"Pretty much," Matt whispered back. "Wonder what the deal is."

After several more moments of the two embracing, and the others staring, Alasea and the General separated. "Father... how? How did you survive?" Alasea asked, looking up at the taller man.

"In due time. I'm so glad you managed to escape, dear," the General replied. "Not a day has gone by when I have not wondered if you were safe."

With tears brimming, Alasea nodded, making a sound in her throat. "What about mother? Did she manage to get out of there too?"

The man looked away, and made a short shake of his head. Alasea looked down, her fist clenching once. The General placed his hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up. "Please, dear, sit. We have much to discuss, and we can catch up later."

Numbly, the girl nodded and sat down at another chair, close to the General. He turned back towards the rest of the group and looked them over. "I am General Patrick Dagenais, leader of the Genesis Armada Resistance. As you may have guessed, I am Alasea's father. And you are...?"

"I'm Matt. That's Hugo, Helena, R.D. and Ileyna." He pointed each out in turn. "We met Alasea not long after the attack on that city, and we've travelled together for a while."

General Dagenais nodded and sat at the table, clasping his hands in front of him on the table. "I understand our forces detected you because of certain artifacts you're carrying. Our scientists also say that three of you resonate with the same power as the artifact."

"Yeah," R.D. said. "Its called Omega Essence. We're collecting it."

"I see. Please, explain to me the situation."

Matt and Hugo chipped in together to explain the Omega Essence at length, with occasional remarks from Helena.

"So that's basically it," Matt concluded. "That's why we need it."

"I see. Who would've thought that such an artifact existed," the General mused, bringing his hands up before his face. "It does explain why the shard--Omega Essence, you say?--contained such a large amount of energy and data."

"So now you understand why we need to take it?" R.D. said, his arms crossed in front of him as he leaned back in his seat.

"Yes. However, I am afraid that I cannot release the Omega Essence to you just yet," Dagenais said.

"Why not?" Alasea asked, looking over at her father.

"Currently, we are downloading as much information from it as possible. For some time now, that shard is the only thing that has allowed G.A.R. to exist this long in the face of the Seven Beasts."

"What are the Seven Beasts, exactly?" Helena asked Matt.

Matt leaned back, his chair creaking. "You know, I don't really remember too much about them. I'm pretty sure they're just demonic jerks overall."

"The Seven Beasts of the Dark Apocalypse are seven ancient men and women from this world's past, warped into gigantic and extremely powerful animunculi. These Seven Beasts have recently been awakened, and under their combined powers, have conquered this world," the General explained. "They are under the command of a man named Xastra."

"NightShade, actually," R.D. piped up. "His name is NightShade, and he's an Ancient. 'Xastra' is a name he stole from the Dark Balance."

"I see. So, an Ancient is controlling them. At any rate, the Seven Beasts, along with the alien entity that destroyed Australia, have launched numerous assaults across the world at various resistance forces, my own included," Dagenais continued. "Several months ago, we came across a shard of Omega Essence, and secured it before Gouki's forces could acquire it. Using the data we found on it, we developed next-generation weapons to use against the Seven Beasts, allowing us to maintain a foothold here as we try to regain contact with Menesis, and the Polaris Outpost."

"Menesis? Polaris Outpost? What're those?" R.D. asked.

"Menesis is a military installation based on the moon," Alasea said, much to his surprise. "The Polaris Outpost is a research space station located in orbit."

Patrick nodded to his daughter. "We have been cut off from them for some time now, thanks to the Seven Beasts. Space Shuttle launches are impossible thanks to them. Now, our hopes rest on a new vehicle that we intend to launch using Aube's Mass Driver. We believe that with it, we can turn the tide of the war against the Seven Beasts."

"So you need the Essence so you can continue to make weapons?" Ileyna asked. R.D. didn't like the sound of that. Maybe this was what the Child meant about the Essence' leaving its mark on the Multiverse.

"Unfortunately, yes. Though it is a shame that its power must be used to further the might of war, we no longer have any choice. The Seven Beasts, NightShade, and the alien entity, must be stopped, no matter what the cost is."

The hand that Matt rested his hand on curled into a fist.

"Matt," Helena said, drawing his eye. "If they really need the Essence to fight this war, we can't just take it from them."

"I know." He didn't offer much else.

"It has taken us much time to download the information we've obtained," Patrick said. "Our scientists monitoring the download has assured us that it shall be complete within the next day or so, so long as the enemy does not interfere and obtain the Omega Essence."

"Well, luckily we won't need to wait too long then," R.D. said, feeling a bit relieved. "I guess we can help defend the Essence until the download completes."

Alasea looked over at Matt. "Is that okay with you, Matt?" she asked.

"All right," Matt said. Close call.

"I'm grateful. Currently, we need all the help we can get, even if it is from a group of young children with special powers," Patrick said with a nod.

"Why's that, father?"

"The situation has been deteriorating rapidly. Attacks come in more frequently, and our forces are dwindling, even now that we have the new Nine-Breakers fielded alongside the Nine-Balls and Falkens. Pretty soon, Aube will fall to the enemy."

"Which side is attacking?" R.D. asked, sitting up.

"Currently, intelligence indicates the attacking force belongs to the alien entity stationed at Australia's location," Patrick said. "We believe they were attracted here by the Omega Essence."

"Ziatoch," R.D. muttered angrily. "It'd figure, that bastard."

"He's supposed to be a jerk, right?" Matt remarked. "It's been so long. I don't really remember if I hate him or not."

"He's responsible for Re-Tuul and Diablo," R.D. reminded him. "And for, you know, blowing up an entire continent."

"Whether you hate Him or not shouldn't matter," Alasea said quietly. "What matters is that if He's after the Omega Essence, we have to stop Him from getting it. Right?"

"Well, if they just finish downloading the information they need, then we can just take the Essence," Helena said. "Hopefully they'll stop attacking once they find out it's gone."

"Unlikely," Patrick said, in his deeper voice. "So long as we resist, we are a threat to them. Even if you take the Essence, this base cannot survive forever."

"So, Aube's screwed either way," R.D. said. "You guys need to escape, but you can't until the download is finished?"

"Correct," General Dagenais with a nod. "Once that's finished, we'll escape using the Mass Driver."

"We'll stay on board until then," Hugo said. "Anything we can do to help you prepare?"

"When the enemy attacks, you will need to help protect the Omega Essence in the laboratories," Patrick said. "In the meantime, any information you can tell us about the enemy will prove useful in coordinating our defenses."

"We can do that," R.D. said. "We've come in contact with a few of Ziatoch's minions before, we know how to fight them. Plus, I may be able to help outside with Tamaran."

"Tamaran?"

"Yeah... Tamaran's a mecha dragon that the Dragon Tribes of this world created," R.D. explained. "Me and Tamaran were able to combine with three machines called Dragon Spirits to become a mech known as KishouDoragon, and defeat Sheena in combat."

"You were able to defeat one of the Seven Beasts?" Patrick said in surprise.

"Yeah, narrowly. And Electra was defeated before her, back in Africa. Now, really, its the Five Beasts, not the Seven."

"Very well. I'll have you speak with the mechanoid coordination supervisors," the General said with a nod. "In the meantime, I'll schedule times for when you can meet with our officers so you can tell us what you know about the enemy forces."

Matt leaned back in his chair, wrapping his chin with finger and thumb. "I don't know as much as R.D., but I'll tell you as much as I can."

"Any amount of help is appreciated," the General assured. "We'll assign you some quarters to stay in. For now, I'll have someone take you to the recreational sector until such time we can have you meet with our defense coordinators."

Pressing a button on the table, General Dagenais activated an intercom. "Officer Richter," he said clearly. "Please escort our guests down to the recreational center of the facility."

"Sir, yes sir!" came the reply of a familiar voice. R.D. thought it was the voice of the officer who brought them down here.

The General stood up. "It has been an honor to meet with you," he said to the group. "I wish that we could have met under better circumstances."

Matt pushed down on the table as he stood. "Well, hopefully we can make things better for you for a little while."

The General shook hands with each of them before dismissing them. As he did so, the door opened, allowing Officer Richter to return to the room. He saluted the general with a fist over his heart, then motioned for them to follow.

"Hey, guys," Alasea said before they could leave. "I'm gonna go catch up with my father. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure, Alli," R.D. said with a nod. "Don't worry about us."

"Thanks!" she said, smiling. She turned and trotted off to her father through the doors on the opposite side of the room.

"Even the work of the Ancients must bow down to time, I suppose," Seril said as she looked around. "The Tetrarchs might know of this place, but I don't. What is this city?"

"This ought to be interesting," Matt said, massaging the knuckles on his right hand. "Never fought in a war before."

"You say that like you're looking foward to it," Helena said, with a bit of sharp to her voice.

"Well, they say war is hell. I guess now we get to prove it."

"I hope its nothing like that canyon battle we fought," R.D. muttered. "I don't want to fight another million and three monsters all at once."

"You guys fought a million monsters in one battle?" Richter questioned, a bit of amazement and skepticism in his voice as he looked over his shoulder at them.

===Innerpeace===

"So, even Ancients have undergone civil war?" Seril asked, looking back at the four Ancients she was accompanying.

"Long story," Hugo said.

"However, we'll gladly tell you it over food!" Matt said.

"Heh. Alright then," Richter said, returning his gaze forward. "I'll hold you to it."

An elevator ride up to closer to the surface later, and the group was shown to the Recreational Sector of Aube's military base. Here, they had places set up for reading, gaming, playing sports, swimming, and other activities. What surprised the others, though, was the presence of not only men and women in uniform, but of civilians, including children.

"What the...?" R.D. murmured, taking in the sight of it. "I thought this was a military base?"

"It is," Richter said. "But with the state the world is in, there was no where else for the enlistees to bring their families. So we bring them here, and protect them the best we can."

"That's not the kind of pressure I'd like to have on me," R.D. responded.

R.D. was right. Their quest was dangerous enough. Dragging other innocent people into it just wasn't right, even if it was by attribution.

"We just need to make sure we don't fail," Helena said. Fatalistic today?