In all the world, the last thing the samurai expected to gain from this confrontation was an ally. Well, as close to an ally as Balian would count toward, anyway. Zeke knew full well that Balian probably couldn't care less about the SeeD's safety, and was probably here because Zeke took too long to capture Asher. Still, even if Balian wasn't exactly a friend, if he was here to kill Nyx, that meant Zeke had all the more chance of success.

"Don't start trusting a man like him just yet."

The mental warning came from Leviathan. Unlike before, Zeke made damn sure he had both his GFs equipped and ready. When he had fought Nemitz, he was holding back, not fighting at full strength, thanks in part to him not having Leviathan equipped during that time. But now, against Nemitz and Nyx alike, Zeke intended to attack only to kill and nothing else. Even if was gunned down in the process, as long as Nyx bit the dust, it would be worth it. Ironically, it was now more than ever that Zeke was believing in the code his father had taught him growing up. And for a brief moment, his mind remembered one of his childhood days, listening to one of the Old Man's lectures.

"Remember son, a man who goes into battle expecting to die will always be stronger than the man who goes into battle hoping to live." The old man's voice echoed in Zeke's mind, before the memory was quickly put aside so he could fully concentrate on Nyx and Nyx alone. In fact, even as Nemitz drew his weapon and approached to join the upcoming fray, Zeke didn't even so much as acknowledge the pathetic grunt's existence. He was here for Nyx, and anyone who stood in the samurai's way would die along with him.

The SeeD tightened his grip on his sword, and as soon as Balian summoned up the tornado around them for cover, Zeke lunged forward with speed comparable to a chameleon lashing their tongue forth. But it was not the samurai's blade that sought Nyx, it was the sheathe, gripped in Zeke's offhand in a reverse stance, lashing forward but only as a distraction. Nyx's first instinct would no-doubt be to parry the incoming attack from the sheathe but Zeke was hopefully thinking two steps ahead of him. In a fake-out strategy, Zeke's body pivoted slightly as he tried to thrust himself passed Nyx, twisting his body around to give his blade enough momentum that it could damn well cut the man in two halves from the waist up.


Up on the stage, where Nyx and Asher had been standing, a certain man stood among the security team. He had short, dark hair, and wore what looked like white Estharian armor minus the helmet. He adjusted his glasses as Nyx finished his speech, sighing with almost guilty shame, knowing that his boss was spouting lies about SeeD in order to spread the hatred for them. He closed his eyes briefly, remembering how he had gotten himself involved in all this madness and almost wishing he could go back and change things.

Zavier Lokalus used to work for Odine Labs, testing many of their new weapons and vehicles before they were put on the market. He had always been against the idea of a Garden in Esthar, not particularly agreeing with SeeD's mercenary ways. But soon, the former soldier met a man named Luka Kessler, and everything changed. Kessler offered Zavier a means to abolish the Esthar Garden and return Esthar to its former isolation. Like a fool, Zavier had believed him, and eagerly joined the ranks of SCORPIA, even being chosen as the officer to lead the takeover of Esthar Garden.

As much as Zavier didn't like the work he was forced to do in recent days, there was little he could do without being hunted down like the SeeDs he once despised so much. For today in Timber, Zavier was head of Nyx's security team. When the young SeeD launched a Blizzaga at Nyx, going so far as to challenge the man to a duel of sorts, Zavier felt a brief envy for the SeeD. In that moment, the samurai had more courage than Zavier had ever had. Still, as head of the security, it was Zavier's job to stop this attack. His hand quickly drew his weapon, a folding Gunblade currently in its gun form. Before Zavier started shooting, he stopped at the sight of Nyx taking his jacket off.

I don't believe it... he's going to fight personally? Zavier couldn't help but watch and allow his boss to fight this battle for himself. He had never seen Declan Nyx fight personally, and so Zavier was greatly curious as to what kind of style his boss fought with, or the tactics he would utilize. A voice interrupted Zavier's thoughts, "Sir, your orders?" it was one of the security team. Zavier looked at the agent and just nodded.

"Form a perimeter. We can't let those two escape." Zavier said, then quickly added, "But make sure you evacuate the civilians first! I'll have no more civilian casualties today, understood?"

"Sir!" the agent confirmed, then rushed off to pass along Zavier's orders to the rest of the security team.

I know it's my job to intervene, but... No. Civilian safety must come first.

Kryse listened to Alex pour her heart out to him while refusing to look him in the eyes. It wasn't that she couldn't look at him because of what had happened, although it would have been understandable; no she felt guilty for hitting him. Hearing her apologize for reacting like a rational human being took him aback. There was the hero thing again as well, that part pained him the most. Why did she see him in that light? Did she not see her own contributions? Without the team he'd never be able to do what he'd done. The fantasy she created about them fighting side by side was a nice thought and she was right; it was selfish. Alex continued but finally looked him the eyes. Everything inside him wanted to tell her he was same person from three years ago, but he couldn't lie to her. Then she apologized again.

“Dammit woman what is wrong with you!” The force of his words surprised him, but he continued anyway. “You're apologizing over something I deserved? If you hadn't hit me I'd have no respect for you. What Id, I mean what happened back there was uncalled for and completely out of place. I'm glad you hit me; it knocked me be back to my senses.”

Kryse looked away for a moment noticing a local who seemed to be taking interests in the two. “Go away! This doesn't concern you.” The man put up his hands and mouthed an apology then moved on. Turning back to the matter at hand, “where was I? Oh yeah, what's with this selfish BS? Alex, of course you're selfish; we all are. It's the reason we have friends, it's why people fall in love and why we fight. It's the reason I'm standing here today instead of in the afterlife.” Stopping to take a breath and perhaps to prepare himself for what he was about to say. “Do you remember what said on the airship? You practically pleaded that I was the same person you knew from three years ago, the same person you...you never finished that statement, but you didn't have to, I could see it in your eyes; but I'm sorry, I cant live up to your fantasy. The man you knew, the man you want me to be... died three years ago.”

What the hell was that?
What are talking about?
Could you have cut her any more deeply?
I did what I had to. On the airship when she was pleading with me she was cut off by Elia. Alex didn't have to say it, I could see it in her eyes. I knew then what I had to do. Alex is in love with an idea, my new nature would only end up hurting her.
You act like this is your decision alone. Maybe you should let her decide for her self.
You saw her reaction to what I did in Timber, what do you think she'll think about me ripping the souls from people? To her it'll be an unforgivable act, it wouldn't matter if they were the enemy.
You don't know that. You think you are the only one who has changed in three years?
I know she's changed too, but not like this. Look it's better this way.
At least that part of you hasn't changed. Id was right, you are a coward
Excuse me?
Oh sure you can fight and are brave to the point reckless in battle, but when it comes to your emotions and feelings, you run away. Grow up Kryse
I...dammit

Diablos was right, he didn't know how to deal with this. It was new territory and it terrified him, but how could he repair the damage he'd just caused? Would she still be willing to listen?

While the force of the dark knight's words may have surprised him, they positively knocked Alex off-balance. As he cursed at her, Alex stumbled back a step or two, as though the power of his voice had struck her in exactly the same fashion as she had him minutes earlier; though as they poured from Kryse's mouth those words hit harder and cut deeper than any physical blow she might have dealt him. That girlish half-grin she had gained at the end of her own rambling disappeared in an instant, replaced by widened, frightened eyes and parted lips. She didn't even try to hide the fear, instead more focused on understanding the nature of what Kryse was saying. There was anger in his words, yet he was trying to comfort her? Alex didn't know what to make of it or what to feel, so she let anger begin to well up inside herself as well.

She remained silent through Kryse's entire tirade, hanging on every word, turning over responses in her mind but voicing none of them, until they were just a big, jumbled, indecipherable mess. She recalled their brief encounter on the ragnarok. That wasn't all she had said back then. She told him, as directly as possible, that she refused to believe he could have changed so drastically as to have become a different person. But now, flickers of doubt were sparking in the recesses of her mind, and she wasn't sure she could hold onto that conviction as tightly. Despite how much Alex didn't want to see it, how much she kept trying not to, the parts of Kryse that were no longer Kryse were beginning to shine through the outer shell that begged her to believe it was still him.

And it occurred to her then, as it had on so many other occasions, that perhaps she never knew Kryse at all. Three years ago they had been reunited after ten years apart. They had only ever known each other as small children before that, and children change. Everything that Kryse had become in those ten years was unknown to her. And their time together after joining the ranks of SeeD was spent solely on missions. What Kryse had told Diablos in his own mind was dawning on Alex as well: that she was in love with an idea, a fantasy she had devised for herself without basis in reality.

Yet she could not let go of it. It was too strongly ingrained in her mind. In her heart. And her heart told her that there was still some part of the Estharian boy she knew in the man standing before her. Even if he himself couldn't see it. Even if reason defied the notion. What place had reason in a matter like this?

Alex narrowed her eyes, the fear leaving them entirely. Her brow descended, mirroring the anger that Kryse had delivered before. She closed the distance between them, drawing as near as possible without actually touching him. And she didn't break eye contact with him. She looked like a storm ready to break, ready to unleash a whirlwind of fury upon him, to hurt him as much as he had hurt her. But she saw something she wasn't looking for in his eyes, something he probably was not expecting her to see. In that moment, all of the conviction she had held returned full-force. All doubt disappeared.

Her expression softened. The anger melted away, replaced slowly by compassion. And if that alone wasn't enough to shock him, she reached around his larger frame and drew him into a tight embrace. Resting her head on his shoulder, she said, "Stop hiding."

Alex drew in a large breath and let it out in a sigh before continuing. "There's a lot about you that I don't know. I've seen glimpses of a darkness in you that I don't understand. It terrified me then, and it terrifies me now. Maybe that's what you're afraid of. But you are you. You always have been and you always will be. Even if you change. So you are the man I want you to be, because I want you. And I want you to stop hiding and show me who that is."

Things were starting to get really interesting. So, SCORPIA was returning home today not with just one, but two prize heads. Balian, or Aiden Barron, had slipped almost entirely off the company's radar over the last couple years. Or, perhaps it would be more fitting to call the man a ghost. Vague information and peripheral sightings were all SCORPIA had to work with, and for all intents and purposes its former top operative was considered dead.

Branded a supporter of SeeD, regardless of whatever his true motives might have been, it was only too fitting--and too deviously convenient--that he show up now and take up arms alongside the reckless samurai. He was putting himself back in SCORPIA crosshairs, removing all external doubts about his allegiance, and forcing SeeD's reputation even deeper into the gutter.

Now this, this was just enough to squeeze a little grin of satisfaction out of Declan Nyx. But Nyx was not an obtuse man, and he knew that Balian wasn't, either. Whatever Balian had in mind, he was serving his own needs, fully aware of the consequences. Nyx could imagine the old soldier playing out this encounter a hundred different ways in his mind hours before it took place, calculating everything, accounting for every eventuality, and ultimately deciding on a course of action throughout which he would be in control. That was how Balian functioned, and why he had been such a damned good agent for SCORPIA. Why Nyx liked him, and respected him.

That was why it very nearly pained Nyx to see Balian in such a state. Perhaps ghost was more apt a description than he originally thought; the ex-agent was a mere shadow of his former self. His paler complexion, gaunt cheeks, and hollowed eye sockets indicated the man's gradual deterioration. What had caused it, Nyx could only guess, but beneath it all he could still see the rigid, tenacious body of a seasoned soldier. And Balians eyes still bore that same cold fire that never failed to unnerve Nyx.

Unfortunately for Balian, Nyx was going to have to demonstrate that no matter how many times Balian worked through it all in his head, no matter how minutely he calculated, Nyx would always be in control. He always had been.

"It's good to see you, too, Barron," Nyx said, shrugging off the not-so-subtle insult. He shifted his attention between Balian and Zeke. "What a party this is turning out to be."

Despite his intense, perhaps unfounded dislike for Asher Nemitz, Nyx was glad to have the man at his back right now. Not that Nyx wasn't supremely confident in his own abilities, but in this game, image was everything, and the image of SCORPIA's superior power overwhelming a pitiful SeeD resistance was the one Nyx wanted to project to the world. And if his peripheral senses were accurate, that was what the world was about to receive, despite his careless assault on the media crews earlier.

On the other side of the room, two men were trying desperately, and unsuccessfully to hide their forms behind one of the only remaining functional television cameras. Each sported a few cuts and bruises from the chaos caused by Nyx's redirected attack, but neither was seriously injured.

"I can't even believe this," one whispered frantically to the other as he adjusted the camera's angle and focus, trying to include as much of what was going on as possible.

His partner was fiddling with the broadcasting systems, linking the feed back to the station. He shook his head in response. "Shit gets crazier every day." He brought up a phone. "You guys getting this?" he asked the device.

There was a moment of silence before a fuzzy response came through. "Seeing everything, hearing nothing. What the hell is going on over there?"

"Serious shit, that's what! The mic's busted; all we can get is video."

---

Winhill

Without notice, the visage of the middle-aged reported flickered and disappeared once again, the scene switching to the feed from Timber. A number of startled or confused murmurs rose from the floor of the tavern, and those who had only taken a passive interest in the on-screen happenings were once more fully engrossed. They could not hear anything, but they could plainly see the four figures squaring off in the Timber broadcast station: Declan Nyx, Asher Nemitz, Balian, and Zeke Watanabe in full SeeD uniform. And though no sound came through the television's speakers, everyone watching could tell things were about to explode.

The picture started to shift and twitch, then ribbons of static flowed from the top of the screen to the bottom in rhythmic patterns; at the same time, the weather in the broadcast station began to change drastically.

---

The sudden massive gusts of wind were the only warning Nyx received of Balian's Tornado spell, and he didn't have enough time to prepare any kind of defense except to instinctively raise an arm in front of his face.

Magically-summoned dust kicked up in an enormous whirlwind, and the fierce winds picked up even larger objects to hurl through the battlefield in seemingly random patterns. How typical of Balian, Nyx realized. His tinted lenses even further impeded his vision in the preternatural storm, but they shielded his eyes, for the most part, from the biting winds and scraping dust. He was unsure at this time whether they would prove to be an advantage or a hindrance.

Through the grit, Nyx caught sight of Zeke's incoming attack only just in time. Expecting a blade, Nyx reacted fast and ducked to the side, out of range of what he thought was a cutting edge. However, his lack of good visibility caused him to play directly into Zeke's feint, and he realized too late what Zeke had done.

Nyx saw the real sword, a katana curiously curved backwards, coming straight for him. His balance was still based on a previous assumption, so he did the only thing he could: let gravity take over. That, along with his leftover momentum, dropped Nyx hard to the floor. The arcing blade came so close to his head he could hear it whistling through the air, even over the howling winds of the Tornado spell.

He rolled onto his back and spared not even a second before lifting his legs high into the air then throwing them forward with superb force. He sprang to his feet effortlessly, faltering not even an inch upon regaining crouched position.

Nyx targeted Zeke's form in the haze and he stepped forward, crouching lower and spinning into a low reverse roundhouse, hoping to swipe Zeke's feet out from beneath him.

Nemitz, you better be in here somewhere, Nyx spat silently.

“Oh, nothing out of the ordinary. Just having the most powerful man in the world devoting all of his vast resources to hunting down every last one of us until we are dead and buried. Except for the burial part.” If Elia had any confusion about the situation, she’d dismissed it quickly.

“Not that, Elia. I saw the newscast.” Evangeline gave a slight sigh of exasperation, “I meant why did Alex just-“

“What the hell just happened? How did I end up back here? And why does the side of my face hurt?” Kryse spoke up and seemed more confused than Eva. His questions made no sense, and the dragoon’s befuddlement only grew in its intensity. Some of it must have come back to him, as he asked about Alex’s whereabouts and swiftly squeezed past Eva and out of the tavern.

Not wanting to pry (also figuring it was best to get out of the doorway) Evangeline stepped into the bar and closer to her remaining comrades. Wolf remained, seeming both slightly bemused and somewhat amused by this most recent event. Discomfort tried to settle in again now that she was fully aware of how close she was to Wolf, but she had other things to worry about. She’d had her time away from him, and it was time to move on and deal with him being around again like an adult.

The blonde turned back to Elia, and opened her mouth to speak. She then decided against continuing her previous statement, as she really did not care to know what just happened anymore, and changed the subject of conversation to the bigger crisis at hand…or at least attempted to…

“We can’t stay in Winhill much longer now that Nyx has got SCORPIA on high alert. It’s not safe for us or…” She drifted off as the feed from Timber, though clearly damaged somehow, returned/ Static drifted across the image, distorting it as well as providing the only sound to accompany the footage. People with weapons showed behind the bars of static, and struck Eva as familiar.

“Hold that thought...” She held a finger up as she inched closer to the screen for a better look. She was not at all surprised to see Nyx and Asher, but one of the figures stood out. She let out a slight noise of surprise upon recognizing the uniform. A SeeD!? She inspected the man more closely, almost on instinct, to see if she knew his identity. His weapon: a Katana. So he was a samurai? Her heart skipped a beat even though the chances of it being him her slim to none. Eva’s eyes went straight up to his face… was she hallucinating? The face was older and looked different, but paired with the uniform it was unmistakable.

“...Zeke…”She gasped under her breath before turning back towards the entrance. “Wolf, go get Kryse and Alex. They’ll want to- No. They need to see this before the broadcast fails. Hurry!”

It took him a second to register it, but he did indeed dash out the door to where Alex and Kryse were. She shot a glance at Elia before looking back towards the screen. A new player appeared, one who looked part-robot or something. |And he seemed to be taking Zeke’s side! Something about him nagged at Eva from the back of her mind, but she couldn’t pinpoint it. Unfortunately, with every passing second, the image grew more distorted with static. It wouldn’t be long before they couldn’t see the broadcast, and the fight that would surely break out.

----------


“Wolf, go get Kryse and Alex. They’ll want to- No. They need to see this before the broadcast fails. Hurry!”

Wolf took a moment to register Eva’s command. Zeke was the last person they expected to see on screen, and part of him felt like their eyes were playing a cruel trick on them. He managed to bring his eyes to make contact with Eva’s, and upon seeing the look on her face he figured he should probably do as she said and let the other two know about this.

He dashed out of the door and paced quickly over to where the two stood, Alex embracing Kryse for some unknown reason.

“Sorry to interrupt a tender moment, but someone else just came back from the dead. You might want to come take a look.” He gestured towards the tavern door in a hurried fashion before dashing back inside to avoid missing too much.

Not knowing what to expect, Kryse was prepared for just about every outcome this scenario could lead. Instinct told him that she would lash back at him or walk away more hurt than any knife wound; but this, this completely took him by surprise. The words she spoke were tender even a little understanding; as if she had some idea what was going on in his mind. Then she turned his own words back on him. How? How could he possibly be the one she wanted? The past three years had been hell, threatening his very sanity; he barely knew himself anymore, but standing there in her embrace, he felt his arms slowly mimic her actions. Holding her like this felt...good. The warmth of her body pressed against his, the scent of her hair and the rise and fall of her breathing. The rate of his heartbeat increased and he felt he should say something, but words failed to materialize in his mind. This moment was all that mattered, if he put his mind to it he could make it last forever. Indeed he might have if Wolf had not intervened.


“Sorry to interrupt a tender moment, but someone else just came back from the dead. You might want to come take a look.”

Kryse barely registered the words that came from Wolf's mouth, because at the time all he could see was Wolf writhing in pain for his rude interruption. Quickly banishing the thought he broke from Alex's embrace and began to ponder. After a very brief moment he said, “So it was Zeke.” Seeing the look of surprise and confusion on Wolf's face, he decided to elaborate. “The video we saw earlier showed us two Shivas. Diablos confirmed that the first one one was in fact the real Shiva. The other was most likely a clone or a synthetic copy. The fact that Shiva was present in Timber raised a few questions. Three years have passed and while it is possible for Shiva to have changed hands it is unlikely given the state of the world, that those hands would have been an enemy of SCORPIA. The two Shivas appeared to fighting each other which meant one was an antagonist. Upon seeing this I began to form a hypothesis that it may have been Zeke; your words just confirmed it.” As he spoke he started to pace, pausing only a moment before continuing.

“While this is good news, it does raise more questions. The video showed the events albeit heavily edited of Timber. This means Zeke was in Timber the same time we were. The battle of the two Shivas may have been Zeke fighting against one the soldiers, but more than likely it was Asher. If Zeke was there, why didn't he join us? An assumption? Zeke didn't want to. Zeke has always been a bit of loner and never really was much of a team player.”

Calling up his data pad, Kryse punched in a few commands and brought up the Timber feed. Showing it to Alex, they could barely make out the distorted image, but there were a few spots were the image was clear enough to make out the SeeD uniform and a Katana. “That idiot. He's actually battling Nyx.”

“Why would he do that?” Wolf asked.

“Isn't it obvious? Zeke is looking for a place to die. Notice how he wore his uniform? If he thought he had any chance of winning he wouldn't have bothered with it. Zeke wants to go out in a blaze of glory like a true warrior. That uniform is a sense of pride, Zeke wants to out with the memory of being a SeeD.”

As she looked down at the video in Kryse's hands, Alex could not suppress the cheeky grin that had formed on her lips as Kryse spoke. Some things, it seemed, no matter the circumstances, never changed. She wished she had had a datapad of her own to record everything he had just said, to play back to him the next time and every time he tried to convince her he had become something different over the last three years.

The thought was almost enough to block out the gravity of what was showing on the small screen in the knight's hands, and she only just got a glimpse of the impending action before the full-blown Tornado spell came into effect, obscuring everything and causing even more static to roll down the screen. But, like good little soldiers, the pair of cameramen kept the lens steady and continued filming. Alex would wait with bated breath for the battleground to finally clear up.

In the mean time, there was a lot of pondering and wondering to do amongst the SeeDs. "If you're right--about everything--then that would mean Asher can summon Shiva. So, they don't just have access to GFs now; they can make them?"

Alex shook her head. The one true advantage they had held in this fight was now gone--not that it had made much of a difference thus far anyway. But now, if anything, SCORPIA had the upper hand. Who was to stop them from pairing a GF with every FIRST soldier patrolling the streets?

"What has Zeke gotten himself into..." she said rhetorically. "That ass might want to get himself killed, but he can do a lot more good alive."

But he was fighting Declan Nyx. And Asher Nemitz. And Nyx's private security team. If Asher had a GF, there was no doubt Nyx did as well. And who knew how many of his cronies had them? Even with the strange, but somehow familiar newcomer on his side, Zeke didn't stand a chance. He would go down fighting, but it likely would not be very glorious. He needed their help.

"Kryse, how fast can your ragnarok get us back to Timber? No, but it's probably crawling with soldiers... But we can't just leave him there. What do we do?"

"That ass might want to get himself killed, but he can do a lot more good alive."

As much as he hated to admit it, Alex was right. Zeke would be of much more use alive. A rescue operation was out of the question though. Nyx himself was in Timber along with a contingent of SCORPIA's elite not to mention Asher.

"Kryse, how fast can your ragnarok get us back to Timber? No, but it's probably crawling with soldiers... But we can't just leave him there. What do we do?"

Crossing his arms he stared at the ground. His eyes were closed, but moving as if in a REM state. When he opened them he looked at Wolf and Alex. “A rescue operation isn't possible under the circumstances... However, we may be able to tip the odds in Zeke and his ally's favor by removing Nyx from the equation.” Looking at Alex his face took on a grave expression. “We need a target. Something important enough to require Nyx's immediate attention.”

Kryse what are you planning?
Ragnarok isn't just a science vessel. It's equipped with two EM Vulcans and a Particle Cannon. Whatever target is chosen; I intend to wipe it from the face of this planet.
Id?
No, it's me.
Do you have any idea how many people will be lost?
I understand and it may demonize us further, but if it gives Zeke a chance...
You don't even like Zeke
He's still a member of the team. Besides, I'll be dammed if I let him take the easy way out.

“We don't have much time.”

A target... something big enough to get Nyx's attention. It didn't take a genius to figure out what Kryse was telling Diablos inside his mind.

"Garden," Alex mumbled, casting her gaze downward. She couldn't look at Kryse for what she was about to say. She couldn't believe what she was suggesting. "Esthar Garden. After SCORPIA overtook it and disbanded SeeD, they converted it into a mobile research base. It's probably their most important facility."

"Which means it'll be well-defended," Wolf added bitterly, apparently having come to the same conclusion about Kryse's intentions.

Alex looked up at the larger man and nodded. That was true, but it would be the same for any target worth assaulting.

"What about Galbadia Garden?" offered Wolf. "FIRST and Hunter headquarters. Let's neuter the sons-of-bitches."

Alex threw him a sardonic glance. "Right, because attacking a mobile weapons platform filled with soldiers is definitely a better idea." It wasn't exactly worse, though.

The thought of attacking either one of their former homes was disturbing. SeeD was almost completely gone, and SCORPIA had been in control of the Gardens for years, but the part of Alex that still remained loyal to her mercenary roots still harbored a deep attachment for the Gardens. Even the ones she had never visited. They were symbols of what she and all the others still stood for, corrupted as they were.

"Garden, Esthar Garden. After SCORPIA overtook it and disbanded SeeD, they converted it into a mobile research base. It's probably their most important facility."

Not knowing what to say, he just looked at Alex in disbelief. The way she was acting told him that she had an idea of what he was planning, but to suggest the place he'd grown up; his home? A sick feeling came over him and for a moment he resented her for it. It wasn't the pink haired thief's fault though; he did ask and he could see that it was as painful for her as it was for him. Even if she didn't grow up there, she knew what he was intending and what it would mean for him to do it.

"Which means it'll be well-defended.” Wolf scoffed at the idea but then suggested an even more dangerous target. "What about Galbadia Garden? FIRST and Hunter headquarters. Let's neuter the sons-of-bitches."

An incredulous expression appeared on the dark knight's face, but was soon replaced with a grin. Wolf was crazy, but he liked his style. Galbadia was an important facility as well, but could he actually risk such an assault? Either one would get Nyx's attention, but given SCORPIA's interest in biological experiments, Esthar, was the logical choice. Not to mention Galbadia was also a childhood home to Elia, he'd never be able to look at her again if he'd taken that from her.Trabia would be out of the question as well. If only for a little while, they could still hold on to the hope that they might one day return; he wanted to see both them happy when this was all over.

“I like your style Wolf, but Alex is right. Esthar is a more valuable target. We need to give Zeke the best possible chance.” Moving closer to Alex he put his hand on her shoulder, “don't worry about it. My home is here. Let the others know what's going on. We may need to move quickly when I get back.” Then he walked over to Wolf. “Come on, you're coming with me.”

Wolf nodded. “Finally, some action.”

“We're not going to be fighting Wolf.”

The berserker looked crest fallen... “Then why did you pick me?”

“I need the support of your GFs. You also get to fire the big gun.”

Wolf raised an eyebrow. “Not my usual thing, but you've interested me. When do we leave?”

“Glad to have you aboard. Now let's not waste anymore time.”

The look Kryse gave Alex when she suggested he attack his former home was enough to churn her gut. He was positively horrified. But she could imagine giving him the same look had he proposed to do what he was planning to Trabia Garden. Even so, had Trabia been any more than merely a remote training facility, she would have offered it up in a heartbeat. But like she said, Esthar Garden was far more important. If a SeeD appearance there wasn't enough to bring Nyx running, nothing would be.

She made a move toward the tavern door to inform the others as Kryse commanded, but then hesitated and looked back. "Wait... when you get... you're not bringing us along?" Alex furrowed her brow as she glared at the knight. "What exactly is your plan? To get Zeke out of a bad situation by putting yourself in it instead?"

Alex sighed and put a hand to her forehead. "No... I trust you. You know what you're doing. I hope..." She added the last two words under her breath as she retreated into the pub and let Kryse and Wolf get underway.

She located Elia and Eva. "Okay girls, gather up the kids. Here's what's happening: ..."

[Content pending edit.]

Magic coursed through the man’s veins as the intense storm erupted around the four combatants. The four of them, unlikely as the partners may have been, were engulfed as the fight began. The unforgiven.

It’s our nature. There is no real reason…maybe we were born…only to fight.

Immediately, Balian dropped his center of gravity low, kicking back his right foot and raising his blade to run perpendicular to the line of his body’s center mass, using that back foot to drive off the ground launch himself into the fray. The rogue operative focused his attention entirely on Asher Nemitz as the visibility dropped next to nothing. For all of their dealings in the past, this was the first time that the two men had ever crossed blades despite thinly-veiled contempt and outright threats levied over their time together in the service of SCORPIA.

Balian was barely able to stop in his blind rush, acting on pure adrenaline as his eyes suddenly cut through the debris to see the upward slash of a blade rising toward his chest. The position of his own weapon was such that he was able to make weak contact and slide off, the two men brushing shoulders as Balian stopped and spun around. Close enough now that the storm, beginning to cease, did nothing to stop each other from locking eyes and charging again.

Again, their blades met in a fury. For all of their sizing each other up through the years, they were matched quite well in their opposing builds and styles. Aiden Barron was clearly the stronger and more physical of the two combatants, but the technique and skill clearly favored the more polished and practiced Asher Nemitz. Nemitz struck each attack to set up another, thinking moves ahead of the current strike or parry as the blades clashed yet again.

After feigning an attack, Asher lowered his guard for a moment and Balian attempted to seize the moment, lunging forward with a thrust of his modified gunblade aimed at the shorter man’s chest. The move was perfectly timed by Asher, however, as the SCORPIA operative dropped to a knee, sliding beneath the strike of the blade and quickly drawing his own along the outside of Balian’s leg, slicing flesh and drawing first blood.

Asher continued in his own style of chipping away at his opponent slowly while inflicting as much pain as possible in the process. Asher was the superiorly trained fighter. Techniques with swords, striking maneuvers, and footwork styles were all things that he’d studied far more than the soldier facing him. He knew all the tricks in the book.

Unfortunately for Asher Nemitz, Balian didn’t much care for the book.

Allowing Asher to strike first this time, Balian surged upward with a thrust from his knees, using his strength to lift both of their swords in a classic clash between the two, each fighting against the force applied by the other. Allowing the other to force through would result in giving his opponent a free attack that, at this range, would likely be fatal.

Time to shift the paradigm of the fight. Drawing on the same sensations he’d used at the beginning, Balian tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade and exhaled slowly, feeling magic again course through his veins. This time, rather than an area effect attack, it was a narrowly-focused manifestation of ice. It wasn’t much – but it was more than enough directed at the blades to cause their lethal edges to freeze together.

By the time that Asher could realize what his foe had done, Balian crashed in with jarring headbutt to the other man, causing both of them to release the frozen swords. As Asher reeled, Balian draw on reserve strength and launch himself into the air, twist his body and then blasting his legs forward in a thunderous dropkick that planted his boots into Asher’s chest, causing both men to fall back and crash to the ground.

Too bad they weren’t the only ones in the fight.

Zeke was almost surprised at how close his initial attack came to actually working. While Nyx did of course escape the attack by letting himself fall, it was pretty clear that even he wasn't unbeatable. Maybe the samurai actually stood a snowball's chance? When Nyx made his counterattack, Zeke naturally couldn't see it coming and felt his legs being swept by a reverse roundhouse. Even SeeDs coudn't defy the laws of gravity, and Zeke went down hard on his back, only just barely managed to roll himself over to avoid Nyx's boot from stomping his face in.

"Guess you're more than just a suit, then, aren't you?" muttered Zeke after kipping himself to his feet, still clutching his weapon's sheathe like it was a weapon in its own right, and in the right hands, it indeed would be. Zeke doubted very much that the same tactic would work twice. Now that Nyx had seen him wielding the sheathe, he'd be expecting feint attacks. Still, if anything, the sheathe would make a good enough shield for extra defense. Plus, there was still one little tactic Zeke hadn't used yet, and now was as good a time as any to try it out.

Feeling the paramagic flow to his hands as the spell charged, Zeke lunging forward all the while, he released the spell at the last second. Zeke's next attack was actually a repeat of the one he'd just used. He feigned an attack with his sheathe only to quickly turn around and follow up with a slash from his real blade. The difference between this attack and the last one, was the fact that Zeke seemed to be followed by a conjured copy of himself, courtesy of the Double Spell he'd cast just before the first strike. Now Zeke's every move was immediately followed by a duplicate attack. But that wasn't the real strategy. Zeke intended to use his Double spell doppelganger as a way of distracting Nyx so he could come at from another angle while the executive was busy with the duplicate.

So while the repeat attack was naturally duplicated by the Double spell, Zeke struck at Nyx again, this time from behind. Nothing fancy, just a slash of his blade aimed for the back of Nyx's neck. Like the previous attack, this would also be inevitably duplicated by the Double spell, not that it would matter much if Nyx was already dead by that point. Still, a little insurance was always comforting. Unfortunately, nothing is ever that simple, as the samurai would soon discover.

When Zeke's initial attack was followed up on by the Double, Nyx used that same energy field thing which essentially sucked in the double, obviously dispelling it instantly. Furthermore, when Zeke came from behind, Nyx unexpectedly spun around and quickly ducked to avoid Zeke's blade, and then used that moment of being close-up to ram his fist into the samurai's gut. Of course, the duplicate followed suit only to crash into Zeke, seeming to fuse back into him as the Double spell started wearing off. Not stopping there, Nyx swung his fist and punched the samurai square in the face, and then knocked him back with a quickly executed uppercut.

Winded from the punch, and spitting out blood from the uppercut, Zeke just barely managed lean backward to avoid Nyx's follow-up of a spin kick meant to knock him square across the cheek. At this point, Zeke was beginning to think his earlier attack was a fluke or something, since Nyx suddenly seemed to be impossible to hit. Zeke didn't know where the hell this guy learned to fight, but he was certainly outclassing the samurai at the moment.

So far Zeke had suffered a good punch to the gut, a busted lip, and a likely broken nose, and he wouldn't be surprised if he wound up with a black eye later. Meanwhile, Nyx had suffered no damage from any of Zeke's attacks. The odds were not looking good for the would-be assassin.

Nyx stared through the swirling grit at the samurai as the two slowly circled each other in the brief respite of clashes. The older man had to give his opponent credit for tenacity, but he was SeeD, after all. More than that, he was the son of Taijo Watanabe, whom even Nyx recognized as one of the greatest swordsmen in the world. In countering and observing Zeke's attacks, Nyx had caught glimpses of the classic Watanabe style, masked by years of grueling independent training, the primary goal of which had been to further distance the young man from his father. But Zeke's roots were unmistakeable, and for that reason Nyx knew he had something to fear. For that reason SeeD needed to disappear.

"And you're more than just that uniform," Nyx offered amicably.

Shifting his defensive stance to pure offense, Nyx moved in on Zeke and opened with a bang. Bearing gritted teeth, and narrowed eyes hidden behind his dark glasses, Nyx broke into a powerful sprint, needing just two and a half strides to close the short distance between the two fighters. As he moved, Nyx took command of the magical energies coursing through his body, gathering them into his core. Violent as the whirlwind that encompassed the battlefield, that raw power swirled in an imaginary sphere at the center of his body, and as he took his final step he thrust it downward, putting all of it into the strength for a single leap. A savage howl rumbled up through Nyx's throat as he left the ground, pummeling Zeke nearly as hard as the blows from Nyx's fists and boots. In midair Nyx reared back his left arm, balling a tight fist, and as he came upon the samurai he redirected the entire quantity of that magical energy into a bone-shattering downward punch.

Zeke wasn't sure what to expect when Nyx jumped, but he had only a split second to figure it out. Reversing his grip on his katana, he took his scabbard into both hands and raised it to intercept Nyx's fist. The leaping man's infused knuckles smashed into the lacquered sheath, finding little resistance and splintering it irreparably. Zeke's grip on the scabbard allowed his body to absorb most of the force of the impact and he was sent sprawling onto the floor.

Nyx didn't stop closing in. Right above Zeke, he opened his arms for balance and swung a leg impossibly high. He hung in that position for a brief moment as he gathered his energy, then brought his magically-augmented heel down with colossal force. Zeke rolled sideways, widened eyes catching Nyx's heel burrowing through the scuffed floor and into the concrete foundation beneath. Zeke could only guess at the source of that freakish power, but it was obvious that in a sheer battle of strength he had no chance against the SCORPIA executive. If Nyx managed to land a blow like that, Zeke was dead. The SeeD registered his off-hand grip of one of the remaining pieces of his scabbard, and without really thinking about it he hurled the splintered wood up at his attacker.

Nyx expelled a muffled gasp as the makeshift projectile collided with his face. He reeled, stumbling back a step and giving Zeke the opportunity he needed to scramble to his feet and regain his posture. Zeke extended his free hand and fired off another ice spell at the unsuspecting Nyx. The Blizzard wasn't strong enough to cause any real damage, but it was small and fast, and with only a couple of feet between their bodies, Nyx hadn't enough time to prepare another defense. He twisted his head and made to dodge, but it wasn't enough. The hunk of ice caught the side of his face with the force of a bullet, knocking the well-built ex-soldier clear off his feet to spiral through the air.

When he landed, Nyx was on his back staring at the heels of Asher Nemitz through a single dark lens, the second shattered by Zeke's spell. He even sported a large gash from the corner of his eye back towards his ear, and his vision still swam from the concussion. He glared up at his subordinate, who stared back down with an inquisitive grin. "One word, Nemitz," Nyx growled. "I dare you."

The director craned his neck against the floor to glance towards Asher's facing and saw Balian closing in. He used his palms to brace himself against the ground, then curled his legs upward while rolling backward, using his stores of magic once again to launch his body, feet first, at the rogue operative. Balian slowed his advance then crossed his arms in front of his torso to brace for the impact.

Meanwhile, Zeke closed in on Asher's back. He opened with a wide but controlled horizontal sweep, into which Asher spun with his small knife at the ready. The two blades clashed, and Zeke had put far more power into his katana then Asher could hope to absorb with his little dagger. The Hunter stumbled back, but found his footing quickly and propelled himself at the samurai. Zeke swung his sword down and Asher ducked to the side then sprung back up inside Zeke's defenses, reaching up with his knife in a reverse-grip, going for Zeke's throat. Zeke recoiled, leaning as far back as possible; the blade sliced into the collar of his uniform, but failed to find blood. Asher kept moving, ducking into a limber roll behind his opponent, while Zeke twirled around and brought his sword up in defense.

Nyx rebounded off of Balian's powerful forearms, the former agent refusing to give way. Nyx landed and immediately launched into a high roundhouse. Balian took a step back, allowing allowing Nyx's boot to pass harmlessly in front of his face, but close enough that he could smell the fresh rubber of Nyx's sole. But the attack wasn't finished, and the suited man fluidly moved into a second kick on the momentum of the first. This time Balian had to duck beneath it.

Shifting away from Balian, Nyx took a moment to size up his new opponent. His breaths were heavy after the massive assault he'd launched on his two enemies. "Well, Barron," he said as he reached up to remove his broken sunglasses, "it seems you haven't lost your edge."

Nyx dropped the frame, then set one foot heavily upon them as he assumed his fighting stance once again. The remaining lens crunched and shattered under his weight, and as Nyx extended an open face-up palm to Balian, his bare eyes bored into the other man, taunting him. He curled his outstretched fingers twice, egging Balian to make the next move.

Once aboard the Ragnarok Kryse wasted no time in getting them under way. Esthar was a fairly good distance away, but the ship could easily cover the distance within five minutes, the problem was the Estharian procedures for air traffic control. For one, ships never came in at full burn and the Garden was no fly zone. Whether SCORPIA was in charge or not, he was almost certain that rule wouldn't change. The moment they realized his destination all hell would break loose.

To pass the time Kryse thought a little conversation wouldn't hurt. The only question, was what to talk about? “So uh...

“Did you really suggest a threesome to Elia and Alex?”

His eyes widened at Wolf's question. Was this really going to be the topic? Of course it was, what else would it be about? “Well... yes and no.”

Raising an eyebrow, Wolf just looked at him, “care to explain that?”

Explain? Sure. Did he want to? Hell no. Stop hiding, Alex's words came back to him like a haunting memory. Damn that woman. Looking over at his flight companion, he could see the man was waiting for an answer. Resigning himself, he put his best effort into explaining it. “It's not like I haven't thought about it, but I normally wouldn't suggest something like that unless, I was certain of the outcome. There is a part of me however, that approaches such a subject with less err.... tact.”

“That's a mild way of putting it. So what was different this time?”

“To be honest, I wasn't myself. The one that made the proposition was another persona. An alternate personality that I feel I may have always had; though it appears to have grown in power.”

Wolf didn't looked very thrilled with the information. “Oh fun.” It wasn't something some heard every day after all.

“Yes, well, for now he wants the same thing I do, but given his new sense of identity, that may soon change.”

Wolf seem to ponder this for a moment, “his own sense of identity? Wait, he wants the same thing you want? So you did want a threesome!”

“Like I said, I've thought about it, but I wasn't thinking about it at the time of incident...at least I don't think I was... why did I have to fall for two women?” The question repeated itself in his mind, but there were no answers to it. Thankfully his inner turmoil was interrupted by the Comm.

“Tower to Ragnarok, your transponder signal appears to be malfunctioning please identify.”

Wolf looked at Kryse, “now what?”

“Ragnarok please respond. You're about to enter restricted airspace.”

Kryse clicked the comm. “This is R8x03 B.O.S.A our cloak is malfunctioning. You will disregard our presence and strike it from the records. Failure to do so will result in heavy penalties.”

There was long pause before and answer came back from the tower. “Tower to Ragnarok, you are free to proceed.”

“So we are in the clear?” Wolf asked while looking around at the different bridge controls.

“Let's hope so. I took a gamble with this one. The Black Ops and Special Assignments ships are a division solely used by the research facilities throughout Esthar. There was always a possibility however, that SCORPIA may have decommissioned them. For now it appears the gamble paid off. What are you looking for anyway?”

“Which of these controls the guns?”

“Eager for action? I suppose I can't blame you. The third button from the red one on the right activates the Vulcans. The one above that is auto targeting. For this mission however you'll be using manual. I want as little collateral damage as possible. If one of your targets is over the city, do not fire. The switch next to auto targeting is the manual override.”

“This really isn't my thing.” Wolf hit the switch for the override revealing what appeared to be a Trackball? When he touched it a heads up display appeared on the bridge windows.

“Be careful with the ball, it can be a bit touchy. The Vulcans can swivel 180 degrees from left to right, so you should have no problems with keeping your targets in sight. Also, once combat is initiated the gunner is in control. The three yellow switches to your left control forward thrust, the air break and left/right strafing. The two orange ones control the flaps. It may seem complicated, but it's actually pretty easy to use.”

“Huh, sounds like a video game.”

An alarm sounded that made both of them jump. The former garden's troops were mobilizing and preparing for battle. “Looks like we lost the gamble after all. Summon your GFs to deal with the ground forces... and try to keep my ship in one piece.”

“What the hell are you going to do?”

Kryse looked at the Berserker with a saddened expression. “Try to contain the explosion of the place I used to call home.”

You ready Diablos?
I am
Here we go

How many years had Aiden Barron been waiting for his chance to strike revenge at SCORPIA? Raiding supply outposts and dispatching the agents that were sent to close the loose end that was the rogue operative Balian was one thing, but this was a direct fight with the one man that had likely given the order to declare Balian an enemy of the state and signed the man’s death warrant.

“Getting your hands dirty for once? You must be more desperate than you want people to know,” the ex-soldier breathed. “Or maybe you don’t want anyone to know what’s on this?” With the flick of a wrist, Balian flashed a view of the drive on which he and the SeeD had taken the information from the SCORPIA mainframe. By now, Balian had learned that the swift and craft Alex Raines had pulled a double-switch on the former Galbadian commander and taken the real information for herself while leaving him with a fake.

Declan Nyx had no way of knowing that, however.

“I can just imagine all the things that people wouldn’t want to see on this. No wonder you’re upset,” he taunted now.

Target defined. Goal: Draw fire away from SeeD operative. Collateral damage: Self-preservation overridden.

Visibly, Balian winced and felt his hand raise up and press against his temple, the orders and codes and voices breaking his concentration, his train of thought, his ability to think. A perfect opening.

Zeke scoffed, obviously not too pleased about having to put up with Asher rather than his target. Still, the Hunter was a threat, so the samurai decided today would be the death of two birds by the same stone. After narrowly dodging Asher’s blade, Zeke used the same psychological tactic he had used on the hunter earlier and tried to taunt him into getting sloppy.

“I thought SeeD Hunters were elite?” taunted the samurai, ducking away from another swipe from Asher’s gunblade and returning fire with a horizontal sweep to keep him from closing the distance, “You couldn’t hit the broad side of a T-Rexaur!”

Asher couldn’t help but scowl angrily. This damned SeeD had made a fool of him earlier that day, and now he had the stones to try it again. He wasn’t about to let that slide, “Big words coming from the guy who’s made a career out of running and hiding!” at those words, Asher lunged in for a quick thrust with his gunblade. The samurai went to parry the attack, but Asher had other plans. That thrust was just a means to get in close, and before the samurai could rectify his mistake, he found himself with a gash across his cheek from Asher’s knife. Oh sure, the Hunter could have gone for the SeeD’s throat, but that would be too quick of a death. No, Asher wanted this bastard to suffer before dying, “Why don’t you stop dancing around like a coward and actually fight back?”

Zeke reeled from the cut across his cheek. He should have guessed Asher would fight dirty, but it was too late for him to kick himself for it, now. Zeke instead wondered why the Hunter didn’t just go for the throat. He probably would have killed Zeke given the success of that underhanded attack. Not that Zeke was complaining. The samurai could only smirk at Asher’s taunt. Psychological strategies weren’t going to be very effective it seemed. Instead, Zeke cast Double on himself, attempting to use the tactic he’d used earlier on Nyx.

Asher watched as his prey cast some spell on himself and then lunged in for a beheading sweep. Asher ducked and twisted his body to thrust his knife blade into the spot he was sure Zeke would be in behind him. Sure enough, the Samurai was there and caught the knife on his sword blade, but then Asher felt another blade cutting into his back. He quickly stole a glance behind him, expecting to find Balian there, but it was a disappearing image of the SeeD. “Using a Double spell get in a second attack while my back is turned? You underhanded little bastard… I’ll have to remember that tactic for later.”

Zeke only narrowed his eyes, “Yeah, says the guy who stabs women in the back. That one was for Alex, asshole.” He said, the Double spell already wearing off as he moved in for another attack, this one a straight up diagonal slash across Asher’s chest. Nemitz just brought his knife up to take the attack, allowing his arm to shove away as he deftly redirected the katana blade out of harm’s way.

Asher tried to counter by shoving his gunblade as far into Zeke’s gut as it would go, but the Samurai was too quick, nimbly twisting his body out of the way as he stepped back and into fighting stance. It seemed both fighters were back at square one with each other now.

"Just doing my job, Watanabe," Asher said with a characteristic smirk. "I wonder how Raines is doing, anyway? Think she bled out?" He kept a steady gaze on Zeke as he gradually raised his knife to his lips. With a disgusting, painstaking slowness Asher extended his tongue and slid the flat of the blade along its tip. He retracted his tongue into a wicked grin. "Mm. I can still taste her. You know, I kind of hope she lived. So when I find out where the rest of your pathetic little team is hiding... I can stick her again."

"Sonnuva--!" Zeke barked through tightly gritted teeth as he lunged forward with a hefty overhand strike, hoping his speed and aggression would catch the Hunter off-guard.

On the contrary: Asher was betting on it. If his malicious smirk could possibly get any more evil, it did. Lucy's majestically-curved blade retracted with the flick of a switch while Asher brought the twin barrels swiftly up to eye-level. Zeke was already stepping irrevocably into point-blank range. Asher pulled the trigger.

---

Nyx stopped breathing. His combat stance fell to pieces as he regarded the data drive in Balian's fingers, his blurred, hypersensitive vision slowly coming into focus on the tiny device. Nyx had paid little attention to the brief mention of a possible security leak in the incident reports that morning, writing it off as a side-effect of his plans to decimate the responding units and local authorities. He hadn't initiated an investigation into the matter, instead focusing his energies on the aftermath of the day before. It seemed that had been a mistake.

Almost as big a mistake as Balian had made by showing that disk to Nyx. What exactly was the former agent's game here? What were the chances he'd had an opportunity to make a backup of the data? Regardless, it wasn't going to work as a bargaining chip. Let the man spread whatever information he had when Nyx failed to cooperate. SCORPIA's PR department would have a field day manipulating everything on that disk into further fuel for the cause. However many cards Balian thought he held now, Nyx was about to drop the winning hand.

The director tensed when Balian brought his hand up to his skull, expecting some sort of paramagical attack to follow; but the younger man seemed to be experiencing some kind of headache. It looked tame enough at first, but Nyx slowly realized how crippling the effect was on his opponent. Balian's concentration was shot, and Nyx pounced on the opportunity to take advantage and end this once and for all.

With a hearty roar, Nyx sunk to one knee and slammed an open palm onto the floor. An ornate, circular pattern of glowing orange threads, not unlike in appearance the previous spell Nyx had cast, but magnitudes smaller, formed beneath his wrist. Instantly an identical rune materialized on the floor directly beneath Balian's chin. With a preternatural windy bellow a pillar of swirling red flame erupted from the glowing energy pattern. The scorching spiral gushed upward, directly into the unsuspecting Balian's face.

Balian howled in agony and reeled back, both hands clamped over half of his face. His flesh screamed, begged for relief that would not come. His wild steps went every which way as his upper body writhed back and forth.

"Barrrrooooonnnn!" Nyx screamed, his pent-up anger and frustration pouring out through his magical attack. Dozens of runic patterns appeared all over, on the floor and walls and ceiling, and from all of them at once burst another torrent of gyrating, searing fire. A wave of heat washed over everyone and everything present, and Nyx had to squeeze his eyes shut to shield himself from the brightness. The blazing columns flared up all around Balian, surrounding him, pummeling him from all angles.

Asher recoiled as one of the fiery explosions erupted almost directly beneath him. As his gun-arm was thrown wildly off-target, two shots rang out, fighting for aural supremacy with the raging torrents of flame and the collateral damage they caused all around. Zeke, too, was halted mid-stride by the sudden wave of supernatural fire, physically cut off from the target of his arching sword-slash.

Zavier Lokalus, still watching the battle from the stage in the background, leapt out of the way of another pillar. Another of Nyx's security team wasn't quite fast enough; suddenly blasted in the ribs by a horizontal streak of fire jetting from a nearby wall, he went down wailing. Even the single remaining media crew, who had diligently cowered behind their camera to capture the historic battle, couldn't escape the firestorm SCORPIA's director had summoned. Their equipment exploded in massive red-orange blast, taking them with it into oblivion. "My... god," Lokalus stammered.

---

Lieutenant Colonel Grard burst into the darkened air traffic control room on hot heels. The lines and blips of light from the numerous panels played off his reflective armor plating as he moved in. "I just received notification that a Black Ops ship was cleared for approach. Is that correct?" he demanded.

One of the operators at the control bank swiveled around to face Grard. "The ship identified itself as B.O.S.A., yes. As per protocol you were notified and the system's records were wiped. Is there a--"

"What was the ship's registration number?" Grard breathed.

"R8x03," the operator replied, furrowing his brow in confusion.

Grard scowled, then moved in on the operator. Almost violently he shoved the wheeled chair and the man in it aside. "Give me that," he mumbled as he annexed command of the computer terminal. His fingers flew over the digital touch-keys, entering codes that, as the only inducted SCORPIA officer in the room, could know, and pulled up a number of documents and records. After a minute or two perusing them, "I thought as much. The R8x03--like all Black Ops ships--were decommissioned two years ago for repurposing. I thought you guys would have been informed. That ship isn't one of ours. Why hasn't it been identified?"

"Its transponder is malfunctioning. Possibly tampered with."

"Ping it again."

The operator did as commanded, opening a channel with the ship as before. He nodded to Grard.

"Ragnarok, your registry is invalid. Identify yourself immediately," the Lieutenant Colonel commanded. He waited, but there was no response.

"Sir, we have visual confirmation on a registration number."

"Run it."

"Already done, but this can't be right."

"Spit it out!" Grard yelled, exasperated.

"Records indicate the ship belongs to Doctor Vincent Salmance... it was cleared for take-off from the aerodrome two days ago, but neither Mr. nor Mrs. Salmance were seen boarding. As far as our records show, they're both located in the city right now."

"Who else had access to that ship?" Grard inquired.

"The only other registered operator is Doctor Kryse Salmance," the operator responded softly, "but he was reported deceased three years ago. Sir, the ragnarok seems to be approaching Esthar Garden on an attack vector."

"That's it," Grard spoke, nodding his head firmly and standing tall. "Initiate Gamma Protocol. I want birds in the air in two minutes. Mobilize the GDF."

---

Lokalus huddled in a corner with the remainder of Nyx's security team as they watched the helices of flame spout scorching heat in every direction. He could barely hear the chatter coming through his earpiece. He touched two fingers to it and pressed the device into his head while covering his other ear entirely. His eyes widened when he finally understood the information coming through. "Roger that," he replied at length. Braving the fires, Lokalus did his best to approach Nyx, who was still crouched on one knee with a hand to the ground, pumping more and more magic energy into the torrent. "Director!" he cried. No response. "NYX!"

Nyx opened his eyes to blinding brightness and looked in Lokalus' direction. Bearing gritted teeth, Nyx lifted his palm. The glowing runes all across the battlefield disappeared, and with them the pillars of endless flame. Anything flammable still burned brightly with lingering flames, keeping the station filled with an amber glow. "What?" he spat disdainfully.

"Sir, we have a big problem. Esthar Garden is under attack by a ragnarok-class gunship. And you're not going to believe who's flying it."

Nyx boiled with anger, his blood raging hotter than the flames around him. He didn't need his Chief Security Officer to tell him who was behind the attack: he knew. And he started to wonder, too, if there had been any merit to Balian's threats. It wasn't any kind of secret that Esthar Garden had been recommissioned into a high-end research and development station, but... did they find out what was really going on there? How much did they know.

SCORPIA's director stood straight up, grimacing heavily. Asher stood a few meters away, keeping Zeke in check, although the samurai was just as stunned as everyone else in the vicinity. Nyx searched the grounds for Balian and found the ex-operative crumpled in a smoldering heap a short distance away. Balian wasn't moving. Nyx cast his gaze back to Zeke, his parted lips almost quivering with rage as he weighed his options. There was no way he could overlook SeeD's assault on a SCORPIA facility. It was a choice between a big fish and a small fish, but Nyx despised having to let the small one off the hook. He considered leaving Nemitz behind, but he knew he would need the Hunter, as well as all of Zanath's other elites. He trusted Lokalus to take care of that detail and notify Galbadia. Nyx could not afford to screw this one up.

He glared menacingly at Zeke. "Looks like you get to scurry about for another day, little mouse. But rest assured, I'll be back for you."

Nyx raised a fist with index and middle fingers extended, making a circular motion with them. "We're pulling out!" he commanded. "You, too, Nemitz. Lokalus, tell them to prep for takeoff."

With his full entourage in tow, Nyx stormed out of the broadcast tower, leaving a mass of carnage and flaming wreckage in his wake.

Zavier nodded at the boss’s orders. Pressing two fingers to his ear, he spoke to all comm. Frequencies, “Prepare for departure. The Director is going to Esthar.” Sighing, Zavier turned to follow the follow the boss, when a voice stopped him.

“You’re not walking away from me, Nyx!” it was Zeke, standing up next to where Balian’s form lay unconscious and wounded. He had taken a brief moment to cast a quick Curaga on the operative, which would have at least kept him alive until he could get a doctor. His weapon still in hand, Zeke stepped forward to attack Nyx again, when he was stopped by an Estharian wearing glasses, holding the samurai at gun point with a handgun-like weapon with what looked like a folded blade attached.

“Not today, SeeD.” Said Zavier, almost apologetically, “You’re off the hook, which doesn’t happen very often…” he cocked the weapon as he spoke, “…so I suggest you take this opportunity to get out of here. After all, this city is still going to be looking for you.”

Zeke blinked. Was this agent… helping him? That didn’t seem possible, “I appreciate your concern…” said Zeke, tightening his grip on his weapon, “…but I’m going to have to politely decline and suggest that you BURN IN HELL!” he lunged forward with the last words. If he had to kill this guy to get to Nyx, then so be it.

“I’m so sorry…” Zavier whispered, the thunderous sound of a gunshot echoed in the near-empty area as the body of the samurai fell to the ground, “…truly.” Whispered Zavier s he holstered his weapon and continued to follow the director.


Blackness was all Zeke saw. Was he dead? Was that how he went down, a single bullet from some random agent? Then he heard the voices. They sounded like sneers. Slowly, the samurai’s eyes opened and he saw the source of the voices. They looked like Scorpia, probably cleaning up the mess from the fight. It wasn’t until Zeke’s eyes focused more that he realized he was no longer in Timber. Instead, he was somewhere outside of town, and he could hear the sound of someone digging behind him. That’s when one of the men noticed Zeke was awake.

“Look who’s waking up over here!” he jeered, both him and his cohort approaching the barely conscious samurai.

“Guess Lokalus’s bullet didn’t do the job…” said a voice behind Zeke, probably the one doing the digging.

That was when Zeke realized something. They were digging a grave… his. He still felt half-dead from the bullet, and even if he did have the strength to put up a fight, his hands ands feet were tied up.

“Not to worry…” said the third guy, pulling out what looked like a cleaver, “…we’ll just kill him the rest of the way and then bury him.”

“Hey, I like the way you think…” Said the other two guys, pulling similarly painful-looking knives from their holsters.

Great, so this was going to be how he died instead, cut open by a trio of chuckleheads within the clean-up crew? It wasn’t like Zeke could do anything at the moment, so he just waited for the end, only a very small part of him still hoping for some kind of miracle. Zeke’s vision blurred as his consciousness began slipping away again. The last thing he saw before everything went dark was a formless figure showing up and attacking the trio of knife-wielding chuckleheads. Also, Zeke heard a voice in his ear before going out again.

“Sensei? I found him… yeah, he’s still alive. I’ll have him to you within the hour.”