"WHAT!?" Rebecca's eyes were wide at the news Elsie told them. "The Goldstones are working for you!?"

"That's right!" Athena sang. "The Goldstones are working under the infamous Elsie Crimson! Our job: assist in the defeat of the Galactic Fleet." The crew of the Eden's Zero met the Goldstones in the docking bay of the former ship. The Eden's Zero wasn't exactly happy to see them.

"I don't understand. Just a few days ago, you were our enemy!" Homura pointed at the Goldstones. "Now you claim to be our allies? You may have saved us, but!"

"I can explain what happened." That message came from Elsie. She had no doubt the crew was confused...

.

.

[Flashback.]

The battles of Blue Garden and Delta Ridge ended roughly around the same time. After suffering their first defeat, the Goldstones were licking their wounds while in their ship. "That's the first job we've failed..." Max said while looking over his bandages. While he looked disappointed, after a moment, he started to laugh. "The cosmos is a really big place, eh!?"

"...We lost." Kamara was taking it seriously. The bitter taste of defeat lingered heavily over her.

"But we're alive." Athena said, placing a hand on Kamara's shoulder with a smile. "That failure did not cost us our lives. And we are able to bounce back from this experience. We still got paid over the course of those two years, and we did a fantastic job until the very end. I think we should be proud of what the three of us were capable of accomplishing.

"So what do we do next?" Kamra relented with a small sigh.

"We wait for the next job. Delta Ridge was rather time consuming..." Athena admitted, running her hands through her hair. "I'm sure we have a backlog now that we're back..." And right on that cue, Athena's work phone began to buzz. "Right on time!" She answered it, only to see...Elsie Crimson. "Huh!?"

"Is that Elsie!?" Max's eyes were wide.

"Oh, good. I reached you." Elsie sat with one leg crossed. She had several bandages around her body. "The Goldstones, correct?"

"That's us!" Athena said with a smile. "You've contacted us at the right top! We've just come back from a rather long job, so we're ready to bounce into work again! What could the mighty Elsie Crimson want with us?" And then, it was Kamara's phone that started to buzz.

"...Someone else is contacting us for work." Kamara said.

"Really made it in time. Listen." Elsie was going to make this firm. "There is a man known as Alexei Alexandrite. I believe it is his forces that are trying to contact you right now. I want you to accept whatever proposal he gives you, and wait until the right moment to betray his forces. I am sure you are aware of the Black Moon Star?"

"You got it." Max nodded. "We don't really take two jobs at once. But...since this is taking a job under the pretense of another, it doesn't betray our work ethic."

"So...you want us to betray someone? That's well and fine. But how are we going to know when that is?" Athena tilted her head.

"This is how..."

.

.

"And that's why you're on our side now..." Laguna lifted a brow.

"That's the gist of it." Kamara crossed her arms, looking around the Eden's Zero.

"How can we trust you?" Shiki narrowed his eyes.

"Because of their work ethic. With our contact, the currently answer to me." Elsie's word had plenty of weight. "And right now, they are also to listen to the Captain of the Eden's Zero as if his orders were mine."

"See!" Athena clasped her hands together. "We're partners now! Hopefully we can brush everything on Delta Ridge under the rug?"

"No way!" Geno objected to this. "You killed so many people! How are we supposed to...!"

"Geno..." Hermit placed her hand on Geno's. This caused him to turn around. "I know how you feel. I don't like the idea of working with them but they are ironically very trustworthy right now. You don't...have to like working with them. But we have to work together if we want to stop Alexei."

"...You gotta listen to her, kid." Omega added.

"..." Geno hated this, but he knew they were right.

"Oh, so you're the Blue Bomber! Hahaha! Not bad, kid!" Max pointed at Geno. He was laughing and Geno didn't appreciate it.

Kamara stepped forward to Geno, looking him in the eyes. "Do not direct hatred to my siblings. I am the one who killed your aunt. So hate me. I can bear it."

"..." Geno wasn't sure how to feel about that. Hermit squeezed his hand, so it calmed him down a little bit. So he relented with a grumble.

"We have one more with us..." Athena stepped aside.

Amira waltzed off their ship, flipping her hair with a grin. "Hello, Eden's Zero. Long time no see!"

"You...!" Homura pointed at Amira.

"Homura-chan!" Amira grinned, wrapping her arms around the swordswoman instantly for an embrace.

"I won't say there isn't a part of me that oddly enjoys this..." Homura grumbled. "But why are you here?"

"I was captured by the Galactic Fleet after the battle at Blue Garden." Amira explained. "They kept me captive, but I can't even say it was the worst. That said, they were planning to launch me into space. The Goldstones rescued me, how funny. Where's the shower? I need one..."

"This is a mess..." Weisz pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You were on their ship. Is there anything we can get from you?" Blair asked a real question. She was willing to let bygones be bygones, simply because being hostile wouldn't do anything right now.

"Yes!" Athena lifted a finger. "Two days. It'll take two days from this location to reach the Black Moon. Hubert lingered behind because, as he said, he assumed you'd find some way to catch up. He wanted to destroy you all right then and there, but we've managed to push him back and make him lick his wounds."

"So we have two days to prepare..." Sister stroked her chin.

"Which means we're gonna put you guys through the wringer." Max said while cracking his knuckles. "Two days is more than enough time to train!"

"Do we really need your help to train?" Kleene asked. It sounded rude, unintentionally.

"You would be wise to accept the offer." Athena replied. "While you may have been the only group we've ever lost to, we still have plenty of tips and tricks that can help you."

"I don't know about this..." Jinn was apprehensive. But he let out a small sigh after.

"...I guess we can accept their help..." Cynthia was indifferent. She only knew these people as the ones who helped plunge her home into turmoil.

"What about the Eclipse Ark?" Shiki asked.

"They'll be fine." Kamara said, walking forward. "They'll probably use this time to train on their own. Whatever information we share with you, we'll share with them as well. In order to defeat the Galactic Fleet, everyone must be as informed as possible. They are strong...it is no wonder you lost."

"Don't get so grumpy." Amira finally pulled away from Homura, and then offered a smile to Shiki. "You want to protect your friends, right? So I'm sure you'll do whatever needed!"

"Yeah..." Shiki nodded. "I'm determined to stop Alexei. I don't want him to destroy what makes live worth living..."

"So we're all on the same page!" Athena clasped her hands together, an arm hooking around Rebecca's shoulders, much to her dismay. "So, where's the bath? After a nice soak, I'll help with training!"

"I don't really like the idea of these guys roaming around our ship..." Happy said.

"We have to trust them, even if it's a little bit." Pino said.

"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on this one..." Rebecca cut her eyes at the smiling Athena.

.

.

Rebecca and Athena were in the Eden's Zero bath together. While they were sitting in opposite ends of the water, Athena had a cheery disposition while Rebecca had a huffy one. "Wow, this water really hits the spot! I haven't had a bath this nice in ages!"

"Uh-huh." Rebecca crossed her arms, keeping her eyes on Athena. "I'm just here to make sure you don't sneak around."

"Sneak around? Me?" Athena placed a hand on her chest, gasping. "I'm nothing but a professional! As of this moment, Shiki's orders are the same as Elsie's to me. So he's effectively my employer now too! And you know how strongly I honor my contracts. Besides, I'm a fan of you, remember!"

"Unfortunately." Rebecca huffed. In the next instant, Athena appeared beside her, an arm wrapped around her shoulders. "Ah-?"

"Look, Rebecca. I know we have some tense history. You're the first person who's beaten me in such a long time...but by proxy, I'm probably the only person who's got your time powers all figured out through intuition alone. There's not a single thing you can do to me that I wouldn't figure out. So why don't we try and get along? We can make a pretty fearsome team!"

"I'm only working with you because of our alliance. If Elsie and Shiki are going to trust you...I suppose I can afford to a little as well. But it doesn't go that far." Rebecca said begrudgingly.

"It can go as far as you want it to." Athena pressed against Rebecca, backing her to the edge of the pool. Suddenly, their fronts were against each other. "After all...you can trust me..." Her voice dropped and she started to lean closer...

Rebecca's eyes were wide. She froze as Athena leaned in, unable to move, her cheeks bright red as their lips were inches away from contact...and then Athena pulled away. Rebecca blinked once, her lips pursed together as her heart thumped wildly in her chest. "...You're a jerk. It's not nice to tease people!"

"Tease?" Athena lifted a brow with an innocent smile. "It's only a tease if you were expecting something..."

"Ggggggh!" Rebecca didn't have a response. She was just so frustrated for a number of reasons. "You're so annoying!" And once again, she found her back to the wall because of Athena, who closed in again.

"Oh, come now. I think you like me, deep down. We're the same." Athena wasn't backing away this time. "We're both fighting for people we care about. And right now...we're allies. So that means I'm going to fight for you too...~"

Athena was leaning in again. Rebecca's heart stopped...

.

.

The others were training with Max and Kamara in the VR training room. The boys were training with Max, while the girls were with Kamara. Homura was in her training gi, clashing swords with Kamara. Amira was watching in the background, as Homura was constantly knocked down over and over again. "This is fustrating...it reminds me of fighting with my teacher..." No matter how often she was knocked down, however, she stood back up.

"Your swordsmanship is honestly very refined and excellent." Kamara admitted. Although she was giving praise, her expression didn't change. "That being said, your strikes are too straightforward and honest."

"Honest?" That was the first time Homura heard that. She stood up and held her blade out once again.

"It means you fight with pure intentions. That is not a bad thing." Kamara added. "When our swords clashed in Delta Ridge, we had the same conviction. My nightmare was not enough to subdue you all, and I lost in terms of power. In a one on one situation, however...I can defeat you. X can defeat you as well. It's why she has."

"How can I improve against her?" Homura asked.

"It's not a matter of digging deeper." Amira replied, one leg crossed over the other. She wasn't even training, but she had on shorts and a sports bra. "She won't fight fairly. You won't fight her alone, but you have to think more."

"Think more..." Homura closed her eyes. X was able to defeat her and Lowell with such ease... "My conviction will always remain firm. I do not have it in me to fight in a dirty fashion..."

"You don't have to." Blair shook her head. "You just have to think outside of the box. You have plenty of moves, don't you? Just start getting a bit creative."

"You can do it, Homuran!" Kleene was eager to cheer her on.

"The members of the Galactic Fleet are all tough in their own way. Even knowing their abilities, coming up with countermeasures for all of them won't be so easy." Kamara added.

"We'll beat them no matter what!" Cynthia was determined. "My mother...I have to make her answer for what she's done. So, Kamara, I have one request...use your nightmare powers on all of us!"

"Pardon?" Kamara tilted her head. Nobody ever wanted to experience a nightmare.

"The power of a nightmare is a diffcult one to shake off." Kleene said. "If Vanessa's Veil is similar to your Nightmare, I may be able to contain it with my Wind Snatch. That being said, there is a chance she is prepared for this. If we can face against our nightmares, no matter how terrible they may be...we can stand a chance against whatever mind games she wants to play with us."

"...Heh..." Kamara tried to fight back a small, amused noise. "You people are insane. Just remember that this is something you asked for."

Rebecca was soon to join them in her training outfit. She was a bit winded and out of breath, but she was ready to keep going. "Sorry I'm late...! Athena...kept me busy." She said quietly. "But I'm ready to get going...!"

Sister, in the background, snickered. "Oh, I'm sure she did." She knew.

.

.

Max was with the boys. As he thought, they were pretty tough about it, and they gave a good workout. "Not bad, you guys! Not bad at all!"

"I still don't like the idea of training with this guy..." Geno grumbled.

"Physical strength is gonna be important at the end of the day! Especially to someone scrawny like you." Max pointed at Weisz.

"Who are you calling scrawny!?" Weisz took offense to this.

"Your suit's good, but it won't matter much if you're letting it do all the heavy lifting for you. Your tools should elevate your fighting, not be the sole thing you rely on." Max shook his head. In his eyes, Weisz was still just a rookie. "There's not gonna be a lot of tech to modify, so you're going to have to think on your feet."

"Pretty sage advice for a former enemy." Laguna pointed out.

"Hey, it's my job to make sure this fight is winnable. So I don't mind giving a few tips here and there." Max said with a grin. Weisz was fuming in the background. "I normally don't teach for free, but the fate of the cosmos is on the line. So, we're gonna have to speedup the process in two days. Hope you guys can keep up."

"You won't have to worry about us." Jinn said while clenching his hand into a fist.

"We've done a lot of improving over the last two years. But this could help us with Ziggy, too." Even if they managed to defeat Alexei, Shiki's eyes were still on Ziggy.

"Aht aht." Max shook his head. "Focus on the opponent in front of you. Ziggy isn't going to matter if we lose here, got that?"

"Ah, you're right." Shiki nodded and gave a smile. "You're pretty level-headed. We could be friends..."

"We're not gonna be friends with them!" Weisz exclaimed comically. He could see Shiki getting ready to extend his hand for friendship right here and now!

.

.

Hermit was busy relaying the information that Amira and the Goldstones told them to the GIU and Eclipse Ark. Information was key going forward, and within two days, everything was going to be on the line. They had to be as prepared as possible. But as she did this, she felt an unknown pain course through her body, causing her to seize up. "Ngh...! What's...going on with me? My memories..." Her memory banks were failing her. Things she should've remembered from her past, so easily, were fading away for some reason.

"I even ran a system check. Everything should be fine..." Hermit grumbled. Her self diagnosis were always pristine, so why were her systems failing her slowly? "I have to hold on..." Whatever was wrong with her was going to have to wait. The climactic battle was just around the corner, and she needed to be focused for it. "They're going to be depending on me more than ever...so I have to get this right. I have to..."

Athena was around the corner, tilting her head at Hermit's condition. She didn't know what was wrong with her. "Hermit. I hate to bother you. But there's something I wanted to ask you about."

Hermit whipped around, trying to keep a brave face. "Huh? What is it, Athena?"

Athena took a seat in front of Hermit, and smiled. "I want to know...you've got something other than the Warrior Maid, don't you? I want you to let me use it."