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. 

 

Here’s chapter 12!  I know I’ve gotten a little off as to when I’m posting chapters, but I’m still trying to put them out every week, so if you come back once a week…there should be something there ^^.

 

That being said I’m going home for the break tomorrow, so I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to work on Culmination—parents running around and all ^_~.  But I’ll do my best to keep posting.

 

Thanks again to everyone who’s been supporting me, I really appreciate it.

 

 

Culmination

Chapter 12

 

 

It wasn’t until after lunch that Ky finally managed to get Johnny away from the children and convince him that they needed to discuss what had taken place in Rome.  He agreed, and they met with Testament in one of the House’s former offices around a round table.  Johnny even shed his glasses and hat to show he was being serious as he related all that Baiken and Anji had shared.  Ky went next, telling him how they had met the cloaked stranger and what he’d said.  Testament confirmed that he recognized the man.  Johnny admitted that he hadn’t heard anything about Sol being in Rome, but that it was possible, if Bridget had heard it from Anji.

 

And then the trio paused, staring down at folded hands as they fit the pieces together in their minds.  It was Ky who spoke first.  Though in the past it had been Johnny who took over all their discussions and decisions, this time he was determined to be heard.

 

“The Bureau is collecting people who can use Ki magic,” Ky summarized, watching his own interlaced fingers.  “And Japanese.  If The Ninth is any indication, they have found a way to utilize that magic without being of Japanese descent.  We still don’t know exactly what they want this power for, except that it is powerful, and may possibly be used to fight Gears.  Maybe even the creator of the Gears himself…if he is even still alive.”

 

“Anji claims he is,” Johnny said, leaning back in his chair.  “I believe he was telling the truth…though there’s no way to know if Anji himself was being lied to.  He seems gullible like that.”

 

Ky nodded thoughtfully.  “For now, we can only assume it’s true.  Which may mean…he’s a Gear himself, or otherwise not human.”  The thought sent a shudder through him, though it was somewhat easier to accept; it made more sense that it was a non-human who had condemned humanity to genocide.  “Whatever the case, he may be working on his own new weapons as well.

 

“There’s also the issue of the robots,” Ky continued.  He glanced up, noticing with a slight frown that Testament’s head was turned away.  He went on regardless.  “They’re being produced at an alarming rate, and that has to come to a stop.  Regardless of whether or not they intend to overrun the Global Police with them, they are a threat to order.  It’s not hard to believe that with a large enough army of them they could take over.”  His eyes narrowed.  “And he said: ‘I am the new Order.’  That, and the fact that they are all dressed in the uniform of the Holy Order, strongly indicates this is their intent.”

 

Johnny smirked slightly.  “So you believe me, now?”

 

“The evidence is such that I cannot do otherwise.”

 

The pirate chuckled, shaking his head.  “Well all right then.”

 

“The thing that puzzles me is that there seem to be two agendas going on—their hunt for Ki and the creation of the robots.”  Ky rested his chin on the back of his palm.  “Not to say they can’t have many goals…it seems odd, that both projects seem to be run by the same man, the same robots.”

 

“Unless it’s actually the same goal.”

 

Ky and Johnny both glanced up, drawn by Testament’s sudden return to the conversation.  The Gear was still staring blindly toward the window, his arms folded and face blank.  “What do you mean?” Johnny asked, somewhat carefully.

 

“What if they’re trying to combine the two projects?”  Testament turned back at last, his eyes jumping to Ky.  “Robots and Ki.”

 

“You mean…robots that can use Ki?” Ky surmised, leaning back a little with alarm.

 

“That’s impossible,” Johnny protested.  “Ki doesn’t work like that.  It’s a focus of a person’s natural energy—human thought and feeling.  There’s no way a robot can use power like that.”

 

Ky and Testament both looked to him, and he cringed a little.  “I guess…I do know more about Ki than I was letting on before.”

 

Ky snorted quietly, though he was at least somewhat vindicated by the admission.  “Is there anything else you’ll tell us?”

 

“You don’t have to say it like that….”  Johnny scratched the back of his head, though in truth he was taking things just as seriously as them.  His expression hardened a moment later as testimony to that.  “Look, I don’t know all that much.  Just…Ki is damn powerful.  You were right about one thing, Ky—I know exactly what Ki-using Japanese are capable of.”  He brushed a hand over his chest, probably thoughtlessly, and Ky had the sudden impression that he was remembering the touch of old scars.  “And if that crazy bastard has figured out a way to use it, it won’t be good.”

 

“But you’re sure a machine could never use Ki.”

 

“It’s impossible—robots don’t have a soul to create Ki from.”

 

Testament sighed quietly.  “You’re forgetting one thing.”

 

“And what’s that?”

 

“That they’ve already done it.”  Testament’s gaze turned again on Ky, and the officer straightened beneath the firm stare.  “Do you remember?”

 

“His arm….”  Ky gasped quietly as he realized what Testament was hinting at.  That night in the alley—the resonance of metal when he should have severed flesh and bone.  His eyes widened as he at last began to understand.  “He was a robot.”

 

Johnny blinked between them in confusion.  “What?  What is it?”

 

“The Ninth isn’t human anymore,” Testament confirmed, his voice dropping bitterly.  “Not since before I knew him.  He is, in a sense, a robot.”

 

Ky licked his lips.  Though he hated to ask when he could already see the strain in Testament’s features, he had no choice.  “Maybe it’s time,” he said evenly, “for that explanation you promised me.”

 

Testament nodded vaguely, clearly not at all thrilled with the idea.  “I…met him during the Crusades,” he began distantly.  His eyes were glazed, as if seeing the memories as he spoke them.  “He was still working for the Bureau back then, but at the time they were only interested in developing anti-Gear weapons—as far as I knew.  I was told he was The Ninth, of fifteen.  He couldn’t use Ki then, but he didn’t need to; he’d undergone some ritual connected to the Forbidden Magics.”

 

“Forbidden Magics?” Johnny repeated, startled.  “Like….”  He frowned deeply.  “Like with the Assassin’s Guild?”

 

“It seems that way,” Testament replied.  “I don’t understand it well myself, but from what I gathered many of his bones and internal organs were replaced—or converted somehow—into robotics.  His bones can’t be easily broken and his strength and endurance is a match for a Gear.  He can also heal very quickly, and sometimes even channel electricity as a form of lightning magic.  Which is, I’m sure Ky will agree, extraordinary in itself.”

 

Ky nodded, lost in thought for a moment as he considered this new development.  To think that magic and machinery could be mixed in such a way….  “So, you’ve fought him.”

 

“Several times.”  Testament’s voice tipped strangely.  “I don’t know how to defeat him, if that’s what you want to ask.  All I was ever able to do was last long enough.”

 

“I see.”   Ky wasn’t sure what that meant, but there seemed little point in pressing that issue.  “You also said,” he went on carefully, mindful of Testament’s discomfort, “that he should have been dead by now.”

 

Testament’s eyes thinned slightly.  “He should.  Unless there’s some link between the Forbidden Magics and longevity.  It was over fifty years ago that I met him.”

 

“That long?” Johnny echoed Ky’s own surprise.  Though he had known Testament, as a Gear, was capable of living for more than five times that number of years, it was somewhat boggling to imagine he could possibly be that old.  Especially considering his unblemished skin and still thick, pitch black hair. 

 

“Yes.  About that time, in any case.”

 

“I see,” Ky murmured again, suddenly distracted.  He tried to pull his full attention back to the matters at hand.  “It’s not that hard to believe that if he is a capable magic user, his lifespan has been somehow lengthened.  It probably won’t make a difference for tracking and facing him, other than it means he must have that much more battle experience.  What’s more important is his objective: quite possibly the creation of robots that can use Ki.”

 

Ky paused, then, his eyes flickering wide as a sudden realization came to him—the thought of which lightening his cheeks several pale shades.  He looked to Testament, who seemed to have come up with the answer already himself.  The Gear nodded grimly.

 

“Or,” Ky spoke for both of them, “making robots from people who can already use Ki….”

 

“What?”  Johnny glanced between them in shock.  “You’re kidding, right?  That’s….”  He shook his head fiercely.  “That’s ridiculous!”

 

“They’re already trying to apprehend Japanese and people who can use Ki,” Testament spoke quietly.  “The Ninth himself knows how to perform the ritual to create robotic humans through magic, as he has used it on himself.  But the Forbidden Magics are difficult to control, especially if your host is not willing—he may even be hunting Millia Rage to better study her experience with it.”

 

“I’m a hindrance to their plan of takeover, and they want Johnny killed because he already has a lot of knowledge about Ki,” Ky filled in the rest.  “If they were to capture and control powerful Ki users…an army like that would….”  He shuddered at the images his mind produced, and he shook himself to try and rid them from him.  “It is monstrous.  Someone like Baiken is a deadly opponent as it is—if she were to be changed into some kind of mechanical weapon—”

 

“Damnit, that’s right—Baiken and Anji.”  Johnny pushed urgently to his feet.  “They’re still in Rome.  If that bastard’s still there, he could call reinforcements—they have no idea what they’re up against!”

 

“Do you have any way of contacting them?” Ky asked with concern.

 

“I…damnit, I don’t.”  Johnny slumped back into his chair again.  “I told Baiken to contact us, but not for a while.  Unless we went back to Rome and looked, there’s no way we could get to her.  Damnit.”  He smacked his fist against the table, startling his two companions.  “What if we’re too late already?”

 

“There’s not much we can do about it now,” Testament said shortly, standing from his chair.  “This is still speculation, and it won’t do us any good if we can’t find where they are.”

 

Ky nodded gravely.  “There must be a factory, or a laboratory somewhere.  Someplace that would require huge amounts of raw materials and power, not to mention Zeppian technology.”

 

“Which means there’s no point in worrying too much on it until we’ve been to Zepp and investigated there,” Testament finished.  He turned suddenly to head for the door.

 

Ky twisted in his chair to watch him.  “Where are you going?”

 

“Out.  There’s no point just guessing—we’ll have to wait until we see it for ourselves.”  And before either of the two men could stop him, he had left.

 

Ky frowned, watching the closed door for a moment before turning back to Johnny.  “I suppose…it must be a strain on him,” he said thoughtfully, feeling inexplicably guilty for having forced Testament to discuss his memories so openly.  And to think that earlier that morning he had seemed so content, eating breakfast with the children….

 

“He’s not the only one,” Johnny retorted, scrubbing at his face.  There was silence, and then the pirate sighed, meeting Ky’s eyes.  “What about Sol?” he asked seriously.  “You don’t really think he knows anything about all this, do you?”

 

“I….”  Ky’s gaze faltered, flicking once more to the table.  “I don’t know,” he confessed.  “There’s no telling how much he’s been able to figure out on his own, or if he even cares.  There’s no predicting that man.”

 

“Yeah, no kidding.”  Johnny stood, retrieving his glasses and hat as he followed Testament’s path to the door.  He patted Ky’s shoulder as he passed.  “There’s nothing we can do about it just yet, in any case.  Might as well get your strength back—it won’t be easy getting information from Zepp.  We can’t just stroll in like we did in Rome.”

 

“Yes, you’re right.”  Zepp was, after all, a country independent of the United Nations.  It required a special, approved visa to get in, and even then they couldn’t get the information they needed just by walking around, chatting with whomever they came across.  They would need to be organized and specific.

 

But all this consideration was starting to make Ky’s head spin, and with a sigh he followed Johnny outside the office.  Immediately he felt as if he could breathe a little easier, as they passed an open window and the smell of the sea floated along.  Ky took a moment to appreciate it.  “We’ll talk again later,” he assured Johnny just before they parted ways.  “About how to best deal with it.”

 

“Yeah.  Take it easy until then.”  They separated, Johnny to check on the children, Ky to return to Mayship on an errand of his own.

 

*****

 

After their discussion in the office, Testament found himself wandering the grounds surrounding the House.  The children were out and about as usual, frolicking in the warm weather and chasing white-caps along the ocean shoreline.  For once, their tireless play did nothing to calm him.  They were innocent and beautiful, but when he remembered the content of his recent conversation, in his mind he saw them all with the Ninth’s cold, dark eyes, his soulless malice.  It made him shudder terribly, and after a few minutes he retreated back towards the House.

 

He didn’t want to remember.  But it was getting harder, as the day wore on, to escape the groups of running, laughing children.  He turned down several invitations to play in favor of seeking solitude within the House’s inner rooms.  He tried to sleep, hoping to make up for all he’d missed the night before, but whenever his eyelids sealed he could only see flashing steal and magic.  Could feel the dozens of human bodies shifting in a darkened night, their breath resounding in a low, monotonous hiss that seemed to sink into his pores.  These humans…so many of them, running about, careless and ignorant, hanging off his arms and tugging him along….  With the memories of his past so clear in his present mind, their scent was almost suffocating, and as afternoon passed into evening, he found himself withdrawing from any that tried to approach him.

 

He wanted to find Ky.  Even if Ky were one of them—one of the human’s he had been taught to hate—Testament knew that he, at least, would understand this lingering instinct that had suddenly returned to plague him.  After everything they had agreed upon and shared, those wide blue eyes would not condemn him.  When he couldn’t find the man, he was forced to go to the one person who seemed to have their nose in everything.

 

“Ky?”  Bridget glanced up from where he was playing cards with some of the other boys.  “You’re looking for him?”

 

“Yes….”  Testament glanced among the gathered youths; four boys in their teens, each of them watching him with mixed expressions of curiosity, indifference, and apprehension.  The boy on Bridget’s right, in particular, was barely blinking as he studied the intruding Gear.  Foolish as it seemed, the close scrutiny made something at the back of Testament’s mind tighten defensively.

 

“I think he went up to town,” Bridget reported, drawing a card from the pile and studying it.  He slipped it into his hand.  “Something about doing some work.  Didn’t say what, though.”

 

Testament’s eyes thinned; the thought of entering a city with even more people quickly put a stop to any thoughts he might had held to follow him.  “I see.  Thank you.”  He turned to leave.

 

“Are you going?” Bridget asked curiously, twisting so he could see Testament more clearly.  “We could use another player.”

 

The boy on his right snorted bitterly, and without really thinking Testament’s gaze snapped to him.  There must have been something in his face he didn’t realize, as the boy—and the others as well—leaned back a little, as if suddenly frightened.  He…hadn’t intended that.  He hadn’t come here to intimidate anyone, and their nervous faces rose a strange sense of dread in him.

 

“Testament?” Bridget said when he didn’t reply.

 

“No,” Testament said a little too quickly.  “No, I don’t think so.  But…thank you.”  He turned, striding swiftly away from the group.

 

The boys sighed, relaxing as they returned their attention to the game.  “Creepy,” one of the muttered.  “And you actually like that guy, Bridget?”

 

“He’s not a bad guy,” Bridget protested, swinging his gaze away from Testament’s retreating figure.  “He’s just…stressed.  Or something.”

 

“Whatever.  You still have to discard.”

 

“Oh…yeah.”  Still frowning, Bridget set down one of his cards, though by then his thoughts were far from the game being played.

 

*****

 

Ky himself didn’t return from his own business until everyone had seated for dinner.  He sat with Bridget this time, enjoying the company of some of the older children.  Many complaints were made as to his disappearance that afternoon, and after much fuss over the matter he agreed to show them why.  After a quick meal they followed him to one of the House’s empty rooms, where he had stashed the object of his attention that day to keep the younger children from stumbling upon it.

 

“What is it?” Bridget chirped as he retrieved the cloth-wrapped bundle.  “I wanna see!”

 

“You will, you will,” Ky assured.  “But don’t tell Johnny I’m showing you all this—I’m not sure if he’d approve.”  That being said he finally revealed to them his work: his long-missed sword, Thunderseal, bearing new colors.  Rather than the blue and white it was known for, the blade had been colored deep red, the hilt black.  It gave the renowned weapon an almost sinister appearance.

 

“O~h,” Bridget and the others marveled, especially the boys.

 

“I’m not sure I like it,” Ky admitted, cradling the sword carefully in both hands.  This sword had been his companion longer than most people.  Hopefully, he wouldn’t have too much difficulty reverting the color back later.  “But if I’m going to continue moving about in disguise, I thought my sword might as well match.”

 

His audience nodded in agreement, and soon after were each begging for their turn to carry the weapon.  Ky objected for as long as he could, but in the end saw no harm it letting each hold it at least once—under his strict supervision.  He realized at some point that he was judging each boy who took it up, watching their stance and grip, the ease to which they were able to handle the weighted blade.  It reminded him of how long it had been since he’d been required to train young soldiers, and though the memories of such days were bittersweet, he couldn’t help but smile.

 

When one of them spotted Dizzy coming down the hall Ky quickly bound the sword once more, against many protests, and hid it away.  He would have to remind himself to hide it in another room at the first opportunity in case one of the too-eager boys came looking for it later.  For now, he faced Dizzy, trying to look innocent as Bridget giggled at his side.

 

He didn’t have to worry about Dizzy seeing through him, however; her face bore a look of distracted concern. “Ky.  You haven’t seen Testament lately, have you?”

 

“Testament?” Ky echoed, frowning thoughtfully.  When he thought back, he realized they hadn’t spoken a word to each other since leaving the office at different times.  “No, I haven’t.  Is something wrong?”

 

“Just that no one’s seen him all afternoon,” Dizzy admitted quietly.  “I’m a little worried.  He didn’t even come to dinner….”

 

“I see.”  Ky frowned, and though he knew there was no reason for alarm he couldn’t help but feel some apprehension after the way Testament had been behaving earlier.  “I’m sure he’s fine,” he assured Dizzy in the meantime.  He turned to Bridget.  “Why don’t you all go down to the lobby?” he suggested lightly.  “I’ll be down in a while, and maybe I’ll demonstrate some police moves for you.”

 

He was certain that Bridget could see right through his blatant distraction, but thankfully the boy played along.  “Sure!  Come on, guys.”  Though the others were reluctant, in the end Bridget won them over.  As soon as they were gone, Ky turned back to Dizzy.

 

“I’m sure he’s fine,” he told her gently.  “There was a lot we talked about today, and he probably just needed some time to think it over.  But if you’re worried I can go find him, and see if he needs anything.”

 

Dizzy sighed quietly in relief.  “Thank you, Ky.”

 

Ky nodded, and after a stealthy relocation of his modified Thunderseal he ventured outside in search of the missing Gear.  By now the children had gone inside, as the temperature was falling somewhat rapidly, allowing him quiet in his search.  As expected, it didn’t take long for him to discover the Gear: Testament was standing alone on the shore, his hair flittering about in the gentle breeze as waves rose just short of his bare feet.  His arm was outstretched, and as Ky drew gradually closer he was a little startled to see the raven, Rael, perched there.  She was preening her feathers meticulously.  Just when Ky was about to call out the bird spotted him, and with a sharp squawk she took to the air and seemed to vanish in the lengthening shadows.

 

“Sorry,” Ky offered as he came up on Testament’s right side.  “I didn’t mean to scare her away.”

 

Testament stared straight ahead as he lowered his arm once more.  “It’s fine.  She had already finished telling me, anyway.”

 

“Telling you?” Ky echoed curiously.

 

“That night in Rome, I had her follow the Ninth when he tried to escape,” Testament explained, to the officer’s surprise.  “But apparently she was spotted, and he was able to destroy her body at the time.  She wasn’t with him long enough to learn anything.”

 

“I see.  You should have told us.”

 

“I would have, if she’d discovered anything.”

 

A short silence followed, and Ky frowned to himself as he watched Testament’s blank profile.  He couldn’t tell at all what the Gear might have been thinking,; Dizzy’s worries might have been founded after all.  “Are you all right?” he asked carefully.  “They say you were missing all day.”

 

“So were you,” Testament replied evasively.

 

“I was working on Thunderseal,” Ky replied, wondering vaguely if Testament might have been looking for him.  “What were you up to?”

 

The Gear blinked slowly.  “Just a walk.”

 

Ky’s frown deepened.  Though he couldn’t claim to be well versed in Testament’s thoughts and mannerisms, this quiet indifference was starting to concern him.  When they arrived here in Sardinia, Testament had been charmed by all the children, the activity; he didn’t understand why he would have purposefully avoided everyone all day.  Or…maybe he did.

 

“It’s him, isn’t it,” Ky said softly.

 

Testament sighed.  “Yes,” he confessed.  “It is.”

 

Ky nodded vaguely, trying to decide how to best proceed.  He didn’t want to upset Testament any more than he already seemed, but he wasn’t sure he could leave him alone with his thoughts, either.  If anything, Testament deserved all the care and attention he had given Ky nights before on Mayship.

 

“Testament.”  Though he was unsure himself if he was up to this kind of reassurance, he had to try.  Hesitantly he reached out to touch the back of Testament’s hand; the Gear flinched a little, but didn’t try to pull away.  “Can you tell me what’s on your mind?” Ky asked gently.

 

Testament was still for a long time, allowing the liquid hiss of the sea to filter between them, and just when Ky was about to speak again he lifted his left hand.  There was a brief, quiet hum, followed by a soft glow of red light across Testament’s palm.  Ky stared, trying to comprehend what Testament was showing him.  He was so intently watching the streak of bright crimson that he didn’t realize until a moment later that there were similar markings covering Testament’s face and crawling down his neck to the collar of his shirt.  They looked like lines, some jagged and some smooth, not very dissimilar to the ribbons of magic that had formed Testament’s spell when he deflected the Ninth’s Ki attack in Rome.

 

“Testament…?”  Ky was tempted to touch the red mark, but he hesitated, something cold sliding into his stomach.

 

“They’re scars,” Testament explained quietly, and Ky’s eyes widened in alarm.  “They cover my entire body.  But they’re not like normal scars—they’re like seems of magic, and I’m able to keep them concealed with a simple spell.  I’ve had them ever since I was reborn as a Gear.”

 

“Reborn…?”

 

Testament lowered his hand and nodded, allowing the eerie light to fade.  Ky was at a loss for words.  He could only stare at the Gear at his side, stunned and confused.  And guilty.  When he realized the meaning carried by Testament’s words it took most of his strength not to retreat a step.  “You….”  His chest ached mysteriously.  “You used to be human…?”

 

Testament closed his eyes briefly, and when they opened again they slid, glowing dull crimson, to Ky’s.  “Will you listen?” he asked softly, as the sun began to disappear behind undulating ocean to the west.  “I want to tell you what happened to me.”

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