Endgame: Iustitia Omnibus (Bio, Sess)

February 8th, OE 102
2:50 PM DST
Lunar Orbit
Arm Stora Finis Class "Clementia" Bridge

High above Luna, far from the range of any sensor, a dark form loomed against the cosmos. The twin-horned silhouette of an Arm Stora Finis Class battleship hovered in the void, dark and silent, a mere observer in the goings-on below... For now.

On the bridge, it was an entirely different picture. Various holograms and infographs jostled for attention, trying to analyze every single thing that was going on. Without the help of Opus units, which it had turned out were unable to completely avoid detection, they had been forced into making use of the battleship's sensor arrays instead. Different voices spoke in rapid succession at great speed amidst the dizzying whirl of information.

"Status update on temporal shifts."
"It's over 14.83% above the standard deviation."
"A little too high for my tastes."
"Are you suggesting we should send in Scientia? Glass the whole surface?"
"We have an upper limit of 20% for a reason-."

On and on it went. Yet at the center of the mass, a lone figure watched, his arms folded. A sleek blue pilot suit covered his body, and a dark helmet that wrapped around his features, concealing them from view. That, he was grateful for - not only because the technology packed into its surface was cutting edge, even by his standards, but that it hid the disgust that was clear upon his features. Not even the residue of so-called "Super Civilizations", he thought, were safe from the dull chattering of bureaucrats.

"Feeling nostalgic, Virtus?" Asked a voice to his right. He didn't even look away,
"I know a loaded question when I hear it, Aristarch."

It was a blunt reply, but the hologram shrugged it off with a laugh. Intriguing, thought the masked man mildly, how these things even adopted human mannerisms to conceal their abhorrent nature.

"We selected you for your honesty. I am pleased to see you're adjusting well."

Virtus raised a hidden eyebrow, but said nothing further. He had his own doubts about this "arrangement"... but, it was what he "deserved". This... He knew, in the depths of his heart, to be true. Before the Aristarch could continue, there was the polite chime of a proximity alarm - more mild than any he'd heard previously, at least.

"Heat source approaching. Size and generator indicate it's the Lunarian Special, Giganscudo. Advised course of action: Interception."

The masked man immediately turned on his heel, beginning to make his way purposefully toward the hangar - but stopped, as the hologram called out to him.

"No hesitation, then?"
"...That is why I am here, isn't it?"
"Might I suggest the Valarm? It's about time someone put it through its paces-"

Virtus held up a weary hand, stopping the man in mid sentence, voice full of exasperation.

"Please." He said.

As the doors to the rear of the vessel slipped open, the "hangar" as it were was noticeably empty. After all, when you could simply transport whatever you needed in directly from the source, there was no need to keep machines on hand except in case of emergencies-

But, he was just a little... Old fashioned.

Standing in its own maintenance berth, massive, orbiting 3D-Printers putting the finishing touches on its gleaming, knightly form, was a figure that was unmistakable to any Lunarian, from its broad shoulder paldrons, to the heavy-set drill-lance held attentively between his hands. An imitation, admittedly, he thought... But it would suffice.

Faster...!

'Approaching' was perhaps an overly gentle term for the way in which the Giganscudo hurtled through open space, alone and with all speed.

The Fure-class Indomitable was little more than a glimmer in the machine's rear scope, far out of sensor range and only visible by virtue of its prodigious size - and even then only if one were to consult a star chart and deduce which of the twinkling lights was out of place. Conversely Charles' own machine would have been difficult to miss based both on its own scale and viridian wake as it blazed through the vacuum. It was little wonder that the crew of the Clementia saw him long before he noticed their presence. In fact, there was no more than a matter of a second or two between the Special's sensors picking it up and the dark-hulled vessel flowing across his monitors as a shadowed smear.

A burst of thruster-fire spun the unit on its vertical axis with surprising nimbleness; the flare that burst from its back grew exponentially as engines ramped up to maximum power in a heroic attempt to summarily halt four hundred and eighty tons of Lunarian steel. Charles could feel the forces imparted by the high-gee maneuver clawing at his body, but the newly-installed Gravicon served to minimize their effect from posing a redout danger to a mild inconvenience.

But stop the Giganscudo did, albeit after some not-insignificant distance had passed between it and the ship. A communication on all frequencies snapped outward from the red-white-and-gold colossus...in concert with the opening of armored panels that concealed the many energy condensers the served to feed raw energy to its weapons. There was no veil over the threat being made. Charles didn't have time to play the gentleman.

"By the authority of the Grand Arbiter of Everglory, identify yourself and state your business in Lunarian space immediately!"

Based on the glow of power accumulating in the seams among its many-sectioned armor, there was little need to vocalize the unspoken 'or else'.

As the Clementia drifted through space, it continued its activities unabated even with the approach of the Giganscudo... and the distant, leviathan form of Luna's premiere "Better-than-Earth's" battleship class, the cutting-edge Fure class.

"Identify myself? ...Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

The transmission that clicked forth was on a distinctly familiar channel. Indeed, it was a Lunarian one - and just as swiftly, a form rocketed forth from the back of the Arm Stora, perching itself along the ship's back. The sloped shoulders, the gleaming, crystalline body, and the rigid posture could only be one thing.

The Diamd took its lance, the Gae Bolg, and drove its tip into the armor of the vessel, folding its hands about the hilt in a fashion directly lifted from Lunarian etiquette. The voice that issued forth was flecked with static and tinny to the ear, as though it had been run through a filter - but it was as an iron bar, once robust but worn by life to a biting, rusted edge.

"I am designated 'Virtus'." Said the Diamd's pilot dryly, the Ark Saber looking directly across into the eyes of the Giganscudo.

"I bear no noble title, no honors gird my name. I am the lordless servant of thoughtless, calculating machines."

The Diamd shook its head, as if in imitation of its pilot's sarcasm.

"But, fair Arbiter..."

There was a sapphire gleam in one of the noble machine's eyes, a glint of something... More.

"This pride of mine..." Continued the automaton; "That I have not yet been robbed of. A duel with the great Giganscudo..."

The lance was wrenched out from the hull of the vessel below, and leveled directly at Charles' head. Within the cockpit, beneath the mask... The man's pale features formed into a small smirk. Perhaps he'd be able to make the best of this situation after all.

"Perhaps that may make me feel something."

A flash of light, and the Diamd cannonballed off the roof of the Arm Stora Class, making a beeline directly for Charles position as the drill-like portions of its lance began to rotate, Dimensional Power flowing into it with rings of light that send waves of green showering across its knightly features...

The derisive laughter that echoed back at the Arbiter cut deep. But it was the form that emerged from the bowels of the Clementia that truly dug at the man, his eyes first widening momentarily in surprise before his brow furrowed and knuckles whitened on the controls. "What mockery is this?" The words crawled their way up from Charles' throat in an uncharacteristic growl; whether or not his opponent had intended his display of Lunar etiquette as a slight against the knight, such display of their aged customs by a self-professed nobody clearly had struck a nerve. His seeming possession of the Diamd was merely the bewildering cherry on an aggravation sundae.

"Loathe as I am to deny myself the chance to teach you your place," he continued in a tone no less gravelly, "I have no time to properly quash such an imitation knight." His desire ached to do nothing more than turn his back on this nameless fool and rush onward to the defense of his home and kingdom. Yet it seemed as though this man, who professed no name beyond a callsign, would deny him as much. And even in the hands of a rank amateur the Diamd was not a machine even he and the Giganscudo could ignore wholesale.

"So forgive me for ending this quickly!" There was a distinct click with the depression of the trigger under his left index finger. In a fraction of a moment the gathered energy that ensconced the Super condensed in a glowing orb and burst forth to meet the charging foe. The newly minted Giga Wide Blaster was closer to a weapon of war than one of knightly dueling, and so it was somehow fitting that its first firing in anger would be aimed at the destruction of such a false and meaningless individual.

"WELL MET!"


With a shout of approval, the Diamd's thrusters ignited, sending the crystalline machine careening forward. The sunlight caught all its knightly glory, like a gallant hero rushing to save the day, framed against the backdrop of the moon and the cosmos.

"Today, the Kingdom falls, or rises anew from the ashes!"

The Giga Wide Blaster poured forth from its gargantuan vessel, a tidal wave of power that cut across the stars like a javelin of light. The Diamd's shoulder binders flared, sending it into a spiral spin that curled it just barely out of range of the wave - yet the breadth of the strike seemed to take even it slightly off guard, scorching the surface of its body with dark streaks. The blast continued - and struck home on the unidentified battleship, sending up a white and blue burst of energy.

One arm of the Arm Stora fell away in the distance, sheared clean by the Gigan's attack as explosions ripped across the rest of its surface - yet his attacker seemed hardly even bothered, only accelerating even harder as he closed the distance.

"Poisoned by rot! Strangled by conspiracy! By falsehoods, and traitors!"

In the Diamd's hand, the Gae Bolg began to spin, Dimensional Energy gathering across its length, suffusing it with power as it brought it up in both hands, targeting recticle sliding across the Gigan's hulking body, searching for a weak spot. There was still no data on this new model - any kind of strategy would have to be applied on the fly...

And that suited him just fine.

"Did the ideal Kingdom ever truly exist? Or was it all a lie, a beautiful falsehood we clung to in an era of cynicism?"

It cut up and to the right, directly into the blind spot of Charles' eye - and the tip of the lance flared, sending a kaleidoscopic ray of power spearing down, stabbing at his shoulder, aiming to pierce the joint itself - before immediately coming crashing down, wielding the blazing weapon in one hand as it slashed out, aiming to rip through the very same, evidently trying to stay clear of the massive, pyramid-like shields.

"Is what you fight for truly justice, noble Arbiter?!"

In hindsight perhaps Charles should have expected as much from a machine of the Diamd's caliber, but it appeared that this foe would not be so simple to dispatch as he had hoped. Still, that his blast scorched the face of the false knight's armor spoke to him - of the fact that his opponent likely was unaware of the improvements that had been made to the Giganscudo during its rejuvenation. And rightly so, considering the work had primarily been done en-route after departing Everglory.

The foe spiraled up and away, seeking to rise above Charles and beyond his sight, but it would not be so as the Duro pivoted to keep a hearty slice of space between the edge of its view and the Diamd. It made little effort to move elsewise from where it stood in space however, and as such the man's strike found meat - but it was the tough hide of armor rather than a soft joint as his target's arm snapped up with fresh nimbleness. The power that lanced forth from the Gae Bolg drew a scorched line across the plating of the Giganscudo's shield but failed to penetrate more than superficially.

The brazen tip of the weapon would see better success, sinking deep into the defensive slab - but it, too, would fail to wholly pierce, and by imparting a twist to his machine's forearm as it dug in Charles sought to jam the shaft of the thing up in the hole it itself had made.

"You recognize that mankind is a flawed existence," growled the Arbiter, and the gargantuan thrusters that adorned the rear of the Giganscudo flared to life, though it was only those on the right side that burst aflame. "Yet you question my pursuit of justice?" The entire colossal machine pivoted on the spot, traversed by engines suddenly burning at maximum capacity. The right arm rose in concert, brilliant energy encapsulating the pyramidal anchor mounted there as it was driven toward the Diamd's chest backed by not only the Giganscudo's potent servos, but the entire mass and momentum of the rotating machine itself as well.

"INEXCUSABLE!"

"Loyal to the end, a model lapdog for all to follow!"

As the Gae Bolg bit deep, the bitterness in Virtus voice only deepened in response to Charles own furor. As it was caught in the depths of the metal plates, the oscillating rings of the weapon ground to a halt, and spun backwards, allowing the Diamd to swiftly pull the weapon free-

But not in time to get away, as with a titanic crunch the pointed pyramid slammed home into the chest of the Arksaber Machine, sending it crashing back, thrusters fluttering as it sought to regain control. Cracks ripped up and across its body, snaking all the way up to its mask, causing chunks to fall away in glittering shards as it reasserted itself, tiny chunks of hardened DEC ricocheting off the surface of the Gigan from the force of the impact is it was carried forward.

"One man cannot stand against oblivion alone! One man cannot become true justice!"

Behind the mask, the man's eyes narrowed into slits, as though he were fighting a battle not only against the crimson defender, but also against himself.

"Are you a shield for the kingdom? Or for all of humanity?" He asked, raising the lance once more as it spun up, preparing another deadly volley,

"Are they truly worthy of your protection, when they themselves are so unjust?"

And yet...

He paused, as a familiar sound began to roll across the battlefield, penetrating even the void itself. A low, rumbling chuckle that seemed to cause the very metal beneath one's fingers to rattle in response.

"Slaves always over-complicate things."

Virtus and the Diamd's head immediately snapped in the direction of the voice. Framed against the moon was a familiar shape - as though it were emerging once more from the depths of memory, a mix of monster and machine, like a regal chair of enormous size. Seated upon its heart... Was the silver ogre himself. How long had he been watching them?

"Justice?" Growled Vynatea, the jeweled being rising from its monstrous throne to face its destined foe once more.

"Whoever is powerful is right, and just. That is..."

He raised a finger, bringing it to his chest, where a colossal X-shaped scar had been dug across its surface, a multi-hued cross of DEC that reached up to his jawline... and grinned, viciously.

"The law of the wild."

It was with a terribly satisfying weight that Charles' strike landed true, the shock of impact against his equally sizable foe reverberating back through the Giganscudo's frame. Engines flared to steady his machine as well as it retracted its great fist, though the limb remained cocked to deal a second blow should the Diamd approach once more. It seemed, however, that Virtus would rather wax philosophical than engage him with haste.

"Protection of queen and country are my charge," though there was no denying that as of late, it seemed that doing his duty had so in turn cast some umbrella of protection over the rest of humanity, "and their worthiness of such is not mine to judge!" His sworn duty as Grand Arbiter was a sacred thing - Charles would not be the first to lay down his arms in the defense of Everglory. Whatever injustice, whatever corruption might exist...would be cut out and cast away in due course. He was the shield that ensured their civilization persisted to do so.

As he made to advance upon the Arksaber, however, Charles was interrupted by the same sound that stayed Virtus' hand. The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention as a wave of wholly unpleasant recognition washed over him. His view as well tilted in what seemed to be the direction of the voice - and if his brow had been furrowed before, it was nothing compared to the way his eyes narrowed at the sight of Vynatea's silhouette. It seemed he had not been successful in banishing the beast in total last they met, and for him - it - to reappear now of all times...

"Last we met you were at the loss, foul creature. Need I make you turn tail once more?" The Giganscudo's head shifted in the opposite direction - one emerald eye gazing directly into the Diamd's own optics. "Strike me down from behind if you must, false knight - but if you possess even a smidge of honor, allow me to lay low this monster aforehand."

Flame burst from the Giganscudo once more, great engines thrusting it forward in space. No bellow of heroics nor rage heralded his charge as he rocketed toward Vynatea, both pyramidal shields raised in preparation; there was only silent determination and the will for victory.

"Your Queen and Country are slaves both to the whim of an uncaring imposter who plays at "God"!"

Vynatea closed his eyes. Lao's death was still fresh in his mind, and so too was the memory of how he had come close to sharing a similar fate. Yet... He would not back down. No, if the presence of that ship was any indication... He was about to reach his limit.

So be it.

He raised a hand into the air as the Gigan approached, scarred form standing tall and proud in the void's sunlight.

"And that is why..." He growled:

"You will never be anything more!"

He snapped his fingers, setting off a tinder-like incandescent spark. As if at some unspoken signal, the "throne" he rode about on flowed forward, engulfing him as its mass shifted and changed, its once black sections changing, becoming pearl white, speckled with flecks of pure DEC. The plates shifted and grated against one another, taking on a humanoid shape, two arms flexing out beside a crown like head, three long tails billowing out behind him. Within the Armor, he couldn't help but crack a smile.

It had been a long, long time since he'd needed to fight like this.


The Dimensional General bounded forward, his form now on par in size with the Gigan itself. Behind him, the world seemed to shatter and break, as he brought a gleaming fist forward, meeting the Gigan's own approach with his own roar of defiance that reverberated through space and time.

The Diamd, for its part... Could only watch, as though rooted to the spot in absolute silence as Charles stood firm against the tyrant, the monster who had caused the fall of the Kingdom. No sound came from Virtus - yet within the cockpit, he could hear his rattling breath as he watched the spectacle, as though transfixed, unable to avert his eyes, yet unable to shake the terror that seemed to hold him fast in its very grip.

It seemed as though the beast before Charles had challenge to offer than at their last meeting. It mattered not. He would not - could not - falter, nor waver, nor lose his faith in victory. To do so against such a foe was to itself ensure his own destruction, that much he knew. And so the Giganscudo barreled forth even as the white giant leapt in kind, its own great right fist rocketing out to meet Vynatea's strike.

It was like slamming headlong into an immeasurably strong wall. The collision between anchor and crystalline fist all but halted even the Ganduro's momentum; it was only the shining blue-white energy of the G-Territory that allowed the Arbiter's machine and her pilot to weather it. From where Virtus stood it might seem as though even the empty void of space itself rippled and wavered from the sheer force of the impact as their blows met, unleashing a shockwave of such gargantuan magnitude that it defied the very laws of physics to make itself known.

With this Giganscudo...!

The machine's left hooked inward toward the white figure, missing not so much as a beat despite the rattling Charles had taken in their clash. The pyramidal shield, however, would deviate from diving in at Vynatea; it would instead swerve high, a tremendous uppercut that seemingly fell far short of its mark. The reason would become rapidly apparent as it pivoted around where their fists had come together, driven by both momentum and thrusters. While not known for nimbleness the Giganscudo would nonetheless extend its left leg, the movement of the entire machine intended to drive the solid-edged slab of armor that guarded its shin up and into the opposing giant's ribs.

A trail of emerald stardust cut through the void of space, drifting away as if on a gentle breeze; the tail of an azure comet, rocketing toward the moon. It was a long journey for the machine blazing ever forward, plenty of time for the precious meatbag inside to reflect on the past few days... the circumstances of the decision to defy his own instincts and head toward his inevitable imprisonment.



"I'm worried about Selene," Enfield spoke softly from the bed he would be confined to for an indefinite amount of time. He had been badly wounded in the fight against that nasty little mech.

James sat slouched in the chair next to him, head back against the wall with his eyes closed. A very uncouth posture, by all accounts of his station. One slid half open to glance to the bedridden man. "I'm not," James responded with a hint of bitterness, "She'll be fine. She's a big girl." He flinched back from the withering look Enfield gave him. "You heard what those mooks said... I'm a traitor too now. We're both kind of screwed if we go back, not that you're in any condition to even go to the bathroom alone."

Enfield sighed and pat James on the leg; the gesture weak. James flinched from it at first, but relaxed, thankful for the affection and not violence. "Forgive her. She was only trying to do what's best. We both forced her hand."

James clenched his teeth, biting back the bitter response, swallowing the sour bile of hate. He didn't hate his sister directly. He hated what she wanted from him, what she expected of him. To hide in the shadows, then suddenly pop up and take over after he 'allowed' her to kill herself. To sit by and accept being handed off like a prized stallion to the first highly influential hag to come pay a high enough price. Probably even eventually face the same fate as their parents... She was asking FAR too much of him, even on a good day.

He eyed Enfield for a moment before giving in with a grunt and crossed his arms over his chest, ever the petulant teenager ruining the image of reaching manhood. "Fine... I'll go check on her. Alone. Merida's staying here to watch you." He didn't want to, he really didn't. He had absolutely no desire to go back home to be locked up and caged like some bird to be paraded out when she felt it was necessary. But he knew if he didn't, he'd have to restrain Enfield to his bed and one of them would need to be watching him at all times to keep him from going off to go do it himself.

"James. I don't need a babysitter." Enfield frowned at him.

"No. But she does," He grinned. It wasn't exactly a lie; Merida was a little volatile when riled up. Boy was she riled up right now. If he wasn't taller than her he was sure she'd have decked him for the little... incident... Thank the stars Enfield pulled him out of that state. But for now he could enjoy the wonderful feeling of assigning his older brother a babysitter, rather than the other way around. "I'll leave the ship and the eggheads with you two. We can make it back faster without it."

"They're not happy with you, what makes you think they'll behave when you leave?" Enfield settled back down into his bed, closing his eyes.

James smiled softly, shifting his glance to the floating debris outside the ship of what was once dubbed 'Panikos'. They had every right to be angry with him. He destroyed their stolen goods and taken over their ship, through trickery and brute force. Unknightly, to be sure, but the events of the past few days had taught him well that one cant He'd let them go... eventually. Maybe.

"Merida, mostly. Liana too, if she sticks around. I'm not sure they'll continue to behave when I leave, but I'm sure they don't want shoved out an airlock by a midget. Which I entirely expect of Merida with that temper of her. Liana doesn't look much less a spitfire. It'd be like pissing off two she-wolves, except one has the fangs and claws to back it up. Buuut basically I'm relying on a hope and a prayer that they don't try to mutiny on you two..."

Enfield sighed and nodded his head, "Don't do anything stupid... please..."

James bit back the remark on his tongue. His face spoke it plainly; 'I already am by going back'. "I won't," it felt like a lie...


A sense of dread and wrongness crept in through the edges of James' reflections. The closer he drew to the Lunar Kingdom, the stronger it grew. Something was wrong, very very wrong. He frowned and corrected himself in his seat, gripping the controls while steeling himself. Enfield's words echoed in his head, "Remember to keep yourself balanced. No matter what, hold on to that balance." What the hell did that even mean? He had asked of course, but the explanation was over his head. He drew in a slow breath and released it, focusing on how he had felt when Enfield broke through his berserk fury. That... he could focus on and keep himself balanced with. He had to, there was no choice, not with this... soul crushing dread closing in. He took in a slow, deep breath, rolled his shoulders, and exhaled slowly. He had this. Whatever was going on, he could handle it.

Fate or coincidence intervened, he arrived in range in time to find the Giganscudo begin it's engagement with the Diamd. He'd once attribute it to fate, before he met the 'Goddess' his family served. But coincidence would suffice now. Briefly, he entertained the thought of ending the Diamd with a sneak attack, but nah. He was a small fry. Charles had this. Sure, James owed Charles his life and Selene's... But he wouldn't appreciate the interference.

He could deal with that ship... It was damaged, but that didn't mean it didn't have a battery capable of interfering. He wasn't even about to interfere with the verbal joust the pair engaged in, no matter how much he wanted to correct the moron fighting Charles.

Things changed so quickly though. A spike in detected DE, Genion's reactor responding to the uproar resonating from... a dude on a chair? It was a wicked chair though, definitely some guy on drug's fever nightmare. Why did it surprise James when the damn chair melted around the damn guy? Shit. Time to interfere. The Genion swung around wide, tip toeing the edge of perception best she could while drawing ever nearer until the General was distracted.

James had no idea what this monster was or what it wanted, but he was aware of the thing that came from the rift... This was Enfield's mess and damnit now it was on James and Charles to clean it up-- AGAIN! The Genion charged forward, behind the monstrous armored man as he went toe to toe with Charles. The azure machine's eyes flashed emerald. Plates shifted in a shower of emerald motes. With the GAI's increase in speed, the gap was quickly closed. Dimensional energy wrapped the Genion's fist. She put her all in the blow, striking out at the back of the beast's head, discharging the energy into it's being.

He had to snap the other pilot out of it; as he was, he was an obstacle on the battlefield, liable to die or get them killed if he didn't pull himself together. That ship was a liability as well, especially if they decided to turn their battery upon the combatants. "You were so gung-ho to fight CHARLES of all people without fear! Snap the fuck out of it if you want to live!" James shouted over the com line at the stalled machine, "Tell your friends in the ship to get the hell out of here, he might use them as hostages or they could get caught in the cross fire, either bail or fight for your life! This guy isn't going to play around!"

The Giganscudo's titanic leg swung up - but its ponderous slowness was no match for the gleaming giant, whose arm spapped around its knee in a tight lock, muscles bulging as it began to contract. Energy crackled along its body as Vynatea placed a palm against the leg, flashing Charles a wicked grin. He'd seen that technique before. It was the same one that had ended Exeter's life, using the weapon as a medium for his destructive energies.

"Not even death will unshackle you, sla-"

Suddenly, he paused in mid-gloat, perhaps sensing something - and turned his head slightly - with enough time for James to catch him right across the cheek. Diamond-like teeth came splintering out as the force of the Sphere's power sent him tumbling back, briefly on the back foot. The General's eyes lit up like bonfires with fury and indignation - and in a moment more he bounded forward, swinging a haymaker punch at blistering speeds into the chest of the Gai, before immediately setting upon the Gigan, a titan-sized kick being rained upon its already burdened shields that carried the full weight of his body behind it.

Virtus, for his part, heard James' words, his masked head tilting up as he snapped out of whatever fear had held him tight in its grip.

"Sir Steelheart...?!" He gasped, audibly.

"A Sphere Reactor?"

...No, he reflected. It all made far too much sense, concerning everything he'd heard. To think that one of royal blood could be here, on the battlefield, alongside his men... The thought alone filled him with something. Pride? Perhaps. The wise king had been much the same in his younger days. The archives of Edelweiss had shown him much in such a short time, pulling back every deceit ever festooned upon his eyes like radiant sunlight, but even so...

"...Great Lady." He said, quietly. His own reflection looked back at him in the monitor... and he found it unfamiliar. Frightening, almost. Mercy was not something he was used to asking for. He was a proud man, but wise enough, at that moment, to realize he had not yet shed all that he claimed to. At least for a little while longer... He was only human.

"For one more day, let me fight as a Knight of the Moon."

The Diamd's lance revved up once more, sending light dancing across its surface as it rejoined the battle, charging towards the battling trio. The speed at which Vynatea reacted left him in awe, but there was no time for second thoughts, even as he drew the lance up high, channeling as much power as it could muster into its length.

Either they would all stand together against the ogre, or fall together.

In spite of the determination that beat in his chest, a grimace flashed across Charles' expression at Vynatea catching the Giganscudo's leg. He couldn't forget that attack, true enough; it had already stolen something truly precious away from the Kingdom of Everglory once before. So be it. He would sacrifice the limb if it meant striking an equal blow upon the crystalline monster. Armor panels snapped aside on the Duro's shoulders and knees. Arcing gouts of energy burst forth from the revealed openings, four great rings of power that rapidly rose to blinding intensity. The Arbiter's fingers tightened on the trigger for the G-Circle Blaster, intent on unleashing the indiscriminate attack regardless of the threat it posed to Virtus and the Arm Stora - but a twinkling in the distance stayed his hand. The silhouette grew large enough to be familiar in the span of a moment and then it was upon them, delivering a potent blow to their common enemy.

"Well-timed, young Steelheart!" Charles roared triumphantly as he wretched his leg free of Vynatea's grasp. The how and why of James' sudden appearance were certainly questions that surfaced in his mind, but they were buried beneath the now. Even with the upgraded Giganscudo it was clear that he would need all the help he could get in putting down this beast. The gathered power around his machine was allowed to dissipate; the Genion's presence would prevent him from using such tactics, but its assistance was worth far more and he would not begrudge it.

The speed with which their foe pivoted from defense to attack was indeed impressive, delivering a punishing hammerblow to the GAI before diving relentlessly upon the Giganscudo. The force of the blow sent it reeling back through space. Dimensional crystal seemed to be the only thing denser than Charles' own armor, and the enemy greatly outmassed even he despite their similar scales.

That, the Arbiter reflected, could be used to his advantage.

The Giganscudo's left arm punched forward, energy crackling at the tip of its pyramidal anchor. The implement snapped open and with a burst of emerald flame leapt forth at Vynatea. He aimed simply at the figure's central mass; simply getting one claw on the monster would provide further openings for James. As much as he would have loved to strike the beast low himself, with the arrival of the Genion his role had become clear. Much as he had served the Kingdom as Grand Arbiter, he would be the Shield to James' Spear.

"That one's for Sir Exeter!" James exclaimed as the Genion's fist met with the monster's face. He had been aiming to knock the thing's head off, but teeth suited him just fine. James didn't take time to revel in the blow. He went straight to the defense, knowing full well how chaotic a fist fight could get. The Genion's frame tensed, ready for the blow that would inevitibly come. The speed was surprising, almost enough to overtake the Azure mech. She twisted to the side, drifting back just enough to be on the outside of the blow and his other arm. Emerald energy gathered in her hands just before both thrust out to slap against the silvery titan's forearm, pushing it away from her frame, releasing the coalesed energy against his skin.

"For one more day, let me fight as a Knight of the Moon."

"Why stop at one?"

The Genion darted back, giving Charles the room he needed to maneuver.

"Everyone deserves a second chance. Mistakes can be paid for and repented. I don't know what you've done, but bringing Sparkles here down should cover whatever debt you need to pay as far as I'm concerned. And no matter what you've done, I'm proud to stand here with two excellent knights at my side. Don't risk close contact with him if you can avoid it, I have a few new toys I can use."

As if to emphasize the point, Genion raised her hand at the mech, her last three digits curling in tight against her palm. She pointed at Vynatea, index and thumb extended as if mimicking a gun. She waited until the time was right, the creature distracted with Charles to unlease a shot of emerald energy from her finger tip.

"...!"

Vynatea gave a grunt as the Genion - unexpectedly swift for a slave - turned his own momentum against him. As the two touched - he felt it. That bristling crackle of power up his arm, rising up in defiance, that sent a shiver down even his spine. One of them - the Twelve! The shock alone caused him to hesitate, just for the slightest of moments, but it was enough.

James' improvised finger gun lashed out. Such a small jet, he could easily have ignored - but for where it struck. As he whirled upon the Gai, arms glowing with power, ready to deliver a crushing blow at full force-

Half of his world went black.

With an anguished roar, the titan's hand went to his face, one eye now nothing more than a fractured mass of flesh and glimmering crystal fragments. His palm flashed - and a hastily aimed jet of energy fired out at James, one with more than enough power behind it to punch clean through the Genion, field and all. However, in his rage, he had neglected Charles, perhaps assuming the ponderous titan was too slow to pose a serious threat.

The colossal, pyramid like shield of the Ganduro closed about Vynatea's form like a pin-vice. The silver ogre, alarmed, threw an arm up in the path of one claw, just barely preventing it from closing on his neck. Within the Super Robot's arm, power surged, pistons slammed and pneumatic valves were pushed into the red zone as it began to squeeze. Bionic muscle met Lunarian engineering, both straining against one another for what felt like an eternity packed into only a few small seconds.

In the distance, the form of the Diamd came into view, lance so bright in its hands it was like a neon spark among the stars. The rear of the Arksaber-machine expanded out as the head's "helmet" closed, turning all its thrusters forward as its now quadrupedal body galloped ahead. Steelheart's words were ringing in his ears - but, there was no time to respond, no time to react, not as things were playing out before them.

This was it, realized Virtus. There would be no second chance, if they were to end the reign of the tyrant, it would have to be now.

"Strike true, GAE BOLG!"

With everything it had, the Diamd hurled the missile out into space, cracks smashing all across its already damaged body from the sheer force of the throw, the scintillating spear surging toward the figure grasped in the Gigan's claws...

As heartening as it may have been to see their combined efforts land a wound on the Dimensional General, there was less than little time to celebrate that small victory. No sooner had his anchor closed around Vynatea's form than the Arbiter was rocketing forward once more, the great chain that linked anchor and shield reeling in as they came together. The second of the Giganscudo's clawed fists snapped open as he came upon his foe, clamping down with equal force atop the first and doubling down on the pressure it exerted. The tortured howl of machinery echoed through the Super's frame as it strained to contain the beast.

I am not done yet, foul creature.

Power arced menacingly between the golden-hued tips that adorned the Duro's anchors. An audible hum undercut the screeching of strained servos and struggling hydraulics, the deep rumble of generators spinning up to speed reverberating through the venerable machine. There was a solid clunk followed by a sharp cracking noise and the unmistakable sound of an electrical discharge as capacitors dumped enough current into Vynatea to turn a lesser foe to no more than ash. The attack would no doubt be less than lethal against his crystalline opponent, but it was one more tool to keep him occupied and restrained.

Charles' view was drawn up and past the figure in his grasp as a shining beacon rose to join the fight - the Diamd. It seemed that righteousness had won over the false knight in the end after all, no doubt thanks to the efforts of young James. Much had transpired since he and the lad had parted ways last, and there would be much to discuss once they were done with this business. And...perhaps with this man Virtus, as well.

"Together, the both of you! While he is restrained, finish this!"

James had not expected the little shot to do much damage to the titan. Truthfully, he hadn't expected it to even land- or work in general. It seemed he'd have to experiment with the Genion's abilities more... Or hope for more of those flashes that guided him when he fought the one who called him 'Sun-Eater'. The shock of landing the blow was short lived though. The Genion franticly dashed aside at the alert from her AI. Even safe in the cockpit he could almost feel the sheer energy roiling off that shot. If it had hit... even with the barrier...

He shook the thought from his mind, focusing instead on the battle. Virtus had joined the fray at last, putting his all to strike down the beast as Charles further restrained it. James took a deep breath and centered himself again, focused on maintaining that balance he felt fighting the corvid like mech. Within that span of a breath, he allowed himself to feel out the best course of action, sifting through the emotion and reflections. The burning anger deep inside, directed at those who would threaten his loved ones and those he cared for. Despair and fear of another loss... a necessary part of his balance. He cared for Charles, this creature had taken away a friend. His emergence from ZONE had destroyed the hope of his people and brought ruin.

And opposing that anger, Mercy, acceptance, hope... A counter balance that had pulled him from a berserker rage, saving more than just Gerart's life that day. Hope and mercy stayed his hand for Ze'ev, despite the desire to crush him like an insect. Mercy granted to the scientists who had stolen his partner's spare parts, twisted them into a mocking clone destined for something terrible, leaving them behind with the hope they would behave. Each one of them given a second chance. Something within that emotion rang through true and clear as a clarion call.

He had claimed mercy and leniency on the knight before them just moments ago. A second chance...

Why the hell not? He had offered it to this man. He had granted it to the one who had tried to kill his brother. He even offered it to his brother despite the attempt Gerart made to kill him. It was what the kind of man he wanted to be would do. The kind of king he swore to be if it ever came down to it.

Centered so, the Genion made her way to the titan, energy charging in the fists. The voice that left his mouth was so unlike him. Calm and gentle, no trace of mockery, amusement, or play. No hint of anger. Merciful, benevolent, regal, despite the growing concentration of power in the Genion's fists.

"Great Titan, you are not weak, neither are we. A clash for territory ended with you at the losing end of our fangs. I offer you this chance at redemption. Leave now and never darken our doorway again... Or take up arms with me to drive back the coming threat. Further aggression will give us no choice but to end your life. Everyone deserves a second chance. Do not waste yours."

She was posed to strike, to carry out that threat. The slightest hint of aggression and... her fist would find Vynatea's head true this time.

The crucial moment had arrived. Time seemed to tick slower and slower, every movement slow and sluggish as James closed in. The power surging through the Ganduro's pincers lashed at Vynatea's stony hide, sending electrified cracks as the heat turned it a bright red, causing the titan's movements to slow, as his armored exoskeleton began to fuse together into a tomb. Yet, before the final blow was to be struck-

James paused, and spoke. And in that moment, the ogre regarded him through the pain.

There was one of them he respected, once. One whose sword, whose strength, spoke for him. He kneeled to none, and when the moment had come, when all else had failed, he had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his kin. Words were nothing - Ganeden had showed him that all too long ago, and he had never forgotten. Power, and power alone was all that mattered, all that had ever mattered. Lao, misguided as he was, had understood that at least.

"You think..." He rumbled through grit, bloodied teeth, still somehow managing to curl into a sardonic grin.

"A chance... is yours to give? No. No..."

He shook his head minutely.

"You... are a slave to your compassion. To your nature. To your flesh. And you think I want your mercy?"

He gave a wet, gravely chuckle. The light reflecting off his body was bright now, so much that his features were obscured from view, but the voice remained, ringing in James' cockpit like the thundering of a coffin lid slammed shut.


The Gae Bolg slammed into Vynatea's melted chest - and the resulting impact tore his body from the Ganduro's grip, leaving behind a collection of limbs, seared so badly they had practically adhered to the Super Robot's surface. Down, down the green missile plunged, spitting the crystal remains of the great ogre all the way down, until it slammed into a building on the Lunar Surface, setting off a distant, emerald explosion that plumed up into the void.

Only silence remained. The monster that had brought the Kingdom to the brink of destruction... had finally been vanquished for good.

In the distance, the Diamd's body sparked and whined. The cockpit opened, and Virtus stepped out into the vacuum, watching the other two, his expression and thoughts... hidden behind his mask. The contemplative quiet was broken with the whining of proximity alarms, three squadrons of five Opus gliders materializing about the Arm Stora in the distance, causing him to glance in their direction.

"Hold." He said into his communicator, the green telltales across the machines surface at least indicating they weren't here to fight, hovering past the Genion and Giganscudo in a fashion not unlike a school of curious fish on their way to the Diamd. One alighted by the cockpit, allowing Virtus to step onto its surface, where he gripped a protrusion on its hull - but, for whatever reason, no parting words seemed to be forthcoming from the man.

Of course. In hindsight perhaps he should have anticipated that James would attempt to parley with the monster. That was...simply the kind of man the young Steelheart was at his core, was it not? It was his effort that had roused Virtus from his stupor after all, to make no mention of his concern for the crew of the Arm Stora despite their status as the enemy. But to try and persuade Vynatea to leave and never return, to even be willing to take the beast at its word?

Naivety. Both to think that the beast would accept his offer...and that Charles would accept such an outcome. No, not after all that had transpired. He would crush Vynatea down his constituent atoms with his own two hands if that was what it took to end the threat.

Virtus, it seemed, had realized much the same. The scintillating missile that was the Diamd's Gae Bolg tore into the captive figure; his form splintered infinitesimally, ripped asunder by the force of the strike. Like defeated like as the dimensional power ensconced in the weapon overwhelmed even that wielded by their foe in his current state. A great gout of viridescent fire rose as it impacted the lunar surface. The abrupt silence that followed was...almost too quiet after the cacophony of battle.

"Steelheart," he said gravely, "I believe there is much for us to discuss. Accompany me to the surface." His clipped tone left no doubts; it was an order, not a request. Much had transpired in the time that they both had been absent, and such things needed to be addressed promptly. Especially things of the sort that had been communicated to him in what little contact there had been between the Indomitable and the Kingdom at large.

"And you...," Charles hesitated for a pregnant moment before continuing, as though rolling his next words around in his head first, "...Virtus, Knight of Everglory. I still do not know the truth of your presence here this day, but for your assistance you truly have my gratitude. Join us, if only for a time." The Giganscudo extended one great hand, palm upward and open, inviting.

"I can guarantee that you will face no retribution while you remain in my presence."

James canted his head as Sparkles McLuchadore began his diatribe, definitely the tone of someone who was not going to take that offer. Pity, he probably would have made a good ally fighting the coming disaster Ganeden worried about. Oh well. If he wanted to die instead of face that... James would oblige. Genion rocketed forth, "Die well, then."

Genion's fist joined the Gae Bolg, discharging the dimensional energy that had wrapped it. The force of the strike splintered the general into a thousand thousand shards, sent scattered. Well, at least he didn't have to look for a body. ... Providing that the shards were inert. It'd be a pain if those all did something like spawn a million tiny versions of Sparkles or something. Strange, he didn't feel like any snarky puns.

James' attention turned back to the other two. The object of their unified ire gone... they were both wild cards. Charles he was sure would turn on him, the other one... Well, he was in no condition to. James ignored the chill drawn by Charles' order. It was one he couldn't follow, and he'd explain that once the other man was resolved.

The Genion remained in a relaxed pose, Azure plates sliding as the GAI mode powered down. No need to remain a proverbial porcupine with it's quills up. The Opus hovered around, non threateningly at the moment. Good, though... that boded ill for Virtus to join them. "Well done, Knight Virtus." The Genion saluted the knight, mirrored by James in the cockpit. "In this instance, I'd prefer to shake your hand, but I don't want to alarm your companions. Between Charles and I... if you did want to come back with us, you'd be safe." He paused a moment, the Genion slowly easing into a relaxed position, "But. The count of ships here says you don't want to. Or you wouldn't be able to. I won't obscure your retreat, and I dare say you have enough of an escort. The best I can offer you right now is rescue if you wish to come back with us. But I leave an offer open to you, should you ever want to take it. You have a place at my side and an ear to air your grievances."

It was probably too much, he knew. But he might as well ease into the idea of assembling a damn personal guard and all this responsibility bullshit. Things with Charles could only go two ways: Flee and earn his ire, to be hunted like a rabbit; or go with him, talk, spill everything, hope he can convince Charles, and then pray to every damn force in the universe that when the Arbiter handed him over to Selene she didn't lock him in a broom closet until she could sacrifice herself with the sphere. Fleeing sounded like the best option in his head, more chances to evade than being in Selene's clutches. But... that was a matter that could be pushed aside for a few long eternal moments.