Jin walked down the corridors. He knew that the residential wing is their target, and they had to go through the dining hall to get there. When he spotted the doors to that room, he planned on interfering in case his grandfather needed help, but what he found was not what he expected. A woman was pointing a gun at Ban and the others. From the information he had been given, he knew she was the one who escaped with the Platinum Capsule and thus caused all the trouble for his grandfather, Ishimori Rina.

There was a blonde man in front of the group. He recognized him as the younger brother of the president of Tiny Orbit, and Seeker's leader, Uzaki Takuya. He was in utter shock. "Rina, why? Why did you double-cross us?!" She was frozen in her spot, but he kept asking for an explanation. "Rina!"

His grandfather seemed to be sneering. "I'll answer that. There is something she just absolutely must have."

"Must have?"

"Yes. Kamiya Craft's... No. The Innovator's technology, Optima."

"Optima?" Takuya gasped when he realized what that meant. "Rina, you couldn't...!" She couldn't reply, so he continued. "So that's it. Your little sister needs the Optima technology."

"What do you mean?" Ban asked.

"Have you heard about the Optima technology for internal organs?" Takuya asked in return. "Kamiya Craft developed the technology for use in their androids. That Optima technology can also be used to save the lives of many that are suffering incurable diseases and fatal scars. But it's never been used in medical treatment thus far. So that he can monopolize the profits from the technology, Kaidou has been blocking the government's approval for its use!"

Jin's eyes widened at this. He stood still on his spot, behind the barely opened door. He blocked it..? He shook his head and continued to listen to their conversation.

"I wanted to save my sister." Rina finally spoke up. "She's been suffering all this time. Yet no matter how much it hurt, she was always cheerful about it so that I wouldn't worry about her. Using Optima can save her! My sister needs Optima!"

"Do you understand now?" His grandfather sneered. "She chose her sister over you people."

"Kaidou..." Takuya said in a dark tone.

"That's dirty! You're just blackmailing people!" Ryuu accused.

"Blackmail? Perhaps you may see it that way, but I can assure you that the Optima technology is fully functional. In fact, you have seen it at work." His words confused them. With a devious glint in his eyes, he continued. "I'm sure you've seen her quite a few times. The girl who's always sticking close to my grandson, Evangeline Mech." Jin held back from gasping a second time. "She was the test subject to Optima's prototype."

"Mech?" Takuya repeated the name. "That name is..."

"It's the same as that genius kid who died at 18." Lex finished for him. "Hugo Mech."

"That would be her brother." The Innovator's leader continued to explain. "Evangeline was just a 3 year old girl when he died. She had suffered some fatal injuries during that same incident. She was the first to use Optima and she still uses it until now. Optima technology, combined with a top class AI, is what has been keeping her alive for these past nine years!"

The boy's eyes widened in both horror and astonishment. He had only known about the AI inside her head. The story was the same no matter how many times he had asked. Her brain was heavily damaged during the fall of the bridge and was replaced by a computer. Somehow, with the help of an AI specialist, his grandfather and the head of Kamiya Craft, they were able to make sure that, even with a machine for a brain, she would still be able to think and feel like regular people. Not once in his life had he ever considered the machine might've been the Optima technology itself. And I doubt Eva knew that's what it was either...

Ami's eyes narrowed and she yelled at the man. "That's so horrible of you to keep something that would save people's lives just because you want the money! Not to mention, you used a child as your test subject?!" Grandfather...

"Professor Yamano, this is the collapse of your hopes." His grandfather said. "I'll have you slowly taste despair as you die."

The Seekers all showed worry on their faces, but the professor smirked. "We'll see about that."

"Hm? ... What's the point of bluffing now?"

"Unfortunately, you won't get the Eternal Cycler blueprints you're looking for just by stealing Achilles."

That was enough to shock the entire room. "What do you mean, professor?" Lex asked.

"In order to open the blue prints, you need a certain code to decrypt the data. A Platinum Capsule without its decryption code is no different than a safe without its key." The professor said, smirking triumphantly. Kaidou Yoshimitsu's eyes widened in anger while Ban and his friends sighed in relief.

"I see. So that's what it was." The old man said. "So where is this decryption code?" When Professor Yamano simply smirked, he returned it with his own. "Answer me. Don't you care about what happens to your son?" He held a hand up and one of the guards grabbed on to Ban.

"The decryption code is in the safest place on this planet." The professor explained. "The safest place on Earth... The LBX world tournament, Artemis!" And the room was sent into shock by him a second time.

"The decryption code is at Artemis? What's the meaning of this?"

"Are you familiar with the Metanus GX?"

"Metanus GX?" Ban repeated questioningly.

"It's a superefficient CPU that the world's top maker of LBXs, Crystar Ingram, developed." Kazuya explained.

"I'm impressed you knew." The professor stated. "I see why Hiyama took you under his wing."

"What does the Metanus GX have to do with the decryption code?" The Innovator's leader pressed on.

The professor walked into the middle of the room calmly. "The Metanus GX that Crystar Ingram developed processes information at the speeds of zettaFLOPS, making it a dream CPU that can operate multitudes in parallel. And only an extreme few have been produced so its value is huge in the markets. A single one could be sold for several hundred million credits. LBX players water at the mouth at that thought. This latest AI circuit, Metanus GX that any LBX player would want is the championship prize for this year's Artemis tournament."

"Then the decryption code is..." Lex trailed.

"Exactly." Professor Yamano's smirk never faded. "The decryption code is in the Artemis championship grand prize... Metanus GX. And that Metanus GX is under the strict guard of the LBX and Artemis management association, Omega Dain. Even its location isn't publicly announced. In other words, it's the safest place in the world. Kaidou Yoshimitsu, even you wouldn't be able to get your hands on it."

"You think I'd fall for that? And just how were you able to put the decryption code in the Metanus GX in the first place?"

"During the manufacturing process, I had it printed in the AI circuit... by hacking into the Crystar Ingram network."

At his words, Kazuya's face let up. "In other words, you'll have to win the Artemis championship in order to get it!" Jin's eyes narrowed at this.

"What foolish behavior." The old man stated. "But that's enough for me to know. With our power, winning the Artemis championship is all too easy... And you'll be meeting your deathbed here, so that you won't be able to set up any petty tricks anymore!"

Despite the tense atmosphere, the professor didn't show any fear. Instead, he simply took off his glasses and toyed with the rims. Kaidou eyed him suspiciously, but before anyone could do anything, explosions set off around the room.

Jin backed away from the door and waited until they all stopped. Once he knew it was clear, he made his way in. The once elegant and beautifully ornamented dining hall is now in shambles. The lights were out and clouds of dust were making it even harder to see. But he didn't let it stop him. Carefully, he made his way to the table where their CCMs were kept. Picking the familiar white one up, he turned to the brunette staring at him. Without a word, he threw it back to the owner and did the same with the other two CCMs.

Ban's eyes were filled with confusion. "Jin..."

"Hurry and go."

The ceiling began to collapse bit by bit. He watched as the group gathered and ran out as fast as they could. Ban, I'll be waiting for you at Artemis. Once they had all exited the room, Jin ran over to check on his grandfather.

~~~~~

He had been ordered to go back to his quarters, so that's exactly what he did. He took his time, mulling over everything he had heard. Should he ask about it? That thought was immediately shot down. If they were all true, then his grandfather would refuse to answer him. With a heavy sigh, he got to his door, opening it carefully in case anyone was on the other side. As he made his way in, he scanned the area, looking for the blonde girl. "Evangeline?"

"Here..." A soft and slightly muffled voice came from his bed. He went over and the sound of shuffling was made apparent. Finally, a head peeked out from under. "Is... Is it over?"

He helped her got out as he answered. "Yes. Ban and his group escaped. And so did Professor Yamano. A lot of things happened down there, but no one had any serious injuries. My grandfather is resting in his own quarters right now."

She just barely nodded, only half listening to the things he was telling her. She couldn't care less about them really. What she did care about was whether or not he was hurt, but seeing his usual stoic expression made her worry dissipate, just by a little bit. Now, she just had to calm herself down.

Jin sensed her distress and worry began to show on his face. "Are you alright?"

She wanted to nod, but her body felt stiff. Several other responses came to mind, ones that would ease his own, but her body disobeyed and she shook her head. "The earthquake... and explosions..." He knew what she meant, and so he didn't hesitate to pull her into an embrace. It didn't take her long to return it either. "I was just so scared... I couldn't... couldn't do anything for my brother back then... If you'd gone too, I... I-" She cut herself short as she choked back a sob. She didn't want to cry.

Jin caressed her back, helping her relax. "Nothing happened, I promise." That was a lie, but he couldn't afford making her more anxious. He wanted to tell her everything, but it may have to wait until he's able to connect all the pieces. For now,"Rest up, Evangeline."

She swallowed down all that she was going to say and closed her eyes, focusing on calming herself down. Without realizing it, she fell asleep on the spot. He was used to this. It wasn't the first or second time this sort of thing happened. He laid her down on the bed before taking off his shoes, letting his back fall beside her. He placed the blanket over them and fell asleep rather quickly, not minding the blonde girl shifting closer.