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Culmination	By : Croik Category: +G through L > Guilty Gear Views: 2646 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Guilty Gear, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Guilty
Gear, its characters and settings are property of Sammy Studios, and are being
used in this fanfiction without permission.
This fic is rated R for violence and sexual content, and it contains
yaoi material.

Culmination
Chapter
2

Up
until Johnny called them all together, Ky had been feeling much better. He was clean, wrapped in fresh bandages and
nestled in cool sheets. Though eating
while on his stomach had started as a difficult task, it was April who finally
suggested he drink the soup broth through a straw; despite his embarrassment
the warmth was now settled comfortably in him.
Relieving himself was a little trickier, as it involved climbing out of
bed with his sore back, but once on his feet his legs held his weight well
enough for him to move about a bit. It
was progress, but he much preferred the stable mattress beneath him for now.

Presently
the small room was cramped with bodies; Johnny and Testament were each leaning
against a space of wall, Dizzy seated in the room�s only chair with Bridget
cross-legged at her feet, May perched lightly on the edge of Ky�s bed. Only Johnny seemed to know why they�d all
been gathered and he didn�t look happy about it, testimony to the gravity of
the situation. But he didn�t speak his
mind right away, instead turning the floor over to Ky. They were anxious to hear his side of the
events surrounding his injuries, after all, though he was not nearly as
interested in telling them.

�I
was on my way south toward the Benevento Settlement,� Ky explained, �when my
instruments detected the storm.� He
felt somewhat awkward having to tell his story this way, stretched out on his
stomach and not quite able to see everyone.
�I�m not as experienced a pilot as I�d like to be, so I landed in Genoa
to wait for it to pass. They�came out
of nowhere.�

Ky
licked his lips. He could feel all
their gazes on him heavily, and it was somewhat unnerving with the memory of
glowing eyes suddenly fresh in his mind.
They had crawled out of the darkness like wolves�. �At first I thought there was only a dozen
of them, so I left my craft. I was
afraid their electric attacks would damage the equipment. But as soon as I started towards them, more
appeared. I couldn�t use Thunderseal�s
full power in the rain, so I did my best to keep them away from the vehicle and
fight them blade to blade.�

�And
the explosion?� May asked impatiently.

�I
didn�t see where it came from.� He
closed his eyes a moment, as if trying to make his jumbled memories fall into
place, but he only remembered how it felt when his uniform was seared off his
back, taking flesh with it. �Somewhere
behind me. I thought it might have been
my ship exploding, or one of the robots self-detonating, but I don�t remember
seeing or feeling any shrapnel. It felt
almost like an impact of magic, though I didn�t think they were capable of
something like that. I tried to
retreat, but there were too many of them, and in the end, I��

Ky
glanced over at Testament, but the man was still, unmoved by his short
testimony. �I had no other choice but
to use Thunderseal.�

�It
was a risky move,� Johnny remarked, though he sounded as if he approved.

�It
was. But I was willing to take a
chance.�

�Of
course. Though�it may have only bought
you some time.� His expression darkening
a little, he slipped a folded piece of paper out of his coat, passing it to
Dizzy so she could show it to Ky. �That
report was issued just a few hours ago, from the European branch of the Global
Police,� Johnny explained for the others� benefit. �It seems that our Officer Kiske here missed some kind of
appointment two days ago that clued the public into his being MIA. So they had to make a statement.�

Ky
scanned the report quickly, a slight frown tipping his lips. The report was fairly straightforward,
citing where and when Ky had made his last report, though naturally saying
nothing of the nature of his investigation.
It was all proper and procedural, except there that was something about
the last few lines that struck an odd chord in the officer. He frowned down at it severely. �What exactly is this report implying?� he
wondered aloud, his eyes meeting Johnny�s.

May,
who was obviously annoyed at being in the dark, snatched the paper away from
him to read for herself. ��However,��
she read precisely, ��this is not the first incident in which Officer Kiske has
neglected to make his reports, and it is therefore the opinion of this office
that no great concern as to his well being is yet warranted.� Hmph, that�s not very nice.� She tossed it back towards Ky, but the paper
floated out of his reach to be snatched up by Bridget, who also read through it
with Dizzy looking over his shoulder.

�They�re
making it sound as if you do this a lot,� Bridget remarked. �You�re not a slacker, are you?�

�Of
course not,� Ky objected. He reached
out, and Bridget obediently handed the report to him. �It�s a blatant exaggeration which I find offensive.�

Dizzy
folded her hands in her lap as she glanced between everyone present. �Can�t we just take Ky home?� she
suggested. �He�s clearly been
injured�then everyone will know it�s not his fault.�

But
Johnny�s face was grim, and he waved vaguely towards May. �May, will you go fetch what we were talking
about earlier?�

�Sure
thing, Johnny.� May hurried out of the
room, excited to be helping,.

�I
don�t think you quite understand the situation you�re in right now, Ky.� Johnny
said, plucking his sunglasses off.
�Going back now could be just as dangerous as the fight we pulled you
out of.�

Ky�s
eyes narrowed at the elder man. �What
are you talking about?�

May
returned suddenly, her arms full with two wrapped bundles: one nearly as long
as she was tall, the other round and about the size of a small basketball. Johnny thanked her and set both on the
table. �I�m talking about these,� he
told everyone, uncovering the first: a sword, long with a white blade and a
blue jewel recessed into the metal near the handle. It was badly scorched and covered in hairline cracks, but very recognizable.

�That�s�� Though it still hurt Ky pushed himself
stubbornly upright, into a sitting position.
�That is not my Thunderseal,� he said confidently, keeping one hand on
the bed�s headrest to support him.
�It�s a cheap imitation.�

�You�re
right. May and I were comparing the
two, earlier. Yours is in much better
shape, too,� he added for Ky�s benefit.
�We pulled a dozen of these out of Genoa, along with this.� He pulled back the covering on the other
object, revealing a head of scorched blond hair and a grotesque metal face--the
head of a robot. �There were about
twenty around you, as far as we could tell from the pieces, and at least
another thirty spread out over a mile radius.
It really must have been some fight.�

Ky�s
expression hardened. �It was. Now, please continue.�

Johnny
smirked a little at his serious tone, but continued as he�d been asked. �Anyway, that�s about fifty of these things,
give or take, not to mention some we�ve spotted on our own. It seems like they�re all over the
place. Someone�s really invested in
their construction for there to be so many in so short a time.�

�That�s
what I�ve been investigating,� Ky said with a short nod. �Zepp should be crossing over this area
soon, and I was hoping to further my inquires there with a Dr. Galleon.�

Johnny
and Testament both glanced at him significantly, making Ky sit up a little
taller. �What is it?�

�Just
funny you should mention him,� Johnny said with a shrug.

Testament,
for the first time looking as if he were really paying attention to the
discussions, suggested, �Maybe you should just tell him the whole thing up
front. It�ll save us time, rather than
you walking everyone through it.�

Johnny
sighed, scratching at the back of his neck.
�I guess you�re right.� He took
a deep breath as he faced Ky once more.
�All right. Now, don�t freak on
us, but�I think�and Testament agrees�that your superiors have betrayed
you. That they�re going to disband the
Global Police and replace it with these robots.�

Ky
was so stunned that he merely stared at the pair for a long time, his face
blank. The idea was too preposterous to
laugh at, to even acknowledge. It might
not even have been worth it to refute such blatant foolishness. But Johnny�s stern expression didn�t waver,
and Testament looked as cold as he ever did.
They were being serious. Ky
snorted quietly. �Ridiculous. Disband the police? It�s absurd.�

May
shot him a childish glare, but Johnny cut in before she could protest. �I know,
I know. But hear me through.� When it looked as if Ky would allow him at
least that much he sighed slightly and continued. �Like I was saying, these robots aren�t easy business. They�re top-notch, well equipped, and there
are lots of them. Whoever�s making them
is pumping them out by the dozen. Not
to mention these.� He twisted the
blackened sword between his hands.
�They look like Thunderseal, for sure, but as far as we can figure they
don�t run on magic�there�s no way a robot can control such sensitive magic,
anyway. It�s probably running on
something a little more old-fashioned, like the electric generators Zepp uses.�

Ky
nodded, thinking it best to indulge Johnny in his explanation. These were all things he�d considered
before. �That�s why I thought of Dr.
Galleon. Since he was educated in Zepp,
I thought he would have some insight as to who might be responsible for
these�things.�

�Yeah.� Johnny pursed his lips and went on. �Anyway, back to the police.� He nodded toward the report Ky was still
holding unconsciously in his fist.
�That report is only the start.
They admit to the public you�re missing, implying you�ve done it
before. People start to wonder. Rumors circulate. You either come back fine and raise suspicion, or come back
busted up and admit defeat. Either way
your reputation is going to suffer, especially since you can�t really explain
what you were investigating, now can you?�
He placed the sword abruptly aside.
�So what then? The government
controls the media, and there�s any number of people controlling the
government�with public opinion against you, they can spread any story they want
to discredit you and divide your officers.
Maybe even that you�re trying to defect.�

Ky�s
eyes narrowed on him dangerously, his hand clenching on the headboard. �Ridiculous,� he snapped again. �I would never, and my officers know that.�

�Are
you calling Johnny a liar?� May finally challenged, her pent up frustration
coming through. ��Cause he�s a lot
smarter than you, you ungrateful little��

�I�m
saying there is no way I would betray my own men!�

�May,
Mr. Kiske, please,� Dizzy tried to calm them, glancing between the pair. �Please, let�s just listen to everything he
has to say, and then we can try to make sense of it together. All right?�

May
crossed her arms in a pout, and scowled fiercely at Bridget, who was giggling
at her from beneath his hand. Ky
glanced away from them all to regain his composure. He was a little embarrassed about the outburst, as he knew there
was no point it taking his frustrations out on them. But all this talk was beginning to solidify in his brain and make
it ache. �So you�re saying,� he
surmised as calmly and evenly as he could manage, �that our own government is
going to destroy the order that it created?�

�He�s
saying,� Testament interrupted firmly, �that they�re going to replace it with a
new order. With these machines. You and your men are now expendable.�

When
Testament spoke the words they were cold, unimpassioned, and yet it wasn�t
until then that Ky even began to admit the possibility that they were true; the
Gear�s severe expression allowed for no argument or denial. Ky�s jaw tensed as he listened, forced to
take it all in; the situation was falling quickly out of his hands.

�It�s
probably been a long time in coming,� Testament went on. �These things take time and planning. It�s not surprising that you�re the top of
their list; an officer of the law, a well-known public figure, and advocate of
justice. If they were somehow able to
shake your position it would leave the public susceptible to a new figurehead. Such as the unwavering order a machine can
provide.�

Ky�s
jaw worked tensely as the Gear fell abruptly silent. He imagined he was being allowed time to comment, but he suddenly
had no way to defend himself. Finally
he licked his lips and met Testament�s sole gaze. �There is no proof. Even
if that were so, this report is nothing more than an attempt to calm public
concern. It lends nothing to these
theories of yours.�

Testament
regarded him calmly, and just when it appeared that he would speak again he
turned abruptly to Johnny. �Show him
the rest.�

Johnny
was reluctant, but by now everyone was watching him expectantly. With a helpless shrug he picked up the robot
head by the hair and flipped it over, making unseen adjustments. �We have a few computer geeks on board,� he
explained, and with a flick of his fingers the head hummed to life. When he set it back down the wide robotic
eyes were glowing pale gold. �They
managed to hotwire this thing�not very well, but enough to get to it�s brain.� He pointed to his own head for effect. �A battery and a speaker is all we need to
make him spill his robot guts. Like
this.� He tapped the top of it. �Hey, Robo Ky.�

Ky
glared at him. �Robo Ky?� he echoed
with annoyance.

�It
does look like you,� Bridget spoke up from the floor.

Johnny
cleared his throat. �Yeah, well, that�s
what we�ve been calling it. Robo
Ky�tell us what your purpose is.�

The
severed machine hummed and whirled, its eyes flashing as it generated the
answer. �TO_ FOLLOW_ THE_ COMMANDS_
SET_BY_MY_PROGRAM.�

�And
what commands are those?�

Another
whirl. �TO_APPREHEND_ OR_ DISPOSE_ OF_
THOSE_ INDICATED_ BY_ MY_ SUPERIORS.�

Johnny
nodded thoughtfully. �Who have you been
ordered to apprehend?�

The
eyes darkened for a moment, then returned, a bit brighter than before. �JELLYFISH PIRATE MAY,� the robot reported
precisely. �BAIKEN. WU JIN.
MITO ANJI. CHIPP ZANUFF��

�That�s
enough,� Johnny interrupted, glancing at Ky to make sure he understood. All of those names had been on the bounty
lists that had been circulating recently.
�Now, who have you been ordered to �dispose of�?�

�ANY_
AND_ ALL_ UNIDENTIFIED_ GEARS.
JELLYFISH_ PIRATE_ JOHNNY.
GLOBAL_ POLICE_ OFFICER_ KY_ KISKE.�

Ky�s
fingers clenched, but he forced himself to relax. That wasn�t anything he hadn�t already known�his battle four days
ago was proof enough that someone wanted him dead. �That does not prove anything,� he objected. �Anyone could have��

�Then
let�s ask him,� Johnny suggested, his patience also wearing thin. �How about it, Robo Ky? Who are your superiors?�

The
response took longer in coming than the previous answers, and Ky waited
anxiously even knowing he had already guessed the answer. �THE_ POSTWAR_ ADMINISTRATION_ BUREAU.�

Before
Ky could comment, Johnny quickly added, �Who was responsible for your
creation?�

The
robot whirled and clicked, replying, �UNKNOWN.�

Johnny
rolled his eyes. �I mean, who created
the design for you?�

Another
long pause. �DR._ ARTHUR_ GALLEON.�

Ky
had never been known for being easily rattled, and yet they all clearly saw the
shock that flashed behind his wide, blue eyes.
It might have even been unsettling, judging by the way Dizzy and Bridget
both shifted, to see the man so blatantly distressed. Especially when neither of them understood the cause. Dizzy looked to Johnny for explanation.

�Arthur
Galleon is a scientist specializing in robotics,� Testament said instead, his
gaze focused severely on Ky. �He works
for the United Nations--Ky�s superiors.�

Ky
took in a long, deep breath. �I don�t
believe it,� he said with quiet firmness.
�Dr. Galleon is a highly respected researcher�I spoke to him myself once
before. He�s not capable of this kind
of destruction�that thing could have been programmed to say that.�

Testament
snorted and pushed abruptly away from the wall. �Believe what you want.
It won�t change anything.�

�How
can I believe it? You�re telling me��

�Get
used to it,� the Gear snapped abruptly, startling them all with his sudden
vehemence. Even Johnny flinched away
from him. �They�ve used you, and now
you�re through�that�s all. It happens
all the time, so don�t act so damn surprised.�
With a scowl he turned, heading for the door.

Dizzy
started to call after him, hesitated, and tried again. �Testament��

�Let
him go back. Then he�ll see for
himself.� He jerked the door open, not
bothering to close it behind him as he disappeared down the hall.

A
long, tense silence was left in Testament�s wake. May and Bridget exchanged childish, wide-eyed looks, while Dizzy
stared at the floor and Johnny scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Ky remained very still, head lowered, eyes
unseeing. Somehow, it was Testament�s words
again, spoken with such certainty, which seemed to instill the reality of his
situation into him. It was a cold truth
that sent a hard shudder down his spine and made the space behind his ribs
ache, as if he couldn�t breathe. None
of this made sense, even though he could feel their words settling into him.

�If�it�s
all true,� Ky said, very softly, �why are you telling me this? What do you�any of you�have to gain by
helping me?�

�What,
huh?� Though Ky didn�t look up he could
hear the shift of leather as Johnny shrugged.
�You�re not a bad guy, Kiske, and none of us want to see what the Bureau
has in store for us. May and I are on
their list, too, after all.� His tone
lowered. �Besides, we�re better off
with men like you in charge. I know a
robot won�t go easy on the children on this ship.�

Though
he had spoken seriously, the effect was ruined somewhat when May impishly
replied, �We�re not all children.�

Johnny
chuckled. �Of course not. Well.�
He lifted the robot head in one hand so he could switch it off once more
before returning it to the table.
�Let�s give Ky some time to rest, eh?
He�s had a rough time as it is, and I�m sure he wants to think some
things over.�

�Okay,
Johnny.�

The
pair headed for the door. �Dizzy,
Bridget,� Johnny called over his shoulder.
�You, too, hm?�

�Oh.� Dizzy pushed awkwardly to her feet, glancing
between him and Ky. �Yes, you�re
right.� But the blonde didn�t lift his
head, and after a moment she fell into step behind her companions.

Ky
barely heard them leave. He was still
seated on the bed, knuckles white as he gripped the wooden headboard, a tiny,
weary tremble spreading through his limbs.
He felt as if he had been left once more in Genoa�cold, helpless,
even. Everything refused to make sense
to him, and just when he thought he�d fit it together his insides raged in
denial, shattering the half-formed revelations.

�Are
you all right?�

He
started at the soft voice so close to his ear; he thought the others had
left. �I�m all right,� he
murmured. Even he cringed at how hoarse
his voice sounded. �I just need some
time. Some time to think�I have to
think.� He wilted, shoulders sagging as
he pressed his face into his hand and sighed.
�Sol�was this what you were trying to warn me about?� His face twisted
in a grimace. �Did you know this was
going to happen?�

A
pair of gentle hands fell over his, carefully peeling it away from the wood he
had been gripping. His fingers were
aching and stiff�he hadn�t realized they were so tightly clenched. When he raised his gaze it was into a pair
of wide blue eyes. �Bridget?�

The
boy smiled hopefully. �Why don�t I take
you back myself?� he suggested. �I�m a
registered bounty hunter�I could say I rescued you from the pirates while
looking for a bounty. They�d�believe
that, wouldn�t they? And everyone would
be glad you�re back.�

Ky
sighed, though he did feel some of the tension dissipate from his stomach. He simply couldn�t hold onto his frustration
with Bridget looking so innocent and helpful.
It was relieving�he was afraid he might have become ill. �If Johnny and Testament are right, it might
not matter who believes me. Someone�is
after my life.� He rubbed at his
eyes. �Wherever I go, the people around
me will be put in danger. But if I stay
in hiding for a while, here��

Bridget
considered this seriously for a long moment, and Ky was silently grateful for
even just the comforting presence at his side.
Slowly, his eyes swept the room he now occupied. Here with the Jellyfish Pirates�it was
unlikely that anyone knew about it yet.
If he could heal, perhaps, and try to figure out what it was the people
behind this were really after, there might be a chance of solving this mess.

His
attention was drawn to the robot head still resting across from him. Even when dormant it was unsettling. But when Bridget shifted next to him, preparing
to speak, he abruptly straightened.
�Bridget. You�re�a bounty
hunter, right?�

�Huh?� He blinked at Ky, puzzled. �Yeah.
Or maybe�I was?�

�Then
you know those names the robot was listing off?�

�Yeah.� Bridget brightened a little at the prospect of
being useful.

�There
might even be more,� Ky thought aloud, remembering how Johnny had cut it
off. �If we can figure out why they�re
all wanted�what they intend to do with those they apprehend�maybe it will give
us some clue as to their intentions.� It
may have only been wishful thinking, and he knew that, but he clung to it; even
if Johnny and Testament were correct in their assumptions he would not sit idly
by and let the names of his comrades be slandered.

Bridget
nodded, and though his eyes were gleaming he seemed to be taking this
seriously. �What should I do?�

�Find
some paper, and something to write with,� Ky instructed. His head was beginning to ache, so he
stretched out on the bed once more as Bridget hurried to do as he asked. He wasn�t used to lying on his stomach like
this but he had little other choice with his back the way it was. �If it�s all right, I�d like to make a list
of all the names the robot has.�

�What
about the man?� Bridget asked as he dragged the room�s only chair up to the
table. He poked at the robotic head
gingerly with the pencil he�d found.

�The�man?�

�The
man that was with the robots,� Bridget explained, as if it were obvious. �Testament was talking about it before. Didn�t he tell you?�

Ky
frowned, but he suspected his memory was no better off than it had been
earlier. �No, he didn�t mention
it. I thought it was just the robots�.�

Bridget
shrugged. �I don�t really know,
either. He just mentioned there was
someone there that wasn�t one of these ugly guys.� He tapped the robot sharply on the head. �Mean little suckers.�

�So�that�s
something else for us to figure out.�
Determined not to let himself get discouraged, Ky took in a deep breath
and set his focus back on Bridget. �All
right, then. Let�s get started.�

*****

The
blade missed Baiken�s foot by mere inches as she rolled, tucking her body so
that she would be ready to spring back up in a counter attack. She did, however, feel the heat of
electricity licking at her ankles.
Somewhere during the battle her sandal had fallen away, and the bottom
of her foot was already blistered from the dry soil that made up their
unexpected battleground. �Bastards,�
she hissed. She planted her weight
suddenly, one arch of her sword cleaving the heads of three of her
pursuers. �Anji!�

�Yeah,
Sis?� She hadn�t been paying attention
to her traveling companion during the scuffle, but suddenly he was just behind
her, their backs pressed together.
�Holding up?�

Baiken
tried to shrug him off. �Just keep your
eyes open�they�re everywhere.�

�Same
to you.� Then he was off again, a
sudden gust of wind against Baiken�s back signaling the use of his Zessen. Judging that he was holding his own well
enough she charged back into the fray, aiming for the joints of their mechanical
adversaries. They were persistent if
nothing else; she caught a few trying to fight with missing arms, some even
headless. She took some satisfaction in
their destruction, if not because of the adrenaline than simply because they
were dressed in the uniforms of the police.
If her foot wasn�t throbbing, she might even have been enjoying herself.

Eventually,
though, she began to wear down. A few
glancing blows against her shoulder had jarred her sword arm, and there seemed
to be no end to the number of tireless machines waiting to challenge her. She fell back a few steps, gathering her
breath, when warm metal snaked around her ankle.

�INITIATING_
SELF_ DESTRUCT.�

Baiken
cursed, twisting to try and free herself from the robot�s grip, but merely succeeding
in scraping off skin. From this angle
she wouldn�t be able to bring her sword around, either. Growing suddenly panicked she jerked her
shoulder, intending to use one of her iron weapons. But there was no time.
�Anji��

A
muscular arm twisted around her waist, and she barely had time to curse again
as she was dragged roughly away from the now shattered limb of the robot, over
the edge of an embankment. There was a
dizzying fall, followed by a gut-wrenching halt as the pair suddenly struck earth. Baiken gasped weakly for her lost breath as
the man�s thick bicep dug into her stomach.
She began to struggle--the explosion stopped her a moment later, and
though she was still caught against the larger body she could lift her head
enough to see chunks of burning metal flying overhead, wreathed in black smoke.

Baiken
was abruptly released, and she hissed angrily as she was dropped ungracefully
into the dust. �Damnit, Anji�� Wrapping an arm around her bruised stomach
she rolled onto her side so she could fix him with a severe glare. But by then the man was gone�she just barely
caught a glimpse of his thick boots as he leapt over the short cliffside they
had just fallen from.

�Baiken!� Anji came running up to her then, his face
creased with worry as he dropped to her side.
�Are you all right? That was
some explosion!�

Baiken
took another moment to draw her breath back to her before pushing to her
feet. The sounds of battle had
continued overhead, this time punctuated by a familiar voice and crackling
fire. �Shit,� she swore, rubbing the
sting out of her abdomen and shaking Anji off when he tried to help her. �What�s he doing here?�

�Huh?� Anji glanced up as well, and when Baiken
began to claw her way back up the embankment he hastily followed. �What happened? Who was it?�

�Quiet.� Baiken at last dragged herself over the edge
of earth with her good arm; even she had to gape a moment at the scene before
them. It looked as if the explosion
from the robot had cleared out most of its fellows; it was hard to tell, as the
rest were scorched beyond recognition and broken into dozens of piece. They littered the dusty landscape like toys
scattered in the remnants of a house fire.
The sight was momentarily humbling, but Baiken gathered herself a moment
later to glare at the man standing at the center. �I didn�t ask for your help,� she called to him, sheathing her
sword at her hip.

Sol
glanced at her over his shoulder with a cool smirk. �You�re welcome.�
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Culmination