"We... don't know," Papillon said with a weak smile. "It doesn't work quite like that. However, any wound Mikoto takes can be regenerated over a period of time. Even if she is affected by psychological-altering substances or poisons, her body can repair the damage. It is theoretically possible to her ability to prevent wounds from being fatal."

Leaning back in the chair slightly, with her hands folded in her lap, Papillon continued, "During the battles with the 11 Soul Masters, Mikoto was injured severely by a Sol Wave attack. Much of her body needed repair, and she's been in the infirmary ever since the battles. However, she's almost made a full recovery, thanks to her Evoulder nature."

"Okay." Matt leaned foward, resting his chin in his hand. "I guess after all I've seen, I should've expected something like this. What with the crazy powers and giant robots and all."

"We've certainly seen many strange things since Galeon came to our world," Papillon said, agreeing with Matt's sentiment.

The door to Taiga's room slid open, revealing a young woman. Dressed in a pink and white uniform that ended in a skirt, Matt was immediately drawn to her strange hair style, with two sections of hair curving up and behind from the back of her head. "Hello," she said. "You must be Matt."

"Yeah." Standing up, Matt held out a clawed hand. "And I guess you're Mikoto. Nice to meet you."

Mikoto shook the boy's hand, all the while taking in his strange armor. Guy had told her about the young man that fell from the sky, and though she knew about his armor beforehand, this was the first time she had seen it. It looked so magnificent and fearsome...what was it doing on a person of this stature?

"So, what do you want me to do?" Mikoto asked Papllion.

Edited by The Helldragon on February 18, 2008 at 22:31:49.

"We're hoping that by using the Sensing Mind with your telepathic abilities, we'll be able to piece together the images and knowledge that the shard uploaded into Matt's psyche," Papillon explained, "Hopefully, we'll be able to uncover more on this portal that's supposed to appear."

They were going to try and scan his mind...and with the things he knew and saw, he wasn't sure about it. "I dunno if that's a good idea. I mean, I'm not sure if I'd like to just open my mind up to people."

"I understand," Mikoto said. "But it would be helpful to see what you got from the shard."

"...I dunno..." He glanced toward Papillon-a face he trusted more than the others right now.

Papillon shook her head. "We cannot force you to do anything you do not want to do, Matt," she said, "While it'd be beneficial for us to learn anything the Sky Shard may have revealed about the portal you saw, it is your mind and we will not intrude without your permission."

Matt sighed. He did take the shard into his hand to help them after the hospitality they offered. They needed that information.

"...all right. You can look through my head." He jabbed out a claw. "But don't you be goin' around in places you shouldn't be, okay?"

Mikoto took a seat near the bed. "We won't."

As Mikoto sat down near Matt, Papillon opened herself to the Sensing Mind, allowing it to connect to both Matt and Mikoto, to strengthen the mental bond. As she felt her consciousness expand, she would begin sorting the the knowledge from the Sky Shard from the memories that belonged to Matt, giving Mikoto easier access to bring the images up for Matt to reveal.

In turn, Mikoto closed her eyes and raised her palms in front of Matt. To be honest, she hadn't made use of her psychic abilities much, and wasn't sure how she would do. Papllion was helping her, though, so that made her feel better. "Okay...here we go."

She began seeing images within her mind-the same as what Matt had saw, but without the distracting pain. She saw a shimmering gate tear open a distance away from the Kushinada-

-what was that reaching out from it? A...giant claw?

But there was a sudden flash, and Mikoto was witnessing something else.

What happened? Did I lose focus, or-

A giant crystal god swung, and a beast was struck down.

What is this?

Matt screamed out in anger, and was engulfed in hatred.

-hate! There's so much-I can't-

From the emerald flames, an armored nightmare tore the prismatic world asunder, and her mind burned.

"Gyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!"
"Urrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

An invisible force launched Mikoto and Matt backwards in opposite directions. She crashed into the wall while he was thrown into the bedstand resting near the top of the bed, with a massive noise.

"Mikoto! Matt!"

Papillon scrambled out of her chair as the two of them were violently thrown across Taiga's quarters, each slamming into something. The door quickly slid open, revealing an alarmed Renais. As Papillon moved over to check on Mikoto, the cyborg quickly made her way over to Matt, grabbing his armored arm and hauling up off of the nightstand.

"What happened?" she asked sharply.

"I... don't know," Papillon said, shaken, "There was some sort of backlash from the feedback, and... they just screamed and were thrown across the room."

Mikoto was curling up, clenching her head more out of shock than pain.

Sad...it was sad and it hurt badly. Did he really have to live through that...?

Panting, Matt allowed himself to be lifted by Renais. "...you okay, Mikoto?" he managed, glancing toward where he imagined Mikoto was lying.

"...yeah," she replied.

"Alright," Renais said, "Off to the infirmary with both of you."

Her tone left no room for argument, either.

"All right," Matt submitted. He wasn't really in a mood to say otherwise.

Minutes later, the three of them were seated comfortably in the infirmary, with Mikoto sitting down on her bed. Renais stood next to the doorway, hands in her coat pocket. "Liger should be here pretty soon," she said, "So. What'd you see before the accident, Mikoto?"

It was too personal. Too frightening. She saw him over there, wearing the armor of a nightmare, and was glad that she couldn't see his eyes.

"...nothing. It was just some backlash that I didn't expect."

"Nothing, huh?" responded the cyborg, "Not even anything about this portal?"

"Oh. I did see something about the portal." Mikoto made sure she was looking only toward Renais. "I saw it near the Kushinada too. It looked like a giant claw was coming out of it."

Matt glanced toward the side. "A giant claw?" That didn't sound good.

"...yes."

Renais arched an eyebrow at the news. "A claw?" she said. "Damn. We'll have to warn Guy. Taiga has him out looking for the portal."

Mikoto straightened up quickly. "Guy's heading out there?" He could be in danger...!

"Guy should already be out there," Renais said, "He's got GunGlue with him, so don't worry. I'll be headed out there in a moment to back him up, if J isn't already out there with him."

The cybernetic woman went over to the intercom and pressed in a quick keycode, signaling the bridge for communication. "Hey," she said, "Anybody up there? Mikoto's found something out."

Edited by RisingDragon on February 21, 2008 at 22:02:28.

"This is the bridge," Taiga replied. "What did she find out?"

"There's some sort of giant claw that's supposed to come out of that portal," Renais said, "Warn Guy, and tell him I'm headed out there to back him up."

"A giant claw?...all right. Get out there as quick as possible."

"Right," confirmed Renais, who then shut the intercom off. Looking back at the three of them, she said, "Liger's supposed to be here soon, so just wait here until then."

Opening the door, the cyborg strode out of the room, and broke out in a sprint down the hall, her boots making their characteristic clanking noise.

Mikoto watched Renais leave. Papllion may also be here, but with him in the room...

Get here soon, Doctor.

Edited by The Helldragon on February 22, 2008 at 21:08:19.

Light filled him, burning him, burning the darkness away to ash. He blazed like the sun. Have to get free! he thought wildly, drinking in Lumiya's power, overdosing on it. Free!

He light grew brighter and brighter, pushing back the darkness.

Free!

With a mighty roar, he threw the power outward, and the Shining Justice eradicated the light, bringing R.D. back into the real world. The brightness continued on for several seconds before cutting off completely, issuing a sonic boom as it fled.

R.D.'s form had changed. The armor, and the Shell Bullet, still encased his form. But instead of the shining blue and violet colors that made up the Dragon King Armor, it was swathed in brilliant crimson energy, covering him completely. His eyes shone with a bright white light, and a white symbol of a circle surrounded by eight, blade-like wings glowed in the jewel set into the helmet's crest. The wielder of Lumiya stared at the copy of Helena emotionlessly.

===In Japan===

Alasea paused in her tale, opening up her senses. She could feel the power released by the clash, and the great darkness that surrounded her friend. But strangely, she felt calm--and soon, the energy of the darkness disappeared, replaced by something else. "No, Mercy," she said, "I don't think he's in trouble at all."

===In Repli-Earth===

Limitless stamina carried Renais outside and down the old road, her sprint never faltering as she ran. Bringing her golden hand up to her mouth, she said into the communicator, "Guy! You read me?"

Malvettix lowered his arm. "Well," he remarked, cracking a smirk. "This has become even more interesting..."

***

"I read you, Renais," Guy answered, sensing the urgency in her voice. "What's the problem?"