina had ensured that they would not be spotted, using the properties of Rei's Aegis Shield to create a barrier that would protect them and ensure that their thermal and electric frequencies would not be noticed as the followed the carrier.

Without Rei, the plan of the operation had fallen onto Ban's hands, something everyone was already used to but it was still good to know a few tips from a Master Strategist like Rei. For now they had to make do and so a group had been split to determine how the infiltration would play out. Everyone had gathered by the passenger area, Ban in the center to direct the battle plan.

The first group who consisted of Sendou, Gouda, and Kazuya were to keep the Duck Shuttle safe. Ami, Hiro, Ran, and Jessica were in charge of making distractions of keep the enemy scattered while Ban's group that consisted of him, Jin, Yuuya, and Asuka were going to sneak in to the main control room and try to save Rei and the other kids. Due to them being close to the carrier, contact with NICS had been lost since the carrier could be using a jammer to prevent any traces on them.

In short, the entire mission was based on their own joint agreement to save a friend.

"There'll be other people there too so be careful. I'll try my best to try and contact Secretary Kaios." Cobra reminded them as he watched the two groups prepare their LBXs, the Duck Shuttle getting closer to the carrier to help them get in.

"Metamo R will blow up a hole from the bottom of the ship, we only have a minute to get you all into the ship before the alarms notify the control room of a breach. You'll be on your own then since we'll try to lay low until the enemies guard is down and more focused on you guys. We'll wait for you on the ship's top deck, which by then is unguarded due to the commotion. Signal us through the CCM if the extraction is complete, alright?" Cobra reminded them one more time of the plan, everyone nodding solemnly at the mission they were going to have to accomplish by themselves.

"No matter what, we'll bring Rei-san back." Hiro assured loudly, invigorating the people in the ship who had turned somber from the heavy weight of having to save not only their friend and 12 kids, but also the entire world from annihilation.

"H-Hiro's right, we promised Rei, didn't we? That we'd help her save Aki so we have to help her to make sure we live up to that promise." Ran finally piped in followed by a collective nod from Ami and Kazuya.

"Tsk. Another annoying mission but I guess I should already get used to this." Sendou shook his head earning him a grapple from Gouda which served to irritate him.

"Stop being such a tsundere there, Sendou. I know you well enough to know that you're just as excited as I am about crushing our opponents." Gouda bellowed good-naturedly making Yuuya chuckle at the sight.

"Mah, then what are we all moping around for? I have a bet with Rei and if she's not here then we can't commence it." Jessica spoke up making Asuka pump her fist in excitement.

"Let's get the party started then! Vampire Cat and I are itching for a fight."

"Yosh! Let's go save Rei and the world!" Ban finally joined in making Jin smile at the sight of the whole group whom he had shared enjoying journeys with. Bonds like these are hard to come by and Jin was glad to have experienced it in his life. Rei was hard to convince at first but it made him glad as well to know that he had helped her out of that lonely shell of hers.

"Jin, stop spacing out now! Time to go." Jessica called out to him causing him to merely walk to them who were now getting ready to depart into the huge carrier and settle this battle with Liberator once and for all.

Ban dodged the bomb being aimed his way and used Odin MkII to slice through the hoard of LBXs that started pooling out from the top floor they were trying to get to. Asuka effortlessly cleared her side of the room before jumping into Yuuya's aid since majority of Liu Bei's enemies were not only attacking it but Yuuya as well.

"These enemies are ruthless. They'd attack anyone, even us." Ran voiced through the intercom before she was muffled by the sound of explosions and gunshots. Triton knocked out a hoard of LBXs using its function but not before Jin dodged a shuriken aimed for his head.

"Not once have a seen a person yet! Just where on earth are Liberator's men?" Asuka shouted over the commotion before her Vampire Cat easily destroyed the beacon controlling the LBXs, giving their group the chance to advance to the next floor.

"We should have tripped a lot of alarms by now. Just what on earth is going on?" Ami spoke up worriedly, her eyes scanning for anymore LBXs to show up and attack them after Jessica had disabled the beacon.

The shuttle was deathly quiet, which was something far more foreboding than the LBXs that attacked them when they broke on. Ban knew something was up and whatever it was, he didn't like it one bit.

*Roar*

As if replying to Ban's thoughts, a black shadow emerged from the ceiling, its red eyes glaring down at them as its wings began to spread out to make it look bigger. Not long after, the disabled LBXs suddenly rose from floor, weapons at the ready making Jin click his tongue.

"It looks like Nidhogg's the controller this time. We have to destroy it to disable to LBXs." Jin pointed out as Triton dodged the tail trying to ram at it.

From Jessica's side, their opponent were two Droids that resembled a snake and a wolf. The two Droids may not possess a beacon like Nidhogg but their combinations were difficult to break since the snake could turn into a shield or sword while the wolf changed into an armored LBX from time to time to deliver devastating damages.

"Looks like the Midgard Serpent and Fenris Wolf have joined Nidhogg in the war. Is this Ragnarok?" Jessica smiled frighteningly, the challenge posed by the opponent exciting her. Hiro remained calm in the battle, his body showing no sign of apprehension as his Achilles D9 continued to deliver combos to try and bring the serpent down.

Back to Ban's group, Asuka and Yuuya had successfully managed to cut off one of Nidhogg's wings while Ban used the distraction to try and hack its tail off. Nidhogg roared in metallic anger, sending the four LBXs to the wall from the sound's strong wave impact.

DEFENSE FUNCTION: AEGIS

A bluish bubble encircled the whole group before Nidhogg's laser collided, causing a huge explosion that vibrated through the whole floor. The smoke cleared way to show Jin, holding Rei's CCM on his other hand while Hel Verse remained in front of the whole group, its body in defense position before jumping back to Jin's shoulder just as the shield began to clear.

"Nice save, Jin! But how did you manage to get Rei's LBX?" Asuka asked him while they resumed the battle, Jin easily shifting between Triton and Hel Verse with ease.

"She dropped it when Aki kidnapped her. It took a while but I managed to somehow get a grip on how Hel Verse works, although not as well as Rei can but it's enough to make sure we have a huge defense on our side should Nidhogg use that move again." Jin explained as he used Hel Verse to destroy a group of LBXs with its Thunder Crash.

"No wonder you were holding Hel Verse a while back. Looks like I lost the bet!" Jessica complained over the intercom causing Jin to raise a curious eyebrow.

"Bet?" He inquired before earning himself a silent treatment from Jessica and a chuckle from Ran and Ami.

"You owe us Jessica!" They both said in unison before their voices were muffled again by explosions and the sound of a very annoyed Jessica. Jin didn't have the chance to ask again since the LBXs were now more focused on attacking Hel Verse and Triton at the same time.

"Yuuya now!" He heard Ban call out and watched Lui Bei jump from to the air and deliver a devastating attack to Nidhogg's back, the Droid's metallic screech causing them to cover their ears.

"I won't let you win! Ban let's go!" Asuka shouted just as Ban recovered and both their LBXs began to glow.

ATTACK FUNCTION: GUNGNIR

ATTACK FUNCTION: DEVIL SOUL

The two attacks made a direct hit, sending Nidhogg to its knees, its remaining wing completely damaged since it tried to block the full damage sent by the two attacks. Sadly, the wing along was not enough, as the Droid began to collapse since it failed to notice that the attack had also aimed it square on the chest.

"Yosha! We did it." Asuka pumped her fist excitedly, the small celebration quickly halted when the carrier suddenly shifted, all four of them almost falling to the ground had the carrier not righted itself.

"What on earth was that?" Hiro voiced out as Achilles D9 easily dismantled the serpent droid thanks to Ran's help. All that was left was the Fenris Wolf, the droid morphing back into its animal form while attacking them with its pin missiles that emerged from its metallic fur. Ami's Pandora dodged them with ease, delivering a quick jab to its stomach but not enough to damage it since the droid managed to barely dodge it.

"We don't know what that was but we're heading to the control room now. How are you guys holding up?" Ban announced all three groups while theirs made it to the elevator that would take them to the control room.

"A few LBXs spotted us but it's not something we can't handle." Kazuya announced from his intercom just as Achilles Deed finished off a Lucifer with Gouda's help.

"We managed to get rid of the Serpent. The Fenris Wolf's the issue since it's too fast to land a direct hit." Ami narrated on their side before going silent again to dodge the missile aiming for Pandora.

"We're already on the floor leading to the control room. Jessica's group should rendezvous with us when you beat the Droid. Aki we'll be a formidable foe we have to be careful. Kazuya, see if your group can clear the LBXs outside so we can escape easily after we get everyone to safety." Ban announced earning him a quick 'Roger' just as the elevator signaled their arrival to the control room's floor, the door sliding open to reveal an empty hallway.

Only a lone door stood before them, causing Ban's group to tense slightly in worry at the thought of how all of these seemed too convenient. Not once had they encountered a member of Liberator save for the LBXs and Ban didn't like the feeling of that. He just hoped that Jessica's group manages to catch up to them in time so that they can easily assess the situation in numbers.

"Are you ready guys?" Ban finally said as he turned to face Jin, Yuuya, and Asuka, all three wearing the same expression he had.

Determination to save their friend and the world.

Nodding his head in finality as to their answers, Ban stepped forward to the door, the control room's door easily sliding open to reveal a huge room. Several pods encircled the room, faces of children sound asleep peeking from the glass window. In the center of the room stood a lone metallic chair, a figure sitting unconsciously on it, their eyes closed as if in deep sleep, her forehead wrapped with wires.

"Rei!" Asuka yelled out but before they could run to her aid, a figure jumped from the sky, dentin the floor from where it landed. Reddish eyes glowered at their presence, its tattered violet cape billowing as it readied its twin sword guns to attack.

"Nemesis." Jin simply said before the sound of applause echoed in the room causing them to look up to where Rei was, Aki's figure smiling maliciously down at them from where he stood.

"I congratulate you on making it this far but you are far too late as you can see." He sneered, the huge screen before them glowing to reveal a countdown timer.

"In a few minutes, every human being in the world will be annihilated, a little present for their ignorance and sins against my family. Of course while we wait, why not have a little battle with me." Aki added causing all four eyes to glower at him at his plans to kill off everyone in the world.

"We promised Rei we'd save him too but it won't stop me from punching that smug look off his face. Bring it on!" Asuka taunted earning her a wicked smile from the red head.

"Fine. But four against one is a bit unfair now. What say you and I team up for old time's sake huh…Rei?" Aki cackled, everyone's eyes widening as Rei opened her eyes, eyes that were now empty and devoid as if she was under some spell. Her eyes bore no recognition as she stared at them, her hands outstretched towards Jin, his eyes widening just as Nemesis shot towards them in ambush, easily confiscating Hel Verse and Rei's CCM from Jin's grip.

"Jin are you alright?!" Yuuya asked his friend worriedly, Jin merely nodding in slight surprise and worry as Rei took Hel Verse and her CCM in her hands.

"Sa! Show me whose bonds are stronger to break through, yours or mine!"

Sorry for the long time to update even after I promised that I would update regularly again after my exams. Let's just say I got my results and to be honest I did so badly in them that I failed with a capital 'F'. It was so shocking and I really didn't get over it yet. So yeah, depression's a tough foe and the thought of having to redo the exams and review for five more months again is really making me stressed hence why I had a hard time updating.

I hope this compensates for it for now. So stay tuned for the last two or three chapters. Yes the fanfic will end in about two or three chapters so for those who stuck this long... thank you very much for the support!