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“So how is Stryke?”  Kyasho inquired now, looking up from his chair at the large framed military man that stood before his desk.

“His training is coming well… we’ll make a soldier out of the boy yet.”  The man replied with a thick accent, causing Kyasho to smirk.

“That’s good to hear, it would be a shame to be forced to keep him caged like some kind of animal.”  Kyasho replied, drawing a very mused smile from the man to whom he was speaking, Maika Smerkyov.

“But sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good.”  Maika reasoned, before adding.  “But it is indeed good that this is not the case in this instance.”  He finished causing Kyasho to nod. 

As the same time, the two sensed an odd disturbance inside the facility, coming from downstairs.  Kyasho shook his head slightly as he realised that the disturbance was coming from the Rogue training room.  As he checked the schedule for the training room, he saw that it had been booked for this time by Roun, which also meant that Ryuu would also be taking part in the action.  Kyasho showed a slight sign of annoyance now, as he put two and two together, realising just what the source of the disturbance must have been, forcing him to contact the members of K-Four.

“Zed…”  He paused, before saying “Loki…” Bringing up two communication screens which instantly started to connect.  He would wait a few seconds as the connected before speaking again.  “It would appear that we have an incident in the training room.  Loki, you contain the situation; Zed, you ensure that no one gets hurt.”

“Yes Sir.”  They replied in stereo, before disconnecting the link and making their way to the training room.

“Sending two members of your elite team… a bit much don’t you think?”  Maika inquired now, causing Kyasho to shake his head with a slight sigh, which actually drew a mild chuckle from Maika.

“The Itami seems to think that this base is his personal laboratory, and he doesn’t even have the decency to inform me of his experiments.”  Kyasho replied, causing Maika to raise an eyebrow.  He had already deduced that Kyasho was referring to Shin Itami, and not any of his sons, but he wasn’t exactly sure what these experiments to which Kyasho was referring were.

“I would assume that this is some kind of in house matter of which you don’t want to speak.”  Maika replied now, knowing all too well the importance of secrecy.

“Actually no, this is something that you should be aware of.”  Kyasho started, causing Maika to listen intently.  “There are six… no, eight powers in this world that seem to transcend our way of existences… and because of this, they seem to think that our world is their play thing.”  Kyasho explained; his displeasure mildly audible in his voice.  “Five of these powers are essential to our continued survival and three of them prove to be very detrimental... and in fact could potentially spell doom for us all.  The five positive powers consist of four near immortal entities, called Guardians, and a single herald, created by Oyan channelers to awaken the four guardians.”  Kyasho explained, causing Maika’s look to change to one of scepticism.  “Four of these guardians have already appeared, and one of them, young Stryke, is under your charge.  The Itami twin served as the vessels of this positive herald.”

“I don’t know what is more absurd, your story or the fact that you tell it with such faith.”  Maika replied now, causing Kyasho to smile.

“As a boy, when I first heard this, I too found it to be rather absurd… but with time, the evidence makes everything too hard to deny.”  Kyasho acknowledged, before going on.  “So should I finish, or is this too absurd for you?”

Maika raised an eyebrow now, putting two and two together, making Kyasho’s story at least a bit more believable.  “I will hear you out… but the story is still absurd.”  He replied.

“Very well.”  Kyasho laughed lightly.  “I would assume, that much like what happened in the remote island where we captured S.A.B.E.R. that this disturbance is somehow related to their unique status… unfortunately, their father as I had mentioned, does not feel obligated to warn me of such occurrences.”  Kyasho explained.

“I would imagine that he assumes these fortresses strong enough, to contain these incidents.”  Maika probed.

“That they are, but regardless of this, courtesy would be appreciated.”  Kyasho replied.

“Courtesy is not required by all, but I do appreciate the situation.”  Maika replied.  “Perhaps you should contact Maximillian and express your displeasure.”  Maika pushed.  Kyasho just nodded.

“Sadly that may be a good idea.”  Kyasho replied, calling out “Shin…” and awaiting the connection of the link.

As would be expected, the link took quite a while to connect, but eventually the link would be made, and Shin and Cornus would appear on the other end.  “Kyasho, this is an unexpected call… what can I do for you?”  Shin inquired now, genuinely curious as to the reason for the call.

“What is it that you failed to inform me of this time?”  Kyasho inquired now, visibly displeased, causing Shin to raise an eyebrow before he picked up on exactly what Kyasho was referring to.

“Oh, I see that the transfer is complete.”  Shin stated, leaving Kyasho and Maika quite lost.  “It would seem that I need to elaborate.”  Shin added now, before he explained the nature of Roun’s and Ryuu’s fractured souls, and how he had orchestrated events, to incite an incident that would correct this problem.

“And you didn’t think this necessary to tell me?”  Kyasho inquired now, causing Shin to shrug.

“Whether or not I could predict that it would happen on your installation, the nature of the incident was and still is unknown to me.”  Shin explained, receiving no reply from Kyasho.  “Essentially, I didn’t know much more than you did… in fact, as you have data on the event, at this time, you know more than I do.”  Shin explained further.

“What were the specifics of this transfer… how does it affect this herald entity to which Kyasho refers?”  Maika inquired now, growing tired of the rhetoric.

His inquiry was not received well by Cornus however, who now wondered exactly who it was that was interjecting himself into the conversation, forcing him to inquire.  “And you are?”

“I am Maika Smerkyov, Director of the Mercenary Army.”  He replied, rather matter-of-factly, before he inquired who this random Oyan was.

“Ah, impressive… you’re the Unique that I’ve heard so much about.  I am Cornus, my apologies for the disrespect.”

“Think nothing of it… now, with regard to my question…”  He prompted yet again.

“Apart from the souls of my sons, their bodies house fragments of two shattered souls: Monolith and Archetype.”  Shin explained.  “Monolith, is a sustained Itami soul, researched under the guidance of the Itami Royal family… his essence is the source of a great deal of power.  Archetype, is the first human soul to have ever been created, and is the source of their herald abilities.”  Shin continued.  “If the event is complete, one of my sons should house the soul of Monolith, and the other should host the soul of the Archetype and exhibit full herald abilities.”  He finished.

“But which is which?”  Kyasho inquired now, causing Shin to pause briefly.

“It’s not as though I can scan through your facility… at this point, your guess is as good as mine.”  He shrugged again, causing Kyasho to become slightly annoyed once more.  “I will send you the information required to make the differentiation… I expect that you will inform me of the results of the scan.”

“Indeed.”  Was all Kyasho replied before severing the link.

“Your student’s displeasure seems to be expected on your part, but even more curious is your apathy towards the situation…”  Cornus now stated.  “Didn’t you allude to the fact that he could obliterate us all?”  He inquired now.

“That he could… that he could.”