R.D. grunted at Matt as he clapped him on the shoulder, throwing him another sidelong glance as he did so.

Sometime later, the group was nearly ready to leave. They had been designated a hanger where they could safely use the Great Serpent's Scale. They were just waiting on a few people, including Alasea and Colonel Patterson. As they waited, the three dragons that had developed Helena's power approached the girl one last time.

"Are you ready for what lies ahead, youngling?" the red dragon asked, landing softly on the hanger floor while looking down at the weredragon.

Helena looked up at the red dragon. "I don't know," she said, clenching her fingers around her knuckles. "I mean, I'm glad you taught me how to use my powers better, but I wish we had more time."

"Sometimes we must let time decide what happens," the dragon said. "We cannot control it, only flow with it. You have learned much, Helena, in a very short amount of time. You will go far with what you have learned."

Helena bent foward in a short, formal bow. "Thank you very much. I'll do my best."

The dragon returned the girl's bow before alighting off the floor and floating back to the rest of its flight.

Another door opened, revealing several people. First out was Razgriz Squadron, lead by Raven. They were not clad in flight suits, but in standard crewmen uniforms, further indicating that the Ragnarok, for the moment, was in the clear.

They were followed by Jared, who was now sporting all of his limbs and his armor repaired, but he was strapped down to a large wheelchair-like device. There was a bandage over his damaged eye, but he seemed to be in good spirits. Behind him, however, was Alasea.

R.D. turned just as she came near due to her momentum. The two recoiled away from each other in surprise, their eyes meeting. Everyone could sense the tension in the air, and said nothing, but finally, Alasea looked away, floating off to the side. R.D. could not read her face, and didn't press the issue.

Matt turned around to face the approaching crew, and rested his fists on his hips with a rough sigh. Well, looks like they were getting the full send-off. A fitting end to a nice 'tour of duty'.

Rodeo was holding a moderate-sized bag in his hands. "Hey, Matt!" he exclaimed before tossing it over to him. "Catch!"

"Nyagh!" Matt scrambled to hold out his arms, catching the bag roughly between his elbows. "Uh, what's this for?"

"Medical supplies," David said. "Its gotta be rough out there, and we know your supplies are rather lackluster."

R.D. floated over to the bag and opened it up. Among it were standard medical supplies, but the one thing that caught his eyes were the several vials of some sort of fluid.

"What's this?" he asked, holding one up.

"Gan saliva!" Rodeo said in a strangely cheerful voice.

"What the hell is gan saliva?" Hugo asked, as Matt pulled out an interesting box.

"The bodily fluids of a Gan can cause an incredible regenerative process on living tissue," Rodeo said. "Spread some of that on a wound and you'll be healed, no matter how serious the wound is."

"We normally use it to regenerate severed limbs," Maria said. "We figured you'd rather have their spit than their blood."

Matt put the box back. "Better save that for emergencies, then. Thanks."

The bag went into R.D.'s dimensional satchel for safe-keeping.

"There's one more thing," Jared said, speaking up suddenly. He lifted up one arm and flicked something across the space to them.

R.D. snatched it up and looked at it curiously. When he realized what it was, though, he looked up suddenly, narrowing his eyes at Jared.

"Why are you giving us this?" he asked.

The cyborg made a partial shrug. "I just got a feeling it'd come in handy," he said. "Just keep it with you."

Slowly R.D. nodded, looking back down at the Ao-Gem nestled comfortably in his hand.

"Well, thanks for everything," Helena said. "I just wish we didn't have to leave so soon."

Colonel Patterson came then to the group. He looked grave, perhaps still in some sort of shock from the whole...mess. He was wearing now a gray uniform and captain's hat. On both shoulders were the captain symbols and golden buttons to keep the short red cape like cloth tight to his back. It came down to about mid back. He looked onto the group, thinking dimly on what they've done...and how. It was amazing that these teenagers could preform the feats they have and continue to fight with as much luster as before. He smiled weakly.

"Well, you look ready," Patterson said, he sounded nervous, and almost a bit...stupid, "You know your mission so I wish you all good luck and take great care." He continued before giving them a salute.

"You've done so much for us...its good to know your on our side, kids..." His face seemed to get suddenly paler. Patterson felt sick but he kept his stance, not wavering for a moment, "See you soon." He said, dismissing the group, allowing them to leave whenever they were ready.

When Colonel Patterson appeared in the hanger, all of Razgriz Squadron's members, and Special Officer Larown snapped to attention and saluted.

R.D., Alasea, and even Ileyna saluted the Colonel as he addressed them. "Good luck, sir," R.D. said respectfully.

Matt nodded curtly. "Good luck with everything." They would definitely need it.

R.D. turned in the air, putting away the Ao-Gem and fishing into his satchel to retrieve the crimson scale that'd take them out of his, Alasea, and Ileyna's home dimension. As he did so, Jared called out again.

"Hey, 'sea!"

Alasea looked back at the cyborg, a questioning look on her face.

"Just remember what we talked about in the hallway," he said. Alasea's lips tightened in a frown and she looked away, nodding once.

R.D. finally located the Great Serpent's Scale in the mess of new items in the satchel and pulled it out. It seemed to shimmer, as if impatient with its task. He nodded to the others and held out the scale. Energy gathered into it and fired the crimson beam with immense force, surprising the others present as the beam smashed into an invisible point and turned, twisting a spiraling green portal into existence.

"Welp, into the breach!" Matt said. He waved briefly. "Thanks for all the help. See ya around!" He boldly leapt into the portal with a bit of flair.

Hugo tapped his helmet with his pickaxe and waddled in after Matt, followed by Helena, who smiled and waved at Jared before doing so.

After what seemed like an eternity, they found themselves hurling down the corridor between space and time, and were quickly thrown out into a new world.

R.D.'s shoed feet hit the ground solidly, and he almost immediately collapsed onto the ground as gravity came back instantly. The other humans in their group quickly followed suit.

"... well, this is new," R.D. muttered, staring up into the sky.

It was...normal. A refreshing change of pace, to be sure!

Once again they had landed (roughly) in an alleyway. Bit cleaner than most, and best of all, no obvious attention had been drawn.

Hugo pushed himself up with a groan. "Damn it. I better not have cracked something."

"Why'd we fall over?" Ileyna asked, pushing herself up and grabbing her discarded beret, putting it back on her head.

"Gravity in the environment," Alasea groaned, rubbing at her backside as she got up. "Didn't get to readjust to it from space."

"All right, team!" Matt said, standing full and dusting himself off. "Pick yourselves up-there's no time to lose."

"You have asphalt all over your face," Helena said, which made Matt turn around and scrub it off.

"Not like its anything new for him," R.D. said with a smirk.

Alasea strode past him and looked out from the alleyway, checking out both ways. "... looks a lot like Earth," she said quietly.

Matt grabbed a corner and peered out into the street. It WAS a lot like Earth-like any Earth city, really. Cars driving by large and small buildings, pedestrians, corner stores and coffee shops...just like the streets back home.

"All right, you know the drill," he said, leaning back into the darkness. "I'll get the Firebird and everyone else gets on high alert for the Essence."

R.D. slipped the Great Serpent's Scale back into his satchel, then pulled out the cube containing the Thunder King. Pressing a button on it, he tossed it forward and let the motorcycle manifest inside of the alleyway.

He slung himself up into the seat and pressed a latch on the side of the chassis, causing its secret compartments to all open up simultaneously. Checking out each one, R.D. decided on which ones could hold his Guardian-issue beam rifle, and the G.A.R. issue Plasma Rifle, and stored them inside with the Bone Jack shotgun.

Meanwhile, Matt unfolded the Firebird, which landed with a noisy thud.

"Careful!" Helena said, pressed against the wall to give the Firebird room.

"It's fine." Matt opened the driver's side door and slipped in, kicking on the engine. Oh yeah. That's what he wanted to hear.

Alasea and Ileyna piled into the Firebird, both choosing to sit in the back seat and leaving the front to Matt and Helena. Ahead of them, R.D. turned on the Thunder King, wincing at the rather loud noise, before putting red-colored, mirror-lens sunglasses and easing the motorcycle to the entrance of the alleyway.

He saw no one coming, so he quickly eased the rest of the way out and pulled over to the curb to let Matt get ahead of him. It'd be easier to follow them in case Ileyna managed to pick up the Essence's signature.

"What the hell?" Wedo cried, frozen in mid lunge.

A raven-haired man stepped out from behind him.

"That's quite enough, Wedo. Your presence is required back at the master's presence."

"You son-of-a-bitch! I was about to finish this asshole!" Wedo screamed.

The man sighed, "Had you not been so consumed by your bloodlust, you would have noticed that your ill-concieved attack has cost Tracer his life. Tracer's unique abilities were cultivated for a specific purpose and his loss will create a considerable setback."

This exchange gave Andaras time to recover his axe. He lunged at the man hoping to claim some lucky strike. The man was prepared however, and held out his arm freezing Andaras in place.

"I'm afraid I cannot all-"

Suddenly the rubble shifted, and Fassigen stood. His clothing torn and his body battered, he wiped away some stray blood from his mouth and swore.

"I'm going to kill each and every one of you bastards!"

Stretching himself to his full height he inhaled a great breath and expelled a mighty torrent of fire. It surged past Andaras, singing the side of his face and struck right into Wedo. The smell of burning flesh was clear and nauseating to all. As the smoke and flame cleared, it was apparent that damage was done. Wedo's face was burned beyond recognition, as was his torso, and an arm had been mangled to the point of uselessness. Even so, he laughed.

Sparks and bolts of purple lightning crackled around the wounded portions as slowly the restored themselves. Burns disappeared and flesh restored itself. In a matter of seconds he looked as though he had never been struck at all.

"What the f-" Fass muttered.

The raven-haired man looked slightly amused, but nevertheless held his composure. Grabbing Wedo's arm they suddenly jumped away and vanished.

~~~~~

Sensing the attack, the red-haired man grabbed Dearg-due and pulled him out of the way. In the blink of an eye he swooped up the severed hand and returned to his ally's side.

"Come, it is time to leave"

Dearg-due nodded.Grabbing the man's hand they too jumped away and vanished.

Matt drove out, followed by R.D., and they began cruising through the city.

They spent all day in this regard, searching and searching, covering ever hidden corner of the area. Nothing happened.

"Damn it, where the hell is that stupid Essence?" Matt snapped, gripping the wheel more tightly.

"Would you quit cussing in front of Ileyna?" Helena said.

Matt gave her a narrow look. "Yes, Mom. I'll do that right away."