Matt yelled as the Drake of Braves turned on all of its boosters and shot towards the Ragnarok.

As he flew, he raised a hand up at the invading monsters, clenching all the fingers into a fist except one-the middle one. "Fuck you, everybody! Good night!"

Alasea pressed her hands against the viewports of the observation deck, tears cutting rivulets in the thin layer of dirt covering her face. "Father! FATHER!" she cried, striking the window with her fists as she sobbed.

Beams of energy tore down at the retreating super mechanoids as the three Vjayjas gave chase. The screeched and howled as they pursued, trying to match the superior speeds of KishouDoragon and the Ultimate Nine-Ball. Soon, the Ragnarok had caught up to them, filling their vision as it accelerated past. Slowly but surely, it was pulling ahead of the two mechanoids.

R.D. was the first to reach it. The Ultimate Nine-Ball's hand reached forward as it flew, grabbing onto a plate of armor and pulling the rest of its body onto the lower engine binder. With a firm grip on the warship, the Ultimate Nine-Ball turned and stretched out with its other arm, extending its hand to KishouDoragon. He forced it as far as it could go, despite how the gap between the two robots' hands was slowly widening.

Matt strained his arm reaching for Ultimate Nine-Ball's hand. "Come on...come on...!"

Then, when he thought he was lost, KishouDoragon grabbed the open hand. "Yes!"

Despite the rushing G-forces as the Ragnarok accelerated, Ultimate Nine-Ball struggled and pulled KishouDoragon aboard. It was their victory as they turned to look at the pursuing Vjayjas as they fired beams wildly at the escaping warship.

The thruster units of Ultimate Nine-Ball swung up and locked into position, along with the mechanoid's arms. Energy gathered up in the six barrels, and fired simultaneously at the gigantic demons. Due to the acceleration of the ship along the Mass Driver, the shots fell short--just as R.D. planned.

The lasers and antimatter beams crashed into the ocean and exploded, flinging up a torrent of water in front of the Vjayjas. The demons halted their advanced, unable to see their targets, and ensuring their survival. The Ragnarok crossed the final stretch of the Mass Driver and began to angle up along the end of the track as it aimed skyward.

R.D. and Matt could feel the colossal engines ignite beneath their mechanoid's feet, accelerating the Ragnarok further. It cleared the end of the track and took off into the heavens.

===Central Command, Aube===

On the main screen within the command center, General Patrick Dagenais and the rest of Aube's administration watched as the XA-26-483 took to the skies on its maiden flight. They smiled to themselves, knowing that with the secured data and the people on board, the Genesis Armada Resistance would live on, and continue the fight against the marauding Beasts of the Dark Apocalypse, NightShade, and Ziatoch.

"The seeds have flown," the General said, looking back at the administration. Turning back to the screen, he prepared the final measure, ignoring how the radar was screaming that hundreds of Devil Dragons were tearing into the base, entering through the open hangers and the breached armored walls. "We've succeeded!"

Looking down, he turned a knob beneath a hidden control panel on his desk until it gave an audible click, causing a red light to blink on it, and for klaxons to rage throughout the facility. His hand moved over to the large, square button colored in red and marked with an X.

"We can't leave Aube, or this world," he said, pressing down firmly on the button, "in the hands of those bastards."

===Outside the Island===

As the Decarabias and Cyraeths hovered over the island, and as various creatures waited within the seas around Aube, the island slowly began to glow with a bright light. A rising hum of energy rose up through the air, charging it. Beside the Mass Driver, the Vjayjas turned, looking for the source of the disturbance.

Flames burst out of the framework extending into the ocean, tearing through the beams and supports as explosion after explosion tore through the Mass Driver, sending deadly shrapnel. Within the hangers, the walls were destroyed instantly as charges were set off, consuming the rampaging Devil Dragons. The dormant volcano was obliterated as the backed up magma was released in one explosive burst, catching the hovering ships above.

The kael'thasths of the unharmed ships floating out at sea stared in shock as the island of Aube was slowly ripped apart. The explosions consuming the Mass Driver had reached the end, and the curved launching rail fell down, floor by floor, as it sank into the ocean.

Up above, R.D. gasped in shock as the destruction was displayed on his monitors. In the observation deck, Alasea staggered back in horror, her breath catching in her throat. One final explosion tore through the main compound of Aube as the reactor went critical, tearing even the landmass to shreds. Within Central Command, General Patrick Dagenais and the administration gave one final salute to the screen, even as the room was torn apart in the blast.

Alasea's shoulders spasmed uncontrollably, her throat sucking in air as her body heaved. Slowly, her head shook back and forth, as if in denial at what she saw. She hung her head for a brief moment, her body shaking frantically, before she threw it back up and screamed.

The young girl's cry echoed through the heavens as the XA-26-483 Ragnarok escaped from the planet.

"FAAAAAATTHHHHEEEEEEER!!!"

Patterson watched gravely as the final deed of his General were done. The explosion was grand but left no real hope within him. The enemy did not have Aube, but they did not have their once wise and experienced leader. Patterson was their leader now and he wasn't sure if he could save these men, nor the general's daughter. But damned if he wouldn't try.

As Alasea gave her cry of grief and sorrow Patterson bowed his head, thinking dimly if Patrick was in a better place. Nevertheless, he served his men well and Patterson knew that what he did was right.

Helena embraced Alasea tightly, allowing her to sob on her shoulder.

Outside, though, Matt could only shout, "Holy shit!"

The ruins of Aube shrank away from view, becoming only a black blot of smoke within the ocean as the Ragnarok broke free of gravity's hold, escaping the atmosphere and soaring out into space.

Some time later, the ship settled down, coming to a halt and simply floating in space. Outside, R.D. had the Ultimate Nine-Ball relinquish its hold on the ship and floated beside it. He turned towards Earth and looked down upon it. He looked grim as he viewed the planet's ruined surface, seeing in full detail just how messed up things had become. Clouds rolled over it, dark and forboding as storms raged across it. He hadn't gotten a chance to properly view it, the last time he was in space.

"Look at it," he said over the comm. to his friend. "This is... this is horrible."

Matt folded his arms as he drifted, and KishouDoragon did the same. The planet did look like shit. "Yeah."

"Do you think that information will help us save it?" he asked. He knew Matt couldn't help in the actual fight--but R.D. knew that once Magister was defeated, he'd have to keep fighting after he returned. "Do you think the Core can give us that much help?"

Matt heaved a sigh. "I dunno, R.D.. Whatever it is, you'll have to make the best of it."

"I suppose you're right," R.D. said.

The order came and the two of them maneuvered their machines to the front of the colossal warship, entering the largest launch hanger. Several minutes later, both of them had disembarked from KishouDoragon and the Ultimate Nine-Ball.

"We better go find the others," R.D. said, floating a couple inches off the floor as Tamaran, the Dragon Spirits, and the Ultimate Nine-Ball were moved into storage.

Matt was scooting around the hangar, just floating in several directions thanks to the slightly lowered gravity. "Hey, look!" he said. "Walking's for CHUMPS on this ship!"

"Quit dawdling," R.D. said, shaking his head. "We need to go get the Essence from Ileyna."

He pushed off and drifted over to a door where a technician was standing. Tapping the man on the shoulder, he asked for directions to the bridge.

He got a prompt reply, and swung himself out into the hallway. The blue-white walls were brightly lit, and along the wall was a rail system with some handles set into it. Grabbing one of those handles, he found that it dragged him forward down the hall.

This really shouldn't be so amusing, but it was. Matt also grabbed one of the handles and went along for the ride. He decided to fold up his legs into a sitting position, pretending like he was using mental powers to drag himself along.

After several minutes, through hallways and elevators, R.D. and Matt had arrived at the bridge. The structure was a half-oval shape with two levels, a central upper level and a lower one surrounding it, each level having several crewmembers working the terminals. The bridge itself was contained within a transparent quarter dome showing the starry expanse.

On the bridge, they found Colonel Patterson, along with Ashley Bernitz, Ileyna, and Hugo. Helena and Alasea were nowhere to be seen.

"We're here," R.D. said, entering the bridge and stopping before them. Ileyna flew over to them, still aglow with the light of her power and with her wings extended. The Omega Essence was held tightly in her hands, but she held it out to Matt.

Edited by RisingDragon on August 22, 2009 at 13:54:34.

"Thank you very much," Matt said to Ileyna. He produced the pendant and the Omega Essence entered its depths without a struggle. "All in all, a successful mission."

"Not really," Hugo said.

"Why?" Matt's eyes shifted back and forth. Not everyone was here. "Where's Alasea and Helena?"

Edited by The Helldragon on August 22, 2009 at 19:02:25.

"Miss Hiroshi had to take Miss Dagenais to some private quarters," Ashley said simply. She had a grim look on her face, and she was still dressed in the sleek black and gray flight suit worn by G.A.R. pilots.

"Why?"

"Did you see the base explode?" Hugo asked.

"Yeah."

"Her father's the one who did it."

All the pieces flung themselves into place. "...oh. Oh, man," Matt said. "That really sucks."

R.D. looked off to the side. He hadn't thought that would be the case. Apparently the price of securing the Omega Essence had been far greater than they had thought.

Ileyna let go of her power, causing her to look like a normal human being once again. She was used to flying and floating in midair as if she were weightless. So that when she remained floating after relinquishing her hold on that power, she was rather unnerved by it. Her beret slowly floated off her head, but she barely noticed as she looked down at her feet, hovering several inches off the metal floor of the Ragnarok's bridge.

Ashley turned back to the Colonel. "So what do we do now, sir?" she asked respectfully, knowing that he was their commanding officer.

"We go to the Polaris Outpost station." Patterson said firmly, looking over his crew, "Keep the pilots ready at their stations and all eyes out for any enemies. We could be hit at anytime. We don't have much time to spare so lets get moving." Patterson ordered as he started to float off.

"I...I'm going to get myself situated, Ashley, make sure everyone else does the same. This could be a very long journey if we're not prepared for the worst." Patterson then said over his shoulder and floated his way to the captain's quarter's, a place he never thought he'd see so soon.

"Yes sir!" she exclaimed, saluting. Turning, she made her way off the bridge as the crew began with the necessary procedures to take the Ragnarok to Polaris Outpost. Since Raven was still recovering from his brief stint in the Ultimate Nine-Ball, she was currently the ranking officer among the mechanoid pilots, being Raven's Second.

"I'm gonna go find Alasea," Matt said to the rest of his group.

"Don't bug her," Hugo said. Matt was struck by how odd it seemed to have a little robot floating in midair. "She needs time to be alone."

"I know. I just think she needs to hear what I have to say."

R.D. nodded. "Let's go find her."

Turning, he pushed off and drifted back towards the entrance, grabbing the top of the doorframe and swinging himself in to increase his momentum. Even in space, it seemed R.D. had a tendency to hurry.

Matt pushed off the wall and floated after R.D.. Even now he couldn't help but stick his fist out dramatically, like he was a superhero. This was way too fun.

R.D. swung around a corridor and went down a separate hallway, which allowed him to catch up with Ashley Bernitz.

He quickly asked the girl for directions to the private quarters that Alasea and Helena were at. Her answer was brief and precise, and with the knowledge in hand he went to go find the two girls.

It wasn't long before they had found the quarters--and with some luck, they spotted the girls just coming out of the room. Alasea's head was hung a little low. Her skin looked abnormally pale, except for around her eyes, where it was puffy and red. With her bangs falling down over them, it was difficult to get a look at her eyes.

Both of them looked up as they spotted R.D. coming down the hall after them. He stopped a couple feet away from them, settling down on his feet and halting his advance.

Okay, now it was time to actually get serious. Matt floated up alongside R.D. and landed, sliding his hands in his pockets. "Hey," he said to Alasea. "I heard about what happened. Sorry it turned out like that."

Alasea looked up a bit more, drifting to the side slightly thanks to the level of gravity aboard the spaceship. It was her only response to Matt. An awkward silence fell into place, but after a moment, Alasea broke it.

"Just... leave me alone," she said softly. She turned to leave, but R.D. put his gloved hand on her shoulder, causing her to stop and look back, her expression shielded.

"Don't be like that," he said. "You shouldn't try to push us out when bad things happen. We all care for you, Alli."

She shrugged his hand off, her mouth thinning into a white gash. "It doesn't matter," she said, her voice disturbingly quiet and flat. "You can't help me with this."

R.D. bit his lip and frowned a bit at her words, but he wouldn't let that stop him from trying to help. Alli, Matt, Helena, Hugo, Ileyna... they were everything he had, what kept him from being alone in a world he couldn't remember. Of course he'd press on.

"I... look, I can't imagine how hard this must be for you but--"

His words died in his throat when Alasea suddenly spun around in midair, puffy eyes alight with genuine anger, mixed with distress hurt. "No you don't," she snapped, drifting back away from them all. "You have no idea! How could you, when you don't even have a family of your own!?"

R.D. recoiled as if he had been shot. Perhaps it would've been better if he had. Pain seemed to blossom in his chest at the bitter girl's words.

"Nothing you say or do can change this," she spat, droplets of water drifting from her eyes as her slight momentum continued to carry her away from her friends. "S-so why don't you... you just stop talking about it!?"

Her hair whipped around as she spun in place and pushed off from the floor, shooting off down the hall until she reached an intersection, and swung around to the side and out of sight.

Matt huffed a sigh. "Well, there goes my chance to make an inspirational speech."

"It probably wouldn't have worked," Helena said. "Her whole world's broken right now."

"I know the feeling." More ways than one.

Helena pushed off the floor, lurching her body down the hallway. "I'm going to find her. At least we can let her know that we're available when she wants to talk."

Matt made a curt nod. "All right. We'll be talking strategy with Hugo."

R.D. remained stock still as he hovered in the middle of the hallway, his face lowered slightly. His expression was about as guarded as Alasea's had been previously. He remained there, floating, for a few moments as Matt and Hugo went one way, while Helena took off after Alasea. Only Ileyna remained near him, giving him a concerned look that he didn't really notice.

He turned around after a moment and pushed off weakly, following Matt and Hugo as they went to discuss strategy. Ileyna followed after him within a moment.

===

Helena would have to hand it to Alasea--the girl could be damn fast when she wanted to be left alone... she was nowhere in sight after she had abandoned her friends.

And delays were aplenty in a newly-launched spaceship after a tremendous battle. In particular, a hovering gurney was being pushed along by a nurse, and strapped to it was the broken form of Jared. The cyborg looked worse than possibly anything Helena had seen at that point. His black armor lay broken and fractured on his body, parts of showing dried fluid of some type on the damaged plating. Of his limbs, only his right arm was there--the rest had been broken off and destroyed, leaving his left arm and leg at stumps below the elbow and knee, and his right leg was completely missing. A very large hole from a claw had been gouged through his chest. Of his face, some of his skin had been split open along his cheek, and one of his eyes was dull and lifeless, a glassy crack running through it.

And despite that, the cyborg was still alive. As they came down the hall, his head turned towards Helena and his undamaged eye brightened a bit, and he lifted up his remaining right arm in a weak wave of hello.

"Well, looks like some of us made it out of there in one piece," he said with a cough.

"Oh my God! Jared!" Helena soared over to him and laid her hands on the gurney, pulling herself along with it. "Jared, what happened to you?"