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The man grit his teeth, turning a pale shade of red as the hatred welled from deep within his soul. For the first time, it looked as if a blood vessel was about to explode on his forehead. Despite his attempt to feel nuetral and continue the game, there was a deep rage, a hatred for what Evan was, a hatred for anything that had had served Odin.

"You expect me to......" Yaits started, his voice filled with gall.

"I think it would be a great idea," Melissa chimed in calmly, "Evan protected me, and he always keeps his word. I think it would be wise if he was your friend, and I think the railroad will help. It will help our people, and maybe it will help prevent another stupid war."

"Our people," Yaits swallowed, his anger abated, but he still looked pale. His forehead was somewhat damp. He failed at adjusting his tie, pulling it loose awkwardly. It was the first time she had said anything aknowledging Ymiristan, and Evan had taken good care of her.

"Fine, build it if you want." Yaits said, "On the condition that the construction in my territory is planned and supervised by Yaits Corp and the Ymiristani government. I will have the final word on anything built in my territory."

Melissa smiled politely at Evan, pleased with herself, but exhausted.

Yaits extended his hand, which was covered by a thick yet tight leather glove which he had taken care to put on before going downstairs. The glove was specially designed with ruins painted in clear oils that kept his energy from unintentionally escaping into other people, something that has become necessary as of late. So there, in the grand lobby, among the polished marble floors, the undecorated white support beams, the high ceiling with both sunlights and crystal chandeliers, they might shake hands and make a deal. Of course, Yaits had one more condition, he always had another condition.

"You do understand that I must wait until the Aekea situation is resolved," Yaits said, "I'm determined to see full civil rights granted to all the people of that region. This may have to be accomplished by force if necessary, as regretable as that would be. Ymiristani forces stand ready to enforce the upcoming referendum. As the Gaian Republic seems to have no stomach for granting rights or facing Ymiristan, I hope you have no objections to an independent or Ymiristani Aekea."

"Well done," Yaits smiled, taking his hand and seeing him out, "I'm glad you see things my way. Democracy breeds weakness and chaos, and Aekea is begging for order. It's only a matter of time before the solution is implemented. I'm sure your special operations are good, but how long can they keep order in that corrupt cespool called democracy? I'm sure you'll be more than happy to have the problem taken off your hands."

Yaits only had one thing on his mind, the industrial heartland of Aekea, cranking out military machines at full capacity for Ymiristan. Then nothing would stand in his way or dare oppose him, nothing.

"Could you do me a favor," Yaits said, "Ymiristan's food imports have been cut by the Gaian government. I don't wish to see our people deptrived, so maybe you can help arrange the reopening of trade despite the current conflict?"

Yaits had decided to swallow his pride for now, before long he believed the food would come as required tribute anyhow.

As Yaits was ready to see Evan off, Melissa did something unexpected, she ran into Evan and hugged him as tightly as he could.

"Thank you for helping," she cried, "I'll keep him out of trouble as best I can,"

Unfortunately for her, Yaits had never shown her the whole picure. The whole picture would have blown her mind, and he knew that she would abandon all hope for him if the truth were ever fully revealed. Yaits watched calmly, pursing his lips as his heart skipped a beat. How could she be so aloof at home, and then go and hug this.... this.... foul fowl so warmly, he thought.

Melissa was fighting a losing battle for Sallea's soul. She was only just now begining to realize this, and she had finally considered the grim possibility that maybe only death would release him from the incarnation. Her body was quivering and her heart was racing fast as these thoughts raced through her mind. The stress of dealing with Yarneth's schizophrenic affection was begining to tell in her eyes. Just being around him was draining.

"Leave him alone," Yaits scolded, "He doesn't need you clinging all over him when it is time to go. You have Jujitsu training in four minutes, maybe you can participate for a change? Go on, I'll see Master White off."

She curtseyed in her frilly blue dress with a heavy sigh before being led off to the training facility by an company assistant.

"She is quite talented," Yaits sighed, sounding a bit more relaxed, more like Sallea, "If only I could get her to apply herself. Well, I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to stop by anytime."

And with that, Yaits walked away calmly, whistling to himself.

"In the end, I decide what will make her happy," Yaits said on the way out, his back turned, "I suggest you get prepared for things to come, the future isn't going to be very pretty, just a hunch."

There was a breif meeting to discuss the situation, no, not Lament, the health of Edward Yaits the III had taken a drastic turn for the worse. He was in a coma, on intensive life support, not to be seen by anyone. In his condition, all of Yaits corp, and the rul of Ymiristan, was turned over to his supposed daughter, Melissa Faulkner. She would rule with the help of hand picked advisors and safegaurds were in place to prevent her from disbanding the corporation completely, exposing too much, or knowing too much. Experiments were being destroyed one after the other, only the most valuable was spared Her first decision, apparent from the meeting, was the pull back of forces headed to Aekea, and the opening of talks for the disbanding of the Ymiristani army.

Deep with-in the underground laboratory complex of Yaits corporate headquaters, a mass of purple flesh with closed eyelids slept within a tube of voilet fluid. The flesh of Edward Yaits floated in there, barely alive.

The news was playing on a TV for the disintigrating Yaits, everthing that had happened in Lament was under review. The doors slammed open, gaurds dragging Melissa Faulkner in to the room before the fleshy beast in the chamber. She kicked to get free until she heard a scratchy voice, thoughts projected onto a speker system.

"Melissa, I don't have much longer."

"Sallea!?"

"I'm sorry," it said,"Goodbye,"

There was a fainst hiss as the top opened and the lump of distorted flesh climbed from the liquid in the tube, opening its eyes, which were the only things that still even resembled something human. It reached out for her in a way that begged for her to touch it.

"Powers are killing me," it said, "Need someone to hold them, only for a while,"


"You caused Lament," Melissa said, "It was you! Why, what was the point?"


"Power," it said, "Needed more power,"

Tears were running down her cheeks, "As if you didn't already have too much to begin with," she cried, "You deserve this."

"Touch?" it asked.

"No Sallea," she said, "I've had enough. I can't save you. I'm leaving this place."

"No choice,"

The gaurds took her and forced her near the mass of quivering flesh. A tendril wrpped her left wrist, and power was transferred into Melissa's body. Painfully so, every nerve in her system registered at full capacity, and the power wouldn't let her go unconcious. Her screams would be muffled by the sound proof room as they continued for thirty minutes, or when the spirit of Ymir had drained completely in Melissa Faulkner. She fell into a ball on the floor, screaming, whimpering and crying as she fought the spirit with-in her. She was determined no to lose, she wouldn't let what had happened to Sallea happen to her. The guards took her back to her quarters by force, where she continued the screaming, crying and moaning along with kicking biting and head banging. They had to tie her into the bed within a straight jacket, using as many a four thick cloth cords on each side, to keep her against the matress while she thrashed.

As for the thing on the floor, it was left to die alone. The fact that the the body of Edward Yaits was no more was kept secret, if the spirit of Ymir could make Melissa Faulkner the next incarnation, the gaint would have her take any from he wanted, including a look-alike of old Yaits.