The story so far:

----Luka sacrifices himself to save Earth. 

----Thieron is distressed about Luka. They go back to Core.

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****40.3 REI****

Vincent was alive.

Rei relaxed, seeing the four healing-runes on the man's arms, his breathing steady and full.

The Medic Centre was overtaken by the injured, including the Zayr, who were caught unawares by the tremors.

Rei observed Vincent's deep breathing for a few more seconds, pulled the covers higher, and left, hoping to return by the time he woke. Himari agreed to keep watch until Rei arrived.

He'd thanked Ayr'i over and over again, who'd stayed back to heal Vincent instead of going with her brother. When Aija had told him, he'd known he'd forever be indebted to Ayr'i. Rei didn't know a life without Vincent. Without Earth, perhaps; never without Vincent.

Rei also knew the entirety of Earth was now indebted to Luka. Instead of using the stone to help his friends and escape, he'd sacrificed himself to save Earth. The whole of humanity owed a Ytai for survival.

Thieron and Lalana were, obviously, devastated. They were in a separate room in the Medic Centre with Luka's body. Je'ai had taken Ea back to the basement cells and remained there, not that she could do more damage.

Rei staggered into the Newsroom, cursing himself. Thieron had told him to give the Àvo earlier; Rei should've heeded his words. This was all Rei's fault, Luka's death on his hands. How would he ever face Thieron again?

A meagre group sat in the Newsroom. In one corner sat Aija, Zuri, and Xan. Aija stared blankly at the Screen; Rei feared she didn't breathe. Beside her, Zuri wept, and Xan rubbed her back in soothing strokes.

Rei toddled to them, his leg hurting. Nir shadowed him silently, eyes on the Screen.

The Main-Lands' news claimed a worldwide Earthquake, bringing down buildings, swerving train tracks off path, causing death on a large scale. The Savages and Creatures had become enormous and were attacking the Cities, moving deeper, faster. The power systems were out in most places, as were the temperature and air-controlling systems. The Hospitals were running out of space. Tremors continued to rock the world, unceasing.

Rei feared that Luka's sacrifice had stopped ultimate destruction, but whatever was damaged remained that way. The Earth was worse than it was before the Àvo began its destruction. The Cities' infrastructures had fallen; the people were in danger from radiation, pollution, Plague, and the Savages. More than before, the Earth was in peril. They had tons of work to fix everything. But as long as Earth existed and humans were alive, the rest they could do. They'd done it after the wars. It was on him now, for this was his fault.

Rei knelt in front of Aija. She put unfeeling eyes on him, no doubt still in shock.

"I'm sorry, Ai. It's my fault," he admitted. "I should've given the Àvo to Ah'n when he asked."

Aija eyed him, vacantly, and Rei's heart drummed madly in alarm. Was she alright? He put a hand over her forehead; she burned with fever.

"It's not your fault,"

Rei panicked; her voice was barely a whisper. She needed medical aid.

"It would've happened earlier. Ea had help. Not just from the H'eon."

"What?" Nir came to them.

"The Gale," spat Zuri, voice hoarse from crying. "Someone called John. Premiere Zhaleh took him to the cells. He helped Ea out, which is why she escaped easily."

Rei's fingers went cold. John.

"Iyler helped attack Vincent. Ea stabbed him; Iyler held him. I was too far to help. And H'eon attacked." Aija added.

Iyler. John.

A cold rage sparked in Rei. He stormed out, not caring for the sharp pain in his leg, to the basement. Nir hurried ahead of him.

Premiere Zhaleh leaned on one of the cells. Rei barged to it, the cold fury taking over his senses. Inside were Iyler and John, with bloodied faces and torn clothes.

"Rei?" Premiere Zhaleh startled when he banged the metal bars with his fist.

"Why?" he demanded.

Iyler and John turned away.

"Why?!"

"Because you're worthless," John sneered.

"What?" a chill ran down Rei's spine. "You'd obliterate your home-planet for jealousy?"

"That wasn't our intention!" yelled John.

"Then, what was?" Premiere Zhaleh asked.

"I swear, we thought you had the Àvo hidden. We let her out so that she'd escape, and it'd show what you are - incompetent. We didn't know she'd take the Àvo. Etrie Ay'tir promised if I did, he'd make sure I'd become the Gale's leader once R'ies took over."

"Etrie?" Nir frowned.

"He said releasing Ea was essential for R'ies. He promised once they got full control, he'd remember my help."

"You fool!" Nir shouted. "If R'ies gets full authority, there's no more Gale, no more government on Earth. You did this for nothing."

"You expect me to stand-by and watch this boy ruin us?" John screamed, hysterical. "It's been chaos since he took over! Our members, executed, our squad dying in the Open. He's incapable!"

"And you are?" asked Premiere Zhaleh, tone caustic.

"I am," John declared. "And I don't romance a man for revenge. I'd never commit such a sin."

Rei stared at John. All for jealousy? All for power?

Iyler had her eyes down, not uttering a word.

"You held Vincent down when Ea stabbed him, Iyler," Rei stated.

Premiere Zhaleh's mouth hung open. "What? Where's he?"

"Ayr'i saved him," Rei didn't take his eyes off Iyler, who flinched from the cold rage dripping in his voice. "I think I'll make you watch as I stab John dead."

Iyler and John sucked in a breath. Iyler regarded Rei with fear.

"Because of you, Luka died,"

"Who cares?" John retorted. "He killed enough of us!"

Rei banged his fist against the metal grills. "Where's Etrie?"

"We don't know,"

A loud cackle burst through the room.

Rei went to the cell next to Iyler and John's. Wiet laughed, crazed. Rei waited patiently for him to stop, his wrath colder than the ice that once covered the South.

"Oh, dear boy, don't you regret not taking my offer now? How your own betray you?"

"Need I remind you Aimon Pearl betrayed you for me?" Rei asked, tone callous.

Wiet's humour ceased suddenly, the colour draining from his face.

"Careful, Wiet; don't test my patience," Rei warned.

For the first time, Wiet beheld him with fright.

"Was it not better to let Earth shatter?" a soft voice asked.

Rei went to Ea's holding-cell.

"It's worse now, isn't it? You should've let me do my job."

"I understand. You were promised death to your family if you failed. But there are other ways, not destruction."

Ea snorted. "I don't get why you all think you can win against them." Tone apathetic, she added, "There still is one Priority Soul on Earth. Let me finish the job."

"Priority Soul?"

Ea grinned maniacally. "Let me out,"

Nir cleared his throat. "Don't pay her attention. She can't get out anymore. Let's go, Premiere Oshiro."

Rei inspected Ea a minute longer, her deranged glee bothering him. What Priority Soul did she talk of? Was Earth still under threat? What if the H'eon came back for this Priority Soul to finish what they'd started? Would Etrie return?

"It's useless to salvage Earth. Let me out! Let me end this! I'll give you time," Ea pleaded. "I'll give you time to get your families off. Go to Ytèan; they'll take you in. I swear I'll let you leave. Please, let me end this. Please. They'll kill everyone I love. Please. I have a family, too."

Rei felt awful.

"We'll handle them when they come, Premiere Oshiro," Nir advised. "Do you want to destroy Earth to placate a girl?"

"When, who arrives...?"'

Nir flinched, fear in his brown eyes.

"We'll explain later," Je'ai motioned them to go.  

Rei glimpsed between the two Iernei.

"Please, Goldstar!" Ea shouted. "You're Goldstar, aren't you? Please, I've heard so much about you. You'd never put others in danger. Take your families; keep them safe as you wish. Ytèan will accept you; I promise. Let me end Earth, it's dying, and you know it. Please!"

Rei gritted his teeth, her words troubling him. He felt sad for her. But even if he put Ytèan in danger, he couldn't let Earth fade away into space-dust. Like Nir advised, they'd deal with them when they came, whoever it was.

Rei wasn't going down without a fight.

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