I see the world through bloodshot eyes

Streets filled with blood from distant lies

Dogs of War never compromise

No real time for rearranging

"Help me Jesus, help me Clean My Wounds"

He said he cannot heal that kind

Bleeding soul becomes a bitter mind

He said it happens every time...

(Knock it down!)

That's how the story goes

(Knock it down!)

In the land of a 1000's no's

(Knock it down!)

In all over you

In time my mind is changing

Oh, Knock it down

Black on black gives me a heart attack

And the silence makes it deadly

Some choose to kill with simple will

I've seen 'em fall fast and steady

"Help me Jesus, help me Clean My Wounds"

He said he cannot heal that kind

Bleeding soul becomes a bitter mind

He said it happens every time...

(Knock it down!)

That's how the story goes

(Knock it down!)

In the land of a 1000's no's

(Knock it down!)

In all over you

In time my mind is changing

Twist of fate won't give me a break

And myself I'm slow and tired

I've got to rise with these bloodshot eyes

But I keep falling when I'm higher

"Help me Jesus, help me Clean My Wounds"

He said he cannot heal that kind

Bleeding soul becomes a bitter mind

He said it happens every time...

(Knock it down!)

That's how the story goes

(Knock it down!)

In the land of a 1000's no's

(Knock it down!)

We are bleeding sins

But our sins are always fading

Oh, fading

Oh, fading

Oh, fading

Oh, knock it down, knock it down

Oh, knock it down, knock it down

Oh, knock it down, knock it down

Oh, knock it down...

**********

Chapter Five

**********

Every bone in her body ached. Her muscles were tired. Her eyelids drooped halfway over her eyes. Her fingers shook at the stock and trigger of God Save the Queen. Her limbs trembled underneath her. Blood ran down from the numerous cuts across her face, it flowed from the bandaged incision that Venomous had cut into her arm. The brown, green and black face paint had been smudged beyond recognition. Bruises littered her cheeks and chest. Sweat dripped from her brow to her lips, it had mixed with the drying blood and the face paint to deliver a repugnant, salty taste to it. Even so, with every last breath she had, #003 managed to keep standing in the crucial few moments necessary to hear what Ark-Angel had to tell her. What #003 did hear was took shock her for the rest of her life. She stood paralysed above the fallen Ark-Angel, whom had been laid out across the hot and damp jungle floor, spread-eagled, but her gunfire. A pool of blood was enlarging from underneath her torso and pouring out from the bullet hole wounds in her chest. Yet despite that her face showed a very chilling and calm smile, even in these brief few moments before her death.

"So now... you know..." The multi-racial woman said, weakly. "Perhaps you can understand now... why I wished you would have merely surrendered to me. You are... a shadow. Anti-existence... a being that was... spawned... outside of Mother Gaia's grace. You have no mother. You have no family. You don't even have a will of your own... you are less than nothing. A child like you... should not have to bare that responsibility..."

"...I am... I...?"

Ark-Angel coughed an oily, bloody cough. "You have managed... to survive so much... on this day. But the time has come... for you to accept the truth. And so now you know. We are all... alone. At the end of the cycle of life... we are always alone. Most are born into the world alone... and we all face death alone. Loneliness is... intrinsically linked to... the human experience. Few can ever... overcome that sorrow... knowing the only means to do so is... through power. The unique power... that people like you... have. The true nature of power... is not... dominance over others... but dominance over the self. My question to you is... do you have the power necessary to face... your solitude...?"

#003 sneered, half-ready to collapse. "...What are you talking about?"

"You are the last of your kind," Ark-Angel clarified. "The Garden... is decimated. The only people in the world who could understand you... are gone. The mission you have... is a failure. Our country... has abandoned you. The entire foundation of your universe up until now... has been shattered. You are alone... and you bare... the tremendous weight of being the last of your people..."

"The last of my people..."

The defeated one chuckled dryly. "...I can relate."

#003's eyes widened. It truly hit her there and then. "...I'm alone..."

"Do you have... the power... to accept it? Or will you... fall? Elohim, Yahweh and I... may never know... but should we meet again... on the other side... I pray you will tell us... what your fate... finally was..."

And that was Ark-Angel's last breath. #003 stared dumbfounded at her. And it all came in at her in fervent rush, its blinding simplicity was staggering. She was alone now. All her friends were gone. She'd obviously never make it to Nana and Commander Kinborough in her condition. She no longer had a mission or an objective. Ark-Angel was right. The choice now was simple. It was either live without purpose in complete loneliness or die. At this point she couldn't even decide which one she preferred. So then what was the significance of her fight? What was the significance of her struggle? The one thing she had been shaped for, she'd failed to do. She had nothing left. She was alone, in the truest and purest sense of the word.

#003 shut her eyes and swallowed. But then her eyes shot back open when she heard the sound of boots striking the ground in numerous pairs. Her vision was blurry but she could just about make out the image of ten or so soldiers in the distance. They were encroaching on her and Ark-Angel's corpse. Just from looking at them and their equipment she could tell that those soldiers did not belong to the rebels nor the AU, SANDF or even the UN. These were purely American troops. Reflexively, #003's trembling hands tensed around the God Save the Queen laser rifle, her aching legs started to move towards them, and her finger slowly tried to squeeze the trigger. But it was too much. She was too tired from the constant fighting, first with Ekard and the rebels, and then with the US Jungle Corps. She was hungry, weakened, battered, tired and burnt-out. More importantly that overwhelming sense of loneliness within her, the loneliness the came with the loss of everything worth living for in her life, had shocked her to her core. She couldn't have fought them off now even if she wanted to. She couldn't care if she lived or died anymore. So the last remaining member of the Garden of Gethsemane collapsed limply into the soil just a few metres ahead of Ark-Angel's dead boy. She didn't move an inch, only let the tears well up in her eyes and run down from them as she whispered to herself, `I don't wanna be alone'. The last thing she saw before she passed out was the squad of ten American soldiers running across Ark-Angel's remaining traps to subdue her.

An unidentifiable amount of time passed.

When her consciousness started to simmer back to reality she immediately heard two things. One of them was her groan and the other was the loud and overwhelming roar of a jet engine. Her jade eyes opened in blinks. Her surroundings were completely different from the jungles of KwaZulu-Natal. This place was a cell. Small, two metres by another two metres, padded, no windows or bars, just a metal door with a slit. There was a toilet and sink in the upper right corner.

After a moment she realized that she was sleeping on her side. #003 turned over and looked up at the padded ceiling. That was when she noticed her own condition. Her clothes and weapons had been taken from her. She was left dressed only in a pair of black shorts and a black sweat-top. As well as that, her wrists and ankles were cuffed. The American forces hadn't killed her, just captured her. What did they even want with her?

As she asked herself that the metal door rattled. #003 sighed and wiggled over to the back wall to lean up. When the door unlocked she watched four men stomp into the cell. Three of them were soldiers, the same soldiers she had seen back in the South African jungles. The forth was different. He was of a higher rank, if the amount of stars and accolades on his uniform meant anything. This man tipped his beret down whilst smirking at his captive.

"So. You're the third one, eh?" He said. "You're the one who took out the Jungle Corps? That was impressive."

She said nothing.

"Can't you speak?"

Again, she said nothing.

"Alright then. Let me introduce myself. They refer to me as Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Gaignun. Just as Frank Kinborough was the formal commander of the Garden of Gethsemane, I am... or was, the formal commander of the US Jungle Corps; the unit that was sent to kill yours... and in turn suffered the same fate. You might think we would regret that. After all, we lost two units of our military. But you on the other hand..."

#003 glared at him. "What do you want from me?"

Lieutenant-Colonel Gaignun cast her a confident and ominous smile as he nudged his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. >From that she knew that that was a reason she'd been captured rather than killed. "We monitored your entire performance from the surveillance satellites stationed around equatorial orbit. Though you failed to kill Ekard Merham, you showed a level of fighting prowess that greatly exceeded what little the others were able to muster."

"So?"

"So. We want you."

#003 growled. "Fuck you, Uncle Sam. You're the ones who betrayed me and all my friends. They're all dead because of you... I want nothing to do with you."

"Just hear us out. There's a certain city back home. Popular vernacular refers to it as Junk Town. It's been in anarchy for some time, with rampant levels of crime and vice seeping through it. The government is constructing an entire faction to deal with those corruptions. We need good soldiers like you to help run things. Do a good job there, and... we might even consider giving you... a `higher' position."

#003 pulled a scornful grin. "Go to hell."

"...I see," Gaignun exhaled and shut his eyes. "Men?"

The three soldiers flanking Lieutenant-Colonel Gaignun all chuckled and murmured to each other and advanced on her. One of the men grabbed her and stood her up while the other two cracked their knuckles in anticipation. Then the next thing #003 knew the three of them were battering her senseless. Her face jerked to and fro as punch after punch smacked her face. She lunched over when someone struck her in the stomach with a knee blow. The third of the men spat in her face right before pummelling her with an elbow strike to the jaw. The process of deconstruction repeated itself over and over and over one final punch knocked her to the ground. Her head thudded against the floor in a bloody mess. Sweat and blood dripped down the contours of her face and dripped across the padded texture. Her jaw creased when she spat a tooth out of her mouth. The far-from-impotent chuckles of the soldier boys bounced behind her.

Gaignun slotted a hand into his pocket as they returned to his side. "Do yourself a favour, my friend. Reconsider. We can make life very difficult for you if you don't cooperate. And I should probably tell you from now – we have Martha Smith and Frank Kinborough in our possession."

#003's eyes flashed. "...N-Nana and the... Commander?"

"That's right," Gaignun smirked. "Keep refusing us and we may just have to reconsider keeping them alive."

**********

The morning after is always such an amazing moment. Awaking in the bright morning to the sight of a slumbering love, awaking to the sound of her light breathing, to the feel of her soft skin, it all had this magical feeling. Yet as Rune, half-awake, reached out with her arm to bring Jenna's sleeping form closer to her, her hand pressed against the silky bed sheets but nothing else. Her emerald eyes cracked open when she noted Jenna's absence. And so she leaned up in the bed and pressed her back against the headboard, dragging up the sheets around her naked form. Just as the CSMB agent was about to call for her, out of the corner of her eye she spotted Jenna. She stood in the conjoining doorway between this bedroom and its accompanying bathroom. Rune watched her silently. But more than that she took note of the two things in her hands. In the right was a glass of water. And in the left were two capsule pills. Rune also noted how much Jenna's hands were shaking as she held them. She slapped the pills into her mouth and then backed down the glass of water to take them. Once she gulped it down her eyes rolled over to Rune.

Jenna smiled at her, perhaps a little sheepishly. "You're awake."

Rune did nothing other than to stare at the glass.

"This?" In her naked form she padded barefoot back into the bedroom. "I get headaches sometimes. My doctor told me that I've been like this since I was a child. I wouldn't know, seeing as how I don't remember anything before the past two years, but... it makes sense."

Something about that struck Rune as odd and familiar when she heard it. Yet she was so charmed by Jenna right now that she didn't pay it any mind. "Headaches? And yet I still had sex last night."

An impish giggle escaped Jenna as she put the glass in her hands down on her bedside coffee table. Her nude form slinked back underneath the bed sheets and she wrapped her arms lovingly around Rune's neck and shoulders, right before stealing a lingering kiss from her. "You don't have to worry. We haven't reached that stage yet. And I honestly don't think I'll be using my headaches to get out of sex. Not if you keep performing like you did last night..."

Rune grinned. "Liked that, huh?"

"Yes..." Jenna snuck in another kiss before saying, "Babe... can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

Jenna's eyes rolled to Rune's upper arm. Both their gazes fell upon the tattoo there. But while Jenna's gaze was one of curiosity, Rune's was one of disdain. But the fact that Jenna had cast her eyes to the Gethsemane tattoo pretty much told Rune that she wanted to talk about it.

"You wanna know about this...?"

Jenna nodded gently. "I saw it last night but... I didn't want to spoil the mood."

"Are... are you sure you wanna know?" The CSMB agent asked. "If you do... there's no turning back."

"Baby, I'm right here. You can tell me," the singer assured.

It was obvious to both of them that this wasn't an easy subject for Rune to broach. But Jenna was willing to provide the 70% of the momentum if Rune was willing to drop off the remaining 30%. So the raven-haired woman brought Rune's nude form closer to her own underneath the sheets and ever so gently pressed their foreheads together. "I won't pressure you. If you're not ready to tell me then I can wait."

Rune swallowed the lump in her throat. "No. It's time... it's time someone knew. It's time I talked to someone about it all, about my past. Okay... here goes. `Gethsemane' is just the shortening of a codename. The complete name is The Garden of Gethsemane."

"Garden of Gethsemane?"

"Yeah. It's... it was a top secret project formulated by the US government to create an army of child supersoldiers."

Jenna's face paled. "W-what...?"

"Yes. There were 400 of them. Each of them was trained from the age of six in weapons combat, hand-to-hand tactics, battle strategy, and survival technique. While they kept us doped up on drugs to better accept the training, they enhanced the physical capabilities of our bodies with muscle therapy and mental conditioning. At the crack of dawn every morning we were awoken from our sleep and drilled through assault & obstacle courses that pushed our abilities to their limits. None of us died but someone always got hurt. I broke an arm twice in sparring matches with training androids. It was hell on Earth. I still remember that time we were sent to the X-GP training camp in Kansas for our `final exam'. They herded over 2000 civilians into a compound half the size of Chicago, gave all of us M16s, and told us kill every last one of them. I took out 108 of them alone. But we didn't have any choice in it. If they said `kill' we said `how many?' And if we refused to train... they'd kill us. Or worse... torture us until we complied."

Jenna swallowed when she saw the tear slip out of Rune's eye. "Oh Rune... I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't all terrible. I made friends. They were the only people who could have understood me. And we had Nana. To this day I still don't know how she'd gotten involved in something so sinister... but she was the head nurse there. She was the only one who treated us well, the only one who cared for us. We all thought of her like a mother. I still think of her that way. That's why I give most of my paycheck to Nana and her orphanage. I don't do it for the kids... I do it for her. It's my way of taking care of her without controlling her life. I know that the others would have wanted me to look after her as well."

Though she hesitated to ask, "W-what happened to them...?"

"Do you remember the South African Civil War?"

"...I heard about it at university."

Rune ignored how hard her heart was beating. "It happened five years ago in 2069. It was an attempted coup by a rebel militia that sought to overthrow the government. And that bastard was one of the ring leaders – Drake Mahrem."

"Drake Mahrem?" Jenna blinked. "The guy from last night?"

The older one nodded. "He's a very dangerous man. Not only is he rich but he's a legendary mercenary who's been involved in military insurrectionism across the African continent. The true legacy of The Garden of Gethsemane is that we were created to kill him."

"What do you mean...`created'...?"

"Me and the other Garden members... we're essentially clones of him."

"...What?"

"All of us began as eggs, each one extracted from 400 respective women. Our DNA was completely re-written to conform to the genetic code represented by samples of Drake's DNA. The hope was that we'd inherit his natural talent as a soldier. Heh. I don't know if that hope was worth anything... but... we weren't born like other kids were. We were... cultivated. In test tubes filled with oxygenated liquid."

Realization dawned on Jenna. "...Is... that why you hate bioandroids?"

"That's part of it," Rune pulled a sad grin. "I might be human... but I wasn't born like other humans. Thinking of their genesis just reminds me of my own."

"I see."

"But it didn't matter what we were created for. We were deployed in the South African Civil War to kill Drake. That was the thing we were created to do. And in the end we failed. Because we failed... US forces deployed reserve teams and had everyone in the Garden executed... aside from me. I managed to survive... I was the only `success' of the project. So they took me back to the States... and told me I had to work for the Civil Stability Maintenance Bureau or they'd kill Nana. They gave me a name and an identity. And that's why I can't leave this place."

Jenna exhaled, running her fingers through the older woman's hair. "...Baby. I can't imagine what you've been through in your life. But you can't let the past control you."

"What do you suggest I do then? Block it out? Forget about it? Don't you think I've tried?"

"You can't forget it either."

"Then what?"

Jenna placed a gentle kiss on Rune's nose. "You just have to accept it."

"...I... I've tried..." Rune replied.

"Try harder. Don't forget. You have me now... I'll be here for you in anything and everything you do, Baby. If you can't carry that burden on your shoulders alone... then let me help you."

Rune melted internally as she heard that. For the first time, as she stared into the warm, loving, elfin face of her lover, that she wasn't alone anymore. That was the overwhelming feeling that enveloped her after killing Ark-Angel on that bloody day, four years ago. But that was no longer the case... now that Jenna Woodworth was in her life. The sweet, beautiful woman into whose eyes she gazed – was her life.

Rune reached up and caressed Jenna's cheek softly. "I love you so much."

"Well, naturally..."

Her giggles dissolved into a moan as Rune drew her in by the chin for another sweet kiss. They parted, and Rune, running her fingers smoothly through Jenna lengthy tresses of ebony, exclaimed. "I want you to meet Nana."

"The woman you're always talking about?" She asked for clarification.

Rune gave her a nod. "Uh huh. She's special to me and... I want her to know how happy you're making me. And to be honest I know that she'd love to meet you."

"Hmm..." Jenna mused. "I'm actually kind of nervous about this. She's like your mom, right? If I don't make a good impression on her she might `ban' me from seeing her `daughter'."

"Are you kidding me? She'll love you, Jen."

"Well then," Jenna wrapped the blankets around her chest and rose from the bed. "If I'm gonna be meeting my girlfriend's mama, I'd better make myself look beautiful. I'll be like Sidney Poitier in Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? The only difference being my lack of a penis."

Rune smirked. "I'm sure Nana can wait a day longer... come back to bed."

"I have a better idea..." The singer walked around the edge of the bed, lowered herself over Rune's visage and let her soft pink lips hover lustily. "Why don't I just jump in the shower... and in a few moments you come meet me there, huh?"

"Sounds like a plan..."

With zeal, Jenna plucked another deep, explosive kiss from her. "Good. Don't keep me waiting."

**********

After spending a prolonged but wondrous fifty-two minutes in the shower together, Jenna and Rune went downstairs and together produced some breakfast for each other, nothing elaborate, just toast, eggs and bacon. Over the breakfast table they sat and talked, watched news reports from the mini TV suspended on Jenna's upper kitchen wall (and apparently the Arab president of Unkulunkulu, Malik Ma'ad Al-Ghali, had been assassinated). Shortly after breakfast they went upstairs again and indulged another brief but explosive bout of mind-numbing sex. It was only Jenna's insistence on meeting Nana as soon as possible that got them out of bed again. As hard as it was for them to keep their hands off of each other at this point, the two of them managed to keep their hands off of each other until they could get dressed. Jenna quickly slapped on her favourite casual blue jeans shorts and a pink top with a little white heart on the back that red `bad girl'. Rune had a few extra sets of clothes at the house since she and Jenna had become serious, so rather than wear that uncomfortable evening dress again, she garbed herself in a pair of black trousers and a large-lapel white v-neck shirt. When they finally left the house at high noon they strode down Jenna's cobblestone pathway holding hands. Something had changed after they had admitted that they were in love with each other. They were even more open than they already were and they truly relished it... but perhaps Rune more so than Jenna. For the first time in her life she could honestly say that she was completely happy. Ever since the nightmare of the civil war four years ago she had been living as a phantom, something or someone that was in the world but not taking part in it, at least not wholeheartedly. Everything she did, from filing reports at work to brushing her teeth at home, felt like a needless chore that she just couldn't see any value in. The only thing that made Rune feel alive was the heat of battle... and the insurmountable rage she felt when she had entered Anti-Drake Mode. Yet even that was invalid... the road to power... the road of power, the world that Drake Mahrem was basking in. But all of that had changed since Jenna Woodworth entered her life.

Rune stared longingly at her from the corner of her eye. Just looking at Jenna, with her pretty face and her heart-pounding smile, made the CSMB agent quake. She wasn't just beautiful – she was perfect. Rune could just envision herself playing with those length black locks of hair, kissing those full pink lips, and bathing in those deep ocean eyes all day long. And from beholding such a woman Rune could surmise only one thing. There had to be a meaning to existence if someone as perfect and glorious as Jenna could find her way into Rune's wretched life.

And so the two walked together, holding hands, to the nearest subway. Jenna unfortunately didn't have a car and Rune's was back at her apartment building, since the limo had dropped her off the previous night. Unlike most cities the subway was dangerous at any time of the day, prowled by muggers, rapists and zealous biomaterial traders who liked to capture unsuspecting victims once caught out all alone. Thankfully Willow Hill was one of the safer parts of the city and so was its subway. After a relatively brief nine-minute wait for it, the two got on a carriage of a train bound for Kentish Town. The two sat down on a leather seat adjacent from a slumbering homeless bum. But as the doors slid shut and the train started knocking forward, Jenna asked out of thought,

"Why are we going back to your place? Why not just go straight there?"

Rune frowned, holding Jenna's hand tighter. "It's not safe that way. Nana lives in the Slums."

Half an hour later the train reached Kentish Town. The two emerged from the subway and went back out into the petrol soaked, horn blaring streets. The No.90 bus took them from that part of the district to where Rune's apartment building was. Rather than enter they simply walked around the layout of the building and went to the rear car park where Rune's wheels awaited them. Once she reached it the green-eyed woman took out her eyes and unlocked the door, gesturing for Jenna to get in.

"Why thank you, kind miss." Jenna whispered playfully as she climbed into the passenger seat.

Rune walked around the front, opened the right door, and clamoured into the driver's seat. Once both she and Jenna were buckled she stuck her keys into the ignition and awoke the engine. With her hands on the wheel and her foot bracing the accelerator, Rune turned to her girlfriend. "Before we get going I have to make it clear to you. The Slums are not a nice place by any standard. You need to stay close to me at all times, okay?"

The nightclub singer grinned. "Sure that isn't just your excuse to be near me?"

"Jen, I'm serious. Even the CSMB has trouble managing that place. It's completely dangerous if you don't know what you're doing."

"I know, Baby, I've heard the horror stories. Alice's mom grew up there. But I can handle it if you're there to protect me."

Rune smiled before reaching across and kissing her. "...Thanks."

Tyre wheels screeched across concrete when she put her foot down on the accelerator and drove off out of the car park onto the main street. It was a fairly long drive from Kentish Town to the Slums and Rune didn't want to waste any time getting there. It was fine to prowl the streets of the Slums before when she was on her own. She could handle herself. But having Jenna with her made her all the more aware of the dangers of the Slums that Jenna was no doubt oblivious to. Time passed slowly, with the aquamarine-eyed woman singing along to a 2030's folk song on the radio while Rune kept her eye on the road and wheel. But eventually they hit the Slums. And suddenly Jenna understood what Rune had been talking about. It was the most ramshackle, scum-infested hole she'd ever seen – even by Junk Town's standards. It was the early afternoon and yet prostitutes were already out by the crumbling roadsides to sell themselves. So much glass was scattered over the pavements from broken windows that it gleamed with great light in the luminosity of the sun. Kids as young as six and as old as twenty-one hung out by the stoops. The eldest of them were openly armed. Some of them were even carrying assault carbines. All the walls of all the buildings were covered with graffiti. The few shops that were here had their broken windows guarded by thick irons bars and all produce was carried inside. Even now Jenna could see the dead bodies laying about the road. There was no one to attend to removal or burial and so they simply remained there as they were. One of the corpses, one leaning up against a park fountain, was so decomposed that maggots had already taken to it. Jenna winced at the sight and turned away from the car window. She remained speechless until the car pulled up on a side street. Across from them was Nana's orphanage.

"We're here." Rune told her, removing her keys from the ignition.

Jenna blinked. "This is where Nana lives?"

"I told you, the Slums are no picnic. Just stay close to me."

When Rune exited the car Jenna followed closely behind. They crossed the street to the doors of the orphanage and Rune knocked upon its rusted windowless iron doors. After a few seconds of pause a slit the right door parted and a pair of eyes looked through it.

"Who the fuck is this?" Yelled the young boy.

"Rune." She told him.

The boy blinked. "Rune? Nana's white friend? Oh, right... sorry."

Bolts of iron behind the doors were unlocked and both doors opened up. Standing in front of them was the boy, a young black kid, perhaps no more than nine years of age, who stood upon a step stool to glance through the looking slit. He stepped down and kicked the worn wooden stool to his right, chuckling.

"Sorry `bout that. Nana says we can't let anyone in unless we know who they are now." He admitted.

Rune and Jenna walked inside. While Jenna stared at the dilapidated quaintness of it, Rune kneeled before the boy. "Are things getting worse around here?"

"Didn't you hear? Gang wars have been getting so bad down here that they've spread outta the Slums. When the police found out they put a curfew down on us. Nana says the gangs are gonna cause more problems now so we gotta be careful too."

Rune frowned. "I see."

She stood up again and less than a second later she realized that Jenna was no longer at her side. Rune glanced for the singer and saw that she was kneeling down next to a couple of toddlers who were playing with chipped building blocks by the chalkboard. They sat on a battered play mat and stacked up the blocks together in a little pattern. Rune watched as her girlfriend sat and smiled at them. Jenna was clearly the type who liked kids.

Though she didn't want to disturb her, Rune walked up to her and pressed her hand into her shoulder. "Come on. Let's go see Nana, huh?"

"Okay, Babe."

Jenna followed her lead as Rune strode over to one of the four doors on the far side of the room. The kids continued to play around the desks and mats. The little boy who had greeted them at the front went back to his post there. Jenna noted with sorrow that there was a Colt Single Action Army placed on a table near him. Nonetheless they moved from that hall through the door to a rear room. They walked into a kitchen, steel tight and industrial in nature, far from warm, but what it had in it were two people. One of them was a little wheelchair-bound Latino girl with a bowl of batter in her lap and a whisk in her hands. Standing next to that girl was the dear old woman herself, Nana. She had a stained-apron wrapped around her body and her hands were covered in flour from the dough she was kneading on one of the kitchen counters. She whistled at the effort she was making then looked to the doorway.

Nana smiled brightly. "Is that my Rachelle? You're dropping by so soon, girl?"

"Hey," Rune said softly. "I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner. It's been a busy few weeks since we last met."

"Oh honey, I'm not blaming you. It's been pretty tough for us here as well. The gang wars have really been getting out of hand. Sean and I can barely defend this place from those lunatics out there. I hate having to use the money you gave us for weapons, but... unless we arm ourselves we're done for."

Rune sighed. "I didn't know things were so bad."

"Things are always bad in the Slums, Rachelle." Nana shook her head, and then as if remembering something; looked to the Latino girl. "My goodness, where's my head at? Rachelle, this is Candice. She's been here for two years but I don't think you've met yet."

Candice waved shyly to them from her wheelchair. "...Hi."

Then Nana glanced at Jenna and grinned. "And who might you be?"

"Oh right. I'm sorry, forgive me. I'm Jenna Woodworth," She grabbed Rune's hand. "I've heard so much about you from Rune. She and I... well we're..."

"Together." Rune concluded.

Nana's grin widened. "I knew it. I knew it. Well bless your hearts, girls. I'm happy for you."

"I was kinda nervous meeting you... Rune speaks so highly of you." Jenna confessed.

The sweet old black woman shook head to fob all thoughts of that away, then reached into a nearby sink to rinse the flour off her hands. Before she went over to Rune and Jenna however she turned to Candice and smiled that motherly smile of hers. "Now Candice. You go make yourself scarce now. Nana has some grown-up talk to talk with Rune and Jenna here."

"Can't I help you out some more?" She asked pleasantly, causing Jenna to beam.

"We can bake later, sweetheart," Nana informed her. "I should talk to those two now. I don't want them hanging around here any longer than they have to with this war going on. Now wash up and go play for a little while. That's a good girl."

Candice bobbed her head in acceptance of that. Nana helped her out of the wheelchair for a moment to wash her hands after she put down the bowl of batter and its whisk, then she sat back down and ran her hands over her wheels to push herself out through the far door. Then little old Nana took off her apron, clapped her hands to shake off the remaining traces of water and flour, and walked up to the pair.

She pressed her palms into her hips. "Well you two certainly do make a mighty fine couple."

"I like to think so." Rune said.

Nana smirked knowingly. "This coming from the love-hating sourball who said `I'm fine as I am'."

"Well I sort of have you to thank for this. If you hadn't of given me that push last time I came, then..."

The elderly black woman's face crinkled with a smirk. "Just goes to show you what they say is true. `Mama always knows best'. Why kind of woman would I be if I didn't do right by my kids, eh?"

There was a pause after that. And Rune saw Jenna's smile fall a little. Before she even addressed it, Nana immediately chimed in with; "Rune, go do me a favour. Tell Sean what you just told me."

"Huh?"

"He has a thing for you, remember?" Nana stated. "Go wait for him in the hall."

Rune blinked. "Uh... sure."

Yet she didn't argue (nobody could or would argue with Nana). So she merely kissed Jenna's cheek and exited the kitchens. Now that Nana and Jenna alone were left, the elder of the two walked up to one of wood-rotten cupboards suspended from the wall above the counter. "Want some coffee?"

"Um... yeah, why not?" Said Jenna.

So Nana reached into the cupboard and pulled out two cracked mugs (one of them a plain white with the other being a novelty cup with kanji symbol for `love' on it). She went to the sink, took up a kettle and filled it with water. Then she went to the nearest hob and turned on one of its fires. After she put the kettle on top of that fire she went about assembling a few more things: a jar of coffee beans, one of the eight bottles of milk in the fridge, and two spoons.

"Milk?" Nana asked.

"Black's fine."

The older one grinned. "So it is."

Things went silent again as Nana used one of the spoons to shovel out four teaspoons of coffee beans into the mugs, two in each. Just as she flicked open the metal cap to the bottle of milk and poured, she said with composure, "Rune told you about her past, didn't she?"

There was no end to the surprise on the singer's part. "Huh? How did you...?"

"I'm a perceptive woman, Jenna." Nana claimed matter-of-factly. "Don't worry, I'm not going to chastise anyone about it. I have a lot to answer for when God feels it's time for me to pay my dues."

"I just don't understand it," Jenna explained. "How could someone as sweet as you be involved in something like that? Were you different then?"

A sad smile passed Nana's face. "Honey, let me fill you in on one little thing. This government of ours has made some VERY stupid mistakes in the past. But when it comes to creating weapons, well... there's no bigger success story than the US. They aren't stupid. Every little detail has to be thought out. With Gethsemane... it was the same."

Jenna's eyes thinned. "What are you trying to say?"

Steam rose from the kettle. "It's all well and good to make an army of innocent kids to fight their wars... but these are still just adolescents... with feelings all too childish. You push a child too hard, box that child up in a regime, highlight its loneliness, and you're asking for it to resist you. A child needs a warm hand. A child needs a mother. And that was why they brought me in."

"You mean..."

"That's right." Nana frowned at the memories as she reached for the boiling kettle. "I was just another way of controlling those poor kids. You see... when I was your age... I really didn't care much about life outside of my own. I never dreamed of running an orphanage back then. But then my brother was drafted into the army during the Middle Eastern conflict of the 2020's. Before he died, he sent me a lot of letters about what it was like on the battlefield. I remember wanting to be there to protect him, nurture him. But Clyde never was the kind of man to understand that. Yet still... when I got that phone call, telling me he'd been killed by a landmine... felt something welling up inside me."

Jenna stared on. "...What was it?"

Nana sighed and started pouring the hot water into the mugs. "Loneliness. I wasn't alone in the world... but I knew that wherever Clyde was at that point, he certainly was. And that was what changed me. After that I wanted to live for others, to protect people, to stop people from feeling that kind of loneliness. Humph. I certainly was idealistic back then. But that was what led me to the military as a field nurse. I was no Mary Seacole but I did my job damn well. I spent decades of my life on the field, bringing water and food and medical supplies to my `children'. Everyone seemed to like and care about me. And in turn I cared about them. That's why I was selected as the mother figure for the Garden of Gethsemane."

"Couldn't you just refuse to be a part of it?"

Nana smiled at Jenna as she handed the girl her cup of coffee. "You've never had an `offer' from the US army, have you?"

"...They forced you?"

"I wouldn't put it that way. It was more like blackmail. They threatened to kill my biological children unless I did what I was told. My two boys, Aaron and Caleb, were living in England at the time. To this day I still don't know how they are... since this city became `Junk Town' every kind of communication is bad. But they knew enough about my boys for me to know that they were serious about killing them. So I did it. I became the `mother' of the Garden as its head nurse. But I never, not once, saw those kids as weapons. Those kids were my babies. They were just newer members in my big `family'. Yet the army stole them from me too, just like they stole my brother."

The hot coffee reflected Jenna's frown. "...I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to accuse you of anything-"

"Sweetie, it's fine," Nana sipped some of her coffee before continuing. "Like I said, I have a lot to answer for, coercion or not. I want to make up for it by raising these kids with the last bit of life I have left in me. I'm the kind of woman who has to care for someone else. A feminist might hear that and scream, but... that's just who I am. Its what led me to these kids of mine at the orphanage. The Garden was nothing more than a bunch of children carrying guns as trained killers. They had their childhood stripped away from them and I had a hand in that. So I'll do what I can to make amends for my sins by raising these kids right. If I do that... maybe they'll one day help to make this neighbourhood a better place. In that way I won't be remembered as a woman who nourished engines of destruction, but also engines of creation – a life giver, not a life taker."

"You're a strong woman, Nana." Jenna drank some of the coffee. "If it were me, I'd..."

Nana smiled maternally. "Anyone can be strong. All you have to do is stand up for something when you feel alone in the world. Relying on the Self is what makes a person strong. Sharing that strength with others is what makes a person just."

Jenna blinked as she thought about that. "Hmm... I wonder...? Is that how I feel about my singing?"

"Singing?"

"Oh, I didn't say...? I'm a singer. I perform at certain clubs in Willow Hill, which is sort of how I met Rune. Just after I got my pay for performing at the club a few greasy guys tried to attack me. Luckily Rune was there to protect me."

The elderly woman drank more from her cup. "...Rachelle. She's a hard woman to get close to, but... deep down she's got a good heart."

"I know," Jenna smiled nostalgically. "I've seen it for myself. I want to reach her."

"You know, I think you already have. Rachelle's always been distant, which is certainly not surprising if you consider her past. But I've always known that if she had a warm person to care for her in ways that I couldn't – she'd be okay. And somehow I'm thinking that you're that person, Jenna. So it might seem inappropriate and even conceited for me to say this, but... I want you to take good care of my Rachelle. Make her happy."

The raven-haired songstress nodded. "I will."

At that point in time a space was nudged between the door and the doorway and Rune's head squeezed between it. "If you don't mind my asking, what are you guys talking about?"

"Oh, us?" Jenna uttered with mock-innocence. "We were talking about how our one month anniversary is coming up. And we were also talking about the hell coming your way if you didn't do something special for me. Why do you ask?"

Rune exhaled with a grin. "Unfortunately we have to go. I just got buzzed from the CSMB building."

**********

For the first time ever – Rune had begun to see her line of work as any annoyance rather than a simple distraction in life. But that was only because it had interfered with her Jenna time. It was weird in a way. And it was more proof that her life had changed since Jenna Woodworth had walked into it. It dawned on her as she dropped her girlfriend off back at her house in Willow Hill. When they kissed goodbye and Rune drove across town to the Civil Stability Maintenance Bureau HQ, it hit her – how much she didn't want to say goodbye to her. Which was why she wanted to take care of whatever it was that Commander Kinborough needed of her so she could get back to her Jenna as quickly as possible. Unsurprisingly then she reached the building a good nine minutes quicker than usual and ascended to his office by that same standard – which was where she was now.

Rune stood dressed in her stable black tank top, jeans and trenchcoat (after leaving the Slums and before dropping Jenna off at Willow Hill, Rune drove home to get changed and collect her guns) while Zophie stood next to her pensively. Frank noted the `loud' silence between them but they merely saluted him as they always did. With a quick `at ease' and a hand gesture, the pair of them sat down on the two plastic cushioned chairs in front of the Commander's desk.

"Right," he began. "I'm glad the two of you could make it on time so I'll get straight to the point. How did it go?"

They both knew that Frank was referring to the previous evening at Drake Mahrem's wine party. Rune and Zophie grew equally uncomfortable. If anything the entire night was a disaster, not just for Rune but also for Zophie. For Rune the only saving grace was the way it ended – with her in Jenna's arms. But what was there to say about the success of the mission?

Zophie turned to Rune with an emotionless stare. "How did it go?"

Those were the first words they'd spoken to each other since last night. Rune caught her stare and weakened. Maybe things were being to change in her outlook since admitting to Jenna her love – because she could finally see how miserable Zophie actually looked. She was putting on a brave face in front of her grandfather but Rune knew that expression was an unhappy one. And recent memory had taught her that Zophie had been wearing it since their argument yesterday morning. It made Rune wonder about something else. How many people had been hurt by her callousness? Zophie was a special casualty in this case... and to be honest Rune still felt like Zophie was in the wrong here. But it was striking her more and more that her actions had an effect on Zophie. The rift had to be mended before it widened. As Rune thought that she noticed Zophie pull a questioning expression and realized that she hadn't said anything yet.

"...Oh right, the mission," Rune returned to Frank. "It wasn't the bed of roses I thought it would be. If anything it was kind of a bust... I couldn't get anything out of Drake."

Frank looked alarmed. "You met him?"

"Yeah."

"Did the `mode' activate, or-"

Rune shook her head. "No, I kept it reigned in."

From the look on Zophie's face it was clear that she was lost for understanding though very much curious. Nevertheless the Commander continued with his questions, oblivious. "Can you tell me what happened from the beginning?"

"Well... Zophie, Jenna and I got in the limo and we were driven to the Mahrem Building. Then we were guided to a wine room or something, which was where Drake came out and explained the details behind the Zopheridae. After that we were all moved into a banquet hall. I left Jenna and Zophie behind while I snuck out, got into the vents and crawled through them until I found Drake's room. I tried to take him on, to get him to explain what his plans were, but be bested me. Then his cronies popped in and he slipped away. I managed to take one of the out and escape... and I ran into some Japanese man who'd taken out dozens of security troops. He said his name was Toki Hujita Amano and that he was a member of the Ansatsugakkou."

"The Ansatsugakkou?" Frank mused. "What would one of those killers be doing here? An assassination attempt on Drake, perhaps?"

"No. He said he was after Kagedo, the cyber shinobi that killed Mimi Pritchard and destroyed the CD with information on Merkabah and that worm cluster program. I don't know what that means for us but with his skill he could prove a threat. I escaped with him after security tightened up... and that's pretty much it."

Commander Kinborough leaned back in his chair for a moment. "...Did he say anything that could be of use to us? Anything at all?"

"...He did mention that his plan included getting rid of something – I think he called it `Deus'."

"What about people? What names did he mention?"

Rune scratched her nose. "None of any real importance..."

"...Um... what about Nyles Nooreen?" Zophie proposed.

"Nyles Nooreen?" Frank exchanged glances between the girls. "Who is that?"

And so Rune thought back to the speech. "I remember that name. I think Drake said he was the chief designer of the Zopheridae battle tank. But what would a scientist like him have that could interest us? We already know all there is to know about the Zopheridae."

A smile returned to her face as she nudged her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "I know it contravenes the regulatory statutes of CSMB protocol but I used a terminal of our supercomputer, Ouroboros, to remotely access a computer that belongs to the Wong Trading Company, one of the Mahrem Conglomerate's subsidiary organizations. With that as a proxy I downloaded information on Nyles Nooreen from a low-level data file with minimal encryption."

Frank's expression hardened. "That was an extremely risky move, Zophie. If the Mahrem traced you after doing that then Drake could put pressure on state authorities to shut down the CSMB. You know that the government recognizes legal immunity to companies like Mahrem and Gun-Tek Inc., don't you?"

"I know, I know. But the protection around the file was low anyway. It didn't even have any firewalls or security demons. Besides I accessed the file remotely, and from a Wong Trading Company computer. Even if they did trace me it would lead them to that, not us."

"What did you find out?" As usual, Rune cut through the crap.

"Nyles Maxwell Nooreen aged 65. A Yale university graduate with honours. He has two masters, one in AI technology and the other in nuclear physics. Went on to teach AI development as a professor at Oxford University in England for eleven years before divorcing his first wife and returning to the States. He remarried, had kids, and later joined the research teams of the Mahrem Conglomerate in weapons development. Then a short time afterwards his family all died in a house fire and a year later he disappears."

"Disappears?"

"That's what the opening files say. But the sub-files reveal that the Mahrem detained him in some sort of military testing compound on the outskirts of the city. Since they obviously don't want him in the public eye and yet went out of their way to keep him alive... my guess is that Nyles has some degree of importance. And if he is a prisoner then he wouldn't mind coughing up some information to the first agents sent to rescue him."

Rune caught on quick. "So you think we can question him and get some new leads?"

"I don't see why not."

"...Sounds like a plan," Stated Frank. "Rune, can you do it?"

"I can handle a little covert operation."

"Then it's settled. I'll make preparations for the operation. In the meantime Rune, consider what weapons and equipment you'll need while we formulate the approach to this procedure. Dismissed."

Rune and Zophie stood up, saluted the Commander, then turned and walked out the door in silence. And that silence continued as Zophie wordlessly turned on her heels to leave. That was until she felt a restraining hand on her shoulder. The data analyst turned around as saw Rune standing over her with a sheepish half smile on her face.

And then she said something she should have said yesterday evening. "Zophie, I'm sorry."

"...Rune, I-"

"No, let me talk. Look Zophie, I had no right to yell at you like that. You didn't deserve that and I'm sorry I treated you that way. And despite what I said back then... I do think of you as my friend. So... do you think we could just start afresh? A clean slate and the like."

Though somehow Rune expected more, she did get a small smile out of Zophie. "You're forgiven, dummy."

**********

The Wilhelm Special Weapons Testing Facility – otherwise known as WSWTF or `Negative Eden' – was the largest of all the military bases located within the territorial jurisdiction of Junk Town; which was essentially everything within the Gates of Alexander. The compound consists of six surface buildings built around each other as a hexagonal circle. Each one of those buildings was designated to administrative paperwork. They surrounded a much larger building in the centre of the complex, the observational tower, which produced a good view of the entire set of training fields and runways that delimited the complex. It was all originally designed as a base for the testing teams of the US government for weapons to be used in urban warfare. However it never went into heavy use due to its close proximity with the city. Two and half years ago the entire facility and all its former projects were bought and now owned by the Mahrem Conglomerate. And unlike most of the facilities owned by the Mahrem Conglomerate, this one was policed and guarded with nearly the same amount of fervour, troops and weaponry as the Mahrem HQ itself. The main reason for this was because of the Zopheridae – which was about to undergo its test run.

The four legged, insect-like walking tank stood upright and rigid but fundamentally inactive within the 200x350 square of stone turf that was surrounded by larger grassland stretching into the horizon. A solitary soldier stood beside the machine in padded armour.

Far from that training field, in the observation tower, a selection of people monitored the Zopheridae with bated breath. It was a room on the highest level of the tower. Three of the walls facing the training grounds had a series of computers lined against them and technicians garbed in white overcoats manned them. In the centre of the furnished room was a plastic table with digital schematics of the Zopheridae itself beamed over it. Standing ahead of that table was Drake Mahrem himself. Alongside him was a Middle Eastern man dressed in clothing of a military official. With five stars across his chest this man flicked through a paper dossier.

Drake uncrossed his arms. "Does it meet with your approval, Colonel Ka'dahffi?"

Colonel Ka'dahffi shut the dossier and pulled a grin. "Well, on paper it all sounds very good. And I hate to doubt such a legendary man as you, Mr. Mahrem. What I want to see are the capabilities of this new weapon. If you could be so kind?"

"Of course," Drake told him with a smirk. Then he turned to the many surrounding technicians. "Begin the activation and test sequence of the Zopheridae!"

The data technicians all replied to him with shouts of `yes sir' and preceding a chorus of key tapping. The first of the eight technicians declared, "Affirmative. Activation test for the quadra-pedal battle tank ZOPHERIDAE now begins."

"Remote contact made with the base power plant aligned to Gang Wei Kong via Deus. Permission granted for power diversion to Negative Eden." Said the technician #2.

"Re-routing energy through Negative Eden supply vats to TEC umbilical cable." Exclaimed technician #3.

The forth of the technicians piped up. "Poly-muscular transportation system stimulated. All nano-probes are working in link with the Xu artificial intelligence at maximum capacity. Activation in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one... zero."

At that moment Drake picked up two digital binocular from the table and handed one to Colonel Ka'dahffi. "Please take a look."

He took the spare one into his hands. Both men used their mutual binoculars to glance out through the rectangular windows to the testing ground that the Zopheridae stood erect on. Once the activation began the Zopheridae instantly reacted. The sleek twin wing-like protrusions at the side of the weapon arose with a smooth metallic chug and revealed the small door on its right underside for entry into its cockpit. The soldier standing beside it grunted `finally' and climbed into the cockpit once the door opened for him. That door closed up once again when he was inside. Immediately the nine blue-colour optic sensors built into the head flashed on brightly. The TEC umbilical cable plugged into its underside was ejected thereafter. Then the poly-muscular formation within the armour of the front and hind legs contracted to allow it to stand. The Zopheridae then began marching forward on those legs, the metal of its pincer feet clanging against the concrete ground. As it moved forward at a steady pace and speed two openings built into the floor of the ground came open. From those two openings rose up two automated mini-guns, one on either side of the Zopheridae. The rattling sound of heavy bullet fire rang out as they started shooting at the tank. Yet those bullets merely ricocheted off its polished grey armour with nothing more than a production of friction and noise. After wasted attempts to damage the armour via bullets ended, two more trap doors opened the grounds. This time mounted missile launchers arose, two on either launcher. Both of them fired at the same time and all four missiles were shot at the Zopheridae. Instantaneously the four missiles veered off course at a right angle and were sent straight up into the air.

In the observation tower, Colonel Ka'dahffi balked. "An EMS diversion field? I don't remember that feature in the original schematics."

"Oh Colonel," Drake grinned. "...You haven't seen anything yet."

On the fields, the Zopheridae's round, dome-shaped back unbolted and a thin cylinder 1.2 metre barrel protruded through the opening. It was the cannon of the hi-powered liquid laser energy system. It took only a few moments of energy gathering before it fired pinpoint and viciously powerful amber beam that cut through the atmosphere and pierced one of the missiles that had been diverted skyward at a good 120 metres above ground. It exploded. And that explosion took down the other three missiles with it. At that point the Zopheridae retracted its laser cannon and the Vulcan on its left shoulder moved. The monster machine walked around and started firing armour-piercing bullets with the left Vulcan. The gunfire destroyed the missile launcher and mini-gun on the left before turning and obliterating the two on the right. Flames and smoke roared up in the wake of the combustion. Soon afterward two T-55 former Soviet battle tanks reared up across the ground – both of them were manned by bioandroids.

Then came the big gun – MAG, Magnetic Accelerator Gun. It was the huge seven-metre ramp mortar fixed against the two shoulder spikes of the Zopheridae's right side. The upper section of its split apart and revealed the coil running through its centre, crackling with electrical power. As the T-55s noisily moved towards the Zopheridae it loaded a large ES round into the coil of the MAG from its internal storage chamber. The shell was shot from the gun and screamed through the air until it landed between the two T-55s. The next thing anyone knew, a gigantic explosion rocked the fields. Its sonic boom spread outwardly from blast point and made the windows of the observation tower shake. A cloud of dust was forced out from it like a vortex. Once the smoke started to fade all anyone could see were flickering flames and molten, wrecked bits of scrap metal. In the observation tower, Colonel Ka'dahffi was enthralled.

He lowered his binoculars. "...I've seen enough."

Drake put the scope down and crossed his arms. "What do you think, eh?"

The Colonel turned to him. "Absolutely magnificent. It is something that should be both worshipped and controlled... like a woman. I see it now. With this weapon, Israel can be reborn!"

"So we have a deal?"

"Yes. If you can produce precisely one hundred Zopheridae units then we will provide you with the asking price of 2.8 billion US dollars."

"Excellent." Drake's grin widened at the completion of the deal. He and the colonel shook hands. Then Drake's smile fell momentarily when he heard his cell phone buzz in his pocket. Drake pulled it out and flipped it open. "This is Drake. ...I see. Is he ready to go...? Good. Well then tell Xiang Mu Feng to make it quick... the Civil Stability Maintenance Bureau doesn't have a good hand there so we should be able to pull this one off without being detected. Nevertheless I need her to be careful. But what of the final one, what have you found out? ...I understand... yes, very well. Keep an eye on her but don't make a move until Xiang returns. I still haven't decided which of you should be the one to capture her. Keep me posted."

He closed his phone and slotted it into the brown leather of his coat. "I am sorry, Colonel Ka'dahffi. But I have business to attend to. I must leave. My assistant, Karen, will formalize the details of our arraignment in my absence."

"That's fine. My time in America is limited anyway as I have to return to Haifa by the end of the week. If you'll excuse me."

They nodded to each other and then Colonel Ka'dahffi left through the automatic door. Drake watched him go with a smile. Then he shut his eyes and said, "Apoptosis."

A devious laugh echoed around them and the technicians at the computer terminals all grew uncomfortable. Even so a man jumped down from above, somersaulted, and landed with weight onto the carpeted floor. The few data technicians who dared to look at him balked. If at nothing else than the sickening condition of his skin – a quivering, scaly mass of purple flesh covered with bright blue veins. The colour of his skin was contrasted by his snowy white hair, which hung in loose strands from his lumpy scalp. He was wearing only a pair of baggy russet slacks and more glaring than that a pair of titanium chains. One of them was tied around his right arm. The other one was tied around his left arm. One end of both chains was fused into the bone of his shoulders. That – was Apoptosis.

"What can I do for you, Boss?" The freak of nature asked.

Drake crossed his arms again. "You've done a good job in guarding the old man. I need you to maintain that effort until we can successfully produce the Zopheridae arsenal for Colonel Ka'dahffi. Once we create and ship them to the Middle East... Nyles Nooreen will be of no further use to us."

"And then I can do what I like with him, eh?" Apoptosis remarked with glee in that ashy voice of his.

Drake smiled darkly "He'll be your morsel to devour."

"...I may just take you up on that, Boss. Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh!"

**********

"So that's the place, huh?"

Zophie was a whiz when it came to digging up information. Whether that meant raiding the archives or hitting a library she was more than happy to get the job done and get it done good. The necessary groundwork for this little rescue mission was no different. Rune stood cross-armed and curious at three specific maps. Each one was of the so-called Negative Eden, the Wilhelm Special Weapons Testing Facility. Each of the three maps was different however. One displayed the sheer naked skeleton of the site – as in its many corridors, escape hatches, ventilation ducts, doors, security units and so on. The second map was of the electrical layout and wiring. The third was a general map of the site which including not only the main buildings and the underground research lab but also the training grounds and the defensive fence. By looking at that Rune saw that it wouldn't be a simple matter of walking into the place. Some serious sneaking would be necessary here.

All that maps were spread out open over a white table inside one of the small but numerous planning rooms on the second floor of the Civil Stability Maintenance Bureau HQ. They were nothing flashy or elaborate but they were soundproof and so were the best places to go when planning something that needed meticulous handling. Zophie sat beside the table with her finger pointing to the third map and the wire fencing around Negative Eden. "That's the first hurdle, Rune. You have to get through that fence somehow."

"Its electrified," Rune observed. "That won't be easy."

Zophie smiled and returned to the first map. "I've seen a way around it. Look here."

Though she was trying to be all business about this, Zophie could not help but be tense when Rune walked around the table and leaned in over her shoulder to glance at the first map. However Zophie hold onto enough of herself to keep things calm. "Uh... there's a hatch near the eastern wall of the fence. I'm not sure what it's used for but if you go through it you'll come up just a short distance from Building C."

"Building C, got it."

Zophie pulled up the second map. "From Building C you can take an elevator down to the cells where Nyles Nooreen is being held. But there's an issue here. You can't go there first."

"And why not?"

"His cell is supported by powerful energy beams that are maintained by three separate power generators. They're all on the base level of the underground section of the base. You'll need to go straight down there first. Use some explosives to blow up generators 1 and 3 but NOT generator 2. You need that for the elevator. But you should be able to access Nyles' cell if you knock out the other two. Then all you need is to go back up to his level and free him. There is no way to take him without the Mahrem Conglomerate knowing so we'll pick you up at that point. Just make it back up to ground level and we'll send a covert squad in via copter."

Rune thought about it. "Doesn't that defeat the secrecy?"

"They won't know it's us," The data analyst replied. "Just follow through and everything will be okay. But the recovery team will have to be succinct so they'll descend into the base at precisely 2.15 AM. That gives you half an hour to rescue Nyles. But the base isn't big so that should be more than enough time."

"...Riiiight. What equipment will I need?"

A pause. "Well I don't want to weigh you down but after blowing up the generators and re-capturing Nooreen you're bound to come up against some guards. If I were you I'd take more than just your Desert Eagles. Plus you'll need some explosives to take those generators out."

In hearing that Rune slapped her hand on the table. "Meh. This is sounding more exhaustive by the minute. But it's worth it if Nyles has some information on Drake and the Mahrem Conglomerate, something that we can use. Maybe we can nail him before he begins mass production of the Zopheridae superweapons."

"You're being too optimistic," Zophie leaned back in her chair. "Just like Gun-Tek, we can't make a move against the Mahrem Conglomerate unless their crimes are serious, serious enough for us to get the necessary state clearance."

"Ugh. If there's one thing I can't stand about this organization, it's all the underhanded politics."

At that point, Rune's blonde aide started to roll up the maps. "It's companies like those that actually feed this organization, Rune. Crooked as they are – the Civil Stability Maintenance Bureau needs them to live. The Mahrem are different, though. Somehow I get the feeling that the string of child murders they've committed is just a small part of something much, much bigger. We need to find out what that is so we can make our move."

"Well if it's going down tonight, I need some rest first. I'll speak to you later, Zophie."

The girl held her maps to her chest as Rune headed for the door. "...You're going to see Jenna, aren't you?"

Rune paused as her hand reached the knob. "...You're not gonna get weird again, are you?"

"No... of course not. I told you that I was out of line remember? I'm just... surprised. I never thought I'd see the day when Rachelle Maye McNeil finally surrendered her heart to someone."

She smiled. "...That's because Jenna's special..."

"...Is she?"

"Yeah," Rune glanced over her shoulder. "I'm sure if you actually sat down and had a decent conversation with her, you'd feel the same way."

Zophie glanced away, sadly. "...I'm happy... for the both of you."

"Thanks, Zophie."

The CSMB agent exited. Zophie turned to the table and rolled up the third and last map. And as she removed it a tear dropped from her cheek and landed on the table in its place. Outside the room Rune wasted no time in hiking over to the car park and driving across town to her regular Rune/Jenna hangout, the Little Elm Coffee Shop in Willow Hill. The drive seemed longer than usual – Rune knowing full well that it only seemed that way because she was so desperate to see Jenna again. But it was well worth the wait. As soon as she pulled up in a nearby parking space she marched across to the six or so parasol-laden tables at Little Elm's front. The breath held itself prostate in her throat as the sight of Jenna finally hit her.

She was so unintentionally striking like that.

The young singer sat by a table flicking leisurely through a magazine and every few seconds took a sip from the coffee cup next to her. Rune just stood for a moment and watched her, the gorgeous and unassuming smile, the long mane of ebony black hair, those spectacular aquamarine eyes. Rune would never get over how perfect Jenna was. But she didn't stand there for long as the singer soon noticed her and waved her over. Rune came to the table, got her welcoming kiss, and sat down across from her girlfriend.

"Sorry I'm late, Jen." She apologized.

Jenna beamed. "Only by a couple of minutes. How was work?"

"Nothing spectacular. I have a mission later on tonight though."

"That mean you can't come watch me sing?"

Rune blinked. "You have a performance tonight? Where?"

"At Pulsa diNura, of course," she smiled. "I told you I've been in high demand since that first time you heard me sing. I think I'm gonna have the Carolingians as backup, too. I'm glad, because those guys have such a great sound."

"I'm sorry I can't be there..."

Jenna reached over the table and squeezed her by the hand. "It's okay. Work is work."

"Maybe we can do something together tomorrow night?"

"I'd like that. So what have you got in mind?"

Rune leaned back and thought for a moment. Thus far, as dates went, they had only been to restaurants and that wine party over at the Mahrem Conglomerate HQ. Junk Town wasn't exactly the pinnacle of culture but there was surely a little something they could do together, right? "How about a concert?"

"A concert?" Jenna said. "Hmm... I dunno."

"What's the big deal?"

She winked at the CSMB agent. "Well what if the performance has a vocalist? What if that vocalist sounds better than me? I can't have you thinking `this chick beats my girl hands down' while I'm dancing next to you like some lemon."

"Jen," Rune smiled warmly. "No one has a prettier voice than you."

"Well thank you. In that case, let's do it. Find me someone good though. We don't really have similar taste in music but it is my forte. And as far as tickets go, that Civil Stability Maintenance Bureau clout you have makes a quick score easy."

"Humph. Yes Ma'am."

**********

A few hundred metres north of the upper fencing of Negative Eden, was a line of bushes that marked off select points near the perimeter. Behind one of those bushes was Rune. Beads of sweat ran down her face as she stood astride that bush with a SIG 550 assault rifle in her hands. This was a sweeping mission and so it required a bit more protection that just a trenchcoat and so she had also come to wear her padded poly-metallic tactical armour. Attached to the belt of the suit were four grenades and jammed into the four baggy pockets of the armour's leggings were four individual reserve magazines, two for the SIG and two for Liquidus and Solidus. She still had her Desert Eagles on her person but for this kind of work Rune didn't make too much of a fuss about using them. Everything had to be done well here.

The emerald-eyed girl turned around and glanced over the thicket of the bush to see her destination up ahead. Beyond the electrified fence of the Wilhelm Special Weapons Testing Facility was the courtyard that flowed into every other building of it. There were a few soldiers guarding the complex from what she could see at that position. There were all wearing the same kind of padded bullet-resistant armour that she was – however they were armed with M16A2 assault rifles. They would not be hard to get around but they would have to be avoided for now.

Rune rose herself up a little bit to get moving. But then she noticed something intimidating out of the corner of her eye. It was the Zopheridae prototype. She looked to her left and saw it in all its glory, inert but by no means less threatening death machine. It was probably designed and built here by Nyles Nooreen and the scientific teams he worked with. And knowing that made it all the more important that she find that guy before the night was through. Rune exhaled for a moment then bolted from around the bush toward the electrified fence. As Zophie said there was a small compartment near the upper eastern wall. Rune kept low to the ground but steamrolled ahead under cover of darkness until she could reach the corner of the fencing. She ran along that length until the entrance into the underground walkway was revealed. Rune skidded into a stop, grass staining her boots green, and paused. For a moment she put down the SIG-550 and hooked her fingertips under the door. Using her unnatural level of strength to the maximum, she yanked it open with a chug. A flock of moths rose up from it yet Rune merely grabbed her SIG-550 and jumped straight inside, slamming the door closed with her free hand. There was a fifteen-metre descent down. Rune landed in a forward roll over the metal flooring of the corridor. It was empty. Illuminated by a few lamps and occupied by no more than a few crates covered over with moth-eaten rags. This pathway was nothing more than a storage chamber. Rune shook her concern away and started walking. At the other end of the thin chamber was another ladder. With a single hand and her boots she ascended it. Once at the top Rune put her free hand to handle of the square overhanging door and pushed up. The hatch came loose and Rune stuck her head up to see were she was. It was the courtyard again. And just like Zophie said, this way brought her close to Building C.

Rune glanced around for soldiers. There were two, one to the far right and one directly ahead. Both of them had their backs turned as they patrolled the complex. The latter was the closest to the door into Building C. When he turned around a corner to its western wall, Rune pounced out of the hatch and ran straight for that door. However she froze when she saw that it was locked electronically.

At least for once, Rune thanked God for the NNTL. "Zophie."

"Rune?"

"I need a favour."

"What is it? How are things with the mission?"

"Fine, fine. I need the entry code for Building C. It's locked by a system and I don't have a key card."

"All right, just a second," Zophie paused. "...4-534530-000774. Can you remember that?"

Rune had already tapped it into the control panel by the time she uttered the last word of that sentence. The door shifted open, and not a moment too soon, as Rune heard more footsteps coming her way. "Thanks, Zophie."

She shut off communications then slipped inside before the guard came back around the wall. This left her inside Building C, which was just another boring example of a newly established outpost of military science. The walls were a monotonous and bland white. There were surveillance cameras every few metres. However not many guards patrolled this wing, a little something that worked to Rune's advantage. Without hesitation she switched on the PCCP function on her poly-metallic tactical armour. Her body became a near invisible outline. That invisible outline ran down the length of that corridor in search of the first thing that resembled an elevator. Three corridors down she saw something that fit the bill. Rune came to it and pressed the button for the lowest level. A momentary wait and the lift came in a slow ascent up for her. She got herself inside and allowed it to take her down to the base floor of Negative Eden. When the doors opened up Rune came out into a room that was far different to the surface. The base floor was a huge cavernous hollow built out of the earth itself and was largely incomplete. From here she could see the clumps of soil and rock that made up the ceiling and the walls around it. This part of Negative Eden had about four armoured guards on patrol and a few technicians working on the three power generators that lined the back of the cavern. There were tankers on both of the opposing walls that carried an unknown substance.

Rune smirked and pulled two explosives out of her pack.

She'd do it slow but there'd be no problem. The CSMB agent prowled across the underground cavern toward the three generators. She had to be careful though. PCCP was far from perfect – if she were caught in direct light then her body would cast a deeper shadow and reveal her presence. It couldn't mask itself from weight detection either, but that wasn't too much of an issue in this case. Right now Rune had to worry about keeping out of the light of the large overhead lamps fixed into the ceiling, sixty or so metres above her head. With those precautions she walked around the beams of light and over to the generators. She planted the explosives on Generators 1 and 3 then stepped back, her presence unknown to the guards. With those in place she turned around and crept slowly back to the elevator corridor. On the control panel she pushed the button for the third level of the underground section of the complex. When it came down and she got into it, the doors closed behind her and it climbed back up its shaft till it reached the third level.

The doors opened up again. Rune walked out of the elevator and found herself on a level that looked much the same as the ground level. But at the far end of this floor was the cell that Nyles Nooreen was being held in. Rune walked down the hall and saw the other cell doors. Most of them were empty. But she found it odd that there were no soldiers or guards in this place. Soon enough though she came to the door that led to Nyles' cell. Rune opened it and walked inside. It was a big and circular room with a dome-shaped ceiling and walls covered with white tiles. In the centre of the `cell' was short old man sitting on a chair that was surrounded by sparkling beams of intense cerulean energy – beams powerful enough to kill.

That man was Nyles Nooreen.

His wrinkled face glanced up when he heard the door open but his pale grey eyes bugged out when he saw Rune standing there, her PCCP switched off. "What on Earth...?" He remarked.

"I'll get you out of there," Rune said to him. "Just hang on a minute."

She took a remote out of her pocket and pressed its red button down. Though neither Rune nor Nyles could hear it, her explosives had just been set off. The proof was that the lights above them flickered and the beams of light securing Nyles to that chair faded into nothingness. Nyles stood up off his seat, groaned, and then looked over at Rune.

"My God," He said. "...I don't know how you did it but you managed to sneak into Wilhelm Special Weapons Testing Facility... who are you working for?"

Rune lowered her SIG-550. "The Civil Stability Maintenance Bureau. We have some questions that we'd like to ask you, about Drake Mahrem, the intentions of the Mahrem Conglomerate, the Zopheridae, and everything else concerning the ones who put you here."

"That's fine, but we must be quick."

"What's the trouble?"

Nyles wiped the sweat from his brow. "If we don't get out of here now then Apoptosis will be..."

"...Coming back..." Uttered a third voice.

Both Nyles and Rune shunted around to see the monstrous man himself – the one that Drake had called for during the test run of the Zopheridae – Apoptosis. Rune balked at the sight of him, his scaly purple skin, his pare white hair, his chain enswathed arms, and his huge lumpy skull. Automatically she lifted her SIG-550 into a shooting stance and scuttled in front of Nyles to protect him. Rune had never seen this guy before but sensed the power and danger hanging around him like a morbid grey aura.

"Who – or what – are you?" She questioned.

Apoptosis grinned. The muscles of his left shoulder had a spasm whilst he tilted his head to the right. Yet he didn't seem to be the slightest bit affected by it. "My name is Apoptosis... you may call me... `Apoptosis'... and so... what do I call you, my little morsel to be?"

"Rune." She declared.

Apoptosis pulled another momentary grin. "Oh so it's you. You're that little Civil Stability Maintenance Bureau gun that continues to shoot. The shadow of the Boss... oh it's gonna be fun choking the living hell out of your carcass."

"Yet another psychotic weirdo. Let me guess... you're part of Dark Christ, yes?"

"Got it in one..." Replied the deformed assassin.

"Well sorry pal but I don't have time to play around with the likes..." Rune smirked and slowly wrapped her index finger around the trigger. "Of you!"

Immediately the SIG-550 volleyed forth a barrage of bullets that thundered across the room. Nyles covered his ears and cried out in fear while Apoptosis acted instantaneously. The thin chains wrapped around his both arms slithered around his muscled flesh. When he thrust his arms out the left chain and the right chain around them unfurled about half of their full length (16m) and defying all laws of common logic they began twirling in two concise and enveloping circles that shielded Apoptosis from the bullet fire. The gunfire reined in on the spinning chain shield but couldn't penetrate it – the bullets merely refracted and bounced from the rapidly flailing chains in a haze of metal, friction and motion. When the magazine ran empty the SIG-550's volley of bullets came to a close. Apoptosis grinned and the spinning of his chains came to a pause. The left one slithered back around his left arm like a noodle to a chopstick, while he thrust his right arm and the chain shot forth. Rune gasped and struggled for power when the chain wrapped around the barrel of her SIG. She strained in a desperate tug of war, Apoptosis pulling back on his chain while Rune's boots moved forward from that pull, yet she did not relinquish her grasp of the SIG-550. She grit her teeth and held on for dear life while Nyles stood back and watched this all take place.

The rattling slither of the left chain awoke again. Apoptosis beamed another confident grin and the left chain extended from his arm by a good fifteen metres. The emerald eyes of the CSMB agent widened. As the chain came for her like a snake through the air she dropped the SIG-550 and jumped upwards. The right chain yanked away the SIG while the left chain curled upwards at a ninety-degree angle and pursued Rune. As she vaulted up into the air she pulled out Solidus and took aim. She fired. The bullet knocked the left chain off course and into the near wall. Rune back flipped midair and landed in a crouched position just a few metres to the right of Nyles Nooreen. Apoptosis shrugged at the outcome and wrenched his left chain out of the white tiling of the wall. Chips of stone and wire came with it. The chain twirled back around his arm until it returned to its previously inert position.

Rune sneered at the purple-skinned warrior. Those chains of his bothered her the most though. What was strange about them was that they hadn't been spun or whipped like a rope. They moved as if they were autonomous beings, as if they were actually alive. What kind of monstrous powers did this man have?

"This one is called Heaven," Apoptosis declared mockingly, pointing at his left chain. Then his pointed to his right one and said, "And this one is called Hell. This dungeon around us, the world, is purgatory. And now these weapons shall choose your fate. Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh... Heaven or Hell...?"

"What the hell are you?" Shouted Rune.

Nyles frowned. "Do you see the bolts that infuse his chains to his shoulder blades?"

Rune had spotted them earlier. "Yeah. So?"

"Within either of those bolts are two microscopic control units. Those control units act as receptors for the magnokinetic psycho-waves that emanate from a chip implanted in his skull. Using the right thought pattern Apoptosis can thus control the movement and speed of the chains as though they were his own limbs."

Rune glanced from Nyles to Apoptosis and back. "...What?"

"But that isn't even the true reason Apoptosis is so dangerous. You see he-"

Immediately Heaven snaked out from Apoptosis' left arm and lashed the plates of the floor before Nyles' feet. He gasped and hobbled backward until he tripped up over his feet and fell over. Rune cocked Solidus while Heaven slithered out of the dusty groove it had carved into the ground from the sheer force of its lash. Heaven pulled out of the furrow and curled around Apoptosis' left arm again.

"You're quite talkative today, Professor," Apoptosis commented acidly. "Be careful what secrets you let slip from those wrinkled old lips of yours. Because once Master Drake is finished with you... I'll be tearing those lips off of you myself. But first... I'll have to deal with the woman..."

He shot his hand out and Hell burst from his arm. Rune took a quick glance at Nyles to make sure he was not in the path of attack then bolted to the right. Hell turned at an angle and followed her as she ran in the direction of the wall. Rune swiftly turned a left at the wall and her thin metal pursuer smashed into that wall forcefully. The blast spat fragments of the tile out from it. Apoptosis pulled Hell out of the wall and sent Heaven from his other arm to join it in its chase of Rune. The two chains zoomed together after Rune who ran forward near the curving, corner-less wall of the cell. Heaven snaked out first and thrust itself at Rune's lower body. She jumped and it struck the wall with another crushing blow. Hell took its shot next and dove for Rune's head. She ducked, mid-run, and it collided with the wall again. And so Rune kept running and ducking all of Apoptosis' strikes and slashes. That was until Heaven bolted ahead of Rune at the ankles. It was too fast an action to counter. When it swept backward into her legs as she piled forward the two forces met – yet steel overcame flesh. Rune was thrown off her feet and tumbled forwards into the floor. Her body skidded across the white tiles just as Heaven and Hell came for her ankles in a joint attack. The two chains bound themselves to her (Heaven to her left ankle and Hell to her right ankle). She was caught and prone.

Apoptosis grinned zealously and Nyles shook with concern. The hands of the purple-skinned monster then gripped around his now fully extended chains and as he did his feet started to move him around in circles. Rune gasped when the chains dragged by her feet into the air. Swiftly the speed of Apoptosis' spinning caused her to remain there. Apoptosis turned around and around like a spinning top in a fixed point. Rune growled, her feet bound, her coconut brown hair whipping around her face, blood and motion rushing to her skull, watching the room danced with speed around her. This `great swing' skill already had her feeling nauseous from the prompt and consistent movement.

Apoptosis cackled at the nexus of the `whirlwind' he had created. "Aha, ha, ha, ha, ha! `Round and `round the whore goes, where she might stop, nobody knows!"

Rune tried to hold herself together at the edge of the storm. Though the blood was rushing to her head faster and faster she reached into her other holster and pulled out Liquidus. She needed a perfect shot and she just couldn't get that with Solidus. Then she took aim at the centre of the attack, Apoptosis. At that critical moment everything was against her. The speed of the swing was throwing off her balance and making it hard to aim. It was doubtful that a bullet would even hit him if while he was moving at that speed. The power of a Desert Eagle shot weighed a little something against that but was it enough? She had no choice but to believe that it was.

Rune shut one of her eyes and staggered to maintain consciousness as she fired.

Apoptosis's head jerked backward.

Concurrently the grip that Heaven and Hell had on Rune's legs was released as his concentration broke. Rune was then sent on rocket-powered course straight for the far wall of the cell. As she veered into the wall the woman regained enough of her sense to act. Using all the precise skills of timing she had learned as a soldier of the Garden she span her body and kicked off of the wall with her feet. With both arms extended she vaulted off the wall with her gun-toting arms extended like a bird of prey and somersaulted towards the ground again. Her boots skidded across the plates once more. Rune grunted and pressed both of her hands (still holding Solidus and Liquidus) into the floor to slow her down to a stop. Once she had gotten a better grip on the situation, Rune exhaled. She was still dizzy.

"Ugh... I feel like I'm gonna hurl..."

"Rune!" Yelled Nyles. "It's not over!"

"...Huh?"

As she turned around to ask him what he meant by that, Rune paused. And she paused because she saw the reason for his concern herself. Standing a good distance from her was Apoptosis – even though there was a bullet wound smack dab in the middle of his forehead. His chains rattled limply on the ground as he caught his breath with a smirk.

"...You... didn't think... it was going... to be that easy, did you...?" He asked contemptuously.

Rune aimed both Solidus and Liquidus at him. "How in the good fuck are you still alive? I put a bullet through your skull!"

Nyles wiped the sweat from his brow. "This is what I tried to tell you..."

"Tell me what?"

"Apoptosis, he-"

Heaven went from limp to active and curled up off the floor like an asp. It immediately shot out for Nyles' mouth. The aging professor gasped. Then the chain was knocked out of attack by a gunshot from Solidus. Rune ran to Nyles' side while Heaven slithered back up around Apoptosis' left arm. "You keep opening your mouth, Professor... and I may just have to re-think keeping you alive..."

"He's bluffing," Rune commented. "Drake needs you to complete the Zopheridae arsenal and he knows it."

Nyles steeled himself and pressed a hand into the girl's shoulder. "Listen to me. Apoptosis is a member of Dark Christ. If you can, eliminate him. It doesn't matter what happens to me – just find a way to stop him – even if you can't kill him."

"Can't kill him?"

Apoptosis swung his right arm up. "That's enough talk from you!"

Hell lashed backwards and then forwards at full extension. Rune sheathed Liquidus then shoved Nyles to one side of her incoming attack while she pounced to the other. The chain smashed into the floor and left behind a deeply cut welt. Hell proceeded to drag itself out of that trench and shot out toward Rune once more. She dodged its thrust and it crashed into the wall once more. Rune then shot at Apoptosis as she strafed. The bullet buried itself into his muscled right chest. He grunted at the pain but kept on his feet, later to pull a grin.

"Bitch, you can't kill me..." He said. "I am immortal..."

Rune scowled. "...We'll see."

"You question my power? Fine then! Let's see how you deal with pain!"

This time around Apoptosis pulled no punches. Both Hell and Heaven were thrown Rune's way this time and with a far greater speed than before. With the two coming at her, Rune could only shoot the closer one, Hell, out of the way. Heaven took its chance and slapped Solidus out of her hand.

"Ah!" Cried out Rune from the blow.

Heaven then coiled around Rune's terse neck and tightened. The ex-soldier rasped for breath and clawed at the chains to free herself. It was of no use. The Heaven chain lifted her up off the ground while the Hell chain moved around to her back and loosened up the first sixty centimetres of its links. Both Rune and Nyles gathered what Apoptosis intended for her in that position.

"I'm gonna whip your back so raw it'd make plantation slaves sorry for you! Meh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

The Hell chain whipped itself around and smacked Rune's back. She slammed her eyes shut and grit her teeth to stifle the scream that threatened to break from her throat. The pain was searing. Apoptosis pulled a dirty grin and used Hell to whip her across the back again. Rune jerked forward from the blow and a shriek rumbled behind her teeth. Even with her tough padded poly-metallic composite armour on her body, the force of the strikes practically cut through it and reached the vulnerable flesh underneath it. Apoptosis began a steady and continuous flurry of thrashing and whipping at Rune's back. Each hit made her wince, jerk and sob, while she dangled helplessly from Heaven. She couldn't protect her back with her arms because if she let go of the Heaven chain she'd be strangled. So Apoptosis had free and unopposed action to flog her like a horse. Rune bit her lip until she could taste blood and struggled to stay conscious through the continual pain of the whipping.

Across from Rune's muffled screams and Apoptosis' giddy chuckles was Nyles Nooreen. He frowned with remorse at the sight of that brave young woman being lashed like that. He didn't know anything about her other than her being a CSMB agent but he couldn't bear to watch it. And so before he was even aware of it his moccasins started running him straight at Apoptosis – who was too drunk on the pain he was now administering to Rune to pay attention. Nyles closed his eyes and put his shoulder to launch himself into the frame of the Dark Christ agent. Apoptosis merely grunted with confusion when he was pushed aside by the smaller man. He instantly shoved back and Nyles fell impotently to the floor, groaning.

"Little worm!" Shouted Apoptosis, unaware that his concentration on the chains had been broken. "You'll pay for that!"

But when he did glance once more in Rune's direction he saw an un-pinned grenade coming his way. "What?"

"Nyles, take cover!" Screamed Rune.

Loud and blinding combustion rumbled around Apoptosis when the pineapple exploded by his lumpy skull. Fire, debris and dust rose up from the small crater that was blown into the floor. Smoke lingered around it like a cloud. Nyles pulled his arms from his face and rolled over onto his back to see it. Across from them, Rune wiped the sweat from her face. There were red link-shaped markings around her throat and she could feel blood running down her back from the streaky welts that Apoptosis' whipping had cleaved into it. Heaven and Hell were lying immobile near her feet.

The smoke faded.

Apoptosis stood in the centre of the blackened crater. His blood – a translucent blue substance – stained his muscles and his slacks. More significantly part of his head had been blown off. The bones of his skull were revealed to the professor and the soldier, as well as the computer chip implanted in his brain that produced the magnokinetic waves necessary to control Heaven and Hell in the unique and elaborate way that Apoptosis had been doing.

The purple-skinned freak snarled with anger. "Bastards! I'll kill BOTH of you!"

He pulled his arms into the air and his twin metal chains rose up like cobra to his command. But when he did he juddered as though hit by something. Rune witnessed his chains fall to the ground once again while the `snake charmer' gasped and trembled. Nyles shut his eyes with understanding. Apoptosis' devilish eyes bugged out in his skull. Then he lurched over and regurgitated into the crater. Creamy white chunks and liquid, along with specks of his blue blood, splattered over the charred floor. He crumbled into a kneeling position as his muscle spasms returned. This time they had a negative effect on him.

With his body literally in fits, Apoptosis glared at Nyles, weakly. "M-medicine... bring me my... medicine..."

"...No, Apoptosis."

His vomit-stained lips curled into a furious frown. "...God damn you!"

By now Rune had shifted over to something that had taken her interest. It was the machine the created the energy bars that had sealed Nyles to that seat in the centre of the cell. Then she turned toward Apoptosis as she stood in front of it. A good grin of goading confidence crossed her face. "...Is this what you call immortality?"

"You little bitch," Apoptosis willed control over Hell. "I won't die before I send you to your grave!"

He swiftly shot Hell out toward her. Rune widened her smile and s