"Well, it's been a long day. We'd better all get some sleep. See you guys tomorrow." Zeno yawned as he walked off with Atari.
Once he was home, Zeno went straight to bed. But not before making sure Atari would be staying in hers. Around 1:15 that morning, Atari found herself alone in a dark room. She knew it wasn't hers from the feeling of the floor material.
Atari turned around, hoping to find some light or where she was. And she noticed a pair of green eyes staring at her. She turned around out of fear and thought about who it could be.
'Zeno's eyes are orange and gold. Gunvolt and Xiao's eyes ae blue. Moniqa's eyes are a blue green mix. So,n-no. It can't be, n-not again.' Atari mentally panicked.
It was the same person she was stuck with at S-FIT. Meanwhile, Zeno couldn't sleep and thought about making some popcorn. So, he went to ask Atari if she wanted some. Only to find the room empty.
He woke up entirely in one second and ran to grab his comm. Gunvolt was sleeping when his comm beeped. Gunvolt rolled hear his bedside table and grabbed it.
"Zeno, what's going on?" Gunvolt pondered.
"Lily's gone, again." Zeno answered.
Gunvolt instantly knew it was going to be a long night.
"Alright, I'll call Copen." Gunvolt added before calling the ex Adept Slayer.
Once the necessary calls were made, Gunvolt saw Joule was awake.
"GV, is something wrong?" Joule worried.
"Atari's missing from her room again. I'm checking on the watch and it's not showing anywhere I know of though." Gunvolt notified.
"Good luck." Joule whispered as Gunvolt left, locking the door behind him.
He met up with Xiao, Moniqa, Zeno and Mr. Shino at HQ.
"Aerial imaging from Xiao's drone shows she's in a forest. There's an abandoned house there, that's where you'll find her. Unfortunately, she's not alone. It picked up on two lifewave signals. You'd better go now. The longer you stay, the likelier it is that she'll be injured." Mr. Shino informed.
While in the forest, Zeno sputtered as his face was hit by a branch.
"I know what they say about dogs. But this tree just tried to bite me." Zeno commented.
After a 15 minute walk, the boys found the house. It had tan concrete walls with a gray and red shingled roof. The door was made of spruce and had a metal bar spanning two feet, five inches. The doorways height was seven feet, four inches.
Upon entering, they saw a living room with books on the back left bookshelf near the wall. The shelf was in the corner and was the height of the first floor. There was a decorative table on the opposite side of the kitchen doorway. It was a dark oak in color with a spiral design on the legs and rounded corners.
You could see into the kitchen from the doorway and the sink was directly behind it. Atari was heard shrieking upstairs, followed by porcelain shattering. She threw a vase at Zed who was on the right side of the room. He was hovering in front the right wall while Atari sat with her legs folded in front the left wall.
It was a bedroom with the bed in the top left corner of the room. A desk was on the right side of the room. The only window was between the desk and the bed. A closet stood in the bottom right corner of the room.
The boys went running upstairs to see what the problem was. Their shock was beyond description. Upon seeing who entered the room, Zed teleported away. Atari did hear when they entered the room.
But she thought Zed teleported to the side of her and brought backup. So, she ran downstairs past them as fast as she could. Atari ran out the house in the opposite direction.
"We have to go after her. There's no teling if Zed is still looking for Atari." Copen reminded.
Atari ran for two minutes, took a rest break for one and ran for another two. Upon stopping, she found herself in an open field. She turned to look behind herself and wanted to scream. She saw the same person she threw a vase at a little while ago.
At that time, Gunvolt heard his watch beep. He looked on the screen and noticed the dark red dot that was still near the yellow dot.
"That must be Zed. He's still near Lily. She's five minutes away. We just have to go East." Gunvolt informed.
So, everyone abandoned the house and went back. They found Atari seven feet away from Zed who was levitating two feet in front of Atari. Deciding not to waste his energy or time, Zed teleported. Zeno practically darted to Atari.
"I don't understand. I know you went to bed in your room. But then you were at that abandoned house. And now you're hee." Zeno rambled.
Atari was too shaken to say anything. Instead, she began to cry.
"She can stay at my place for the night. I'm sure Joule would like to have her over." Gunvolt assured.
Zeno agreed to this eventually, being rather hesitant at first. Right after Zeno dropped Atari off, he called Gunvolt.
"Is she okay? That Zed guy isn't there right?" Zeno asked.
'If he was then I wouldn't have picked up the phone." Gunvolt retorted.
"O-okay, just wanted to make sure. Well, I'll see you tomorow, bye." Zeno droned.
Gunvolt immediately hung up. Joule was teaching Atari how to make jewelry with silver and beads. The adrenaline wore of around 5:37. Which is the time Gunvolt, Lumen and Atari all fell asleep.
When 6:42 rolled around, Atari was in a different location. She wasn't awake, so Atari didn't know where she was. Once she woke up though, she'd be glad she was asleep. Her current said Muse was used at Building 1 in Saikawa prefecture.
Since he knew Atari would be sleeping at Gunvolt's place,that was one less Muse Copen would have to worry about. Until he found out who was in the machine. When Copen saw Atari there, he was dumbfounded.
"Looks like you were right Nori. Sumeragi does have a new Muse. The only problem is it's Atari who's doing the dirty work for them." Copen announed.
"I see, there was a file from S-FIT that mentioned her name. I'd advise you check it at a later date." Nori added.
Copen used the Border II and shot the machine. Atari slumped forward, before the second generator kicked in and pulled her back.
"Uh, boss, did you just use a Greed Snatcher Bullit?" Lola assumed.
"It shouldn't have any effects on her since the machine took the shot instead." Copen doubted.
Then, Copen decided to break the glass with the barrel of his gun. He placed his gun in its holster so he could remove the attachments from Atari. Copen brought Atari back to Gunvolt's apartment and knocked on the door with his foot. Joule was the one to answer the door.
"Copen, why do you have Atari?" Joule wondered.
"She was at Sumeragi's Building one. I found her in the same machine they used on you." Copen informed.
"Thanks for bringing her back. Zeno won't be too happy hearing about this later though." Gunvolt thanked.
"I need to go now. But I'll make sure to call you later and check on her." Copen notified.
"Where are you going?" Gunvolt queried.
"Nori told me there's a file mentioning Atari at S-FIT. I intend to get it." Copen answered.
"Do you think you could wait to get it? If you can, I can call Zeno so he can come with us." Gunvolt suggested.
"It's not the most ideal option right now. Having someone here to watch and defend Atari is our safest bet right now." Copen denied before leaving.
Around 9:17, Zeno made breakfast and noticed Atari wasn't around. He checked her room and saw it was empty yet another time. Zeno called Gunvolt to see if his friend had any answers.
"Ay Geeves, Lily's missing again. I was just wondering if you saw her recently." Zeno replied.
"Copen dropped her off here a couple of hours ago. Apparently the Sumeragi was using her as a Muse at Building one." Gunvolt elucidated.
"I'll be over there in a bit." Zeno confirmed before hanging up the phone.
He ate breafast, brushed his teeth and ran over. In fifteen minutes, he was outside Gunvolt's apartment complex and outside his door in another 2-3 minutes. Zeno knocked and Gunvolt opened the door.
"Copen said he just walked by your house so he should be here soon." Gunvolt stated.
"Did he tell you any of what's in that file?" Zeno asked.
"No, but I did hear Lola yelling on the other end." Gunvolt responded.
Zeno turned to see Atari sitting on the couch talking with Lumen and Joule.
"You gave me a heart attack! What happened to you!?" Zeno shouted as he waved his arms about in the air.
"Lily, you said earlier that yo saw eyes staring at you in that house. Do you know who it was?' Gunvolt reminded.
"The same person I t-threw t-that v-vase a-at." Atari stuttered.
"I don't understand why he's after her though. I mean, he was after the Binding Brands, right?" Zeno droned to gunvolt.
"I thought so too. Maybe the file Copen's bringing over will help us figure out what's going on." Gunvolt theorized.
That's when a knocking on the door was heard. Zeno opened it and Copen entered with Lola.
"It's really bad news. Even I'm still shaken. After reading that file, I don't know what to think. Atari isn't human nor Adept. She's what's known as a Primal Dragon.
Primal Dragons are attached to the eighth Lifewave. That's why she naturally has two Septimas. But that's not all. Apparently she was created in S-FIT.
And, if what this file said is true, then my father is still alive. He was the one who crated her according to this file. All of Atari's DNA is synthetic and was structured to be different. By different I mean allowing her to use every single Septima in existence.
The file says she has them, but there's no known way to unlock them. She even died during testing and was in a death like state for three days prior. That's what caused her amnesia. There's even been a few warnings listed. All of them claiming she's the most dangerous Lifewave using individual to ever exist." Copen warned.
Atari didn't understand what was going on. All the poor girl knew was that she had two abilities. When asked about them, Atari said she was a "superhero" that was "going to help people" with said powers. Copen could only shake his head.
"Well, I thin it's a nice thought." Lumen huffed to Copen.
"Don't you get it Atari? You're a manmade weapon of chaos and destruction." Copen ranted.
"What's a Lifewave?" Atari pondered.
"Everyone is attached to the Lifewave. it's kind of like a way to track how souls evolve. There's said to be seven different types. The first is Primordial which also covers Lifewaves two and three.
Tetrad is four, Quinary is five, Senary is sixth, Septima which is the actual name for the seventh Lifewave and Octima for the eighth Lifewave. Anyone attached to the first, second or third is said to be normal. Tetrad wielders are said to be spiritualists, Quinary even more so. Senary users were believed to make miracles happen.
Septima users are usually Adepts. But this reads that Primal Dragons can be born with multiple Septimas. The other possibility is being exposed to Priaml Dragon Radiation. It only works with Adepts though.
If a robot or person is exposed to it, they'll go berserk." Copen explained.
That's when Joule saw a green skinned draconian fetus sitting on Atari's lap. It had a pair of dark green horns and two bladed protruding scales behind its head and back. Its tail was as long as the rest of its body and has an array of what appear to be suckers. Its tail also darkens near the tip giving it an oddly shaped pattern.
It had three eyes, its two main ones being blank and glowing in different colors, with its right shaded blue and its left shaded red. Its center eye is the only one with a visible pupil which glows. Joule pulled on Gunvolt's sleeve and pointed to Atari. At first he was confused. But once he saw what Joule wanted him to see, Gunvolt was shocked.
"Uh, Lily, I don't want to frighten you. So, look down, just don't scream or try to run." Gunvolt cautioned.
Atari looked down at the tiny dragon. She grabbed it and turned it around so she could hold it like a plushie with her arms folded.
"That's not a plush that I got you." Zeno notified.
Gunvolt got a call from Moniqa and answered it.
"Prado brought Sistina and some other woman to attack the sanatorium! They think Atari's in there!" Moniqa informed.
Gunvolt immediately hung up and looked at Copen.
"Prado and Sistina brought the last ATEMS Knight to invade the sanatorium. They think Lily's in there. Zeno, you're going to stay with her. Copen and I are going to fight." Gunvolt stated.
'If they think I'm not there and I attack them, that'll be to our advantage, right?" Atari hoped.
"Yeah, you know what? If we bring Lily and they see her, those Knights will be shivering in their timbers! While they're distracted, we can attack them!" Zeno cheered.
Gunvolt was hesitant about it, but agreed.
"As long as somebody's with he at all times during the battle." Gunvolt supposed.
Atari was happy and began striking battle poses with her fan. When she tried to do a mock karate kick, Atari fell and landed her rear on the couch.
"Easy there, karate kid. You can't do that just yet." Zeno teased.
"I think we should get our equipment first. Then we'll strike. Gunvolt advised.
"I hate to ask, but could you watch Lily while I get my gear?" Zeno begged.
"It's no trouble. But honestly, I think Joule's been watching her more than I have." Gunvolt joked.
Zeno thanked his friend and left. Once ready, everyone met up at the sanatorium to fight. They took notice of a woman who had black sclera with cyan irises, her hair turning the same color and becoming broader and more triangle-shaped near the bottom. She donned head armor that bore resemblance to a bamboo hat, black sleeves with long strips that reached down to her legs, large grey shoulder pads with white circles at their centers, and a segmented skirt with cyan highlights.
Her boots had a white and black color scheme. Her staff had spiked ends and a small glass cylinder. Gunvolt bound the Knights in chains so Copen could use his Shred Storm special skill. All Atari had to do was stand there and strike anyone that got too close with her fan. They were weaker this time around while Luxia was singing.
"Why does her singing make them weaker? My singing makes GV stronger." Lumen droned.
"They got healed partially. If she healed them fully, then we'd really be in danger." Copen elaborated.
With a flash from Astrasphere, the three women were defeated. Suddenly, Zed could be seen in the air on the left of Luxia.
"Oh my, this is serious. I'm afraid we'll have to confiscate your Primal Dragon here." Zed remarked.
"If you think that'll happen, the answer is no." Zeno protested.
Zed turned his attention to Gunvolt.
"I would like to propose a bet with you, Azure Striker. If we duel and you win, I will stay away from you. However, if we duel and you lose, the girl comes with me. So, what do you say?" Zed sugested.
Gunvolt looked at Zeno for his input.
"I say we leave and never encounter you again." Zeno rebuked.
"It's a deal." Gunvolt confirmed.
Zeno was enraged with Gunvolt who gave him a knowing look. Realizing the plan, Zeno motioned for Copen to run. He, Zeno and Atari fled the scene, leaving Gunvolt to fight Zed by himself. Gunvolt charged up to use Grand Strizer.
Unfortunately, he was a second too late. Zed charged his Lux Ballista attack before Gunvolt unleashed his attack. The arrows left Gunvolt overheated and injured. On his right leg, his lower thigh was burned on the right.
While his upper left on his ankle recieved a heavily bleeding cut. Luckily, Lumen healed Gunvolt so he could escape. Everyone decided to regroup at HQ.
"I still don't understand why he's after her." Zeno explained while pointing to Atari.
She still had the little dragon in her arms. Mr. Shino looked at the dragon with wide eyes.
"So that's what Zed's after." Mr. Shino realized.
"Huh? What are we talking about?" Zeno queried.
"Atari, you do know that's the ruler of the Primal Dragons you're holding right?" Mr. Shino notified.
"I still don't get it." Zeno muttered.
"We managed to decipher his plan. Zed knows that Atari's been fused with Moebius since she was two days old. Moebius was born two days after Lily. She's the original Primal Dragon.
And the only one capable of influencing the Astral Order Octima and Moebius. Anything she thinks, talks, dreams or writes about can change the future. Zed thinks he can use Lily as a medium to communicate with Moebius. It won't work though.
He knows Zed's intentions aren't pure. Nobody within Sumeragi ever knew about Moebius. Atari needs to be shileded from ATEMS." Mr. Shino elaborated.