LXXIII

Chaos

Frantically scrambling to the damaged sections on their ships the crews were caught in a fight for survival unless they could find a way to contain the ever increasing fires.

Warning claxons sounded of as the ship violently jerked to the left, men were tossed around as they lost their footing. The noises coming from the upper levels were deafening and those crew who had served for some time knew exactly what had happened; one of their own missile had exploded after launch.

"SHIT!" The admiral yelled as he held on for dear life. "GIVE ME A DAMAGE REPORT NOW!" ALL DAMAGE RESPONSE TEAMS TO YOUR STATIONS!" It was vital that they got the fires under control as like any good marine officer he knew that fires on sea were the biggest danger to a ship and its crew.

"CAPTAIN! WE HAVE INCOMING! UNKNOWN TYPE AND SOURCE!"

Looking through the cracked windows of the bridge he could see them coming as well, he had never seen an attack like these as more than two dozen silvery snakelike arms came towards them, he got goose bumps all over his body just by looking at them. "ALL SHIPS TAKE EVASIVE MANOEUVERS! MAINTAIN DEFENCIVE STANCE!" Listing hard to port both ships tried their best to avoid the incoming vectors but they were to slow and too cumbersome to avoid their collisions with them.

Commander Kanbe was already fully aware of them and as much as he agreed with the admiral's choice of evasive maneuvers he fully knew that it was a futile effort as there was no possible way that a ship could avoid something like a vector. Their predicament was dire and under these circumstances there was really only one option remaining.

"INITIATE THE VECTORCANCELLER! DO IT NOW BEFORE WE ARE ALL KILLED!" The field would certainly protect them and the ship they were being carried but with their limited range he was aware that the ship following them was doomed, it could not be protected by the field. Perhaps if they had not lost so many those men could have been saved. Raising his arm he saluted the sailors who were about to die as a last respect to the men giving their lives in the defense of their country. "May god have mercy on your souls."

Opening his eyes he was blinded by the sun, unaware on how long he had been there he slowly rolled over as he tried to get up. Groaning as pain shot through his body he wondered what had happened as right now his memories were nothing but a blur, the last thing he could barely remember was a burning sensation in his chest.

Oh that was right, he had been shot through the chest when he tried to protect Nyu or Kaede or whoever she was at that moment. Gazing around he noticed that the tower seemed like a mess, what could have possibly happened here to have done so much damage. Briefly he wondered if it was her doing but then he couldn't remember anything if it.

Trying to put some strength in his arm he groaned as his arm supported him getting upright but when he looked just a bit further something grisly caught his attention.

Lying there in front of him were the molten remains of a person's foot and as he looked closer he imagined it to have belonged to a girl, daring to lift his head up even further he was shocked as more molten body parts came into his view. "NYU!? KAEDE!? PLEASE DON'T TELL ME THAT IS YOU!?" It ran through his mind the instant he saw his coat lying there, the coat he had given to her.

Memories of Nyu and the pleasant times they had together came flooding as he eyes came across what remained of her body, the molten form barely resembled a person anymore save for just a fraction of her face. He wanted to vomit as seeing them like this, two of the people he cared the most about, to have been reduced to this. "Ugh… Nyu… Kaede…" He sighed as he punched the floor as hard as he could. "Why did this have to happen…?" He just prayed that neither of them had to suffer for long.

"… Kouta…" It gasped. "Why are you crying?" Hearing her say his name made him feel even worse than before, to think that both of them were still alive but caught in such a state.

"… Kouta… just as I finally get to meet you… this body that we have is embarrassing… please don't look at it anymore… please don't remember us like this…"

Spurred on by her pleas her grabbed the coat and placed it across what remained of her body, falling silent he no longer had any idea on what he wanted to say to them. What kind of words could possibly suit or comfort them when they were in agony, eventually though his curiosity won out as he wanted to know at least the answer to one question now. "Nyu why, why did you and Kaede do this to yourselves?"

"Because it was the only way for them to save your life Kouta-san." Came a sudden voice from behind him and as Kouta looked over his shoulder he was surprised to find both Nana and Saeko standing there, he wondered if they knew what had happened. "Nana-chan, Saeko-chan…?" He sighed.

"In order for them to protect and heal the damage to your body both Nyu-san and Lucy-san used a power that was beyond their limit, that is why their body has melted as a result."

Hearing her explanation made Kouta reach out with his hand, placing it on his chest were some pain still lingered. "Don't tell me? Even though I got shot, the wound has closed…"

Turning back towards her Kouta finally started to put the pieces together, so that explained why he was able to move and breathe again but to think this had come at the price of both Nyu and Kaede to have scarified their body.

"Nyu, Kaede is that true? Were you the ones who saved my life? And because of that…" He paused as he needed a moment. "Your body was ruined, because you saved my life with your power right?"

Appearing from underneath the coat was the only part of her that still remained vaguely human, a fragment of her face was staring back at Kouta and even as he heard her giggle he could tell it was a forced one.

"I don't know to be honest, I don't remember anything about it but…" She coughed and it sounded horrible to him, if she looked like this on the outside then who knew how much of a mess her organs had turned into.

"Please don't mind… we are glad that you are safe… your life means more to us than our own… we have no regrets if we bought your life with our own…" Again there came the forced giggle, she was trying to make as if it was nothing to her.

Shaking his head he wondered how at a time like this she could find the strength to lie about it, he knew that deep inside the two of them were just in as much pain as he was. No, they were in even more pain and suffering than he could imagine.

"KOUTA!" She yelled as loud as she could, it nearly caused him to jump up straight from the sudden shock. "WHAT THE HELL WHERE YOU THINKING COMING UP HERE!? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I WAS!?" Yuka screamed in anger as she stormed up the stairs. Following in her wake were the exhausted figures of Mayu and Nozomi.

At the main stairs leading up to the tower they had bumped into her, against the wishes of her father she had left the use to go and meet her with friends but upon hearing the song she knew that she needed to go to the source. Even with not being able to speak much she was still able to show her joy and delight and seeing her friends again.

"Yuka? And Mayu-chan and Nozomi-chan as well? How did-?" His question was brutally cut short as Yuka slapped him with all of her rage born might, right now nothing would make her feel better than beating it into him how worried and the others had all been over his stupid stunt.

"YOU STILL HAVE A BULLET WOUND IN YOUR CHEST REMEMBER! YOU WILL DIE IF YOU KEEP UP WITH THIS! STOP BEING THIS SELFISH YOU IDIOT AND GETTING US ALL WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU!"

It seemed that her slap has brought some common sense to him as he stopped talking and listened to what she had to say. "Please I beg you? Don't leave me or the girls behind alone."

"KYAA!" They were both interrupted as Mayu screamed at the sight of the molten hand, jumping back she was quickly supported by Nana.

"KOUTA! Yuka called out towards him. "WHAT THE HELL IS WITH THAT HAND!?"

Her yelling almost made her miss his reply though with the soft tone he said it with it wasn't that much of a surprise as the other could barely hear it as well.

"EH!? WHERE IS SHE!? WHERE IS NYU-CHAN THEN!?" She watched with anticipation as Kouta kneeled down next to the coat that lying there on the floor, she wondered why until he gently lifted a part of it up and what she say there made her nearly faint. "Nyu is here?"

The forced giggle was sick, it just sounded all wrong.

"Oh my god… Nyu-chan… what happened to you dear…?" Yuka gasped as he hand covered her mouth in disbelief, this couldn't be even possible could it? Were before she had tears born of anger and joy at seeing Kouta again they were now replaced by those born out of sadness and grief for seeing somebody she almost considered like a younger sister looking like this.

Men scrambled to their feet as more men came rappelling down from the massive cargo helicopters. "Second squad move up!" Orders were barked as sergeants took command of their respective units, more men debarked from the trucks and other armored transports. Normally these vehicles would also offer fire support with their fearsome armament but due to the location of their target they were kept at a distance.

"First and third squad will take point! Weapons at the ready!" Weapons raised the mentioned squads started to move forward towards their target.

From the water's edge several boots came to shore, amongst the men onboard was a contingent of Saseba personal as well as commander Kanbe. Due to its condition the vectorcraft was deemed no longer useful for an offensive operation which is why he ordered for it to remain onboard the ship, they would have to make do with more conventional weapons. Most of the storm had dissipated some minutes ago and right this silence was offering them a chance to gather enough men and equipment for direct assault but it could not be done frontally, that was far too dangerous.

But now with the weather being normal again they could once more make use of the helicopters to land troops on the top of the tower and that combined with men advancing through the stairs would hopefully enable them to corner Lucy and her accomplishes.

The reports had reached him that several posts observed civilians entering the tower, by their counting there had to be around five to six people being present. It was a small number but even so the risk existed that these may be carrying weapons, capturing them for interrogation was the preferred option but if they were to pose a threat the men had orders to shoot at sight.

An officer, a lieutenant judging by the markings on his uniform saluted him as he set foot on the ground. "It is good to see you sir, I understand you are here to take command of the operation?"

"Under these dire circumstances I invoke my mandate as a high ranking member of Saseba, I will personally take command of the assault and I will see that the abomination known as Lucy shall not escape her judgment!" With that he simply dismissed the man as one of his own aides presented him with his weapon of choice, custom made 9mm tungsten rounds.

A larger more powerful propellant allowed these to do far more damage that the ones from a regular pistol; taking in an extra magazine he still retained the normal rounds as well. He did not lose the notion that these human collaborators of Lucy could be very well throwing themselves at him and the soldiers in a desperate ploy to buy time for to escape.

She had escaped him already once before but this time would be different, this time she would be boxed in and there would be no general withdrawal ordered.

"Inform the men to move out! We begin the operation this instant while her guard is down!"

Their weapons at the ready the helicopters carrying the first men took off.

"Now it will be time to see that horned freak getting the punishment she deserves for her crimes!" Marching ahead of men dozens of men moved towards the entrance of the tower.

"Lucy! This time there will be no miraculous escape! This time I will kill you!"

Nyu couldn't help but smile as she saw all of the people of her family standing there. "To meet with all you one more time, that has made me really happy. I am… about to… die."

She stopped as what she was telling was painful to her, she knew that her time was becoming shorter as she felt the decay of her body continue. "The truth is though… that I wanted to spend more time with all of you… being with all of you has been so much fun… I wanted for it to continue so badly…"

She kept sobbing as it was what she truly wanted, she wanted to keep on living with her family, to have a long and happy life with all of them together. She didn't want it to end.

"KYAA!" She yelped from the pain as she was suddenly picked up, even if the embrace was coming from him her blistered skin was only making it painful for her. "KOUTA!? WHY!?" She could feel him holding her even tighter as if refusing to let go of her.

"I can't bear the idea of letting you die here in a place like this, you deserve far better Nyu! Go to the hospital with me, let us go together and get better!"

From the corner of her eye she could see the rest standing all of them with an expression of sorrow on their faces, eventually it was Mayu who made the first step forward and spoke what was on her mind. "Kouta-san is right. We should all go back to the maple inn as a family but Nyu-san needs to go the hospital along with Kouta-san and the two of you need to get better first. Then we would like for the two of you to come back to us, please?"

Nyu could see her starting to smile now. "During that time while the both of you recover from your wounds." Nyu could see of Mayu's face turned to address the others. "We will fix up and restore the maple inn to how it was before and we will wait for your return. Please become well again Nyu-san. I want my big sister to come back to us."

It were some of the nicest words that Mayu had ever said to her. "…Everyone…" She sobbed and cried as even when she knew she was going to die it was one more reason all the more for to cling on to the life she treasured so much. Even if there was a small hope that she could survive and live on then she certainly wanted to grab that chance no matter how small it was.

"I-I will… I will go to the hospital and get better… because I want to be… with you all… my family… the ones I love… and cherish…" Her cries were drowned out by the noise generator as helicopters, both transport and gunship, circled overhead. Kouta and the girls screamed as the powerful downward force of their rotor blades washed over them.

The clanging of dozens of boots approaching over the metallic cheers greeted them more armed soldiers than they could count came into view, not only from below but from above as well. "NOBODY MOVE! NOW HAND THAT THING OVER! RESIST AND YOU WILL BE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TREASON AND CRIMES COMMITED AGAINST YOUR COUNTRY! WE HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO USE DEADLY FORCE IF NEEDED TO! FOR YOUR OWN SAKE COMPLY!"

Nyu got scared as the men stared at her and the others, their guns all trained on her it seemed.

Soldiers moved aside for him as he climbed up the stairs, from a distance the damage inflicted on the tower had seemed severe but it was only that that he was actually climbing it that he fully grasped how badly mauled it had been. The repairs for it were going to take a year at the very least and untold amounts of the taxpayer's money would be squandered on it.

Already up ahead he could hear one of the officers making it clear to whomever it was how dire the situation was, to think that people were actually helping that filthy disgusting abomination was beyond him.

If they were to be so foolish and he prayed for it that they would annoy him even the slightest bit then he would personally oversee to them being punished to the fullest extent of the law ad beyond that. Finally reaching the end of the stairs the men arrayed here moved aside allowing him to see who the culprits were.

It disgusted him to no end that they appeared to be little more than teenagers, how revolting it was for the diclonius to go and poison the minds of the future of this nation, yet another one of their crimes that he would not let go unpunished. Standing at the corner were two of them but for the moment these were only a minor annoyance as the real one he had come for, the one who had become a true eyesore to him was there being held in his arms by a boy.

"It certainly is surprising that we meet again in such a quick succession, even faster than I had anticipated but this is then end of the line for you… Lucy! You have led us on a merry chase but no more of that. Your execution is long overdue, Lucy."

Taking in once more the scale of the damage she had inflicted he could not begin to fathom how many had lost their lives when Lucy had unleashed her vectors on the city, this was a scar that was going to mark this city for years if not decades to come.

But at least some part of the healing process would begin here and now as Lucy, the source of the suffering of so many would be judged and sentenced to the only punishment that would befit a monster like her; her imminent and summary execution.

Seeing the man staring back at him, no he was staring at Nyu and Kaede instead, Kouta could feel nothing but a burning hatred coming from him. He didn't know what this man's reasons were for hating these girls but he was under no illusion that under no circumstances was this man going to allow any of them to leave this place.

"Yuka." His whispered as she sat down next to him. "You and the other girls should leave."

She rebuked "What are you talking about? What about you then!? Don't try to be a baka yet again!" Her words were comforting to hear but he could not allow for them to stay any longer and be needlessly exposed to the risk.

"I will stay here with Nyu, you can go ahead and leave us but I will not turn away from protecting Nyu. Not after all that has happened to us." It surprised him as well to even say that, he knew damn well that by staying he was likely going to be trialed for crimes.

"…Kouta…?" He heard Nyu whisper in surprise. "Kouta please leave me here, I am not worth for you to risk your future, please for your own sake leave me be. Don't let me cause you any more problems."

She meant it well but he would be damned if he was just going to hand over a member of his family to these people, didn't matter if they belonged to the government, didn't matter if Nyu or Kaede had caused untold amounts of deaths and damage. He was not going to hand her over without a fight, period! "Don't say such a silly thing, just don't okay."

Leaning in closer to have a look at her eye he couldn't help but smile. "You risked your own life to save mine, I can't run away because I am scared of a death sentence. Not after what you have done for me, I am not going to abandon you."

Nyu cried again as he told her told. "Kouta… uhu… uhu..."

"That is all heartwarming and very noble if somewhat delusional of you to say boy!" Commander Kanbe had heard enough, this execution was no longer going to be postponed by the sheer foolish tender moments between traitors. He had come here for a reason and one reason only and now that it was well within his reach he would not allow for anyone to get in between.

"Lucy! What an ugly sight you have become but it does suits you far better as now people will see you for what you truly are! I bet that you do not know who I am or why I am here in the first place, do you Lucy?"

Walking forward he felt no fear for her, even if this was within her supposed reach he was fully confident that she no longer posed any threat to him. He would not cower or show fear to this monster, he would not permit it the satisfaction of tasting human fear one last time before the sentence was carried out.

"Allow me to introduce myself so that you will know who your executioner is! I am commander Kanbe of Saseba and on the orders of the government of this nation and gratified by the Prime Minister himself I am here to judge you! For the sake of the thousands of people that you have killed, the very lives that you in your arrogance have ruined, the tragedies that you have created!"

Even now it seemed that the boy was holding the body even closer to himself, in his eyes Kanbe saw nothing but foolish defiance. Very well if he would so foolishly try and protect her then he would be all to welcome to share her fate but at the very least he would offer him one last warning, a chance to see the errors of his ways.

"Dare to interfere boy! And I will kill you as well on the spot! Now relinquish your hold of that abomination and hand it over to me this instant!" His patience was already stretched pretty thin but the continued look from the boy was really pushing it now.

"Kouta! Please just go! That is enough…" He could hear it cry, so revolting that in its final moments it was going to show such a humane emotion, humans were allowed to cry but not monsters and freaks like her.

"You truly disgust me Lucy!" He sneered as he his hand already went back to reach out for his gun, looking at it he removed the clip holding the specialized anti-diclonius rounds and replaced by the normal round, this monster was going to die and he was going to prove that it was not invincible, he would destroy any myths or stories that might remain and see to it than in a few years the mere existence of Lucy would be little more than an old forgotten legend.

"Kouta, it is alright..." Nyu sobbed as she understood unless she was going to force his hand he would stay with her and bear the consequences of that action, the last she wanted right now was him and her family to get into trouble again.

"… Because I already have killed so many people, it is only right that I deserve a punishment for my actions... And besides if you were to be killed because of staying with me all that I did for you would be in vain, please don't let the only good thing we have done in our life be for nothing..." The memories or her other self were starting to emerge, now at the near end of her life she understood and experienced why people had hated her, why they had hunted her down with such vigor and determination.

"… Though it is painful for me… not being able to stay with you all for longer…" Her head turned to look at Kouta, perhaps her other half should have kissed him when she last had the chance, deep inside herself Nyu desired one last kiss from him as well but she would not ask him. "… It is also very painful for us both… not being able to be held by you anymore… our sweet Kouta… please remember us for who we were…" Closing her eye and biting back the lump in her throat she gathered what remained of her strength to say one last farewell.

"… Thank you all for everything you have done for me, you all made my life even when it was only so brief so much fun. I want to thank all of you for that, thank you all so much… I… love… you… all… so… much…"

"WATCH OUT!" Both Nana and Saeko cried in unison as they noticed that something was off. "KOUTA GET AWAY FROM IT!" But he did not seem to heed their warning, his eyes along with those of all the soldiers were transfixed of the remains of Nyu that were now floating in front of her, his coat fallen off from her the extent of her injuries and the ruined state of her body visible for all to see.

Saeko turned away her head in despair, that was not how she wanted to remember Nyu, that was not the way for her big sister to be remembered by.

With a wet noise more molten parts of her body fell to the floor, bodily fluids were spilling from the dozens of opening in her torn torso. A few short moments later the rest of her remains fell to the floor as well splattering her innards and more all over the place.

"Just when I could sense doubt in her heart again… this worn body… is already useless… it can't move… anymore… it won't move no matter… how much I command it…" Every heard the voice loudly in the minds but nobody understood how or why they could hear it or where t was coming from until it was too late.

"NYUU! KAEDEE!" Kouta cried out as he shot forward towards her but already Nana reached out with one of her vectors. "NO SHE'S NOT! KOUTA-SAN STAY AWAY FROM HER! THAT IS NO LONGER NYU-SAN OR LUCY-SAN!"

Those men that surrounded them started to move back a little, their weapons now already aimed for the remains of Nyu, their fingers already on the trigger.

"This body is already collapsing… my body is decaying even further… am I going to die? No it cannot end this way… I cannot die just yet…!" This time they could all hear it, the sound doesn't seem to come from any direction and yet everybody could hear this voice.

She watched as that man who had introduced himself as Kanbe stepped forward as he planted the muzzle of his pistol between the eyes of Nyu. "Lucy! Having killed so many others and you now say that you don't want to die! Do you believe there are no sins for you to atone to before you die?"

"So painful… so painful… so much pain… it is too… much." The confusion was visible on everybody's faces but Nana seemed to have already understood what was going on, reacting with blinding speed one of her vectors grabbed Kouta by the collar and in one violent tug she managed to pull him away just in the nick of time.

The soldiers left standing and the commander were less fortunate as their upper bodies simply vanished in an explosion of body parts and blood all the while the voice could be heard by those still alive. "I AM GOING TO DIE YOU SAID!? DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU!" It howled with a fury that born both out of agony and rage, overhead the helicopters exploded as they were torn to shreds. As the burning wrecks exploded and came crashing down Kouta and the others had to duck for cover to avoid getting hit by the pieces of burning debris.

"ALL LOT OF HUMANS ARE GOING TO DIE! THIS WORLD IS MINE! I WILL NOT HAND IT OVER TO YOU APES! BEFORE THIS BODY FINALLY SUCCUMBS AND MELTS I WILL KILLS YOU ALL! YOU HEAR ME?! ALL OF YOU!"

This voice was starting to sound like a hurricane, the noise of its screaming and raging was too overpowering, Kouta had to cover his ears if he just wanted to keep awake. He knew that he had to do something as those vectors of her body reached out high into the atmosphere, he didn't know what it was planning to do but he knew deep in his gut that it could not be good.

"STOP THIS! STOP WITH THIS MADNESS!" He pleaded to it.

Its head slightly tilted as it notice him "SHUT UP YOU FILTHY APE! SHUT UP!" The venom and the hatred in its voice could be felt by Kouta, to think that such a thing containing so much blind hatred had been living inside of Nyu and Kaede all this time. Only know was he beginning to understand what it must have been for those girls, if this was how it felt to them it was no wonder that sooner or later they would snap and follow it.

"IT HAS COME DOWN TO THIS… EVERYTHING… IT HAS ALL BEEN YOUR FAULT! MISERABLE HUMAN! FILTHY APRE! I WILL DESTROY YOU! DIE!"

Kouta felt paralyzed as a few of the vectors branched off and speared back towards him.

Nana and the others were blinded by a sudden bright light as the vectors collided with something else, something nobody had foreseen.

"SHIT! DAMN YOU! DO NOT DARE TO INTERFERE! I WILL DESTROY YOU AS WELL!" Frustrated by whoever it was Nana could feel the irritation of it growing, but what truly caught her attention was Kouta's reaction; his expression was like he was seeing a ghost in front of him and yet as hard as she tried to see there was nobody out there.

What was it that had caused him to freeze on the spot and stare blindly into the sky?

Author's note: Well another chapter for you people, sorry to have kept you waiting for it. Please read and review, it would mean a lot to me. I hope to get the next chapter out for you sooner.

Take care.