Phase-21: Battle of the Dardanelles

"Tannhauser has been destroyed! The FCS is down!" Someone reported on the bridge of the Minerva.

"Hurry putting out those fires! Reactivate FCS! Damage control crews, standby!" Gladys commanded. The ZAFT ship was losing altitude and tilting to one side. Shinn, Seren and Athrun anxiously watched. "We're sea landing! All hands, brace for impact!" Following her words, the vessel crash landed in huge splashes of water, allowing it to successfully stabilize.

Two more mobile suits came out of the Archangel that had just arrived. One was Rayner's Blast Wave, equipped with the Namikaze Storm pack (improved version of the basic Storm pack, for improved performance in the atmosphere and underwater) and multipurpose Seiryuu pack. That brand new Seiryuu pack integrated a 74mm high energy beam rifle, a cluster bombs launcher, a 3-barreled multipurpose missile launcher on the back, on the shoulders were two additional Igelstellungs, and a rapid fire beam cannon on the right and a railgun on the left. A shotgun and a powerful plasma beam cannon were attached to the wings of the mobility pack and pivoted when in use. And the other was Cagalli's Strike Rouge, featuring the Ootori striker pack. The black and white Ootori pack was based on the Integrated Weapons Striker Pack with an improved flight system compared to the Aile Striker, and was armed with a large anti-ship sword, a missile launcher, two other sets of three small missiles, a railgun, and its most powerful ranged weapon was a beam launcher.

"I am the Orb Union's Chief Representative, Cagalli Yula Athha!" The Strike Rouge's operator declared, shocking all those present. "Orb Forces! Stop fighting at once! Withdraw your troops!" She ordered. The bridge personel of the Archangel waited anxiously for Orb's response while recalling the conversation that led them to this intervention...

"Orb has sent forces to Suez?! No way..." Cagalli stammered, her voice seeped with dismay and disbelief. "What's Unato thinking? What has gotten into the ministers?!"

"But it can't be helped, can it? Joining the Earth Alliance meant precisely this." Waltfeld's remark cut deep in the Chief Representative's heart.

"And Cagalli, you're the one who approved of it, right?" Kira added. Lacus spoke his name sadly, meaning he was saying too much, but he ignored her. "You didn't think it'd come to this?"

"I... I..." His sister stammered again. Murrue told Kira not to be this hard on her as they were the ones who had forced Cagalli to come with them. Had she still been in Orb, this, at least, might have never happened.

"No, it would have most likely been the same. I don't think Cagalli could have stopped this the way she was then." Kira denied. After all, she had been crushed by the ministers and was marrying Yuna. Having no room to protest, the blonde girl gritted her teeth.

"I'm also at fault for being such an unreliable support... even though I had sworn to be steadfast and protect her..." Rayner placed a hand on his beloved's shoulder and smiled sadly, self-derisively at her.

"Rayner... no... I..." Cagalli bit her lower lip, recalling how she had betrayed him and nearly married Yuna.

"But she's not the same now, is she?" Lacus argued. "I'm sure that right now, Cagalli-san can see clearly the things that were not visible to her then." She spoke with kindness and confidence.

"Lacus..."

"But what do we do about this situation? Now that Orb has added its power to the Earth Forces, the balance is shifting again." Andrew wanted a concrete course of action. Ramius agreed. "And in the future-"

"Kira, sortie!" Cagalli interrupted him, her fists clenched. Everyone looked at her. "Call it a belated foolish sentiment... but if it's at all possible, I want to stop this battle! Orb must not participate in this fight! No, not just Orb... the reality is, no nation should! Nobody! We can't let the world go on fighting war after war! So, please, Kira! And even if it's a little at a time, we have to make our way off this misguided path! Orb too!" She enjoined. Her brother and Lacus looked at each other, smiling.

That was why Cagalli was here, right now, facing the Orb army, her compatriots, her people. Just like her brother and friends had helped her back on her path, she was doing her best to help return Orb onto its rightful path...

"Although for certain reasons I've been away, it doesn't change the fact that I, Cagalli Yula Athha, daughter of Uzumi Nara Athha, hold the position of Chief Representative of the Orb Union! Upon my name I hereby order you: in adherence to the ideals of our nation, the Orb forces will stop this battle and withdraw their troops!" She commanded. However, her declaration, which went in total opposition to the current course of action of Orb and even her own previous actions, threw everyone into confusion and caused the man she had been marrying and acting leader of Orb to groan and clench his fists and teeth. The first to recover and act was the Earth Forces commander, Neo Roanoke, who took the phone and called his ally.

"Yuna Roma Seiran, how do you explain this?" He questioned, startling the Orb officers. Yuna took the phone and stammered. "Who is that? Is she really your country's Representative? If so, why has she waited until now to suddenly appear aboard that thing, and then ordered your forces to withdraw? Unless I receive an answer from you right now, things could get very nasty for you and your nation..." The masked officer further clearly threatened while giving his subordinates some signal.

"W-well... this, this is... um, what I'm saying is..." Yuna gritted his teeth, recalling the moment he had abandonned Cagalli during the wedding and helplessly watched her be whisked away by the Blast Wave and Freedom. He fiercely glared at the monitor showing those very same Freedom and Blast Wave, as well the Strike Rouge, known to be Cagalli's unit since the last war, and the Archangel. "I have no idea who that is!" He suddenly proclaimed, shocking Todaka and Amagi. Neo smirked. At the same moment, Sting, Stella and Auel received an instruction on their units's screen: STANDBY FOR ACTION. And thus, they activated their mobile suits.

"Yuna-sama! What in the world are you saying!"Todaka cried out, appalled.

"This is the Strike Rouge! And that crest! It belongs to Cagalli-sama!" Amagi concurred, referring to the white lion head with a pink lily in its mouth that was painted on the shoulder of the Strike Rouge. Uzumi Nara Athha was esteemed as the Lion of Orb, and Cagalli was his daughter.

"Th-that doesn't prove that Cagalli is the one piloting that thing! We don't know that, do we?!"

"However, that voice...!"

"Sh-she's an impostor! I can tell! I can tell! I'm her husband you know!" He was flailing about and speaking like a stubborn and unreasonable child. "I-I-if not... she's being manipulated! My true, sane Cagalli w-would never do something stupid like this and make a fool out of me!"

"Yuna-sama!" Todaka still attempted to remonstrate with him. Likewise, Arthur Trine called out to Captain Gladys... She raised a hand, however, signaling for him to wait quietly. Now was a turning point.

"What are you doing?! Hurry up and fire you fools!" Seiran yelled. "Shoot that plague of a ship! Prepare to fire a volley!"

"How could you do such a thing..."

"If we don't, the Earth Forces will be attacking US! And our nation! I've come this far, all for Orb! We can't turn around at this point and say 'we quit' now, and expect things to be settled just like this, can we?!" In spite of everything, Yuna's assumption of the Atlantic Federation's reaction was entirely correct. The whole battlefield was still frozen, everyone holding their breath in anxious waiting.

Trine tried to speak to his captain again, only to have her chide him. The Minerva was in the most disadvantageous position right now. She couldn't make any sense of what was happening. Orb couldn't possibly be pulling out their forces at this time, right? Though deep inside, there was still a nagging doubt, or rather, hope. Cagalli Yula Athha was adored by the people after all. But the Archangel, the Freedom had attacked their ship... if Orb and the Archangel allied against them... As her mind was racing, she received a communication from the GOUF Ignited.

"If there is any further movement, I'll also sortie. Is that alright?" Heine suggested confidently. Talia smiled and said she counted on him.

"...Aim missiles at unknown mobile suits." Todaka quietly ordered, having taken his decision. His incredulous subordinates protested. "We will fire at the rebels that are misleading us!" He maintained.

"Hurry up and fire!" Yuna bellowed.

We're counting on you, Freedom, Blast Wave. Todaka watched the screen, sending his thoughts. That was indeed not a situation where they could simply turn back as long as Orb was still part of the Earth Alliance. Right now, their supreme commander was Yuna Roma Seiran, and as soldiers they had to obey him. They could only see things through and pray that their pain, their resolution, their feelings, their deaths... would reach Cagalli-sama and help her grow into a strong and wonderful leader.

"Fire!" The Takemikazuchi ship captain shouted. The Orb fleet unleashed a wave of missiles at the Strike Rouge and Blast Wave. The pilots and bridge personel gasped... both on the Archangel and on the Minerva. Kira came forward and fired all his weapons with the help of the Multi Lock-on System, detonating the missiles. Todaka exhaled in relief.

"Orb fleet! What are you doing?! I said..." Cagalli began. The Chaos and Gaia sortied, the Gaia immediately transforming into a mobile armor and diving in the water. The Windams also took off.

"Alright! There was a little confusion with that strange interruption, but fortunately, we have the upper hand! The Minerva's wounded! We're sinking it today!" The masked commander of the EA declaimed.

"Arthur, interception! Meyrin, send out all of our mobile suits." Talia also gave her orders. The Earth Forces attacked the Minerva. The Savior, Fortuna and Impulse instantly retaliated. Heine, Lunamaria, and Rey sortied. The GOUF took to the sky, but the ZAKUs, with their poor flight capabilities in the atmosphere, remained on the ship like turrets.

"What are you doing?! Hurry up and attack them! Mobile suits teams, hurry!" Yuna Roma Seiran urged. Once more, the officers weakly attempted to protest. "We've gotta sink the Minerva! Or we'll get scolded again! We're part of the Earth Forces now! And we must also sink that ship, the Archangel!"

"Are you serious?!"

"That ship is the main cause of our nation's state of confusion! Always, always, always, always... So get rid of it too. Unless we can show that masked man that we're competent, things won't look good for us, right?" The Orb supreme commander was regaining his confidence... while speaking of eliminating the heroes of the previous war, and the woman he knew to be his fiancée and almost wife. Todaka gritted his teeth.

Stella fired from the deck of the J.P. Jones. Rey and Luna strived to protect the Minerva from the swarming Windams. The Abyss surfaced, changed back into MS mode and fired its two sets of 3-barreled beam cannons at the Impulse. Shinn cursed as he evaded. The Savior chased after the Chaos. The Fortuna stopped another volley of missiles before supporting the ZAKUs. And all Orb mobile suits teams received the order to attack the Minerva together with the Earth Forces. That woman was not Cagalli-sama. That woman was not Cagalli-sama... the communication operator insisted. The Orb pilots, rather than believing what they had seen and heard of the Strike Rouge's pilot, simply obeyed the given orders. Heine took out his 'Tempest' beam sword that extended to full length as beams appeared along the edges and entered the fray, going after a group of Windams... before bisecting the Murasames shooting at him.

"Orb forces, can't you hear me?! Can't you understand what I'm saying?! Orb forces, stop fighting!" Cagalli, yelled with desperation in her voice. She had been left speechless, distraught at first from the shock of having been thus ignored. But refusing to understand that the attack being resumed was the very answer of the Orb forces, she kept pleading... until a Murasame shot at her. Kira shielded her and shot the unit's rifle.

"Cagalli, it's no use. Unfortunately, talking isn't gonna work. It can't be helped. Stay back, I'll do what I can."

"Kira..." She breathed her brother's name, tears of helplessness streaming down her face. The CIWS guns of the Minerva were discharging non-stop, their barrage destroying approaching Murasames whose remains fell in the ocean. Shinn fired at the Windams. The Earth Forces's attacks fell dangerously close to the ZAFT vessel... so much the white ZAKU was showered with sea water. Seren shot the heads, wings, and engines of the Orb units before spotting another wave of missiles heading towards her affiliated ship.

"Missiles approaching from 10 o'clock! Eight of them!" Heim warned.

"Evade! 10 to port!" Talia bellowed. Some warheards were detonated in time by the CIWS, and others by the Fortuna's weapons but a few still hit the Minerva. The ship rocked. The bridge members grunted under the impact.

"'Tristans' Fire!" Trine yelled. The 'Tristan' dual beam cannon mounted on the portside linear catapult fired.

"Bring the Kuramitsuha and the Iwasaku up to the front! Corner those two ships!" Yuna commanded.

"Evade! Lower bow 15 degrees! Descend!" Murrue instructed as the Archangel was also targeted by the Murasames's missiles. The Freedom protected the ship and fired warning shots. Kira entered SEED mode and fired his rifle, rail cannons and plasma beam cannons simultaneously, disarming the five approaching Orb and EA units. Rayner stayed by Cagalli's side to protect her. "We'll head over to the Minerva. Keep an eye on Orb and the Earth Forces." Ramius gave further directives.

The Minerva had sailed... or was getting cornered closer to the shore where large rocks were protruding above the surface. And the Gaia was attacking from there... or was trying to. Heine was fighting in the area and quickly dispatching the Windams. Stella angrily aimed beams at him that were avoided. So the orange GOUF targeted her and cracked his 'Slayer Whip' heat rod at the black machine, delivering an electric charge that caused the female pilot to scream in pain. He struck a second time before the Gaia jumped back and returned to MS mode. But then, the heat rod coiled around her rifle. Stella gasped.

"This unit is different... it's different from a ZAKU!" Heine shouted, priding himself in the superiority of his machine compared to the old model, mass-produced ZAKUs. He sent electricity coursing through the whip, destroying his enemy's weapon. The blonde girl gritted her teeth, insulted him, and lunged at him with her beam saber. Westenfluss dodged the first slash and blocked the second with his shield.

Shinn was struggling to hit the Abyss that was zooming underwater. Auel counterattacked. Athrun was shooting at the Chaos with his rifle before pursuing it in MA mode. It took Sting all he had to escape.

"I'm losing to him in battle ability?! Me?!" Oakley begrudged the Savior's pilot.

Seren noticed that her allies were just a little bit lacking to properly finish things. Still, they were enough to stall for time, especially Athrun. She had to give more leeway to the Minerva. So she decided to stop those missiles at their source... The Fortuna turned into a mobile armor and zoomed towards the Orb fleet. Their fire was naturally directed towards her. She blasted a path open with her 'Invictus' rail cannons and maneuvered through the stragglers missiles, detonating those coming too close with the cowl-mounted 'Orcus' 80mm machine gun. Having an enemy so easily close in sent Yuna Seiran into a panic... but also Kira, fearing the ZAFT unit was going to sink the whole Orb fleet. So he headed in their direction. However, Seren only destroyed the missile launching areas and cannons of the escort ships. At this moment, the Freedom's pilot started doubting.

Cagalli merely flew backwards, unsteadily, her shield in front of her, as a Murasame shot at her. She only whimpered, not even seriously trying to defend herself, let alone counterattack. Her assailant fell to Rayner's beams. He had moved away a little in order to cover the Minerva too but he really could not leave her alone. And he could not leave her here either where she was nothing more than a sitting duck. If she could not fight, then at least, she should return to safety. Although it pained him as much as her, he had been prepared for this eventuality, and while he was not nearly as skilled as Kira, he also did his best to avoid the cockpits and focus on keeping them away. But it seemed that Cagalli had not even considered the possibility of her being ignored and was not ready to fight, not against Orb.

"If you can't fire then retreat, Cagalli! If you are defeated here, what'll happen to Orb?!" He scolded her. Only she was at a standstill, frozen, paralyzed by her own powerlessness. She could not even protect her own people, and now she should kill them to save herself? Everyone was fighting, especially the ZAFT soldiers, desperate to survive. The red ZAKU was firing its 'Orthros' cannon, blowing Windams. Rey and the Minerva launched their missiles. So many wrecked mobile suits were falling and sinking into the sea, so many of her citizens were dying, so far from their home country. What were they doing here?! Why was this happening?! That wasn't how things were supposed to be! Despite being the leader of Orb, she could not do a single thing. She was not like her father... Now, more than ever, she understood his words... It was during the adress he had made to the gouvernment and population to announce and explain his intention to remain neutral in the last war, right before the Earth Alliance's attack...

"We will not invade another nation, will not allow another nation to invade us, and will not interfere in the conflicts of other nations. We people of Orb hold that ideal and have held onto it through the changing times because we believe it is the most fundamental and important ideal for us to exist as a nation. Even in our current situation, I believe our ideal is correct. If we were to join the Earth Alliance, we might indeed avoid the impeding military invasion. However, that would be allowing an invasion into what is most important to us, the spirit of Orb... no, our spirits as human beings. Right now, the Earth Forces are threatening to attack us unless we choose their side, however, there is no way we can obey them. If we did, we will someday become a nation who fights people designated by others as enemies as we are ordered to. Not allowing invasion; that is the ideal held by Orb. We will continue to strive to protect our ideal right to the end. However, the threat is right at our doorstep. Everyone, I ask that you all..."

And yet, she had yielded to the ministers, and allowed that invasion... of the spirit of Orb, their spirits as humans... she had allowed this invasion on foreign seas, and intervention in this war between between the PLANTs and the Earth Alliance. All for a false and momentary peace... And this was the consequence... the brutal death of so many people, of her people... The swelling despair and agony overflowed from her eyes as she opened her mouth in a voiceless scream... a scream that she knew nobody would have heard even had she yelled at the top of her voice.

Kira incapacitated Orb mobile suits as he neared the Orb fleet and that ZAFT unit that was still bombing only the ships' weaponry while battling the Murasames trying to get it. What more... that blue, red, and gold machine was clearly avoiding to kill its opponents, and was showing stunning prowess in this aerial combat when constantly swarmed by enemies. But then, it returned to mobile suit mode and headed towards the Orb flagship, in front of the bridge, defending with minimal movements. Despite having ample time to shoot the bridge, it did not, and simply kept defending. The Orb soldiers were also extremely careful when attacking as to not damage their own ship, and fought only in close quarters. But even so, that ZAFT pilot was overwhelming with its four beam sabers. That person was only going to for the head and limbs... and Kira couldn't help but be reminded of Seren. Still, fighting at this place was too dangerous.

The Freedom rammed into the Fortuna, beam sabers out. They clashed, the Fortuna was driven backwards, into the sky, away from the Orb ships, back to the main battlefield. Seren had wanted to threaten Yuna and make him retreat forcefully, since that was the only way Orb could withdraw without the Atlantic Federation shooting them from behind. And Kira, battling that ZAFT unit himself... was once again left confused by the pilot's sheer skill in operating their machine. That person was a match for him and the Freedom. But more than that person's skill, he was confused by the familiarity of this sensation and way of fighting. He worriedly glanced at the Archangel that was being attacked by the joint forces. Seren was hitting the communication buttons but still could not connect to her brother no matter how much she screamed his name. She loudly clicked her tongue and hit the side of the cockpit with her fist... Why?! Why now?! The remaining Orb escort ships were firing at the Minerva, although the assault had lessened significantly thanks to Fortuna. Shinn roared and destroyed more Murasames. As the Freedom had protected them and driven that dangerous pest away, Seiran had started barking orders with an increasingly warped expression while Todaka just listened with a calm face of resignation.

"I said I'm not as skilled as Kira! So I'm sinking you!" Rayner shot another Murasame. Right, he had no choice but to kill those coming at him most of the time, although he avoided doing so when he could. But Kira, with his sheer ability and precision, was capable of hitting only his opponents's heads, weapons, and limbs, saving their lives. What was more surprising still was that ZAFT unit manifesting expertise and reluctance to take life comparable to Kira's. The Archangel as well was a high performance vessel with a compassionate crew. Chandra detected four mobile suits off the Minerva's starboard, Ramius ordered to shoot between the ship and mobile suits without hitting anything. The 'Gottfried' fired, its two beams blocking the approach of the four Murasames, scattering them and protecting the Minerva. Arthur Trine turned to his captain, voicing his surprise and confusion.

"Even though they first destroyed our cannon... what is it about?" Talia frowned, just as perplexed about the actions of that ship that did not make sense. "There's no way that they're seriously doing something as absurd as fighting only to stop this battle?"

"Kira!" Athrun tried to communicate with his friend, hitting several buttons. "Kira! Damn!" However, the line did not connect either and just like the woman he loved, he could only slam his fist in frustration as he watched the brother and sister fighting each other. But then they separated as Windams and Murasames attacked them and each left to dispatch their opponents with similar speed and skill level. However, Kira did not stop there...

"Who the hell is that guy?!" Shinn watched the Freedom who had displayed staggering combat prowess, rush straight at him and cut off his unit's right arm before he could react. Kira went on without slowing down and fired his 'Xiphias' rail cannons in the sea, managing to damage the Abyss' propulsion at the third time, shocking Auel. But then he felt this strange and yet familiar sensation.

"We will stop the movement of the Kuraomikami-class to our port and aft. 'Valiant', fire!" Murrue commanded. The projectiles of the 'Valiant' 110cm linear cannon, launched at a low angle, hit the surface and continued their course below it for a moment before exploding inbetween the Orb escort ships. The resulting shockwaves and water walls drove the vessels sideways over a long distance.

"What just happened?! Which side are they on?!" Yuna raged.

Heine and Stella, while still facing each other, had actually watched the Freedom's intervention with increasing frustration and aggravation. What the heck was with this guy?! Suddenly waltzing in and showing off like that, like he was looking down on them from such a high place, going after everyone indiscriminately! The short-tempered Stella lunged first, but the Gaia's forepaws were sliced by Yamato's beam saber. The black mobile armor fell into shallow waters.

"Kira! Stop! Why are you doing this?!" Athrun was hurrying towards him. His words fell on deaf ears though as the communication had not been established.

"Coming out of nowhere like that and attacking everyone... you cocky bastard!" Heine snapped and fired his 'Draupnir' 4-barrel beam gun at the Freedom.

"Don't, Heine! Don't attack him!" Seren yelled as her brother's machine rushed at her friend's, maneuveuring to avoid the beams with the least movements. The GOUF's right arm was cut off by the beam saber. Kira looked at the Savior and Fortuna that had stopped their approach and were standing a distance away. But then, his attention was taken by the X88S that had stood up.

"How dare you... how dare you do this to me...!" Stella swore, spread her mobile armor's wings and activated its wing-mounted 'Griffon 2' beam blades. She charged, tears in her eyes. However, Heine had also lost his cool and charged at the Freedom, not even remarking he had flown straight into the Gaia's trajectory.

"No! Heine! Don't! Get away!" Canaver shouted, flying at them, shooting. Her beam only got the Gaia's hind legs though. Did her sheer panic impair her marskmanship? She cursed. The charge did not stop. However, Heine had heard her voice which snapped him back. But at the same moment...

"You're in the way!" The female Phantom Pain pilot roared, accelerating. Of course, to her, the GOUF was also an enemy. She kept charging. It was already too late when the alert rang in the GOUF's cockpit and Heine looked behind him, far too late... and the beam blade bisected him.

"HEINE!" Athrun and Seren yelled. The two halves of the orange unit exploded. Kira kicked the Gaia down but Stella was rescued by Sting. The Earth Alliance called for a retreat, and seeing that, Kira too returned to his ship. Zala and Canaver stared at the smoking wreckrage of the GOUF Ignited, then glared in the direction of the Archangel that was leaving the battlefield. "Kira..." They said, resentfully. Gladys and Shinn, likewise, were glaring at the withdrawing Archangel and Freedom, gritting their teeth. Then Seren hung her head, staring at her trembling hands. She had recalled that time when she had rushed towards the Strike and Aegis to prevent her sibling and the man she loved from killing each other. That time too, she had been unable to reach, unable to protect... Still, that time, Kira had survived. He had survived but Heine had died... he had been killed... If the Archangel, if Kira had not come and thrown the situation in chaos, if Heine had been able to focus on his opponent... then this would have never happened... he wouldn't have died like this! She cursed and again hit the side of her cockpit with her the side of her fist, as hard as she she could, repeatedly, then growing weaker and weaker...

"I fell in love with you. It hurts whenever I see you fighting alone. I want to support you, right by your side, wherever you chose to be, the battlefield, the PLANTs Supreme Council, or the Orb ministry. I love you, Seren. And I hope you'll consider me."

"You don't have to answer now. I know you're not ready to accept me yet. So please don't suddenly reject me. I just needed you to know my feelings, and that I would be there. It's you, so you might feel like you're taking advantage of me, but I'm telling you, that's not the case. I want you, so I'll be waiting for you, no matter how long, until you can settle your emotions."

"Heine! Don't wait for me! You must not wait for me! You can't!"

"Sorry, but I don't go back on my words!"

Yet another smile disappears in the flames. Our piled-up memories try to scream out. As our voice fail to reach, we wonder, are our feelings not strong enough? Are our connections too thin, or too entangled? Hopes and wishes shatter before our eyes and sink into the depths. Our hearts sank too, heavy with the lives that we could not protect, that we should have protected. Why is it that when we've accepted sadness, we must carve out yet another farewell?

Author's note: I had thought about letting Heine live. As much as his survival could have complicated matters, I was ready to make the effort. But after all, that heart-wrenchingness IS gundam seed, and thus part of the reason I'm so addicted to this show, to the point of writing this fanfic. I deeply apologize to all those of you who had your hopes up, yes, myself included. I had this horrible yet delicious twinge in my heart the whole time I was debating and writing. In the end, this is gundam seed, and I could not denature it this much. Depth and darkness demands honorable sacrifices that I'm willing to make, as much as it breaks my heart, or maybe because of it. And yes, I'm twisted.

Next chapter: Phase-22 "Conflicting Views"