Author's note: I hope you have read Worlds Collide already, but even if you didn't, this part is still understandable. Some portions however become crystal clear if you read the author's note at the end.

Chapter Nine of the Aveh-Nisan Chapter of Rebuilding

Sensou to Ai

Written by Yen (June 2000)~(edited July 2000)

Nisan

"Contact Fei, there's too ma- aieeee! "

"Thomas! Hold on! Darrell, take a company and go round!"

"Yes Sir!"

Dan shouted, "Fei, in front of you!"

He dove aside just as a pair of mandibles snapped close on his former space.

"Keep down!" Yelled Dan, and Fei barely shielded his head as rolling tongues of flames incinerated his attacker.

***

"Just what did you think you were doing?!" Fei knocked the flame-thrower from his hands. The weapon clattered noisily on Nisan's cobblestones as Dan screamed at Fei, "I just saved your life, that's what I thought I did!"

Fei shouted back, "We can't kill! These people are being controlled!"

"So we'll just go easy on them while they murder us?!" Dan's fists shook with the effort of controlling his rage and the burning desire to hit Fei. "Why don't we just hand Nisan over to them on a silver platter instead!"

Fei's eyes suddenly acquired a red glow, and instinctively, Dan took a step back. Anger warred with fear inside him. Fury won, and he sneered, "Now don't go and destroy the city like you did Lahan."

He only had a moment's warning before Fei's fist connected with his face.

***

Nortune, Kislev

"Where's my sister?!" Rico could only watch as Billy interrogated the prisoner. The mutant was badly injured and hung lifelessly from Billy's grip on his neck. Red eyes blinked and flickered to Billy as their owner was shaken hard, his head lolled back and forth with an eerie boneless motion.

Billy demanded again, "Where's my sister?!" The mutant spat in his face.

Rico looked away as Billy dropped the man and shot him.

*** ***

Bledavik, Aveh

Mother... Yui woke up with a start, disturbing Hyuga beside her. Her husband thrashed about momentarily before settling back into an uncomfortable sleep.

She blinked, taking a few moments to gather her senses. They were in the guardroom, resting on makeshift beds of wood and little else. Yui frowned slightly, wondering what time of the day it was.

Someone outside yawned loudly, and a soldier walked passed the open doorway. ... Hardly any shadow, it must be around noon.

Yui got up to her feet and stretched before heading outside. A step out, she paused, her eyes suddenly burning and blind in the intense light and heat of desert midday. When her eyes acclimated, she stared at Bart and Margie.

Unlike she and Hyuga who had decided to wait out the desert heat in the relative coolness inside one of the wall towers, Bart and Margie were having their siesta on the go or on the gear.

A snicker escaped from her, and Yui smiled at a sight she would never forget. Margie was sleeping in the outstretched hand of Vierge with the other hand overhead serving as a canopy. She was even hugging one of the gear's fingers like a pillow.

Bart, on the other hand, had turned Andvari's man-sized eye-patch into a temporary hammock. Its straps were tied to his gear's fingers, which were bend vertical at the knuckle joints with the palm of the hand facing skyward. Like Vierge, Andvari's other hand was utilized as a roof to provide shade from the relentless sun.

Quite ingenious... Yui had to admit. Her eyes narrowed when she took note that the mutant army was gone. Hid themselves under the sand, no doubt...

What fool would wish to stay unsheltered beneath the torrid desert sun?

Suddenly, she heard a low rumble, and a monstrous shadow fell over them. Yui looked up to see the Yddrasil come to a hovering stop high overhead.

***

"Mother." Sigurd watched as Midori ran towards Yui who turned to her daughter with an expression of startled delight instantly replaced by worried annoyance.

"Midori! Why did you come here?!" The little girl immediately pointed at him, making him the sole and unfortunate recipient of any reprimands and punishments that may come from an overly protective parent or two. Yui's formidable glare made Sigurd hesitate before going near them.

"Sigurd Harcourt, why did you bring Midori out here?"

He slid a glance to the guileless Midori before answering Yui in what he hope was a calm and reasonable enough tone. "I didn't want to leave her alone at the fortress." Especially since Maison was taking a long deserved nap and respite from the little troublemaker. Sigurd strove to forget what she did to his processor. "... And she wanted to be with you and Citan."

While Yui was distracted looking over her daughter, Sigurd glared at Midori. All right, you blackmailer. Give me the disk or I'm telling her what a bad girl you've been.

Her answer to his silent demand was a slow blink at him before giving her mother a tight embrace. Sigurd's face fell when Yui sighed happily and hugged her daughter back. ... Why you manipulative little witch! His word would be nothing against Midori's where Yui was concerned. I'll have to talk to Hyuga about-

"Yui?" Hyuga emerged from the guardroom, one hand holding his glasses while the other rubbed at an eye. He smiled widely when he saw them. "Midori," he said affectionately as he took her from Yui's arms. "Why are you here? ... Yui, why is she here?"

"Sigurd said she missed us, Hyuga."

Sigurd could only watch speechlessly as they doted on their child. ... Outmaneuvered by a little girl... I'll never live this down.

***

"Sigurd, why is the Yddrasil out?" Inquired Citan. Yui turned to look at Sigurd as well while Midori rested her head on his shoulder. He glanced down when his daughter uttered a soft sigh of contentment.

"... I've decided to strike," replied Sigurd somberly.

He frowned, looking back to him while Yui asked, "You mean now?"

"Yes," answered Sigurd.

They do have a great disadvantage in the day... Though cowardly, it would be foolish of us not to take this opportunity. "Have you discussed this with Bart, Sigurd?"

"I haven't. The thought has just recently occurred to me. Fighting battles during the day is not a usual tactic practiced around here." Indeed, the sun was neutral and though it took no sides in mortals' games, it punished severely those foolish enough to let precious life, energy and water be exposed to its greedy light.

"A tactic to be used only in desperation," whispered Yui. When both men glanced at her, she turned and walked away. "I'll go wake up Bart and Margie."

They watched as she jumped up on the battlements. Heimdal activated and turned towards her, with one of its hands extending out to her.

"... Hyuga, I didn't know Heimdal could be remotely controlled." Only Omnigears and specially constructed gears such as the Element class had such a design feature. The installment of it was simply too costly and complex for regular gear units. Gear pilots would also be required to be synchronized with their respective machines for proper control.

He sighed, the sound a mixture of pride and dread. "It recently gained that capability, Sigurd."

"Indeed?"

Citan looked away from the hopeful look in Sigurd's face. He knew what his friend was thinking. "... It is difficult to explain what Yui did..."

"Telepathy, right?" He started, looking back to Sigurd with wide eyes. How did he-

"Don't worry about it, Hyuga." Sigurd shrugged. "I know she's telepathic, and so is your daughter."

"... How did you find out, Sigurd?"

Sigurd hesitated in answering, and Midori finally spoke up, "I told him, father."

"... Midori, your mother will not like this. You were not suppose to tell anyone about it."

"I'm sorry, father, but I want to be with you and mother. Don't worry. He won't tell anyone about it."

"Oh really," said Sigurd with amusement, "And why are you so sure I won't tell anyone about it?"

Citan glared at him warningly when Midori squirmed in his arms and gestured to be put down. He reluctantly let her down and watched as she walked up to Sigurd and stared up at him. Sigurd looked down at her questioningly.

"If you tell, I tell too."

? Tell what? Sigurd looked uncomfortable. Citan asked curiously, "Tell what, Midori?"

She promptly said, "He has a dia-" Sigurd covered her mouth. "Never mind! All right, I won't tell anyone!"

Citan stared at them. What? What?! "... I am dying of curiosity here," he announced to them.

"So die," Sigurd answered bluntly as he picked up Midori.

Dia... dia... He knew more than fifty words beginning with dia. ... dia... diabetes perhaps? no... such a condition is rare in Aveh, besides he does not look sickly. Hmm... diarrhea? "... You know, I will find out sooner or later, Sigurd," he said dryly.

"Keep your nose clean, Hyu-" Midori was holding up a flat data wafer in Sigurd's face. He immediately snatched it from her and pocketed it.

Hyuga whooped, "You keep a diary!" Sigurd glared at him, looking irritated as well when muffled chuckles and suppressed laughter came from the troops who heard his exclamation.

"It's called a journal," corrected Sigurd.

"Same thing." Citan grinned. "It is nothing to be ashamed about, Sigurd," he added solicitously, "Many people keep diaries."

"Who keeps a diary?!" Sigurd groaned and covered his eyes as Bart arrived.

***

"Prime Minister, the ship reports that all is in readiness."

"Inform the commander to move at his discretion."

"Aye-aye sir."

Moments later, a distant rumbling was heard as the Yddrasil powered engines and glided towards the still burrowed enemy army.

We could have commenced bombardment early this morning... I hesitated... Honorable rules of combat... Fight when your foe can fight back. ... Can't afford that now. Sigurd's jaw hardened. The enemy has shown they will not hesitate. We... I shouldn't either. His eye closed. If need be, I will slaughter them from the skies!

Will we not be like them if we do that? His eye opened, and he glanced at Midori who was staring at him. She was standing close to her mother who was following the Yddrasil intently. Sigurd looked back into disturbing fathomless eyes.

Sigurd stiffened when an ancient visage stared at him from her young face.

... No, it can't be... Emperor Cain... His knees started to buckle. Old training demanding that he kneel and bow.

Cain's image vanished. No... I'm not him.

Sigurd barely managed to keep on standing.

Hyuga...? ... I didn't know.

Thoughts stilled as she looked away from him. There was a chirp, and Sigurd jumped as feathers brushed the side of his face. Prism flew passed him, gliding towards Midori and landing on her shoulder. She smiled and petted her pet.

Sigurd could not help but think what an unusual little girl she was. ... Thank you for not telling them. He sent out to her.

She looked back at him. They can help you. Father can help you. You should tell them you have a dia-

Bledavik's finest vessel, the Yddrasil III, came to a gradual stop over the have-not burrows. From where the city's defensive dome meet the desert to a distance two dozen times the length of the sky ship, the sand was rough and disturbed. Countless mounds of dung and excrement dotted the landscape. Piles of bones and skeletons gleamed white against dirtied yellow. Having been hibernating underground for the past months, the mutants, upon exhuming themselves, had terrorized and ravaged SandPeople hideholes and decimated schools of sandsharks. Fortunately, there had been no human victims or at least no citizen had reported any.

It was quiet. No wind blew. No landscaping hand of nature came to mold the sands back into the desert canvas. None to hide and bury the dead.

Whistles... sharp sounds of air being compressed. Instances of silence as the whistlemakers ran out of air.

***

... first group... impacted... -cond gro- approac- critical... third group... -en launched...

Bart's eye watered as he forced himself to look despite the intense light of each succeeding explosion. The shields dimmed and brightened in choreography.

Citan shouted, "Brace yourselves! Incoming shockwav-" Roars came, as loud as thunder and made further speech and hearing impossible.

... Uncle's song... Yui opened her eyes and squeezed them back shut when still bright reflected light blinded them. Her hands pressed flat against the mortared bricks of the wall road's surface.

Why am I thinking of his favorite song? Yui forced her eyes to open and pushed herself up.

She looked around her and ran to where Hyuga was helping Midori up. It was a mess. Some of the laser artillery had toppled over, wrenched from their housing by the multiple shockwaves. The shields couldn't prevent all the energy from coming in. One of the soldiers yelled for help as he struggled to lift one of the massive guns off a trapped comrade.

"Hyuga, are you all right?" Yui asked as she bent down to lift their daughter into her arms. Midori was curled up, trembling and clutching something to her chest.

"I am fine, Yui, but Midori is in shock."

Worry gnawed insistently inside Yui as Hyuga examined Midori. Her husband suddenly exclaimed, and something shiny flashed by her eyes and headed skyward. "No!" Midori cried out, "Prism, come back!" She started to cry, and Yui wished she hadn't been out here when the bombing started.

"Do not be worried, Midori," Hyuga said reassuringly as he gently brushed aside hair strands and dirt from Midori's face. "Your little bird will come back to you." Midori quieted down at her father's words, and Yui looked gratefully at him. "Hyuga, I'm taking her back to the pa-"

The radio suddenly crackled. ...ir! ...-rater is twice...-eeper than expect-... Static screamed high and loud for several moments before clearing up completely. "Those things were trying to dig under the barrier!" The extension depth of the shield barriers underground roughly equaled its height above ground.

Sigurd grabbed the transmitter. "Are you sure, Franz?"

"Yes, sir! There were more of those things than we thought. Half of them remained under the sand while their fellows tore up the surface."

"Damn!" Muttered Sigurd before speaking into the unit again. "Are there some still alive?"

The unit crackled again, and Bingo's voice came from the receiver speakers. "No way, Sir! We dropped enough firepower on them to level the city. There's no way-"

"Excuse me, Captain, but something's moving down there."

"What? Are you sure the sensors are functioning?"

"The sensors are fried, Captain. I'm using the exterior cams to look below."

"There's no way anything could have survived three consecutive loads of shells."

"... Whatever it is, it's big."

"Prime Minister, I request permission to take down the ship and investigate this anomaly."

"Permission granted, Captain, but remain in red alert and don't go lower than two hundred sharls. Keep this line open as well"

"Aye, Sir. Helm, take us down to two hundred slow and steady."

"Aye, Captain, taking her down now."

"Franz, what do you hear?"

"It's strange, sir, but I am picking up a lot of sounds besides fall out noises."

"What kind of sounds?"

"... It's sounds like rumbling-"

"Oh God! Captain, get us out of here!"

"Ev-"

An earth-splitting roar tore through the sudden silence, and Yui turned to see a nightmare climbing out of the desert.

Sigurd yelled, "Bingo, get out of there!"

There was no reply from the ship, but far off, the Yddrasil was backing away and heading back to the city.

Bart stepped up besides Hyuga and handed him a pair of scopes. "Please tell me that is not what I just saw!" He demanded from him.

Hyuga lowered the scopes slowly. "... It cannot be..."

Sigurd shouted into transmitter again, "Yddrasil, come in! ... Come in, Yddrasil!"

... Sir! -his thing is huge! It's even bigger than the ship! ... It's coming after us!

"Fall back, Bingo! Take her up!"

The ship's stern tilted up as it attempted to gain altitude in its retreat. The thing screamed again and leaped up high to come down on the Yddrasil.

"... shields down! Its landing knocked out the power grid!"

"Helm! Get us loose from this thing!"

"Trying! It dug its claws into the hul- Aiie! It's eating the shi-" The transceiver silenced.

"Faisal! Have artillery fire when ready!"

"... Prime Minister, we can't do that. We'll hit the Yddrasil too."

Suddenly, there was another scream from the beast as laser fire from its prey tore into its chest. Moments later, explosions ripped across the Yddrasil's hull.

"They are too near," whispered Hyuga, "In such close quarters, the backwash from the ship's weaponry would debilitate her as much as it would the enemy."

Bart yelled at Faisal, "If we don't fire, the Yddrasil is as good as gone!"

Faisal whirled to his troops. "You heard his majesty! Fire when ready!"

"Yes sir!"

Yui crouched down and leaned against the parapet for support as photon-speed lasers blazed across in countless streams from Bledavik's walls. Midori whimpered, and Yui covered her ears as the high-pitched sound of laser fire quickly became unbearable.

The beast roared again.

"... Everyone get down! It's going to throw the ship!"

Yui barely had time to comprehend what that meant when Hyuga threw himself over them.

***

"Yui, are you all right?" She felt Hyuga move away. She whispered, "I'm fine."

"Midori?" Yui lifted her head and loosened her protective embrace around their daughter. Midori pulled away slightly and glanced up to Hyuga. "I'm fine too, father," she said to him before burrowing back in her mother's arms.

Hyuga chuckled. "You two stay here, all right?" She nodded and smiled when Hyuga patted both their heads. "Good girls," he said teasingly before leaving.

... Be careful, Hyuga... Yui closed her eyes and rested her chin atop Midori's head, remembering the end of the song.

***

"Prime Minister, the main shields are down! The generator overloaded when the Yddrasil was hurled into the barrier."

"How long before full shields are restored?"

"It will take the engineers at least twelve hours to get the generator operational again."

"Status of the backup generator?"

"Green, Sir. The inductors held against the overload."

"What is the condition of the Yddrasil?"

"All the crew is safe and sound. They managed to eject before that thing threw the ship. We have just recovered them. However, the ship is badly damaged."

"Is it repairable?"

"... Sir, may I ask why you are not giving the order to pursue the monster?"

"I will not risk anymore lives today, Lieutenant."

"But sir, that thing, whatever it is, is badly injured. We should hunt it down and kill it immediately."

"If it is as badly injured as it appears to be, the desert will kill it for us. If it is not, it will be back very soon. If it does come back, then we will kill it."

***

"What was that thing, Citan?" Bart asked as he surveyed the damage wrought by the monster. A ship's length away from the gates, the mangled and broken hall of the Yddrasil lay still. Technicians, engineers, soldiers and volunteers could be seen swarming all over it.

Behind him, Citan was looking through the scopes. "I believe it was a Mega Sufal Mass."

He looked at him quizzically. "... A Mega Sufal Mass?"

"Yes... or it could be considered a Proto-Sufal."

"Why Proto-Sufal?"

"Sufal Masses are composed from mutant bodies which have been broken down to basic levels. Those are the Sufals we are familiar with."

"As if we had a choice not to make their acquaintance," Bart muttered.

Citan continued, "This Sufal however was not made from basic components. The have-nots bonded together to form a single entity without having to go through a Soylent System. It is not merely made from masses of biological parts. This time, single-living and intelligent entities joined to form one." Citan lowered the scopes and looked back at Bart. "That's why I refer to it as a Proto-Sufal."

"I have a better name for it."

"What?"

"Anathema."

*** ***

The Citadel

Seth placed his elbows on the table and steepled his hands as he looked carefully at Johan. "... Nathan?"

Johan hissed, "No, S-seth. He's-s gone." His right-hand man looked satisfied. He had never been fond of Nathan. "S-stupid idiot. He even us-sed anathema and s-still los-st."

Seth closed his eyes and leaned back against his chair. "What's Bendo's report?"

"More than half los-st. Most of the s-survivors-s are too weak. He is-s as-sking permis-s-s-sion to us-se the S-soylent S-system."

"Tell Bendo he has my permission. Is that all, Johan?"

"Yes-s S-seth."

"Very well, thank you, Johan, and you are dismissed."

***

Nathan... Seth leaned against the wall wearily. A flash of green eyes and a face like his. Seth trembled, thankful there was no one else in the corridor except him.

... We were so alike you and I...

Always had each other.

Their teacher was smiling at them. Now, what have you twin rascals been up too...?

Their teacher was now grimacing. Don't you two ever disagree on anything?

A tear crept out slowly, and Seth pushed himself off the wall and continued on his way.

***

The room was little more than a decorated cave. Only a heavy wooden door closed the area off from the passageway that connected dozens of similar honeycombed chambers in the Citadel. Unlit wall torches dotted the surrounding walls as sunlight entering through a single window illuminated the small space in lieu of them.

Primera winced in pain and examined her palm. A shallow jagged cut ran diagonally across it. She hadn't realized that the bars crisscrossing the window were pyramidal. The sides facing outside formed into sharp edges.

She clenched her wounded hand and stared through the irregular openings, hoping to see the horizon. She carefully placed her hands on the sill and tiptoed, trying in vain to spot the line that divided sky and land. Primera could only see bright endless blue.

She frowned and looked around the room. There were only two items in it besides her. A neatly rolled futon and a small knee-high table. She quickly went over to the latter and moved it into position underneath the window.

She stepped unto it when the door creaked open. Primera almost fell off as Nathan entered the room. Off-balanced, she grabbed for the nearest support and cried out when sharp metal again cut into her hands.

***

"You need to relax your guard, princess," Nathan said softly as he tended to her wounds. "You're so uptight, you've made yourself blind."

When he looked at her, Primera shook her head stubbornly, refusing to believe his suggestions had merit. She tensed defensively when his hands covered hers. He scared her. Instinctively, she wanted to hide, the bravado she was displaying so far in truth so thin.

"Hmm... don't worry. I will not hurt you," he said. Liar! She pulled her hands away, ignoring the pain of moving them so suddenly.

His hands suddenly framed her face, and green eyes looked at her with amusement. She wanted to scream, but shut her eyes tight close instead.

"Don't be frightened. Nathan would never really have hurt you, and neither will I."

... He's not him. Primera opened her eyes and stared at him. Same face, same eyes... not the same...

He smiled and released her. With a soft sigh, he laid back by her feet on the futon. His arms reached back and folded to pillow his head. He said, "You need to be careful with your talent. In your desire to block out everything, important things have passed you by."

Primera sat up and stared at him silently as he continued speaking. "Your potential is great, little princess. I would be honored to teach you."

You, on the other hand, can call me Sensei. "... No," she said to his offer.

"You do not have a choice." He glanced up at her and added, "Nathan is dead. You are his successor."

***

To be continued...

Yen