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(( why do keep missing everybody))

As commander Lee turned to discuss the shipment Kurodashi mumbled something."What was that boy?" he said
"My name is Kurodashi Goro, Commander Lee and I need your help" Kurodashi repeated.
Commander Lee looked him straight in the eyes."And what reason do Vodarek's Hand have to find you trustworthy?"

Kurodashi closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath as if to prepare him self for a plunge into water."Epoch of the night, Crystal of Life. All for a great race between darkness and light. Razzed are the fields and burnt is the earth. With this crystal in purity, can the future of our vessel be assured, but with the crystal in corruption, it shall surely be destroyed"

As Kuro dashi recited the passage, Commander Lee's eyes drew sharply on his face as if trying to percieve some deciet in Kurodashi's words.when he was finished, Commander Lee started with a cough"Isn't that..."

"Yes, its one of the prophecies of the Vodarek of an obstacle to your ultimate goal"
"And your 'threat to the world' as JD put it is the crystal?"
"She is only half of it" said Kurodashi darkly "ughh...can we finish this discussion in private, I have something to show you that may cause panic"

Commander Lee curtly nodded and led him to a tent. He ordered a few guards to stand outside."Allright so what is to alarming and what do you mean by 'she is only half'"

Apon this confrontation Kurodashi took off his glove and held up his hand
"This," Kurodashi started," is the answer to both questions"

(This fight's not going to go forever. Anemone has to win to get back on Deweys good side. Don't worry nothing here is lost. I'm going to send you to the Foundation with Kayako)

With the failing of the inverse drive the trappar began to return. On board the Lonjinus the crew responded quickly. Trappar monitors announced the trajectories and wave tracing instruments allowed the pilot to level out the ship without loosing any more altitude.

Inside TheEnd a gnashing grimace turned to a smile. The pilot turned off the engines quickly and spun around in mid air. A plum of smoke still trailed off near by but with a lung and a scream the LFO was falling straight towards the ground. A blazing green line tore through the white one and TheEnds claws extended from it's hands.

As it reached the transport Anemone screamed and drove straight into Mercury. The impact sent both mechs spinning out into the air.

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From inside Kayako saw all of this. The jerking and rolling of the ship made flight nearly impossible and the vehicle started to fall quickly. Within moments it hit the ground and slid. The jar of the impact forced the breath out of everyone aboard. Metal and debris spread out behind it as the broken ship slowly came to a stop. With dirt piled up high at the nose only the rear and port sides could be seen.

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TheEnd's claws tore at the face of Mercury. It beat and blasted the outer armour. With bullet after bullet Anemone laughed and spun Gray around in the air. The long extending arms of her LFO seemed to never stop. One moment Mercury would be falling. The next it would be slung up into the air again only to receive volley after volley of missiles and gouging cuts.

Eventually the game came to a close and TheEnd did not try to catch it's prey. The Mercury fell hard and landed harder. The shoulder was the first to impact. As it did the LFO seemed to bounce and roll across the grassy field it came down in.

Rushing in, the black mech landed and walked up to Mercury. It's rolling eyes locked onto the cockpit.

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Though bruised and dizzy Gray was not at his limit. The roll had made him disoriented but his target was still clear. He moved to bring the archetype to life. Unfortunately it was not to happen.

In the back of Gray's mind a wave seemed to crash and recede. The hate, the anger, the focus. All seemed to drain like falling tides. Looking to the Inverse drive a strange thing was taking place. The purple glow was fading. It darkened almost to a black and then went pale and clear. Eventually the core became almost transparent and the light of Mercury's eyes went dark.

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Anemone raised the right leg of TheEnd and stomped on the chest of Mercury. Once, twice, then kicking the arm the LFO rolled onto its chest and layed there.

Rain followed the transport as it had descended to the ground and crash. She followed the vehicles as they went to retrieve whoever was inside. She couldn't not see who they pulled out, only the men in the typical white Foundation uniforms. As she watched the vehicles come back towards the building, she kept wondering who it was they were bringnig back.

Decard laughed and clapped his hands.

"Ah, my dear Anemone. You have done quite well." he said and smiled brightly. Turning to the desk he pushed a button on the same small inlaid devise as before,"Marcius my dear. Inform the Captain of that ship that the Novak Foundation sends there deepest sympathies to his fallen comrades and that we hope we can be of further help in the future. Oh, and have the pilot of that LFO retrieved for observation. I should very much like to meet him."

Turning to Rain the old man continued to radiate that same warmness. "Oh, my my. Did you see? It was all so perfect."

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At the site of Mercury's fall Anemone looked over the fallen mech. Giving it one final kick she sighed. "That will show them. Show them all!"

With a quick turn she mounted the board and weaved across the grounds of the massive building. Circling around the structure she glided up to the sky pad on top and landed.

A team was sent to recover Gray. They arrived shortly after TheEnd had powered down. They came with guns and they came with numbers. In circling the downed LFO a team of 5 approached the cockpit.

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Elsewhere, a light vehicle arrived at the front steps of the building and unloaded it's cargo. Kayako was still unconcious but had been treated for her minor wounds. A purple bruise ran across her shoulder and drops of water ran down her cheeks.

Rain finally caught a glimpse of the person they retrieved from the destroyed transport. All she saw, however, was just flashes of purple hair and some miscellaneous body parts. Ignoring Dr. Novak's question, she turned to him and asked her own. "Who is that?"

Rain was confused. Sister? she contemplated in her mind. As for hi s question, she wasn't sure if she wanted to or not. She looked out the window again to see them take her into the building. "I... don't know..." she responded quietly.

((EDIT: Booyah!! 100th post on this topic. Yay, for me. razz ))

((Arghh... Well, later thens. Kayako! I command you to get on!! razz ))

Rain took the necklace and looked at it for a second. "Well, go on!" he said, shooing her out of the room and a grandfatherly way. Rain lingered in the hall for a few moments longer after the door closed, looking at the golden bobble. Her feet began to move forward, carrying her down the hall. She kept her arms up with her hands against her chest, the locket hidden by her hands.

Making her way to the stairwell, she opened the door and went in. She descended the flights until she reached the ground floor. She couldn't really explain it, but she just knew where to go to find Kayako. It wasn't long until she ran into her escort.

((SHOOT!! Curse my late responsing. razz Oh, and there ain't no box. razz ))

Rain looked to Kayako, then to her hand. She opened her hand to reveal to the locket to first herself. When she looked back up to Kayako, she opened it all the way. Holding out her hand, she said, "Here."