Colonel Patterson saluted again in confirmation. He turned to the group, his face rather dull but stern. He examined them, each seeming weirder than the last, but he felt something quite strong about the group. These were the children indeed. Still they were a bit odd. Especially that little black dot with a helmet and pick axe. Patterson felt he'd seen it before....never mind.

"Hello, please, right this way." Patterson said dutifully as he would lead them down to research station. After swiping a card, giving his finger print and passing the retinal scanner, they were in.

Matt's eyes roamed over the corridors as they walked. It was an interesting, if monotonous base.

Helena was rubbing her hands together again. It was becoming like a habit now to her. It was almost fascinating to feel the minute scales slide past each other. How much would it spread?

Officer Richter was chosen to take R.D. down to the mechanoid coordination center, in an upper level of the base. Alasea decided to go with him, opting to keep him company while the others went with Col. Patterson to check out the Omega Essence.

"So, you knew about military stuff all this time and never told us?" R.D. said in quiet conversation as Richter led them to the elevator.

"Well, yeah. Didn't really seem to be that important at the time, you know?" replied Alasea as she looked over at him. "I had no idea that there was another military installation out here. I thought the Seven had destroyed all of them."

"That's true, I suppose. I guess none of us would've suspected your dad was in the military."

"Hehe. Well, a girl's gotta keep some secrets, you know?" Alasea said, turning around and walking backwards just ahead of R.D.. The boy arched an eyebrow at her smile.

"If you say so."

"C'mon, you kids," Richter interrupted, waiting in the elevator. "We don't have all day."

"Sorry!"
"Sorry!"

They boarded it and made their way upwards.

Edited by RisingDragon on May 1, 2009 at 17:40:08.

Matt-as well as probably Ileyna and Helena-could feel the Essence getting closer. He swore he'd do everything he could to protect it.

Finally only one more door would await them. Patterson looked back to his company. He looked to them with up most respect and almost pity. Though he did give a faint smile.

"I doubt I have to tell you how dangerous this is," Patterson began, "but I don't think that'll change your minds. Its an honor to have you here." Patterson turned to the last door. It was enormous. It was made of diamond painted silver for the fake look of metal. Patterson came to a computer that sat on the side. He typed a few key words into it and the door slid open.

"Good luck to you." Patterson said to them and gestured for them to walk into a large room. In the middle was a container and in the container, surrounded by dozens of wires was the shard.

"Go in and the door will close. There's another computer on the other side if you need to get out. The password is..." Patterson took a quick glance around to make sure they were alone, he was a bit hushed with the last bit, "Nocturne Mecha. Now..." His voice raised back up a bit, "Is there anything else you'll need?"

"Nothing right now," Matt said. "Thanks for the assistance."

Briefly, Ileyna opened herself to her power, allowing the blue aura of light to envelop her form, along with her wings and halo to appear. She could feel that somehow, the Omega Essence, which hovered within the spherical container held between the two conical machines in the floor and ceiling, had not bonded with the machines themselves.

She had no idea how such a feat was even possible without her own powers. Opening her eyes, she let her aura fade, returning back to normal. "I don't have to purify anything if we need to take it out," she said, looking up at Matt.

Patterson nodded.

"There's also an intercom on the computer there that goes straight to the control room. It has an emergency frequency so please use it sparingly. Well, I believe everything is in order for your vigil." Patterson saluted them, "See you soon and the shard to." Patterson then would turn and leave, off back to the control room for anything else.

Matt took a few moments to admire the shard.

"What is it, Matt?" Helena asked.

"We didn't bring food, did we?"

Richter cut across one of the aircraft hangers on the way to the mechanoid hangers, where R.D. would meet with the coordinators. As they did, R.D. looked off to the side and spotted one of the jets undergoing repairs--now grounded, he was able to get a much better look at it.



"What are those, anyway?" R.D. asked, pointing a thumb over towards the crimson-colored airplane.

"That's a Falken," Richter said, looking at it. "The ADF-01 Falken. We were able to build them thanks to the Omega Essence. Flies like a dream, and the Devil Dragons are no match for them."

"Really. So why do you guys have so much trouble fighting if a Falken can wipe out Devil Dragons?"

"There's worse things in the air than just Devil Dragons."

"Worse?" R.D. exclaimed. "I've fought one of those. How can there be anything worse than a Devil Dragon?"

"Its hard to explain. But you'll probably see why with the next attack," Richter said. "Come on. We're almost there."

"No, we didn't," Hugo said.

Matt growled to himself. "Helena, take the sack and get us some vittles, would ya?"

"Okay." Matt tossed Helena the interdimensional backpack and she caught it neatly. She walked over to the computer and whispered the password, unveiling the doors enough for Helena to bolt, trying to catch up with Patterson for assistance.

Ringman:Ok tell me who hid my meds!?!?

Once Richter, R.D., and Alasea arrived at the coordination center, R.D. was immediately requested to sit at one of the tables, where a couple officers grilled him about his experience with piloting mechanoids, and the capabilities of the mechanoid he planned on using in battle. It was nearly half an hour before they concluded, KishouDoragon's known capabilities entered into the G.A.R. database.

"Done?" Alasea asked, as she pushed herself off of the wall she was leaning on.

R.D. nodded. "Yeah, I think we can head back," he was, striding up to her. "Let's go find Matt and the others."

"Again, lava and heat hold little meaning for me," Seril said as she followed the Ancients and the robot. "I am a dragon, after all. Besides, if there is lava present, there's likely a Magma Dragon living there as well."

Seril shot Gatz a very disapproving look at Gatz upon calling her kind "monsters". "It is rather difficult to find Magma Dragons," Seril said. "They tend to live deep within lava flows, so it wouldn't have come here through typical means. There is a volcano in the area, that I saw, so there's most likely at least one living inside of it. If its close enough to the surface, its possible I can get its attention."

"We shall see," Seril said, turning and walking out of the room, heading back outside. Once standing in the street, she transformed, once again becoming a blue-scaled reptilian dragon. She craned her neck around to look at the Ancients.

"Are we ready to go?" she asked with a deep rumble.

Extending her wings, Seril flapped them hard, pushing off from the ground and taking flight. With more flaps, she lifted herself up over the rooftops, then banked around the building and flew off towards the volcano, where Area-K lie. She pulled up as she reached the crater mouth, and channeled her magic.

As the power of nature swirled around her, her dragon magic taking hold, the air chilled, and she dove, straight into the volcano itself, a cyclone of cold wind raging down as it pervaded the volcano as she plummeted down to the bottom.

Patterson didn't feel right leaving the kids there. In fact he felt down right bugged. He felt like he had sent them on a camping trip with no tents. Like someone forgot...something. So he had actually wandered in the area of the vault, keeping an eye on the place. Luckily for Helena, Patterson was just on his way back around. She almost ran past him when Patterson took hold of she shoulder.

"What's wrong?" Patterson asked her quickly. Perhaps it was something as terrible as they feared. Or perhaps she needed the ladies room. Too bad the vault wasn't set up for these vigils.

Edited by Blazen on May 3, 2009 at 18:05:07.

Edited by Blazen on May 3, 2009 at 18:08:02.

"Oh!" Helena stopped. "We just forgot to fill up our sack with food. We go through it pretty quickly when we're travelling."

Patterson smiled a bit and almost laughed. He couldn't believe someone didn't ask, especially himself. He was almost embarrassed.

"Well right this way then...Helena right?" Patterson asked, then upon confirmation or correction, he would lead her through some more tedious halls. After about a five minute walk they would arrive at the mess hall.

"Its not much, but you're welcome to whatever you can find." Patterson offered leading her behind the counters and such for easy access.

"Thank you."

She began stuffing the pack with non-perishable foods and meat. Lots of meat.

Patterson assisted as best he could. Grabbing some things and putting them in the bottomless bag. He even filled up some water bottles for them and stuffed them in as well. After some time Patterson would put a stop to it. He couldn't let them have all the food after all.

"Ok, I think that's enough. Now is there anything else? Like I've said you don't want to run in and out of there so much. The vault hasn't closed sense you left and it won't until you do. Need the bathroom for example?"

"No, I'm okay," Helena said. "Thank you."

The sliding door to the mess hall opened up on the other side of the room, admitting entry to R.D. and Alasea, who quickly spotted Helena and Patterson behind the counter. "Hey guys," R.D. greeted as he walked up, the other girl in their party in tow. "Matt sent you to get more food, huh?"