I woke beside Luna as our cave shook from the sound of a terrible ROAR. Stirring, I felt Luna's hand pull me back by her side. Her fingers stretched out lazily dusting up and down my thighs. Another roar, closer this time, rocked the shallow cave. In an instant, Luna rolled over, shifting into her wolf form. Pouncing over to where she'd thrown my pants, belt, and holster, in one swift movement grabbed the clothing in her mouth and tossed it over to me.

Not missing a beat, snatched my holster as it flew through the air. I reach inside... and come up empty.

Our weapons, our armor, everything still in custody with the Heimdall Security Bureau.

Another roar, massive flapping wings, and the veil of water bursts open as dragon claws scrape across the sand scratching to a halt. Luna's fur ceases to bristle. Only a dull annoyed growl escaped from her jaws. Beside her, I remained naked holding an empty holster watching Midnight transform back into human form. The expression on her face was neutral as she tilted her horned head.

In an almost inconvenienced tone, she sighed, "Gross."

Luna growled and barked a less than friendly sound.

Midnight is unimpressed, "Gene, Kazuna needs to see you. Urgent. Boring research stuff." She looks me up and down. She remains passive and adds; "She doesn't need to see that much of you though." Shaking her head, Midnight's scales slid outward across her body, covering her flesh. Once again returned to her dragon form, she spread her wings, and left the cave. Through the curtain of water still flowing over the mouth of the cave, I could see the new day's sun shine over the mountain tops.

I watched, transfixed on the sun beyond the waterfall. Pleasantly distracted, I felt Luna's human hand rest upon my shoulder. She pressed herself against my back. She'd already put most of her clothes on. Had she left them in the cave before we'd arrived? How long had she planned this?

"Gene," She spoke softly.

"Yes," I whispered back.

Turning me around by the shoulder, Luna leaned in and kissed me deeply. Pulling back, she looked me in the eyes and with a smile commanded, "Get dressed. Time to get back to work." Spinning me back around by the shoulder, I felt her open palm slap against my rear.

Laughing, I pulled my shirt back and smiled back, "Yes, ma'am."

---

I made my way back up the treacherous path leading upward, behind the temple. It's astounding I ran down these steps in the dark without stumbling over myself. The moss, the roots, the crumbling stone, any number of hazards should have sent me stumbling down to my death. Maybe Kazuna had a point? Without the enhancements, this false flesh and the machinery underneath, I could have never navigated the stairs. I wouldn't have been able to keep up with Luna. I would have never had the chance to lie with my mate. Everything that we did in the cave, despite the changes made to my body, I still felt every moment.

What Luna and I had become, everything we'd done was the only thing that actually felt real at all in this waking nightmare. I still can't remember my past. How must my life have been in comparison to my present? Were falling space stations, skyscraper sized monsters, world dominating conspiracies the norm? I'd like to believe my life had at one point been simple. Not that it mattered anymore. I made a promise. Whatever was in the past couldn't be resurrected, nor is my desire strong enough to want it back at all. I've made a choice. The only choice that makes sense. I've chosen to pursue a future with the woman I love.

As a satisfied and determined smile spread across my face, I notice Karma sitting cross legged before a large tree in the courtyard. His eyes are closed, hands folded together. I venture closer, listening to the wind blowing through the branches, rustling the leaves. Standing beside Karma, I notice a stone plaque at the base of the tree written in a text I cannot decipher with the exception of a single word...

"Yggdrasil. Why does that word sound familiar?" I ask aloud.

Karma takes a deep breath in, and exhales. Standing to his feet, he bows toward the tree, but does not turn to address me as he says, "Permit me again to apologize, Gene-san."

I hold a hand in protest, "You don't need to apologize for something outside of your control."

He shakes his head, "My actions, my attitude was not outside of my control." I examine him, considering the implication of Karma lying about our most recent fight. Then he explains, finally turning to face me; "When we first discovered what had happened to you, what you'd become, I was immediately distrustful. I'd felt you were no longer one of us."

This was true. Back on Heimdall, that overwhelming sense that I was not to be trusted by anyone else in the group didn't help the mind breaking horror that I'd become an android. All things considered, it hadn't crossed my mind to be upset at Karma. I suppose in our line of work survival favored the cautious. Rushing from one insane scenario to the next, even if I were supposed to hold a grudge against Karma's distrust, I never found the time to do so.

Sensing Karma still had more to say, I waited and listened.

With a sigh, he admits, "You don't remember when we first met?" I shake my head. He attempts a smile, "Summoned by Libra, I was distrustful of foreigners, aliens, and my former rival most of all. You were not. I'd mistaken you for a half blood Japanese, corrupted by Western influence. In that tavern however, you went out of your way to connect with us. You connected us to one another."

Scratching the back of my head I shrug, "I'll have to take your word for it."

Karma's eyes are intense, confessing, "It has taken me until death to understand your wisdom, Gene-san. For this, I beg your forgiveness, please."

Still confused, I ask earnestly, "What wisdom could I possibly have to offer a master Shinobi ten years my senior?"

Karma smiles, "Where other's visions are hindered by race or species, you see only the soul. This wisdom, your ability to unite others yields strength." He bows his head slightly, "May I hope to harness that strength as you have."

Walking past me, Karma heads toward the Thin Building on the Eastern Wall. I linger by the tree with the plaque for a moment: Yggdrasil. That word. I allow my mind's eye to search recent memories for a match. Surprisingly, one comes up. A full video file in fact...

"[Doctor Joseph Kramer's] teeth chatter together in fear but he makes an attempt to get the words out, "There's... The project name is hidden. It's listed as a restricted option in the main menu but... Yggdrasil... The tree of life within Odin--"

Naruhito, Gene: 'Internal Memory Files,' 07/23/2020 - location tag: Norn System, Odin celestial orbit, Heimdall Station: deck 14. (Validated)

Shaking myself out of my revere, I sprint towards the hidden library in search of answers.

---

Reaching the base of the stairs, I step through the broken door and into the hidden room. I'm panting for breath. I stop, realizing that action isn't actually necessary anymore. However, internally breathless at the revelation necessary for us to finally take the offensive. Not so much a revelation as much as a starting off point. It was a match against the blackness to illuminate the darkness of space itself, but sometimes you just have to work with what you have.

Seated around the central operating table, Kazuna, Marth, and Karma glance up in my direction. Midnight stands off to the side, looking away, blushing. Behind me, I feel the familiar finger tips of my love brush across my shoulder as she enters the room. I watch her tail sway from side to side as she takes her seat with the others.

Peeling my eyes away from my favorite distraction, I address the group, "My apologies, I had a late start this morning."

Midnight wretches, "Yeah, tell us all about it."

Marth takes a drink of whatever is in his hand and knocks it against the table, "Although some of us are unable to show it," he glares at Midnight, "We celebrate your coupling with the She-Wolf. May you yield many heirs to your family name."

I feel as though my face caught fire. I can only cough to hide my obvious blushing with my hands, but I think it has the opposite effect.

Rolling her eyes, Midnight rebukes Marth, "That was sarcasm, Marth. I don't really want to know what they did in the cave. Bad enough I had to see their bits when I found them--"

"OKAY," I shout way too loud, "Kazuna, you said you found something?" Kazuna is all smiles. She cradles her chin in the palms of her hands alternating knowing glances between Luna and I. Trying desperately to progress the conversation, I ask again, "Doctor Kazuna?"

Kazuna sighs and stands, explaining while she strides over to a metal table with a plastic sheet over the top, "Three things actually..." She pulls back the plastic sheet carefully. "I was curious as to how Director Jenkins was able to send Karma back to kill us."

Karma raises his hand and Kazuna grants him permission to speak with a gesture; "My reconditioning inhibited retaining any conscious knowledge of how I arrived here. However, Kazuna was able to extract my visual memory. I'd caught a glance of where the director was searching. Apparently there were only a handful of places we could have gone."

I raise an eyebrow, "He was gambling?"

Kazuna shrugs, "The odds weren't that outstanding. Karma was by far the most powerful agent he dispatched and we're currently sitting on his most valuable target."

Luna leaned against the balcony railing that looked down upon the expansively library leaning against the railing; "This place is more than just an old forgotten library?"

With a nod Kazuna confirms, "This is the Temple of Heimdall; receptacle of all Fryga's ancient spiritual, mystical, and alchemical knowledge."

The atmosphere as we all collectively realize we're sitting on a giant bullseye that Jenkins could fire upon at any moment.

I take a step back and rally the others, "We can't stay here. We need to move. Now."

The others rise for their seats, but Kazuna raises her hands and calmly states, "I've managed to buy us more time." Still standing we allow our doctor to explain; "The components I removed from Gene and Karma have been manipulated to read as deceased. That was the second thing; up until the repairs I've made, Jenkins was tracking Gene. His every move, sight, sound; he was reading us like a book."

We all let this sink in. Karma was right all along. I was a traitor. Unwilling, but a traitor all the same. I try to affirm the only silver lining; "So, you're certain that he won't send anyone else down here after us?"

"No," Kazuna offers flatly, "But, I've increased our odds. Bought us some more time."

"What's the third thing?" Marth asks impatiently.

Kazuna marches over toward the balcony next to Luna. She gestures with a broad sweeping movement and a satisfied grin, "Everything that Jenkins and his company used to build their empire, they learned from this space. If there's a way to beat him, we'll find it here."

Midnight was less than impressed, "That's wonderful. We'll just be here then for however many thousands of years reading through everything in this warehouse of arcane knowledge? Hard pass."

"Everything?" I ask with a twinge of hope, "Kazuna, we need to find everything related to 'Project Yggdrasil, as quickly as possible."