Chapter Two: The Lesson

His mind was set and he felt confident he could instruct her just as Ash would have. He smiled to her as he got comfy on the bed and brought the Hologrid closer to them. "The first thing you'll need to know is how the Nano Empire operate." the hologrid shifted pictures to a clip of a planet.. it zoomed in closer and closer and closer until the grey planet could be seen as nothing more than a bunch of grey beings all jointed together in odd shapes and such. It was a hive.

A planet that was as ordinary as the planet of Rhy'Din.. fleets of the Nano Empire had invaded this innocent little planet and infected ever living being, including men, women, children, and animals. It didn't matter.. Their bodies swell up like obese illnesses and their limbs connected to each other and molded into one.. making the entire planet consumed by one large organism... a collective mind. The clip showed all of this and soon showed large machine like ships move in on the planet..

A hour marker showed at the bottom right hand side of the holo screen to show that it only took 18 hours for the planet to look like this. the machine like ships would move in and harvest this collective field of joined beings. Literally cutting them into small grid like a city, scooping them up and letting them grow onto a pre-built gigantic android. the android would be lifeless until at least two to three dozen of these joined bodies had successfully joined themselves and grown onto these mammoth Robotic Androids; they would spark to life standing at 5 meters, body parts stemming off in any direction. these fighting bi-pedal tanks of destruction were known as "The Taken." Pretty simple for a name seeing how the bodies were literally taken from their home world and forced to be a collective mind. Dust looked to Sarah for a moment to see if she was able to understand the lesson and too see if she could keep her stomach down. "you alright hunn?"

Sarah sat up once she had looked over the process. She actually reached out to the hologrid and continued to review over and over what she had just seen. It would be several minutes of constant review before she would even attempt to answer him," All those people, all of them... They just basically consumed them?" She swallowed and turned to look at Dust her eyes welling up but she bit back the few tears she had," They just... consume and devour everything until they're done and move on..."

She settled down next to him after taking a few deep breaths and whispered," I'm okay... Just... Did this happen to the worlds that fell when Ash died Dust?" Her head turned and looked towards him again, a small line of sapphire clinging to the rim of her eyes as she gathered herself before he went on to the next part of the lesson.

He nodded to her. He remembered how his parents and family from long, long ago were killed.. back when you?re either trying to survive or you?re consumed. Remember only being alive for less than 8 years and seeing what the threat really was.. to go beyond the outer parts of known space and enter the blackness of unknown space.. to see no stars at all.. but one.. to get look out through a magnified supra-telescope to see planets eaten and stars blacked out.. the one bright thing he thought was a star was actually that collective.. all those beings from all those burnt out stars and dead planets were just dangling together like one large organism. He could remember Ash comprehending the threat and hearing him comment.. 'Do you know what would happen if those infected Imperial Core like us..'

He remembered not answering the thought was already there, but that was so many years ago when he was much younger than he was today. He looked back to Sarah and nodded to answer her question," All of them, the planets were stripped of their resources afterwards.. and as for Imperial Core.. They became what we call The Forsaken.. or the children. Because that?s what they were.. I remember during the first Nano War I fought in.. I was being chased across the desert by thousands of 'children' all of them crying out in pain, screaming, and laughing. All of them were Imperial Cores ripped from their mothers bellies.. It was one of the most frightening moments of my life. but I had no choice but to deal with them. I remember sweeping up the desert sands to tear them apart, shredding their every existence.. and calming their pains."

He cleared his throat as if he still hasn?t made peace with himself for what he had to that day. "But they grow, and when they grow up.. they become this.." He pointed to the screen to show a full grown Nano Core. A slim Imperial Core popped up on the holo screen. Pale, sunken eyes, almost blind.. most would have their eyes, mouth, and nose sewed shut. Hair shaved from their bodies and mostly bonded like some sort of kinky uniform to both scare and make the curiosity of people grow.

They had the ability to sap the bones from living being and watch as their bodies fell under their own weight, flapping about like fish out of water. They could fade in and out through alternate dimensions, which added to their fighting abilities. Majority of the higher ranking "Forsaken" Nano Cores could devour beings completely or absorbed them into their own bodies to make them bigger and stronger. The screen switched and showed what they did to their own fallen soldiers.. Machine would come out from the sky and pick them up to either be recycled or served for dinner.. yes! They ate their own. The clip ended there and dust looked over to Sarah. "...well I was hungry."

She didn't know what got to her first. Yes, the fact that the once proud Empire was reduced to food for the Nano Empire, but that didn't seem to be what got to her the most. She listened with immense attention, but as he said what she didn't expect her eyes shot open wide. Her fingers and hands shot to her stomach and she swallowed back a scream of horror. For a long while she'd let him continue what he was saying, let him show what he wanted to show. However, Sarah had gone still, rigid as she lay besides him.

As he spoke for the last time, not even bothering to review she rolled over and faced him. Her face just moved to bury in his chest. She was shaking, absolutely shaking but other then rolling over nothing about her form had changed. Her hands were still gripping at her stomach as she drew in slow, pained breaths. Her eyes were closing and tears were now fully falling from her eyes as she thought, no, imagined having her child torn from her. It was something she prayed she'd never, ever have to experience.

To lose something that could be so innocent like that and to know without a doubt that child was going to be lost to darkness forever tore a bit at her soul. She couldn't let that happen to their children, wouldn't. She'd die before she let their children turn into something living a life of agony and horror when it should be living a life of love and care from mother and father. Her skin tone was green, she was sick at the thought of the Nano Empire doing something so disgusting, so vile, and utterly evil. Her mind was racing, filled with fear, dread, rage, disgust, a whole array of negative emotions just playing over and over in her mind.

Her voice was shaking as much as her body was," Don't... do- don't... let... them... do... it..." She sobbed against his chest as she went back to the image of her child growing up in such a dreadful way. All of it was making her sick and she pushed it away the best she could. A whimper fell from her lips and she gulped down the knot forming in her throat. She couldn't form words beyond that, just couldn't. All she seemed to be able to do was lay there trapped in that horror of realizing that if things went wrong... No, she couldn't even think like that at this moment. She wouldn't let herself do that.

"I'm going to stop there. You've seen enough for now......." He turned the hologrid off and held her close.. ".....it only gets worse from there on in." He muttered. He played back the images that he saw firsthand on the battlefield in the Nano Wars. The things he saw always made him throw up afterwards.. he couldn't remember a time he could stomach anything he ate.. or a night he didn't have nightmares. Even being what he was now, he knew that facing such a foe again would still leave the usual effects once more. the thought of what they were expected to face soon or later had left a scar in his mind. "....Sarah.."

He managed to say her name.. "I won't let it happen to you.. That is why I am the evil of the two.." He was referring to him and his brother Ash. The man of light and love? and himself, the dark child who saw humor in the death of innocents. Destruction and Chaos was his tools, and he made beautiful art of out of those tools. It would be these darker times that he would use those tools once again even though he struggled to live a life of peace and love with Sarah, just as Ash and Aya had before them. "That is why I always left you in the safety of the Family when I went away on such wars...." He sighed, feeling a weight on his chest, not from the wound.. but from the pain he felt if anything were to happen to her.. "..I didn't want to see you hurt or worse..... become one of them."

He remembered his darkest day when he infiltrated the Nano Empire; finding himself in its centre. Watching the Eve mother produce baby Arch Cores on after another; seeing them ooze to life and scream in pain. He could remember when they discovered him in that centre; and how they tried to consume him. Try to turn him over, but his evil was at its highest; when he snickered as they scratch and bit at his flesh. The look of fear on their faces as he scratched back and began to chew at their flesh; to show he was the monster under the bed and in the closet. He remembered hearing them all scream in fear and run away as he overloaded his core; letting himself turn into a "Arch Core of the Light"

He didn't remember what happened after that except waking up in the Capital planet of Corium in intensive care. "Sarah. I won't be defeated.. I have to live for you and our future family.." He smiled to her as he clutched her closer.. "... I want to have beautiful children with you.. and live a happy, joyful life full of peace.. in a universe where we don't have to worry about watching the shadows.. because there will be none." He smiled and kissed her forehead.. "I admit the journey will be tough.. but destroying the Brotherhood would be our first step to creating a universe safe for our children."

Sarah would even now listen, but her form didn't relax. She knew he was strong, that he could handle anything that came his way now that he had something so much more important to live for. Her eyes were still dripping with tears even as he kissed her forehead. She was constantly swallowing that knot in her throat. Hyperventilating she sucked in ragged breath after ragged breath. As long as he was by her side she had nothing to fear, and he had been right. She was always safe in his arms, at his side. If she needed him he was there watching after her and reminding her that anything was possible.

Her head lifted up and she tried to ease herself. Her fingers were coiling and tightening around her dress, her nails digging into its fabric as she tried to think of the positive things. She thought of what it would be like without the Nano Empire, what it would be like to watch their children grow up, to always be at his side through the good and the bad. She could picture their family bringing so much light and life. She wanted that more than anything at that moment. Again her head came to rest in the crook of his neck, she was rasping for breath as she calmed, eased her mind with the better light of things. She moved her hands from her dress and wrapped her arms around his figure.

Her words not shaking, just filled with the emotions that had grown within and gripped a hold of her until that moment," I want so badly... So badly for our children to be safe Dust. I want you to be with me to grow older with me through the ages. I want our children to be able to live a happy and know the love we can give them. I'll do whatever it takes, whatever it takes Dust. I won't let anything happened to you or our future. Never." She was growing calmer, but even then her body had continued to tremble. Her breathing was getting lighter, yet she was clutching him so tightly he could possibly be finding it hard to breathe.

"Then I will do the same thing that Ash did for Aya. I will give you my heart." With a smile he lay back on the bed and took in a deep breath, then exhaled as he felt his core shift in his alloyed frame. slowly the muscles shifted made room as the core began to move to the surface. The skin seared away into a fine circle to reveal the core, his core.. rise above his body... It was a perfectly shaped sphere... not silver like Ash's, Syn's, or any of the other family members.... but a dark ebony color. It slowly spun like a plenty in orbit twisting on it's axis. He looked at it and smirked.. "Funny it being black." Was he questioning why it was black or did he already know why it was black.

He knew Sarah's was a nice gold and silver.. like Christmas.. it was beautiful.. he knew this cause he saw it that night in the tank with her. He touched the core and felt it pulse then send out a trembling ripple through out the ship and into space. He smiled as a small pearl sized piece dethatched itself from the rest of the core and floated above his body.. like a moon orbiting a planet.. Only the original and larger core smoothed out and became a sphere once more... sinking back down into his chest..

The muscles and skin moving back into place revealing no scars or pain. The pearl sized core floated still. He put both hand in the air like an invisible string held it between his two hands.. A silver chain came looping through it and those sunburst eyes of his met her cooper hues.."Like Ash did for Aya.. I give you my heart." He smiled and put the necklace around her neck letting the chain intertwine and watched as it dangled there just below her collar bones.

Her eyes focused on him, watching as that pearl orb form from his core. She was biting his lip as she thought of what to say or do. She watched for a long while as he formed the necklace and placed it around her neck. Her eyes filling with soft tears, not like the ones before. She moved one hand to the core at the end and caressed it tenderly. Her head looking down at it and her whisper coming," Did Aya give hers in return?" She asked as she lay there.

She was holding him close to her still, slightly shaking a bit, even at that moment. More and more she thought about it. If he had given her his heart, she should do the same. It was her heart to give and by all rights it belongs to the man next to her. This token, this sign of his love for her was something she'd never go without. She'd keep it safe, keep it with her at all times to show that even when he wasn't at her side he was always with her. She kissed at his shoulder and settled back next to him. Her head rested upon his shoulder, her arm over his torso.

".....no.. instead she made the flower. To heal, protect, and create life.. Ash always had a flower on him. And If I remember correctly it was the original flower she made for him." But my heart is different from Ash's. The core in my chest and the core on that necklace are synced to one another. Everything I learn and experience is also recorded into that core as well; including my consciousness/soul. If anything happened to me where I can't be recovered; it can always be re-growing, like bringing me back to life through the flower."

He smiled to her knowing in some sense, a lot of people would believe that it wouldn't be the same person; it would be, it's a piece of the same core he had in his chest, not some cheap copy. He snickered and rolled over, giving her a kiss on her soft gentle lips. "I love you darling." At that moment the ship had cruised well beyond the Rhy'Din solar system and now had clearance to jump into hyperspace; like they hadn't even noticed, the ship cruised on into to hyper drive and off they went. They would be spending 2 hours in hyper space before falling back into cruising speeds; where they came out at on the other end only Dust and his trusty IDAU knew.

Sarah smiled to him. Taking in the information and making sure each bit of it was locked away. She'd remember that, she would. Her lips met his as he rolled over. Now she giggled, finally at peace. She'd have to do something for him, something that he could always keep. Her fingers went to the bandage on his chest and she sighed happily," I love you too Dust. So very much."

She kissed his lips again and nestled against him. Her mind was at rest for now as she sucked in his warmth with delight. He had his ways with her, always knowing what to say or do to get her to feel at ease. Her fingers were fumbling at his shoulder and she mumbled," I tore up my dress..." Sure enough as she looked down the fabric was frayed and holes were at the gut. She didn't think she had gripped it that much. She snickered and shrugged, muttering softly," Guess I don't know what I'm fully able to do just yet."

As happy as he was at the moment. Being Emperor, being a much more powerful and connected Celestial Core than Sarah; he could feel everything in the universe and outside of it. Data streams were always pouring into his data core and rigorously being filtered through day in and day out. He could feel the cries for help on distant planet in other star systems; cries from innocents being ravaged by those monsters? Like they were all starring at him and Sarah, licking their lips and waiting for their meal to arrive. It sent a shiver down his spine but he literally had no worries.. they would have their meal soon enough, He snickered at the thought.

Breaking away from those quick thoughts he had from time to time, his eyes peered to Sarah's dress. He couldn't help but chuckle a bit before reaching down to her belly where the hole was, then looked into her eyes. "Well we can easily fix that, can't we." Giving that smile like he was going to magically thread the dress back together with his amazing ability's as a core............. instead he went the other way... He grinned and tore her dress completely off.. "whoops" he said in a sarcastic tone. He smiled and laughed under his breath as he tore the rest of her clothes off and then looked her over, appreciating the finer details of her goddess like body.

In his mind it was only fair.. He was stripped down to his red boxers with little designs all over it that was his face and him giving a thumbs up, smiling. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close to his body. He was beginning to show that he was honestly an evil person.. even in the bedroom he was naughty person.. Snickering at the thought. "... I honestly thought I was fixing it.. I swear." Smiling the entire time.

Sarah's eyes bulged as she watched her dress get torn away with the blink of an eye. Then the rest of her clothes were gone... O.O She couldn't help it, as he reduced himself to just boxers she blinked. She lifted her finger and poked him right in the chest. Her grin growing as she scanned him up and down. As he pulled her close she brought the blankets up and around them with a snicker," Sure you were Dust. Sure you were... Brat." She snickered and kissed at his shoulder.

Nuzzling his shoulder and tracing her finger over his stomach and then back up. She took her time to memorize his new figure. She sighed lightly and rested her forehead on his chest. Her deep breaths came in and out and in and out. Time making her pause for a moment and think over her excitement and smiling," Just thinking about our future and a family gives me goose bumps."

He looked back to her as she covered the two of them up with those comfy blankets.. "So is it time for the lights to die down and we get some sleep... or is there something else going on?" He smiled to her with that devilish grin of his as he leaned his head up to hers and began kissing her lips.. coiling his tongue with hers; he continued to lie in the intimate moments a bit more than usually.

His fingers trickled up and down the side of her ribs.. not really tickling her but more so of a massage to ease her mind and relax her body, "I would love to have children now.. but I would rather wait till we're properly wed before we decide to conceive a child." Intimacy lined the edges of his tone but was mostly focused with a serious message within.

Her brow lifted and she turned her head as he massaged at her sides. Sarah bit her lip and rested her head on the pillow, still looking up at him and that grin. It was odd how he put those words of lights on or off, but before she could answer he said something else. Her curiosity was peeked and she sat up once more. Her eyes locked with his, orange hues dancing as she leaned forwards and kissed his lips tenderly.

She brushed her fingers over his face slowly, the tips circled around on his cheek and down over his jaw line. She trailed them down the side of his neck as she kissed his lips once more. His hair came to tangle between her fingers as she asked," And when will that be Love?" Her own intimate tone lacing her voice, but still keeping so serious as she pressed another soft kiss to his lips.

A soft smile came sneaking across his facial expressions. A raise of his brow and soon the focusing of his eyes came to hers with a sight of dedication. he felt that inner glow and yearning to be a loving husband, a caring father, and a great leader. "To be honest dear.. I am ready to commit to you and be properly married when we land." He looked and sounded serious. He didn't care when or where.. so long as it was soon.

He wanted their love to be definite and unquestioned. He wanted their love to be heard across the galaxy. Reaching the ears of even their enemy's.. that two Celestial Cores have been announced Emperor and Empress.. and that they were married, and expecting little ones to fill their lives with joy. It would be unheard of, yes. But with a new era, new unexpected events would arrive... such as their love for one another.

Sarah's face lit up as she saw that smile on his lips. She looked in his eyes as he spoke, her heart beat skipped and she sucked in a deep breath. It took a moment for her excitement to calm down and she whispered," Really? Really really?!" She almost squeaked with pleasure, but resolved to just kissing him again. Her smile on her lips growing brighter and brighter, her arms folded around his neck and she giggled. Sarah was unable to hold back her joy.

She was eager as much as he was to be a loving wife, to be at his side. To watch their children grow and to watch the empire grow. Her fingers were tangling in his hair and massaging at his scalp. She was trying not to break out in a snicker fit, containing her eagerness by taking deep breaths. She kept looking to his eyes and glowing brighter with joy. She would just be happy to know that she was no longer the Mistress of Dust Belarus, but his wife.

Not that anyone didn't question that it wasn't going to happen sooner or later, some were even asking her why it was taking them so long. Still she'd give the same answer as usual," It will happen when the time is right. Dust and I know we love each other and that's strong enough." She had to wonder even then why they looked at her like she was crazy.

Thoughts bounced back and force in his mind like ping pong.. The ball started off slow, but with every stroke of the paddle, the ball moved faster and faster till sooner or later someone would score a point. Over and over again thoughts had done this as he looked into her cooper orbs. The idea of seeing the two of them in front of the alter being pronounced husband and wife, scared the :shit: out of him.. yet at the same time it was that fearless driving force inside him known as love that would aid him, placing once foot after the other till he stood there with shaking knees, and trying to survive the sight of her beautifully decorated self do the same.. walking to that alter and waiting through the words of commitment.. It wasn?t just the ceremony in front of thousands of people that made it significant, but the true love that stood behind them, holding up those pillars and placing down the final foundation that would hold them together for all of time.

He couldn't help but allow that grin to creep across his lips once more, the thought of it all just pushed him and urged him like a voice inside his head that seemed to never back down or give him a break.. He felt his soul being pulled to hers like a planet orbiting around a sun.. that undeniable gravitational pull between the two of them.. It didn't matter who was the planet or who was the sun.. what was set in stone was that they had a force connection them to one another that would never die down or give up.

As Dust had given her a piece of his core.. even through death.. he would still be dragged across the universe to be reunited with her. Tat smile stuck to his face like crazy glue.. even when he tried to relax his lips so he could land a kiss on hers.. he still couldn't help but smile, which led to a kind of awkward kiss. He laughed and had an excuse.. "Sorry I couldn't help but smile. I am just overwhelmed with joy and I love you so much that I can't help but smile."

Sarah was glad she wasn't a mind reader, because if she knew what he was saying she would just about be as scared shitlessly as he was. It wasn't that she was afraid of the tying the knot with Dust and forever being his wife. It was the thousands of people, all of them staring at her or him or both of them. For now however she was in la la land, excited beyond compare as she lay there trying to calm down.

The smile on his lips, no matter how goofy it was, was still adorable. She kissed him back awkward or not it was his lips. She loved his lips. She loved the way he smiled or how he slept, finding that through the nights it was harder and harder to sleep without his legs tangled with hers and her form tight against his. She loved the mischievous glint in his copper hues and how he always seemed to be on the verge of doing something... oh so rotten, but knowing all to well that he'd get away with it and she'd find him even more so irresistible. She loved his grins, snickers, and laughs when he was either going through one of his darker moments or one of his happiest moments.

Either way his quirks were charming to her. All them made her smile even grin as the more time she spent with him proved that he was a VERY bad influence for "Innocent Little Sarah". Granted Sarah didn't think she had ever been innocent until the day she met Dust and he proved to her that she was innocent in her own way. He opened her eyes to a world she fell in love with instantly and almost just as fast as she did him.

She remembered the first time she saw a halogram, how she watched Dust walk through it and witness it shatter. She had thought he broke it, but when it reformed she was amazed. To see light projected in such a way was amazing; to see that it was useful was even more incredible. But there were still several things she had to get used to even now, but the one that gave her the most heart attacks, besides the bathroom (She could never get used to it), was the clothes box.

The first time she attempted to use it she ended up pressing the go button with her toe and praying that with all the noises it was making it wouldn't turn against her and eat her. She didn't even know how to work the thing in the first place either, nope, she had ended up in the strangest bit of clothes and ended up switching most of her mixtures that were failures with the ones that weren't so much. Sarah was after all born to an age where moving on ones feet or in a carriage was preferable, and here she was moving in a space ship about the galaxy. Every bit of it was awe striking and it made her new home highly incredible.

"so day dreamer.." He said in a teasing voice, "..what would you like to do?" They apparently were nearing their destination but was still far it all at the same time. He could think of a few things (not suitable for readers under the age of 18. j/k) But then again, there were all sorts of things once they reached planet side. the trip was moving along fairly quickly in this size of a ship. He new hos four legged friend at the controls would soon have them arrive out the other end of hyperspace.

"Or.. what would you like to do once we make land fall?" He didn't literally mean 'fall' but it was a widely used expression by pilots and the sorts for relating their landing. Just another on of those things. He looked to her once more, wrapping that blanket around them comfortably and cuddling up with her. His hands traveling about her body as he landed kissed upon her lips. Smiling in between, he noticed words weren't quite needed at the moment. But still had a few things to say," When we're married....... when do you want to have children? I know it's a big choice and a whole knew field of responsibility's.. I mean that means I can't be so risky or putting my life in as much danger as I would like to..." That went for her too.. "But, honestly.. I'm just curious."

He had managed to snap her out of trying to figure out just how it was the bathroom really worked. Her eyes turned to him and she smiled to his words and snickered all the same. For a moment or two her mind traveled along the same lines to those not so suitable things and back to reality. She turned to look around and stretched a bit even as he snuggled her close. Her head turned back to him as more questions came from his lips. She kissed him back and wrapped her arms loosely about his neck, just keeping him close as he was doing for her. Her smile was soft and gentle as she thought over each question in turn. Sarah had figured that with children came responsibilities, but she was sure when the time came for them to come into the world they'd be ready with the appropriate protective gear.

She nodded and agreed that they would have to be a little bit more safe, granted they should have been doing it what with becoming Emperor and Empress, there was already plenty of people depending on them. Yet, the thought of children with him was a thought she'd never say no to. She smirked and kissed his lips tenderly her arm reaching over him and shutting off the lights. A whisper came from her as she looked down to him, smiling and looking into his eyes," Hmm... how about we just take it one step at a time. Go from there, but as for now..." Again she grinned her figure leaning forwards and her lips meeting his as she snickered. The unsuitable thoughts were back and dancing through her head.

Chapter Four: Trip and Fall into a Sliding Disaster

Well, well... What was this? Her brow arched up and her head tilted. The unit searching for Sarah had stopped. They were running past her in order to aid in killing a "Demon". Sarah leaned back and turned to look for stragglers. One was spotted. She left the cafe, moving around the corner and down a dark alley way. Her hood lowered and her figure moved to the shadows once again. She paused, her head pressing against the cold brick in deep thought. Her eyes closed and she brought a shaking hand towards her collar bone.

She gripped at the orb against her chest and gave a shaky exhale. She couldn't feel him anymore, she was horrified, just horrified, but she had to move on. This woman was starting to get aggravated. The straggler, she grinned; it was dark in comparison to the early days of Dust. Her voice came out in a low whisper," Don't you disappear on me yet Dust. Don't you leave me alone?"

She turned her eyes from left to right until she found the quickest route. She moved forwards slowly and soon was moving in step behind the one that got left behind. Her eyes were beyond orange, they were going red at this point. As an alley way got close she reached out. There was a snap, pop, crack, and silence from the figure she was now griping at mouth and shoulders. He was limp, breathless, gone with no way back.

She was pissed, determined to be kept up to date. Her fingers probed at his ear and she plucked it out a small ear piece. She examined it for a moment before she placed it snuggly in her ear. The body was carried like she was cradling him. She leaned him back against one of the buildings and for a moment or two acted like she actually cared for his well being. There was another succession of pops and cracks before out came a few teeth and one voice piece. She tilted her head and watched while it dropped to the ground by her boot.

She lifted her foot by her heel and brought it down over the bottom part, but she paused. Slowly she plucked up the piece and stowed it in her pocket, not sure of one piece was linked to the other. As she lifted up the hood was placed back over her head and she turned casually from the alley way. Keeping silent as this time she moved away from where she knew the monks would be heading. The alerts for them to seek her out close to the crash site were enough warning for her to get the hell out.

Sarah looked back up at the sky and then her eyes jerked open. She looked from left to right frantically until she spotted something, a man hole. She slid on her feet as she rushed to it, wrenching the thing open and sliding within. Seconds later it was closed off, and just in time. She ducked down as the explosion came. There was a series of quakes and some loose rubble was coming down around her. She paused for a moment, thinking of something. She could still carry the mouth piece, but that was the thing, how could she keep it from making noises.

An idea came to mind and she pulled it out. Dipping over she picked up a rock lying besides her foot. The rock dissolved and bubbled in her palm, forming a plate like disk for her to place the com on. Soon it was being incased in that rock until nothing but silence would come. Stowing the item back in her pocket she looked from left to right. A rat scurried over her foot, but she didn't care. She proceeded away from the crash site.

She was thinking of what to do first now that, from the looks of it, she was separated from Dust for a bit longer. She would have to find more of a baring, but not now. For now the water was running to the west, so west she would go. There had to be an outlet eventually, so she'd stick to underground. She kept her ear open, listening to the waves of panic coming from over that com. All of them orders for them to scour the city, to find her before she got into Imperial care. They not once suspected that the Empress would be so bold to travel in the sewers; that she'd be as brave as to walk in rat infested filth, a pungent smell rising around her to seep to the world above.

Perhaps it was a good thing that she didn't talk about her past; that she didn't speak of what happened before the Empire to anyone but Dust. Sarah paused for a moment, her mind going from the city's view when they were together in the pod; before all hell broke loose. There was water, somewhere, there was water. This place was all a city, perhaps if she kept going for days, if she needed, she would be far enough away.

No, she wouldn't be able to do that; they would be constantly hunting her; constantly seeking for her until she was dead. Still her figure moved without a sound over filth, rat, and mouse to any destination other than her own. Keeping as hidden as possible and walking quite literally right under their nose.

'Brothers, We have truly been blessed...' All the other monks in the white tent looked to the monk in charge. He continued, '..it has been confirmed. The Demon has been killed. hunt down the Demoness and kill her. Only then can we put this dark day behind us.' The Radio operator looked to the head monk, 'Brother, we just got permission to close off this section of the city to the public.' He smiled. By now all of the civilians of the area have left the area. All that remained were the monks and the Demoness for now.

Monks scattered across the streets and rooftops. Every building and alley way was searched by hundreds of monks. A group of monks had tried to serve as damage control where the large explosion had taken place, fire spurred up the side of the building and water piped poured into the streets. One monk watched the water travel the length of the street until it reached a drain. He looked at the drain and put two and two together. Getting on his radio, 'Have we anyone seeking out the Demoness below ground, brothers?'

More monks filled the street like it was some sort of monkish festival. they were everywhere; there wasn't an area that didn't have a monk. A person could look under a rock and sure enough a monk would wave back. Monks began to take crowbars and rip open every man hole. Taking lights down with them as numerous amounts of the brotherhood began to tare that section of the city apart, above ground and below. Much of the monks used suppression and frag grenades in the sewers to cook the rats out and hopefully the Demoness.

What was going on exactly wasn't clear. what had happened to Dust? He was declared dead by the investigators. The site where his body was found had monks picking up chunks and pieces of what was left to his body, many of them formed a circle, on their knees, eyes closed, in prayer. they were trying to cure the area of any bad omens or demonic portals.

Sarah knitted her brows together while she listened to what was said. Her teeth were grinding, gritting while she heard the news on Dust. Even more so was the question of where the hell was Dust? It was not like the man to do anything but be fashionably late. This was a little bit late.

Her pace moved slowly, cautiously while she listened. There was a moment where she froze. It was when the words under and ground were put into a sentence to ask of her location," Well shit." Sarah knew they had the topside covered. And she was trying to stay hidden. Okay, so what next. She was processing her train of thought; thinking over options in order to find the best result. She only knew of one.

RUN.

There she was cursing up a storm in her wake as opening after opening was made by the monks behind her and besides her at each turn and corridor. She was in her own self made hell by choosing the sewers as her safe haven. She could have chosen the sky, but that wasn't the wisest idea at the moment.

Her figure darted forwards and suddenly skidded to a halt. Fire was rolling and hurdling behind her. She was caught at a break in the sewers. The water was falling, pouring down like a waterfall of feces? and carcasses of rats and other animals that came to this place to die. She could either dive or jump, both making her hope that she would survive. However, by knowing that she had made it to a spot, a break in districts, she guessed, for the city she knew her only way out was to cross that line, they weren't searching anywhere else. She gathered that much from their communications.

Plucking the ear piece from her ear swiftly along with the rock ball in her pocket she stowed them in her pack with Imperial Credits and MRE. She exhaled, secured the pack and suddenly found the bathrooms of the Empire welcoming. One foot moved for the edge and then the other. Down she went with the waterfall to the path below and leading out. She was swimming in such a stench that she almost added her own concoction to the mix. It was amazing that she could hold anything down.

Holding her head above water one hand shot to her necklace as her glasses flew from her face. She was turning and looping. Spiraling and dropping as she went on the most unexciting ride of her life. If it had an opening she didn't see it coming soon. All she could do at this point was try to live through the ride without losing her stomach," Ohhh.... Shit!"

There was another drop coming, another waterfall for her to enjoy. Her eyes went wide and then snapped shut. She was going down, down, and more down until she was back to that wonderfully grotesque ride. It was a good thing her new clothes were cheap. She was sure that somewhere up top the Brother Hood was beginning to get a bit flustered. That thought alone could make her grin in such a situation.

Near the exit of the pipe line exiting the closed off area of the city stood a group of 6 monks in robes, their hoods up, concealing their faces. They silently waited.. Knowing this was the only exit from the sewers. Each of them carried long pikes and single shot firearms. they were well prepared and waited for the Demoness to come to them to end this day of darkness once and for all. the rest of the closed off city was still being searched through from top to bottom, making sure they didn't miss a single crack.

Water rushed out of the open pipe line and fell into a cement canal that ran into the body of water. the top of the canal had large industrial screens over top of it so maintenance workers could walk over top of the canal. If anyone would be coming out from that pipe work it would land on that large metal screen and not fall into the canal and drift into the sea. The monks stood there on the screen, their hands folded with each other all monk like, like statues they didn't move and only looked forward into the darkness of the open pipe, waiting for anything to come out; four monks stood in the front of the group in a straight line with two monks standing behind this line. They seemed ready and eager to kill. the ones holding the long pikes had white knuckles from gripping them too tightly, being on edge, not wanting to lose their lives and at the same time knowing that if they died they would ascend to a higher plan of existence they thought was heaven.

So there was light at the end of the tunnel. Her eyes took in the blinding light first and she winced. It was enough for the monks waiting to be missed," Ahhh..." Until it was too late. Her eyes shot wide and she cursed in a spew of pretty words. The water doing its final picking up as it surged closer and closer toward the end, towards them. She couldn't do anything. Her hands were slick with the gooey sewage to keep her from gripping at anything that could help her.

She grunted and sucked in a few deep breaths. Sarah wasn't ready to go down. Her eyes grew wider and wider until WOOSH! She was thrown from the tube along with spurts of feces? and again dead animals. A rat landed near her and she was sure in a few spots she had already been fired at. If there was any hit points she hadn't felt them just yet.

Too much stuff was flying at her for her to notice. Her hand brought over her face just as monk after monk jumped at her. Showered her with a sparking assault from their individual weapons, or at least that's what she had expected. For now she was just... there looking up at them with an 'Oh shit' look on her face. Her hand lifted up and she gave a faint wave," Hiya boys." She was screwed.

One of the two monks in the back of the group quickly made his move before any of the other monks could react to seeing the Demoness plop down in front of them. they were sure that they had captured her and knew they had their prize.. Or did they, that monk in the back of the group kick the one in front of him forward, letting him fall to his knees with a O_O look on his face.

The hooded monk who seemed to attack grabbed another monk by the hand and pulled it up and behind his back, hearing the shoulder pop, and dislocate. the monk screamed in pain. Another twist of the wrist and the monk?s bones in his hands shattered. A boot came up to his back and kicked forward, this rebel monk watched as they were flung forward, landing on his face with a broken arm. The pike and side arm fell to the ground and spun.

This monk who rebelled from the order walk to the other monk that he originally kicked to the ground, grabbing him by the boot and pulling him back over to the pike, picking it up and slamming it down through the monks leg, pinning him to the ground so he can't crawl away. Bending over to pick up the sidearm and aiming it at the leg of the other monk who tried to slip away. Pulled the trigger and the knee cap was blown to bits. Noticing the gun only had one bullet in it he simply chucked it at the back of the monk and watched him fall to the ground in pain.

He stepped over to the monk with the pike pinned in his leg, picking his head up by the front of his face and like starting a lawn mower, pulled back quickly and then let the weight of the monks body do the rest..... pop, the spinal cord lining the neck split. Letting the monks body fall back down bashing the front of his face in. He walked over to the monk he threw the gun at. Trying to get up off the ground and looking to the rebel monk, 'what are you doing, brother?' Looking down he simply picked his head up away from the ground and spun it like a top, a series of pops came astounding.... "Atonement.....brother!" He lifted the hood from his face to reveal it was dust disguised as a monk.

The other rebel monk dashed to the two monks in front of him hitting ones spine breaking it with his shin of his arm using his fist for the other monk Knocking him unconscious. The monk fell to the ground with a boot following, Crushing his skull and killing him.... The monk takes his hood off to reveal bright orange eyes, and a hair of flaming red. It was Jak Redstar, General of the Core Empires Military,? Dust... I have my forces sweeping into this corner of the galaxy to clear the remaining fleet and ground forces.?

'Captain, there's been a large explosion, grid 52; eighty kilometers north-northwest of our current position.' The Captain sat on the deck of the lightweight stealth cutter behind the tactical array, orange eyes rusted over with a cold, calculating geass.

He turned towards the pilot -and only accompanying personnel- before speaking. "Get us over there, ASAP. First we find the ship obliterated, now this, and still no sign of the Emperor or Empress. Bastards must've done SOMETHING to them.? The cutter sped along through the air near ground level. They had been avoiding any contact since they'd reached scanning distance of the planet and discovered the remains of a ship that had very likely been carrying the royalty,? And get us in-touch with the Imperial Authorities, for Aya's sake!? He whispered a quick oath under his breath, and began thundering out command prompts into the ship's system.

?Ten kilometers. Cursory sweeps indicate the entire grid's been sealed off from normal activity, and civilians.. I'm picking up traces of a Core body within the blast radius, as well as at least eight hundred uniformed personnel. Not ours, either. You don't think..?'

The Captain's eyes were half-lidded as he entered the final prompt into the system,? Circle us around the grid. And keep a low, low profile. I don't want to start a party if everyone's already gone home.?? The ship began to circle the edge of the grid. It was altogether likely that it would be passing over the trio within minutes. Or less.

Sarah was about to say something cheesy like," Take me to your leader." But then this had happened. That oh :shit: look... Yeah that was replaced by another one while she watched Monk fight Monk. Her mind looped and she had another question rushing through her mind. Weren't Monks suppose to be peaceful? At least that was the way her home planet worked. Well in some ways. Sarah could only grasp that someone has miscalculated.

The rebel monks were making her day, but the smell and constant splash of sewer coming down on her, wasn't. Her face was blank as she watched one agonizing move after another. She was half tempted to start running in all the confusion. For now the show seemed entertaining enough. When Dust lowered his hood she blinked, not expecting that. She figured it was some Crimson Guard, but not Dust. Her finger shot up and she plopped back.

Not sure if it was exaustion or just the fact that she was frankly, covered in... crap. She had one of those, kill me now, looks on her face as she mumbled to Dust," You are waaaaayyyy, waaaayyyyyy... too late for this to be some dashing hero entrance." Honestly, the only reason why was because she didn't look or feel like a damsel in distress. Well, she did have the distress part working for her. Again she spoke," So, glad we waited to shower." Sarcastic tone, but the agrivation on her face said otherwise.

He laughed as he took a sniff to the air, "You smell like shi't." He walked over to her and helped her up. Taking one of the robes from the other monks he tossed it to her. "Put this on, it helps to be stealthy in these parts." He looked from Sarah to Jak. Not knowing if they've already met before. then led the way; away from the poo power plant.

Walking up some steps to see the closed off city again. Shaking his head he felt that urge to scream into the air, but quite frankly it wouldn't help any. "Jak.." He said to his cousin. "I hope those monks didn't find out where you came from. He looked off into the distance to see the Redstar Fleet sitting in orbit. They were large black monoliths with a large single red star on every one of them. A frightening force if you were the enemy. He looked back to Sarah and Jak. "Jak It may be smart if you don't use your Core here. I would get back with your fleet and stay there till I can figure this out further."

Jak looked at Dust,? Yeah..i should start to get back to my fleet .? He would then rip off the Monk Robe and disappear into the wind.

Sarah was thinking about doing an unwanted gesture towards Dust for his comment, but that urge was bitten back as she was tossed a robe," Well hell... I killed one back in the city and I completely spaced that bit." She shrugged off the hoodie and stuffed it in her pack. Soon she was placing the ear peace, after cleaning out her ears and other openings that had gotten covered, in her ear so she could listen in on their Brotherhood friends.

The robe was put on and soon she was following, pack secure and her guard up. She tapped Jak's shoulder and pointed up," We have friends other then Jak dear... They know that the guard is here." The sound of commands and orders being snapped in her ear was getting irritating. But all of them were going through at once. Destroy the Demon Followers and find the Demoness, make sure that she was destroyed. Great.

There were plenty of things she wanted to say to Dust, but she figured while she was in this mood she'd keep those words far away from her mouth. Sarah just needed a shower before they moved again, the smell was getting to her in the worst way," They dropped bombs in the sewer Dust, were rejoicing over and over that you were dead..." Okay so something crept out," I thought we were going to take it more carefully?" She was going way back to where Dust had gone after the monks at the landing pad.

The cutter blew past the pair, and made an abrupt roundabout maneuver a few hundred meters off to head back at a much less, obnoxious, speed,? Haha!? The Captain managed not to jump from his seat as the ship came to a halt very low above them, the only symbol upon the it being that of the Empire, and even then it was damn-near unnoticeable.

? Engaging landing struts, Captain.' The pilot spoke hurriedly as he pressed in upon the console before him, and the ship smoothly responded.

? Yes, yes. Make sure we hit down smoothly, and you'll have my dinner on your plate tonight.? The ship hissed as it touched down, hydraulics kicking it into a smooth landing. The minute hatch slid open to permit the Captain exit,? Your Highness'! We've little time, please hurry.? He jumped aside, still looking the part of the perfectly manicured officer in the most heated of moments.

Seeing the craft touch ground and the Captain walk down that ramp brought a smile to his face. He looked back to Sarah and regardless if she smelt like poo or like an Empress he threw his arm around her and pulled her in close. She was walking with her to meet the Captain half way to the craft. "I didn't expect to see you here so early. But none the less, I'm glad you could make it." He nodded to the captain, "Have you been briefed on the situation?" He asked.

He had to speak a little bit louder to allow his voice to carry over the vapor noise of the cutter. But didn't have to shout. feeling the city planets data stream filter through his body he felt the presence of something evil there within the city. Despite the current situation with the brotherhood hiding in the shadows of every building on this planet, waiting to strike.. there was still something there, resting; it was a feeling he knew all too well.

With the amount Imperial Cores within the Redstar Militarty force orbiting the planet and the three standing there; and the ones within the Corbin family, it was too much attention drawn to them for something not to happen. He looked to his soon to be wife and then looked to the Captain, "We better haul ass." With that he tightened his arm around Sarah and walked with her onto the Cutter.

Sarah seemed to have maintained her negative look on her face. How could she not. She smelled terrible. Her arm wrapped around Dust, making sure that by the end of all this, by the time that she needed a shower, he needed one. It was also assurance that he wouldn't leave her side. Since they got on this planet she had only a few moments in the air that she was by his side. Now, she didn't want to leave his side any time soon.

Sarah let Dust speak to the Captain, her only concern was that she get to a shower, and soon. Her eyes were beginning to water with the stench, her face was turning green. She didn't know how much longer she could take smelling like this before her gut gave way on her. Just the thought made her hand lift to her lips as she groaned. The many times she had hidden from her Father, not once did she have to go as far as where she had just gone. Her hand turned to grip at Dust's robes while he began to move with her onto the Cutter. She shook her head and bit back the lurching for a bit longer, but it wouldn't work for long.

Thank Gods her hair was cut short in her need to hide her identity. She turned and before they had made it to the Cutter lurched, coughing up what was left in her stomach. It was one thing to be walking through the sewers, but to be covered like she was. She managed to whipe her lips and suck in a rasped breath," Dust, get me to a shower. Please..." Her face was flush because of how much the smell of herself, the feel of the coated goop covering her body, and just the taste of what was pushed out.

"I couldn't have said it better myself, Emperor." The Captain waited until the pair had entered, and then followed suit. A solid few moments of commands were entered into the pad beside the doorway. The hatch slid shut, and he looked up towards the retreating royal couple. One hand hit the comm, blaring his voice through to the pilot,? Hinken, stay away from the crew quarters for a while; we've got royal company.?

He turned up towards the pair again, and followed for a moment until the path began to branch,? This ship's been modified slightly. It has a single room of near-standard dimensions, and with several amenities that aren't usually on a cutter this small. Namely, a shower.? The Captain's smile was all business, though he was probably being honest,? Please, use it as you see fit.? He broke off to head for the cockpit, as the cutter began to lift, and speed into nothingness.

He looked to Sarah and threw Robe off her as they walked into the Royal Chambers. It was actually a good size for a room. He looked to her and could help but grin. "Even being all dirty up.. you still look wonderful to me darling." He led her into the bathroom, stripping himself of his robe, and Core Cell which looked new and somewhat tampered with; modified perhaps. He looked to her and began to take off her attire she must have picked up in a shop somewhere.

Looking to her and thinking about her in the shower, "Warm water." He said aloud as if thinking the shower would come to life and do as he said.. after a moment he raised a brow and slowly looked to the shower. A small half grin came to his face seeing that the shower was old world; a knob and a spout. Only thing new about it was it recycled and filtered the water so it could be reused countless time. He reached into the shower and twisted the knob and pulled. Warm water sprung out of the spout. He let her step in first.

Sarah blushed at Dust's complement and sighed. As she was moved to the bathroom and then removed of her clothes she sighed. Closing her eyes, she prepped herself for what was about to come. She was ready for the cleaning, for the brushes to scrub the grimy filth from her form. She was still sick from having vomited in front of none other than Dust, something she hadn't done before. She took a deep breath and flinched as the water selection was made. When nothing happened one eye popped open and she looked to Dust as he looked to... A Shower?

Sarah could have died and gone to heaven. It was like a chorus of angels was singing in her head. In fact she almost cried at the sight of such a wonderful thing. Seeing the water pour out of that spout was more than she could take. She was bouncing on her feet, eager to get in the actual shower. When he stepped aside she shot forwards and sucked in a deep breath," Ohhhh bless the designer of this shiiippp."

The warm water cascading down her form was wonderful. She lifted her head and started to smile brightly instantly. Each grimy amount of goo and muck slipping from her form was heavenly. Her hands washed over her face and her eyes, through her hair and ears. Each inch of her body would not go without being quadruple washed.

Dust stepped into the shower with her and began to shift his fingers through his hair like a comb, scrubbing and sanitizing his scalp, after all he needed to keep it shiny and flake free. He began to grab a bar of soup and tried to wash himself with it but it kept slipping out of his hands. With cat like reflexes he caught it and watched it pop out of his hands over and over again till he just let it fall to the floor and stepped on it to try and make it flat so it wouldn't slip around so much... instead it slipped off from under his foot and bounced off the tile a few time. "Damn thing pisses me off almost as much as I hate monks now."

He bent over and picked it off of the ground, holding it in the palm of his hand and tried to lather some up so he could use the lathering soup instead of the bar. By Aya it worked! He was on the road to cleanliness. Eventually being all cleaned up, he stood next to Sarah under the large spout and let the water pour onto the booth of them like summer rain. Being rinsed off and clean long before Sarah, he stepped out and grabbed a towel, letting himself get dried off, looking back to watch Sarah clean herself over and over again.

He sat over on the bed with the male and female Core Cell's, looking at their data grids and nano-neutrilium cell packets. It was like a very large computer, built on the nano level of machinery. His eyes zoomed and focus as he followed grid lines and tried to discover the path where the grid lines crossed. Only most of they went over, under, over, under... he was looking for the very few that went over, under, under, over, over, under, under.

It was those that regulated the suits main systems and allowed a Core to use their powers to their full extent without damaging the suit in any way. Those were the grid lines that would make a very huge significant if he were to alter them in any way. Which he planned on spending the remainder of their time spent on this planet, to modify every aspect of their Core Cells Uniforms.

Sarah would watch Dust and bite back a giggle. Her eyes followed the soap as it slipped from his hand to the floor. It wasn't until he said what he had that she snickered. Her copper eyes looked at him happily, so glad that he was alright. When he stepped out she once more continued to wash. Scrubbing and scrubbing to make sure that that horrible stench didn't stick to her form in the slightest. She didn't want to have to soak there either.

It was bringing back memories of that dreadful slide. She soon was stepping out of the shower, toweling her hair dry before wrapping it around her form. She had dried off a bit, but for now she wanted to just stay like this. She moved quickly as she could past the clothes on the bathroom floor, hoping that they wouldn't be there still gathering stench in the morning. Her head turned towards Dust who was lost in his own curious examination over the room. Her eyes were already drooping as she moved past him and onto the bed.

Flopping face down with a sigh and just laying there for a moment. Her head turned and she turned her eyes up to look at him. She was still hugging the towel close to her. For a moment she debated what she was going to say, but it came any ways," Dust, please don't leave me like that again... Please?" She was begging him. Her relief finally got the better of her as she sat up and moved over to him.

Wrapping her arms around his frame and buried her face in his shoulder she whispered," I knew you were doing something you felt you should have done, but I was so scared." She just stayed next to him. Not shaking or sobbing, no, she was considerably calm at that moment. Her fingers not gripping or clutching at him, she was just holding him. Half worried on what he would say to her words before she whispered," I never thought I'd have to go back to running like that. Always trying to stay one step ahead of what was coming. Not knowing if you had made it out or if what they were saying over the com was right. It all horrified me to think that I could have lost you and they wouldn't give up until they finished me off."

Shaking her head slowly she murmured," I want to get married Dust, as soon as possible... I want to find the leaders of that stupid priesthood and crush them until they're nothing but a distant memory. I'm not going to split off from you again like I did today. Please don't make me do so either."

He was concentrating on the small thread grids lining the inner armor of the Core Cells as she talked to him, using very small delicate tools like a surgeon he altered each thread a little bit.. shuffling the over, under sequence the way he had remembered doing so with his modified version of the Tengu Cell. Without looking away from his delicate process of work he talked back to Sarah, letting her know everything would be ok, also letting her know what he had encountered.. "...........I saw my father."

He steered another thread moving it from an over to an under. "A distant part of my past I couldn't remember before. I locked it deep down inside me for the last Septillion years....... I couldn't see his face, but I could hear him talking to me, I knew it was him." His voice was filled with calm. "...And more so.. I saw the images. Something bigger than us is at work here. What I don't know yet, but I have a pretty good idea it has to do with my father."

He moved to the next thread and started the same method all over again. After long moments of silence he was finished with her suit for now. The suit was now able to damper her Pulse and Ripple reading. She should be able to use her Core to an extent now with the dampening modifications he used on the suit. Later he would do it again and hopefully finish the entire suit so she could use her core as freely as they did the day they flew through the sky.

He had already modified his suit some with Dampening mods and a few stealth capability?s... after all. "I gave them their corpse, they think I'm dead now, but only because I have a black heart... I mean core." they would only come after her now thinking he was dead. It meant he could be by her side, but also being able to stick to the shadows. Making sure she was safe at all times. "My father told me something I haven't heard since I was only knee high. About me and my brothers 'choice'. About me smelling the dust."

"What does it mean?" Sarah couldn't help but show curiosity, even now that she was slightly relaxed. Her arms still held him the best she could. She was already showing more signs of growing weary. She held her head on his shoulder. Her fingers traced over his arm and shoulder. When she heard about him giving up a corpse she swallowed, so he had lost a body.

The feeling of being hunted wearing at her a bit and knowing that for a while it just wouldn't end as long as they thought her alive. Still she had a feeling that things were about to get worse, but she couldn't tell how fast. Her head turned to look over the cells he had modified and she studied hers for a moment. It was still that pearly white color even after all that she had gone through.

She was impressed, yet she still worried. Her eyes turned back towards him. Copper hues meeting copper hues. Her own a bit sunken as she sighed. Soon she lowered to a close as she resumed resting at his side. She would still listen to what he had to tell her. Her ears open, her eyes closed. She needed some kind of rest, but she wasn't quite ready for sleep just yet.

He laid the cores out on the floor next to his and then looked to her, laying back on the bed. "It means I'm going to be seeing more of these memories come back to remember something important in my past that I can't remember." He sighed for a moment. "I'm sure you saw me on the platform, what I did.. all those men.. killed.. no mercy at all."

He thought about these new memories from the past, remembering his father taking him to Mahikanah as a little boy. Letting him go up against the large Chaffers.. every time his father said 'wake up and smell the Dust!' He remembered changing into this creature of evil, wielding darkness. He didn't change physically from what he could remember; but every time he did, his core became darker, eventually becoming nothing but a black sphere of darkness. He was destined to become a Arch Core of the Light. As his father had once put it.

But now he was a Celestial Core who just turned into a Arch Core back on the platform. What did it mean.. did he really smell dust? Or was it just a metaphor for something deeper, he didn't know at the moment. Right now he needed some rest as the cutter traveled to the heart of the city planet to go pay a friendly visit to the group of Imperial Cores known as the Corbin Family.

He took a sigh and scooted up on the bed next to Sarah, "Let's get married once we arrive at the Citadel.... and perhaps I'll smell the dust again." He smiled to his soon to be wife; giving her a kiss and then rolling back over to relax some, answering any questions she might have had for him.

A nod came from her head and she sighed softly. Already getting to the point where she was half in and out of consciousness. Her blonde hair fell over her face and draped on his shoulder as he lay down with her besides him. He was her dream come true. He was her life. To lose him would be a nightmare that she didn't want to have to ever face. Holding him still she exhaled a slow sigh.

Remembering how she had managed to avoid behind found for so long. It had been a while since her basic skills had been used. She nuzzled his arm as she nestled close to him. Her fingers that had been caressing at his arm started going shoulder going limp. She gripped a hold of her consciousness to mummer," I killed one of them today... And I didn't feel sorry Dust. I wanted to see him dead. Wanted to see him gone just like I do the rest of them."

It was before she heard his final words. Her smile came and she turned to press a kiss to his cheek softly. Her fingers trailed down his side before she wrapped her arms over his torso," Sounds like a plan my love." A long sigh came that was dreamy and light," Perhaps I could help you... I most certainly will try to do my best." Her head lowered at his chest and she exhaled one last breath while she was awake.

Slowly her form went limp besides him as she slipped into her slumber. Not quite sure why she was so exhausted, but knowing none the less that she was tired. Hopefully in the morning she would be refreshed. She would be ready for what the day greeted her with, now that she was the soul target of the Brotherhood and protected by who they thought was now dead... her beloved Dust.

He rolled over, facing her, watching those beautiful cooper hues hide behind slumber. His smile quickly turned into a grim expression as he looked to her. He covered the two of them up with blankets to keep them warm. His head rested on the pillow next to her, his eyes still looked on to that gorgeous face of hers.

"..A demon is what they call me; my core is black as space. Makinah want to devour me. But like darkness I use evil as a foot hold. Now I ascend, wed, and lead.. before you realize twin are on the way, a dark prince and an angelic savior. The cycle continues......" He had remembered what his father had told him on the last day he saw him.

"You were right dad, like the Darkness, it can't survive without the light..." He was speaking of him and Sarah.. "..A man veiled in white, with a darkened heart. A women resembling Eve, with joy in her spirit. A universal known religion falls to their knees, beheaded. An Empire in Ruin and the Gear Works turn again....." But which empire would be in ruin... what gears would turn.

He thought of the original Eve machine from wince the Nano Empire was given birth from.. the machine of light and of good. It was a lost artifact that was on the one planet of the old empire that his father created. The one planet that moved by itself like a ghost.. it couldn't be found. The hints and puzzles were beginning to clear up.. But there was still much to understand and decipher. They had a long and rough journey in front of them indeed.