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The rest of the trip was pretty much uneventful, along with Maaya and Rikku free. The reason we had to get to the coast before we could take a plane was because we had to loop around Niveldon and the lower island of the Spherical Line, and we wouldn’t be able to make any pit stops to refuel.
Exodus had a small campsite set up just far enough away for Twi-LIGHT not to detect us. I was getting restless around dusk, and I probably would have been pacing if I wasn’t studying the layout of the Twi-LIGHT base and using Sparky to tell me where everything was located. This base wasn’t set up like the ones in Ragnarok, so I didn’t really have a clue before studying the map. It didn’t help I was getting additionally frustrated with how uncomfortably how the Exodus bulletproof boots were. I had no intention of putting the gloves on until we were leaving. Other than that, I was wearing comfortable worn jeans with a tare on the right knee and a white short-sleeved button-up shirt.
“Sparky,” I said addressing the A.I. program, “Akiko’s room number is forty-eight on the twenty-seventh level, right?”
Affirmative. Dalmara base located in Nerovilliah.
“No shit.” I said absently. “One more thing, where is Zeev Rozarera?”
Dalmara Twi-LIGHT base located in Nerovilliah. Intensive care unit, level 3 room 19.
“I’m not surprised he’s still alive…” I grumbled. “What is he, anyway?
The first Special Agent. The A.I. replied. The only two other specimens that underwent as much mutation as him, and were not turned into your definition of ‘monsters’ are Sakura Tayeon, Arinila Kamina, Xavier Meligzon, Atsuma Kyiamay, Sora Ragnarok and Kaori Ragnarok.
“Ragnarok?” I asked, genuinely surprised. “What other Ragnaroks aside from my family were involved in Twi-LIGHT?”
Affirmative. Sora Ragnarok disappeared seven years ago after returning to Ragnarok after a brief time in Mazar. If alive, he would be twenty-nine.
“How is he related to me?”
If the documents are correct, he would be your cousin.
“And Kaori Ragnarok?”
Last known sighting of her was in Niveldon as a translator for the government. She has not been heard from in three years. She would be twenty-five now.
“Both missing…” I muttered, “How many of those people you listed before are still alive?”
Arinila Kamina and Atsuma Kyiamay.
“You said Zeev was the first Special Agent, were there any prototypes that died before him?”
Affirmative. There were five, all deceased but one. One of them was sealed because the connection to Skyevi was too solid, and the massive power he could all forth with the relics was too much of a threat. It was recorded he was sealed in Nioglow, but records show he was moved but it did not say where.
Just like Ariest and Skyevi… I thought to myself, Since Skyevi drew from the power Armayon too much Ariest sealed her. She got away, so what does that mean about this guy?
“What was his name?”
Unknown.
Not that it matters… I thought forcefully, once Skyevi is gone he’ll be soon to follow.
But even though Skyevi and End of Time are the two beings needed to reawaken Ariest, if Skyevi’s power drew solidly from Armayon, and it’s Ariest we’re destroying, not Armayon, exactly how much of what we call ‘Skyevi power’ will fade? And a direct connection isn’t necessarily a connection to Ariest, what it’s to Armayon?
“Akhy!” Celes called banging on my door, “Get ready, we’re leaving.”
“Got it.” I called back, my restlessness replaced by thoughts I really didn’t need. “Dewa, nochihodo Sparky. If all goes well, I’ll be back trying to get information from you again soon.”
Affirmative. Good luck, Akhyia.
I didn’t turn off my computer or even withdraw from the Twi-LIGHT surveillance system and database because the entire reason I had it open was because Kazuki and Niketa were hacking the connection I had to edit the security at the base.
I slid my pistols into the holsters on my belt, and slid Skyevi’s Sword on the right side. I also picked up the Soulslayer, sliding on the left side. I pondered bringing my conventional katana, and decided to bring it because we were going to be fighting soldiers.
I probably won’t use it all if we’re fighting Special Agents, though.
Rei was giving my motorcycle a final inspection, and seemed to be programming in a track course in the GPS.
“Everything’s functioning normally, I replaced the GPS that was in there because the old one kept crashing, it didn’t have proper virus protection and I think Twi-LIGHT’s satellites dispatch viruses to unregistered computers and GPS’s, and you just love to hack their data in any way, shape, or form so you should be able to hack away with this one.”
I smiled saying, “It’s my specialty.”
Rikku sat down on her own motorcycle beside me adjusting her twin katanas saying,
“I’ve only been wearing it for twenty minutes, and I already hate these god-awful bulletproof boots and gloves.”
“I’m used to them.” I said adjusting the gloves. “You want to get the knee boots and the gloves that go up to your elbow, otherwise it’s highly uncomfortable and hot.”
“Now you tell me…” She grumbled, and said when she noticed my gloves, “Hey! Yours have the fingers cut off! They issue them like that?”
“Call it an addition I made myself.”
“The Valkyrie uniform wasn’t this uncomfortable.” She added sourly.
“The Valkyrie uniform was designed for hot deserts, of course it’s going to be light and airy. Half Ragnarok is freezing cold in the winter.”
“Anan’s getting left out of this mission? Rikku asked, changing the topic.. “The fact Maaya assigns him to do so much crap even though he’s not a real member of Exodus is beyond me.”
“He volunteers, I never thought much of it.” I replied.
“Akhy,” Rei said addressing me as Celes and Phyress started up their own motorcycles, “Be careful. I expect you back here by morning.”
“I’m not making any promises,” I replied, “But I’ll do my best.”
We reached the Twi-LIGHT building without any problems, and I surveyed the building’s security. The main building was only fifty levels above and fifty below, half the size of the normal Twi-LIGHT building. It was guarded by a twenty-foot thick black wall. I didn’t remember what it was made of, but it didn’t matter. Two guards patrolled this side, only passing beside each other in front of the guards. I pulled out my cell phone, held down the three button and asked when Niketa answered, “Is the camera on the south wall altered?”
“Affirmative.” She replied.
“Good.” I said and hung up.
I already had the silencer in place on my pistol as I took aim and killed one soldier. He fell with a thud upon impact, which confirmed he had been human. The other soldier stopped and turned around but didn’t get the chance to sound an alarm because I shot her before she could even register her partner had been shot.
I jumped out of the cover of the bushes, pulled out my Twi-LIGHT access card, the Reluzera Givmcr one, and to my surprise it was accepted and the sleek black automatic doors slid open. I got my first in-person look at the Nerovilliah Twi-LIGHT building. It didn’t follow the usual skyscraper style building, but rather resembled the Valkyrie building in Mazar. There was the main tower, which was a full fifty stories high, and eight smaller towers half the size of the main one. The smaller ones formed a box around the main one, and although the set-up was altered the buildings were all black with tinted windows.
I ran the mile length of the open front lot, and used my access card to get in. I met up with Phyress, Celes, and Rikku at the next turn in the hall.
“We’re currently still in the front twenty-five level building. If we continue going straight we’ll get to the elevator that will take us to the main building.” Celes explained.
“Aki-chan, you’re going that way to the twenty-second level to find Akiko.” Rikku added, “We’re heading to the building on to the right of here to find out where the Blood of Fayt is.”
I nodded saying, “Good. Keep me updated.”
We split up a moment later, and I dashed down to the center elevator. When I reached the twenty-second level, I could tell from the layout it was all residential. When I reached Akiko’s room, I pulled out my card, but realized there was no need for the door wasn’t locked. The automatic door slid open and I entered, sighing when I realized she wasn’t here. The room was extremely plain, and I’d of wondered if it was Akiko’s or just the room of a random soldier or scientist if it wasn’t for the thing I saw on the dresser.
The item that made me sure it was Akiko’s room was a vase of pure white lilies. I walked over to where it sat on the dresser, and saw a laptop beside it. The power light was blinking, so I guessed it was only on standby. I toughed the tough pad hesitantly, and the screen reacted bringing up the previously viewed page.
It was a map of Nerovilliah, this section of Dalmara in the background with a “locate a person” window popped off to the side. It was about to sign me out, so I quickly typed in the name “Akiko Trenxi”, already familiar that it wouldn’t adapt to “Akiko Ragnarok”.
No results found. The computer replied.
I paused a moment, before typing in “Akiko Ragnarok.”
Left Nerovilliah Twi-LIGHT base approximately twenty-three minutes ago and nineteen seconds.
“Shit…” I mumbled, then searching for Trenxi.
No results found.
“Reluzera Givmcr…” I muttered aloud, hoping I was spelling the last name correctly.
Located. Main control center, Nerovilliah Twi-LIGHT building. Level 9, main building, room 2.
I left the computer as it was and dashed out of the room, heading downward. I reached the level, surprised to see there were only two doors. I took the one with the correct number, and entered using the access card I’d gotten back in Nioglow.
I found myself in a spherical room, similar to the one that I had Akiko being experimented on when I first woke up. There was a large monitor on the opposite side of the room, and Trenxi stood before it. It displayed pictures of what had once been Tsubasa.
“You’re too late, Akhy. Akiko is already nearing the shrine End of Time is sealed in. No matter how you do it, it would only be luck if you were able to invoke it. The second you get close, your relics will harmonize with hers and when the seal is broken, your soul shall return to your body but you will not be able to invoke End of Time, for regaining your soul means a temporary block between you and Ariest.”
“You know Akiko can’t control it.” I retorted.
“Does that really matter? As long as she can contain until we reach Ragnarok, it does not matter if her life ends when passing it along to Skyevi. She is only the messenger, and once that is done her role is done. There shall be no more need for her to be alive.”
I drew the Soulslayer, and charged forward making an elaborate slash. To my surprise, my sword went right though him, literally.
“By the way, this is a holographic recording timed to respond to your actions. The real me is in Ragnarok.”
With that the hologram disappeared.
“Dammit…” I grumbled dashing out of the room, pulling out my cell phone. I speed-dialed Maaya, and she picked up on the second ring. “Akiko is already at the shrine, with all four of Twi-LIGHT’s relics.”
“We know.” She replied. “Rikku, Celes, and Phyress just called me. The shrine is covered in a protective aura like the cathedral and the shrine the Blood Crystal was in. If you enter it with all the relics, they’ll immediately harmonize and Akiko will be the one to invoke End of Time.”
“Trenxi’s in Ragnarok already.” I cut in.
“What?” Maaya asked sharply.
“Yeah.” I replied irritably. “He had a recorded hologram waiting for me. Which relics do you want me to give to Rikku to hold outside the barrier?”
“It’s your choice. You’ll need Skyevi’s Sword and the Key of Seventh Heaven to fight Akiko. There are Twi-LIGHT guards all around the barrier. I sent Celes, Phyress, and two squads of soldiers to take them out. Rikku is waiting for you outside the Twi-LIGHT building. Have her hold the relic of your choice, but make sure it’s a divine relic and not a Skyevi relic, okay?”
“Got it. Question, how far away is the shrine from the Twi-LIGHT building?”
“It’s in the center of Dalmara.”
“And Twi-LIGHT is in the dead center of the area between the center and coast, right?”
“Right.” Maaya confirmed. “Your motorcycle won’t have enough gas to get you there because it hasn’t gotten any solar power, and no matter how much Rei works on that old thing it’s not as fuel-conserving in darkness as the newer models. I sent Anan to get you. Is that alright?”
“I suppose.” I said impatiently regretting taking the elevator.
“Just keep in mind, hr might try to stop you.”
“Yeah, I thought of that. See you soon, arrange one of your jets to take us back to Ragnarok right away.”
“Already done. Dewa, nochihodo.”
“That’s my line.” I said and hung up. After what felt like a small eternity, the elevator reached the ground floor.
After reached in the large gates I met Rikku and Cloud, and tossed Rikku the Blood Crystal calmly enough to make her jump when catching it. She looked worried, something rare for her.
She gave me a hug saying, “You’d better come back.”
“Don’t worry.” I said stepping away and sitting down behind Cloud. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Maaya didn’t tell me much other than Akiko was already at the shrine.” Cloud said once we were underway. “What did you find out?”
“Trenxi is already in Ragnarok. I don’t think Maaya has realized that if I invoke End of Time now, nobody will be able to use the Soulslayer to kill him. Or at least, he’ll go on living for a long while.”
“So you’re going to let Akiko…?”
“I kind of…have to.” I replied grimly. “I hate to admit it, but Trenxi is right in the sense all she needs to do is contain it for a few hours until we reach Ragnarok. She won’t have much control of herself, the chances are she’ll even have difficulty walking so there’s not much worry about making her cooperate as long as she doesn’t summon up End of Time’s power.”
It took over two hours to reach the shrine, and I was already feeling a little fatigued from lack of sleep. We’d left for the Twi-LIGHT building at ten PM and it was nearly one as Phyress and two soldier situated us as we reached the woods near the shrine.
The only paths we’d been following were ones made by soldiers in combat and other vehicles passing. The Exodus soldiers that patrolled the area followed paths of crushed plants, flowers, and grass.
“Just ahead is the shrine. It’s a talk of five minutes or so. You don’t have to worry about Twi-LIGHT soldiers, because they cannot pass through the barrier.” Phyress said confidently.
“And Special Agents?” I asked adjusting the swords in my belt. Carrying three was more than a pain in the ass.
“Err, well they shouldn’t be able to.” Phyress said, her confidence wavering.
Celes evidently heard us talking and jogged over from her post saying, “Anan, you couldn’t enter the cathedral in Nioglow until Akhy opened the doors correct?”
“Yeah,” He replied, “But how is that relevant?”
Celes opened her mouth to reply, but Phyress cut in brightly, “Oh yeah! It’s supposed to be the same kind of barrier!”
Celes nodded and agreed. “Rikku and a few soldiers are only three minutes away from here, just ring my cell phone, Phyress’, Rikku’s, or even Maaya’s and she’ll be here with the Blood Crystal.”
“Alright.” I said with a nod. “Thanks.”
Celes saluted me as I headed through the thick band of trees to the clearing. Cloud followed, and the only thing I found to be surprising was when Celes questioned whether or not he should be following.
“It’d be strange if he didn’t come along.” I said dryly. I drew Skyevi’s Sword, and sliced through the invisible barrier easily. We entered a surprisingly large clearing, barren of grass. The ground was dry dirt, with no other pants around the shrine itself.
The shrine was surprisingly plain for containing the last fragment of a god’s consciousness, making the Kozxv lu Gsv Hovvkrmt Tlw look like the tomb of a mummified king. It was a small stone structure, with a circular stone floor about ten feet wide and long, with about too feet of stairs on all sides leading up to it. Four stone pillars held up the stone ceiling. The only thing distinctly out of the ordinary about it was that the stone was a perfect white, left untouched by the decaying effects of time.
The roof had three circular layers, similar to those of a cake. I look closely and say designs on the pillars and sides of the roof layers. Standing in the center of the shrine, was Akiko. The relics I had with me started getting warm not too long ago, even though I only noticed how much they were resonating when I drew the katana. It made me regret cutting the tips of my gloves off.
Akiko turned around to face me, her sad eyes meeting mine.
“You are late, sister. Although my control of End of Time shall be weak, I have enough power to at least contain it until we reach Ragnarok. I shall accompany you and Exodus there, Trenxi will have no control of me after I invoke her.”
“She might try taking over your mind rather than Skyevi’s.” I said quietly.
“Transferring her to Skyevi will require me becoming part of both of them. By doing that, since I am mortal it shall slow down the process of Ariest taking complete control over Skyevi. Together, we shall be able to hold her off long enough for you to kill us.”
“Akiko…you remember me now…don’t you?”
“I do not have any memories growing up with you, but I am aware you are my sister.” She turned around, so as not to face me as she added, “And that you have sacrificed a lot to be here now. I have done nothing to aid you, or this world. It was my fault our parents were killed. I could not see through his lies, I was too blind. Even when I questioned something, I was too afraid to change things and I kept my silence. Many people have died because of my actions and indecisiveness. Please let me do this one thing for you, not as your fallen enemy, but as your sister. You’ve sacrificed enough.”
I hesitated, unwilling to let her do it.
I felt Cloud’s hand on my shoulder as he said quietly so only I could hear, “Call her. Akiko’s right, you’ve given enough to this world.”
I pulled the cell phone out of my pocket, and called Rikku’s phone letting it only ring once. A few moments later, I heard Rikku crashing through the underbrush and tumbling into the clearing. As she did, the jewel in her hand started to resonate and collect heat. She dropped it cursing, for she’d left her Exodus gloves behind.
“There are slots in the pillars for the relics.” Akiko explained. As I walked on the shrine, I saw the mural that was on the floor of it. It seemed to be covered in some kind of glass, because the upper surface was smooth.
Each of the crystals, as she said, had a slot in the pillars that made the item fit in with the surrounding designs. I slid the chain to the Key of Seventh Heaven Kairi had added into my pocket and clicked the Key into place. It was a little odd how easily they all popped into place.
I drew Skyevi’s Sword and drove the blade into the glass and stone in the center of the floor mural, as Akiko directed. What I believed to be glass didn’t crack or splinter around the location of the sword. She motioned for me to step off the shrine as she placed her bow beside my sword, and drove the enchanted arrow into the floor beside it.
As she did, each of the relics began to glow, the brightness intensifying as the designs in the pillars also lit up. The entire floor mural also began to glow, as was the layers of the roof. The space between the pillars started to reflect light, as solid crystalline walls materialized.
“I do not want you.” I heard an unfamiliar voice echo. “You are not the one.”
I felt the Tear of Two Souls started to get hot and as I pulled it out of my pocket it started to glow harder. I held it out in the palm of my hand, as the crystalline walls, relics, and designs lost light for a moment before glowing black, which then melted into a dark purple and wavered from purple, dark blue, and black.
“What’s happening?” Cloud asked quietly.
“It’s not working…” I said shallowly, “End of Time is rejecting her.”
The relics, floor, crystalline walls, and designs in the pillars and ceiling abruptly stared glowing in the deep red of fresh blood. Akiko screamed and fell to her knees as it did. I ran forward as she fell, my hands connecting with the crystalline barrier. It was blazing hot, and I felt the heat penetrating even the Exodus gloves, and I stiffened as the jolt of pain went up my arms. It was like the shock from toughing an outlet, but didn’t stop.
“Aki-chan!” I heard Rikku cry, as Cloud called my name.
I saw the Tear’s glow turn back to white, as did that of the relics even though everything else glowed red. The edges of the wall first started to melt away, and the Tear fused itself to the wall under my hand. The pain intensified as the last of the wall was absorbed into the Tear.
The Tear shattered as I tumbled into the shrine, and with one last jolt of power everything went black.
“So she didn’t chose her after all…” A voice, Myoninla perhaps, echoed.
“I do not understand.” Alunia said, sounding confused. “If End of Time said Akiko was not the one, then why did she not chose Akhyia as her vessel? Why still pick Akiko?”
“Ariest…” A third unfamiliar voice muttered. “Why do you play so many games?”
I didn’t feel very rested when I woke up, and it wasn’t much of a slow waking up.
“Stop calling my name already, I’m awake…” I grumbled looking around.
“Are you alright?” Cloud asked skeptically as I sat up looking around, seeing an the doors of an Exodus ambulance slamming shut with Akiko inside. I was still on the floor of the shrine, Cloud kneeling beside me.
“I’m fine, I’m fine… what about Akiko, though? What happened?”
“Invoking End of Time has her really unstable.” Celes said walking up the stairs of the shrine. “She’s alive, but in pretty bad shape.”
“How bad is that?” I asked wearily.
“Well, we plan on putting her on life support on out way back to Ragnarok. You’d better hurry, you need to leave ASAP.”
The trip back to Exodus’ stronghold was fairly quick, and even though Maaya, Rikku, and Rei were happy I hadn’t invoked End of Time Kazuki and Katsu looked more worried than anything else.
I sat down next to Cloud on the one of the seats on plane, indexing the other passengers to see who else was coming alone. Rei, Rikku, Maaya, Niketa, Kairi, Nea, Katsu, and a large group of Exodus soldiers were boarding. Maaya lead Kairi to the back, saying she’d explain what was happening later and that I needed to rest.
Cloud wrapped his arm around my shoulders asking, “What was happening down there?”
“It’s a long story.” I sighed. “Longer than all the lies put together.”
I explained the parts with the incarnations and souls I’d previously left out, summarizing more of the conversation with Alunia than I’d originally told him. I didn’t hear his reply, because I’d already fallen asleep after finishing.
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