Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM): Nexus Earth - Chapter 9.3d Captive

[SalmonMax]

Lily flicked her eyes from Naien to the guards, and back. She grinned humorlessly.

"Even with this collar on, you're still bringing four armed guards? You must think I'm Tsunami herself."

She got to her feet and passively allowed two of the guards to flank her and grab her arms, then pull her from the cell.

With the collar no longer suppressing her power, she had to do it herself, lest they sense the upsurge in her potential. It was uncomfortable to do for too long. Still biding though. Still biding her time.

[z-Skye the Fallen]

Skye felt like she was half a step behind the game. "I still don't understand, Takashi," she said, biting a lip in charming confusion. "Who is Akina? What other Satoshi? I meant it when I said I have no idea what the history of your world is."

Skye put her hand on his arm again, giving him a smile. "I've got some things, like you're a powerful, handsome man. That much is obvious to anyone." Her smile was warm and open, as if he hadn't rejected her once already.

[Justin OOC]

"Akina is the main reason there are two Satoshi. She took two thirds of the company and went after her little wonderchild Kai. I evened the odds before I left Earth, depriving them of some of their best allies, but I ran out of time to squash it."

He looked to her. "The other Satoshi is the part of the company that follows Kai, Akina and Lily. I plan to execute one of their leaders, followed by another when he comes to rescue her."

His eyes gleamed with meglomaniacal gleam that only the Insane and powerful can do well. "With only Akina left, it will be easy to take down the usurpers, and I will retake Earth."

He didn't even turn her way, not ignoring her, but looking out at Dalaraan. "The best way to destroy someone, is to take away everything from them, destroy their favorites one by one before them, and then only then, slay them."

He nodded. "I'd leave him alive, if I hadn't seen how easily he draws allies."

[Justin OOC]

Naien looked to Lily, and chuckled. "No, I just don't trust you. Your patron can do much, and I'd rather not take the chance that somehow that collar's not active."

The guards took her and led her through the ship, into the bay the others had debarked from, where she could see Skye standing with Takashi, Amaya, and Hizashi.

[SalmonMax]

Dalaraan! Lily thought with an involuntary surge of joy at seeing her home world again after so long...the circumstances didn't even seem to matter for that instant. And even with the circumstances, this was good news. She knew this world pretty well. Well enough to risk a blind teleport, when the time was right. Not just YET though. They'd need passage to the loyalist moon. Even a shuttle would work, but it would have to be either fast, tough, or stealthy, because it wouldn't take Takashi long to figure out what had happened.

"You know," the princess said, "If you execute me, you'll just make a martyr. Not the best move, since allying with Satoshi's probably pissed most of the noble Houses off...even the ones that support you. Takashi's got power, but he doesn't know anything about politics."

[z-Skye the Fallen]

"I'd say just slay them the first chance you get," Skye advised. She wasn't worried about Takashi taking her advice - he had the Million-Yard-Villian stare going, which meant he was firmly tied to his vision of how this would go down. That was fine with Skye; it was blinding him to more effective possibilities.

Hearing a familiar voice, she looked over her shoulder to see Lily coming. Skye smirked and leaned a little closer to Takashi; her nasty grin was for Lily but she knew it'd piss Naien off as well. Just to get the message across, she quickly stuck her tongue out at Lily before turning warm blue eyes back up to Takashi. "I'd love to help you take down the other Satoshi," Skye replied and that was in no way a lie. Just because Lily wasn't quite the bitch Skye had thought she was didn't change the fact that Satoshi was sending kids to fight and die in war.

[Justin OOC]

"Not if he kills them all, Lily."

Naien nodded and led her down the ramp.

Takashi looked at Skye. "I think you would, though I'd like to know your reasons, maybe you can tell me once we get to the palace."

[SalmonMax]

Lily managed to keep her mouth shut, but the audacity of Naien's words hit her like a punch. Wiping out the rebel Dalaraan lords would practically destroy the great Houses...the last links of blood that traced to Tsunami. The only Dalaraan left would be commoners, not much more than Earth humans.

Which was, of course, the whole idea.

It would be a hell of a fight, but Lily suspected it would probably start with some kind of surprise attack, targeting the most powerful ships and nobles. And the Houses wouldn't understand. Even after being betrayed, they'd think Takashi was just maneuvering for more concessions, maybe even that he wanted to be Emperor. They wouldn't realize until it was too late that he meant to genocide them, and let the Empire collapse entirely.

There was still a little time though. They couldn't do that while they were still fighting the last of the Emperor's forces. And if she could find some kind of PROOF of Takashi's plans, she might be able to bring the rebel Houses to turn against him, now that she had an idea what he was up to.

If only she knew that about Hizashi. He was still the one that worried her most.

[z-Skye the Fallen]

Skye retained her gentle grip on Takashi's arm, continuing her masquerade of being the eager ally with benefits. At the word 'palace' her eyes lit up. "Oooo, an alien palace! I can't wait to see it," she said, smiling broadly at the insane conqueror. “I mean, I’ve seen lots of them on Ikaris, they’re like a dime a dozen, but I suspect this one will be better.”

“The Dalaraan Royal Palace is truly an awesome sight,” Takashi said absentmindedly.

Skye considered doing something to get his attention back on her, but she was distracted by something else. There was no one around. She wondered where all the commoners and nobles were – shouldn’t they be here to greet Takashi and Hizashi? On Ikaris, even the arriving tinker wagon brought out everyone to see what was happening. There should be a lot more people here – and the fact that there wasn’t was truly creepy.

“We’ll have to talk while you show me around. I’d be happy to talk about getting rid of Satoshi,” Skye added before letting the conversation lapse into silence.

[Justin OOC]

He nodded. "Not so much getting rid of, just cleaning house, as I should have before."

He nodded and looked to Naien and Lily. "Bring her as well, Naien, I'm sure she'd love to see the palace again."

The young hiroga nodded, and with her escorts they kept Lily surrounded as they made their way from the starport into the grand gates of the palace.

No one greeted them, no one dared come out on the streets, the city itself, capital of the Empire was as quiet as a tomb. Something was very very wrong with this situation.

[z-Skye the Fallen]

Skye remained quiet as she walked along, not really allowing her discomfort to show. It was easy enough to walk along as if nothing were wrong; she'd done it dozens of times before in Bazaroth. If Takashi caught her gaze, she gave him a warm smile; if Naien, Skye gave her a smug smirk. Lily she ignored as the captive that she was.

The palace was beautiful - more beautiful than any Skye had ever seen before. And like the rest of the planet, she fell instantly in love with the place. Her blue eyes wide, she stared around at the gates and the building itself. So beautiful. I think I hate Lily a little for growing up here.

[Justin OOC]

Finally the troupe came to the Palace itself. "Take The Princess to the holding cell, make sure the devices are active. I don't want her escaping."

Takashi Extended his Hand to Skye, "Come, I'll show you the inner grandeur of this place, and why i will see it turned to rubble."

He looked to Naien, "Oversee the unloading of the Amaterasu."

Lily's contingent of Hiroga guards muscled her off quickly, descending stairs to a lower level. As she neared it She could feel the hum as she had when the collar was active.

[SalmonMax]

Step by step, four Hiroga took Lily down the long spiraling staircase to the holding cells below the Palace. The hum of the dampeners was audible halfway down. Another few turns of the stairs, and you could feel it resonating in your bones. The cells were designed to disrupt manifestations of spiritual energy, negating the powers of even pureblooded Dalaraan, and causing Guardian manifestations to dissipate as fast as they could be formed. Once she was in one of those cells, Lily would be just as helpless as she'd been when the collar was working.

She was out of time.

Her eyes cut to and fro, assessing each of the guards in turn. Four. Each was a massive Hiroga elite warrior, physically powerful, highly trained and capable of creating an energy thoughtform called a Guardian, with strength and durability far in excess of even a pureblood Dalaraan like Lily. And, of course, if she gave them more than a moment or two, they'd call in and sound the alarm.

The staccato of five pairs of footsteps stopped. The Hiroga snarled in annoyance at Lily's recalcitrance, and the one behind her raised a giant rifle, intending to strike the back of her head with its butt. A little encouragement to keep moving.

He never got the chance.

The spiral staircase suddenly burned from within with blue fire that engulfed the guards and Lily herself in a blinding fury as she unleashed her power. When the glare from the energy blast faded, four bodies lay in different spots around the stairs, in postures that spoke volumes about the condition of the bones under their armor and skin. Of Lily there was no trace.

-------

The Royal Palace of Dalaraan occupied most of a small peninsula in a lake situated in the heart of the planet's most temperate, pleasant weather. There was a sort of joke that circulated about where the Imperial Family went on vacation, to which the punch line was, "Back home." There was no better, more hospitable place to be.

And yet the Imperial Family did have another palace. It wasn't nearly as well known, nor as well publicized because its function was twofold, and both of them were better performed while keeping a low profile. As a retreat, the so-called 'Winter Palace,' was far from the public eye, far from the public itself...remote and isolated, accessible via aircar, flying or teleportation. As an emergency rendezvous point and command center in case of planetary disaster, it had supplies, and uplinks to surface, satellite, and subspace comm-grids. From there, the Emperor, if need be, could issue orders to vessels anywhere in the Empire while being kept up to date on developments.

Lily appeared outside the Winter Palace, on the peak of a neighboring hill. Instantly the cold pierced through her jumpsuit and into her skin. Her fingers went numb and her cheeks burned. She crouched behind some bushes and watched the Palace intently for a few minutes, trying to tune out the chill. There were no Satoshi guards though, no military transports or aircars. It looked clean. Of course a trap would look clean too, but she really had no choice. Of all the places on the planet that might have what she needed, this was the best chance she had.

She vanished again, reappearing in front of the main door. She lifted her hand, already feeling heavy in the frigid air, and knocked on it. Her fate would be decided by the face she saw when it opened...

[Justin OOC]

A small slit opened, and two coral blue eyes peered out from it. Between the incessant beeping of the collar, and the howling wind, nothing could be heard, but slowly the massive door opened, allowing her inside, closing behind her.

No one was there, then she felt the odd tingle against the back of her neck, the sort that could only be the energy blade of a powerful Dalaraan pureblood.

"How Old were you the first time you came here?"

"Who greeted you first, the first time you came here?"

The voice sounded like that of a griseled old general, but there was no mistaking the power beneath it, and against her neck.

[SalmonMax]

Trick question she thought. Teeth gritted, she said, "The first time I remember coming here was when I was thirteen...but father told me he'd brought me here before when I was a baby." She took a deep breath and added, "I don't know who greeted us when I was that young, but it was probably the same one who greeted us when I was older. Mashindera Kresta, but we all called him 'Old Kress,' back then."

"And if you put that sword in my head, the Emperor will be mildly upset with you."

[z-Skye the Fallen]

Skye hid a shiver at Takashi’s words. Why anyone would raze something this beautiful for any reason was beyond Skye. Instead, she played the game, smiling coyly at him as he led her through the architectural splendor he’d already condemned. The main gate led into an entrance hallway with crystalline stone arches rising high over them. ‘Paintings’ on the wall made of light glowed brilliantly, displaying blue-haired, golden-eyed Daralaans into infinity. Skye assumed that these were Lily’s ancestors, displayed her in a majestic reminder that their line had ruled for longer than some stars. Or something like that; Skye was sure that they all had some kind of megalomania regarding their family’s length on the throne. Some of them changed to show other nobles; most did not, the images remaining static.

After the grand hallway, they reached the throne room. Like the rest of the city, it was empty of people and Skye stared around at the grandeur. It was a massive room; chairs lined the walls while several thrones were grouped on the raised section at the end. One was larger than the other; some were clearly for children while several were draped with a black and red ribbon. Skye didn’t know Daralaan customs, but she was sure that chair belonged to someone who had died. Remembering what Lily had said about her family, Skye knew how the chairs had come to look like that. The one to the right of the central throne caught her eye. A sword lay across the arm of one ribbon-decked chair and boots rested at the feet. Skye swallowed as she felt her throat close; this room represented the loss of life and of family. Skye may not like most nobles, but she wouldn’t have wished them dead.

Takashi strode directly to the central throne and dropped into it. Grinning insolently, he waved Skye up to join him. Naien was left at the bottom of the dais, watching hungrily as Takashi motioned to the chair to the right of his. Skye had come up the stairs willingly, but hesitated to mess with such an obvious memorial. Takashi sneered and leaned over, sweeping the sword off the chair and ripping down the ribbon. Skye flinched as the weapon clanged to the floor. But when Takashi ordered her to sit, she stepped over the felled blade and cloth and sat. “Whose chair is this?” she asked, sitting into the comfortable cushions.

“Prince Alaric.”

Skye jumped a little in surprise, her eyes widening. She hadn’t heard that name in years. “Lily’s brother?” Weird…

“The same,” Takashi said with an unpleasant smile. Skye had the sudden urge to slap the smile off his face.

You’re getting emotional. You have to be calm, she told herself, slumping over the arm of the chair and peering at Takashi under heavy-lidded, sultry eyes. “You look good in that chair, not that you look bad out of it,” she said. “Why do you want to destroy it?”

[Justin OOC]

The sword came away, and Lily could breathe easier. "Very good Princess, living on Earth hasn't made you forget everything."

The old warhorse nodded to her. "Come on, we need to shut the door."

Once that was done he called out. "Genna, She's here!"

An older woman came out, She looked truly ancient, but Lily had other memories. This was Gennaise, The woman who had bee governess to the royal heirs, all of them.

"Princess, it's so good to see you again." She was excited, and happy but still quite respectful.

"I heard that brute had captured you, but I knew you'd escape."

----------------------

"It represents something I can never truly have now." He nodded. "Everyone leave us." Even Hizashi nodded, leaving Skye alone with Takashi.

Once the door closed he smiled.

"The throne suits you more than you can know. But this will be the only time you sit in it as well. You will never have what is yours."

[z-Skye the Fallen]

"Then I will make what I have mine," Skye said, giving him a little smile. "I've lost so much so many times that losing something I'll never had doesn't hurt much." She ran her fingers over the arms of the chair, feeling the designs in the furniture. She had, once again, no idea what he was talking about. She was used to that with Takashi, though.

"You could do that with this palace," she added. "Take them away from the Royal family and make them yours utterly. It just seems a shame to destroy something this lovely just because its builders were douche bags." She was being slightly air-headed again, mostly to seem like a dumb girl. She shrugged with an indifference she didn't feel. "But if you must, you must." She gave him a bigger smile. "So what are you showing me next?"

[Justin OOC]

"Who's to say you'll live long enough to get that opportunity?"

Takashi looked at her, and his hand was grasping her shoulder, his grip digging into her.

"I can smell it on you, that stink."

"Maybe it's not like the little princess, but it's damn close."

"I can feel your power, and despite everything, it reeks of this world."

He lifted her from the throne by her shoulder possessed of inhuman strength. "You don't even know what you are. I can't really blame you, At least half of your aura isn't from this world, but nonetheless, I despise halfbloods like you."

He dropped her back into the throne roughly, and stalked off.

"I will burn this world to ash, Skye of Tsunami. You will watch, and when my final blow falls, you will know the truth of who you really are, seconds before you share in its fate."

[SalmonMax]

"Genny!" Lily blurted, surprised but pleased. "You're here! I...I guess it makes sense. You wouldn't be at the Royal Palace. Not now."

She hugged her old caretakers and friends, then got down to business.

"We don't have much time. Any minute now they'll figure out I'm gone, and I'm sure they'll be able to find me soon after that. You need to be ready to leave. Everyone here. And I need to get to the control center and send a message to the Imperial forces. After that, if they haven't found us..."

Lily took a deep breath. "Then I need to work out how to cause as much trouble as I can down here before they catch up to me." She grinned. "Too bad I'm not still a little kid. I used to be very good at that."

[Justin OOC]

"Yes you were." Kress shook his head. "We have no interstellar com system here. We can listen, but not send. I disabled it when we fled hear, as it could have been used to track this place down. They may destroy everything else, But I won't see this place destroyed as well."

genna looked at her. "That's an inhibitor collar, though it seems to only be activated in a limited fashion." Her hand brushes against it, and Lily is suprised to hear it click and open coming off in her hand. There now, that should be better."

[SalmonMax]

Lily's initial disappointment at the news of the transmitter was entirely erased by her astonishment at Genna's removal of the collar. Suddenly new possibilities opened up before her.

"Genna...how did you...that's incredible!" Abruptly she realized something. "There's probably a tracking device in there. Here, give it to me. It's the first thing they'll look for when the alarm goes up."

She gave Genna another hug, then took a deep breath. "Okay, no comm here. The other big FTL comms are..." Lily frowned, trying to remember. "The Royal Palace, the Imperial Navy Command HQ, and the Planetary Relay. All of which are going to be guarded." She paced away, rubbing her temples. "Think...think. Where else? I don't really need an FTL comm, they're only on the moon. That's outside ordinary radio range, and I'm sure Takashi will be monitoring PlanetNet traffic...and they probably cut their access off anyway..."

Lily broke off and gave Kress a pleading look. "I have to get in touch with my father, before they try anything! This whole thing is a trap! They're expecting a rescue, and they're ready for it!"

[Justin OOC]

Kress shook his head. "They're all guarded by no less than a regiment of Hiroga shocktroops, except for the Royal city, that's where The barbarians from Satoshi have set up shop, All four of their Crisis Response teams."

Genna nodded. "Disabling my own designs is nothing Princess. I am just ashamed they used it on you."

Kress looked at her. "We never produced it, only the barbarians would."

He looked to Lily. "Your Father's forces won't try anything Princess. Not now at any rate. With the destruction of the flagship, and your kidnapping they have left your allies to dry. I've intercepted certain communiques that Ryoko is trying to circumvent the council to help, but with the Emperor out again, they're resisting her."

He shook his head. "your allies are coming. Of that there is no doubt. Our sensor system, while only passive here, has a secret line into the battlesat net. Their fleet has split into three parts, making three separate attacks. One at the manufacturing center on Arxis, the southern continent, another to the Naval base, and a final attack that is looking to Hit the main continent, and "Rescue" you from the royal city."

"They likely will not survive that attack."

[SalmonMax]

..the flagship's destruction... Lily felt her knees get weak. She'd resisted that while in captivity as an attempt to make her lose hope. Now it was confirmed, and she knew her fear had been accurate. Hope of winning was flickering low; a candle flame in a drafty room. The last ship of its generation...there would never be another. And without it, there would be no new 3rd generation capital ships either. The power of the Empire would be significantly reduced.

And Tsunami only knew what condition her father was in now.

The fleet, all that remained of her allies, was coming to try to save her now, and it would be annihilated. Then what was left of her people would be. Then the Empire.

She closed her eyes.

Once upon a time there was a little girl. She knew nothing of pain or loss. She never imagined that she would stand by and watch everything she loved taken away and destroyed. I wish I could be her again. Just for a moment.

I'm sorry, father. I'm sorry, Kai. Ratheros...I'm sorry. You at least I could have left on Earth. Maybe it's better this way though. I'm sorry Hayato and Sasami, and everyone else I've let down up to this moment. I will try to make it the last time I do.

Finally she whispered aloud, "I'm sorry, Tsunami," and opened her eyes. Her fear had vanished. Her own fate meant nothing now. All that was left was to try to save her friends and family.

"Thank you both for telling me all this, and for taking the collar off," she said. "I think I know what I have to do now. Just tell me where Ryoko and the Council are."

[Justin OOC]

"They're on the Moon Lily, behind the Shield. Even those gifted with your powers still cannot peirce it in one jump, and there is no ship to take you."

He smiled. "Perhaps though, there is still some hope. Tsunami lives. Beneath this castle there is a path, leading to her heart. The trip is long, but you would be able to directly appeal to the Goddess herself."

He shook his head. "She has been quiet all these milennia, content with non-interference. Now though our priests have strayed, our nobles are arrogant, and the ruling family is in shambles. She would likely kill us as soon as grant an audience."

"She would not answer any of us."

Genna nodded, sadly. "She will answer you, that I know, without question."

"Though it pains me to see you travel this path, You must go to see Tsunami, and plead with her to save us, her people, despite ourselves."

[SalmonMax]

Lily felt tears of frustration coming to her eyes.

"Even if she would listen to me, and I've never been the most religious sort...but even if she would, what can she do without tearing the universe apart?! And what does that make US, if we can't save ourselves? Besides, there's no time for me to take a long trip! This is happening NOW!"

She hit her forehead with the heel of her hand. "I just need to get to the Council. If I can't do it in one jump...maybe more than one. I can survive if I'm in the Avatar form. Then I'll get through the shield and..."

Time, draining through her fingers. How long to jump and jump and jump through space? How long to bash the bombardment shield before a hole big enough to jump through opened? How long to convince the Council to help?

"...all right...how do I get to the path? And how far is it?"

[Justin OOC]

"I'm not sure, only one person has ever gone there and returned. He spoke of it only once."

"As to whether she will save us or not, i believe she will this time. Our pride has led us to believe we are the pinnacle as individuals, and blinded us to the truth. We need Tsunami Lily. Without her, our power wanes, and we die."

"The path leads through the planet into the core. Physics aside, remember you're entering the realm of a God. Time, distance, most things have no meaning. IT is your belief, your desire to help others, that's your strength. let nothing shake your convictions."

He led her down into the ground below the castle to a massive doorway. He placed his hands upon it and with a surge of power, the two doors creaked open revealing a long dark corridor.

[z-Skye the Fallen]

Skye glared at Takashi’s departing back. That wouldn’t happen – or at least, he wouldn’t kill her. She wouldn’t let him do that. On impulse, she knelt next to the fallen sword and scooped it up, tucking it under her robes. Like the fans, it was easy for her to conceal the weapon; it was one of the more socially acceptable tricks she’d picked up from her time in Bazaroth.

Smoothing down her robes, she followed Takashi from the room. It was just as well that the tour was over. She wasn’t in the mood for it anymore. Come on, Kazuo… if I ever needed you to show up and save my ass from the fire, this is the time.

[SalmonMax]

Lily hesitated. She looked back at the events that had led up to this with the benefit of hindsight. They formed a surprisingly straight line.

Could this have been planned? Hizashi wants something from Tsunami...but of course, he can't get to her. So he creates a giant crisis among the Dalaraan to provoke her, but she still doesn't respond. So he kidnaps Skye, a priestess with a link to Tsunami...and me, the heir of the Imperial line. Two people who Tsunami might listen to, or let in. When I refuse his offer of freedom, he has Amaya let me go 'secretly.' Knowing that I have only one place to go if I want to stop what's coming. And if I fail, he still has Skye.

It was a very neat trap, if trap it was. The fate of the Dalaraan and the Empire crushed down on her, forcing her forward. Even if it meant leading Hizashi to Tsunami's very heart, Lily couldn't stop. She had duties. Responsibilities. Friends. Family. They would all die if she did nothing. Tsunami was a goddess; a creature of incalculable power. She had to believe that she was not endangered by Hizashi. After all, Hizashi had survived what no one should survive...but he'd been injured as well, and not trivially. He wasn't a god, nor immortal. No matter how strong he was, he was a speck next to Tsunami.

She took a step into the passage...then pushed off with her feet and flew as fast as she could. Time might work differently inside, but she still had not one second to waste.

[Justin OOC]

Suprisingly no oe disturked Skye in the Throne room, she was left alone, totally free to examine everything within.

On the other side of the world, Lily found herself enveloped in light, Up, down, they lost all meaning. Only by going forward could she possibly know anything, or avoid getting lost.

Along the way images of her distant past began playing over the walls, this place was judging her, seeing if she were worthy of meeting the Founder of the Dalaraan race.

[SalmonMax]

Lily couldn't help feel a bit nervous at the silent review of the wall...who could? There was nothing in her life that felt consequential enough to qualify her for the honor she sought. What could there possibly be that would render her worthy to meet the universe's creator? So she just kept moving, putting her doubts aside. If she were worthy, she would pass. If not...she would be stopped. Or killed.

Considering the circumstances, if she died and Tsunami was thus moved to help, she'd consider it a win for her side. When she'd allied with Kai and Satoshi, it was with the expectation that the she would be bringing the aid of the Empire. Instead, she had only a broken throne and a bitterly divided people, all in the care of a madman with way, way too much power. For this one moment, she would be Empress, even if never again in her life.

[Justin OOC]

There was a flash of light, and Lily found herself in a very long corridor. The walls were bare, and above her, Endless sky. As she moved a hundred meters, The walls lit up, and faded, and the battles raging around the Dalaraan homeworld came into view.

Kai, Valerie and the others, they were all fighting to rescue her. She saw Captain Hoshino's sacrifice, the loss of two Satoshi warships, and perhaps worst of all, Her people, the Imperial forces did nothing. She saw the council drag its heels as Ryoko pressed them to send aid, but to no avail.

She could almost feel the Dead Hiroga that her allies slew in their battles. Much blood was being shed for her.

She saw Kai alone with a single Trooper in the dropship, exhausted, easy prey, and could sense a dark presence near him.

[SalmonMax]

Lily hesitated, looking all around her at the scenes of carnage and battle. Her blood ran cold.

"No...but...time was supposed to stop!" she protested. "He said time would stop!"

A new urgency filled her, and she redoubled her efforts to fly down the infernal corridor. It wasn't just hundreds of planets and trillions of beings now depending on her...it was her friends as well!

Please let this work, she begged in her mind. I won't have time to do anything else now...

[Justin OOC]

She flew for what seemed like an hour, and then there was another flash. She found herself floating in a large room, one with a definite floor. Perhaps most notably was the giant tree at the center, surrounded by pools of clear water.

There was nothing else in the chamber, except a light that felt like the sun. Closer inspection revealed a tiny seed in each pool, though none had yet germinated.

There was a vibration in her very soul, both ominous and comforting. SHE waited, only one had seen the past and the present, and fought through to see her, and This one had.

[SalmonMax]

For a moment Lily was confused, thinking this room was perhaps another test. Then realization burst upon her. The ships were more like Tsunami's true form...and the ships were like great trees.

She glided to the ring of pools and touched down, then approached the tree on foot. Near the gnarled bark she lowered herself to her knees and looked down at where the great roots sunk into the soil.

"Goddess," she said in a heavy voice. "I am Aksaniolily, the oldest living daughter of the Imperial House of Dalaraan. I humbly ask, by the blood we share, for help...otherwise I am afraid all your mortal children will be swept away forever."

Her voice caught, and she choked out, "Please hear me."

[Justin OOC]

At first, there was no response, The great Tree sat there, nothing moved, and the room was silent except for Lily's own breathing.

A single leaf fell landing before her, and the Tree seemed to shimmer and in an instant, it vanished. Before her stood a woman Lily knew well, and recalled vividly from her childhood.

She had the same flowing blue hair Lily remembered, the same eyes mirrored by Sasami. She saw the features on the face every time she looked into a mirror.

"Do not cry, my dear daughter. I have always heard you, and answered you." Her mother looked down at her smiling as she had when she'd caught Lily in the middle of mischeif as a child.

She reached out, and Lily felt the same warmth as when Kai touched her, just before he died. "Rise up, we have much to discuss."

[SalmonMax]

Momentarily stunned, Lily grasped for an answer that wouldn't turn her world upside down.

"You...you're taking my mother's form," she said. "I hardly remember her, from when I was little, but I recognize her."

She shook her head, trying to stay focused. "Tsunami, I know you know what's happening to Dalaraan. We need your help. I know we don't exactly deserve your help, but there's so many lives at risk...and we can change. We can learn, if we have the chance. All I ask is that you give us that chance."

[Justin OOC]

"Of course I take my own form Daughter, it is mine, You do not misremember."

"I have given my people chances beyond counting daughter, and they still turn from me. My children die and I greive. I grant power to keep them strong, but they only ask more."

"How would you have me help? We who guard each reality are charged with never directly interfering. I went so far to protect my charge that I transplanted myself from Earth, my home."

She sighed. "I cannot continue to do this Daughter. Even my power wanes. Without the belief of my people, I lose power, and soon, The Empire I made to protect this reality will be destroyed."

[SalmonMax]

Lily's legs gave out from under her as she succumbed to shock. And yet even in being overwhelmed, there was still a snarky, bitter bite to it all. This was how she found out? Of all the times and places and ways, this was how it finally came out? How long had her father been planning to wait before telling her? How long had her mother been planning?

And now she got here, against some of her own better instincts, to throw away pride and beg for help...only to be told by the creator of the universe that she lacked the power to help.

She got back up to her feet, stuffing a lifetime's worth of complaints and issues into the back of her mind. Everything could be dealt with later. Survival first.

"So you can't help," Lily said flatly. "Or won't. Unless the people of Dalaraan what? Believe in you? But then, how are they supposed to believe in someone, or something, that just stands by and lets them die? If there was ever a goddess there to watch over them, THAT would be the logical time for her to intervene!"

She pressed the palms of her hands to her temples. Anger wouldn't solve anything now.

"I did not come here just to watch Takeshi burn my home. You need people to believe in you. All right. How many people? I'm not even sure there are many LEFT, by the way. But we'll work with what we have. What do you need? Specifically, I mean. I need specifics to make a plan."

[Justin OOC]

Tsunami moved quickly, and seemed to loom over Lily even though she was the same height. "It isn't just this world. He enabled the hiroga and the nobles to stage their rebellion. He's going to kill them all Lily. Ever Dalaraan life lost in this Civil war weakens me, and he knows this. That's why he's severely reduced the dalaraan population almost exclusively."

She shook her head. "There isn't a magic number for belief Daughter, but the sincerity of the belief does factor into it. "Enough believe that I have power enough to empower four of you. I have done so with You and Ryoko. I have chosen the others, though neither is ready yet for it."

She sighed. "You know nothing of what being a guardian is Lily, and I'd have liked another century for you to be trained properly. But We won't get that. Suppose I do take the field at your side. The power I wield can destroy worlds. When a deity fights, nothing stands before us that is not of us."

Above her, a screen appeared. It showed the situation of the Capital with the Satoshi Mecha already returning. "Satoshi controls the planet, and the nobles stage for battle against the lunar base. Ryoko alone won't be able to stop them. Where would you have me intervene. Both battles for the world, or for the remnant of the Empire are incredibly important."

She nodded to her. "Your people, or your friends. I will let you choose."