Misuzu walked down the corridor. She smiled. She thought the Goddess was pleased. She thought she was one step closer to taking Jasmine down.
"Hey, you," Misuzu heard. She turned around and saw Annie approaching her.
"May I help you?" Misuzu asked as she looked at her. She did not like her attitude when she was speaking to the Goddess.
"I saw you flying back there," Annie said as she stopped a few feet away. "How did you do that?" she asked.
Misuzu tilted her head slightly. She glanced at her ring. "The Goddess gave me power," she responded.
Annie narrowed her eyes. "Why would she give you power?" she asked.
"She said I was worthy," Misuzu replied. "Chosen to carry her gift. Her will," she added.
Annie glanced around. "I want that power," she said with a smile on her face.
Misuzu's smile faded. "It's not yours to take. It was given to me by her," Misuzu said. "You don't understand her greatness," she added. She was getting angry. "In fact you questioned her," she finally added.
"I did," Annie said bluntly.
Misuzu looked at Annie. "I don't know what she sees in you but I trust her judgment. I serve her without doubt," she added.
Annie stepped closer. "I don't have time for faith," she said. "I need power. Enough to take him down," she added. Her mind flashed back to the monster, the one that had destroyed everything.
Misuzu's eyes narrowed. "You think stealing my gift will help you?" she asked.
"I think it's the only chance I have," Annie said.
The corridor grew colder.
At that moment, Kawamoto and Taniuchi turned the corner. They walked hand in hand and side by side. They looked to see Misuzu and Annie in front of them.
"What's going on here?" Kawamoto asked.
"I'm not sure," Taniuchi replied. "But it doesn't feel right," she added.
Kawamoto looked. "Something's off. The air… it's heavy," she remarked.
Suddenly they all heard a voice. "Come to me," it said.
All four of them froze.
Misuzu's eyes widened. "The Goddess," she whispered.
"She's in my head," Annie said.
"I can hear her too," Kawamoto said.
"She's calling us," Misuzu said.
In a flash of light, the air around them shimmered and folded inward. The corridor vanished and they found themselves standing in the Goddess Room. They saw a golden archway, framing a staircase that led to a towering throne. The Goddess sat upon it.
Without hesitation, Misuzu, Kawamoto, and Taniuchi dropped to their knees. They bowed their heads.
"We are here, my Goddess," Misuzu said.
She looked at Annie, who remained standing. She crossed her arms.
"You were watching us the entire time," Annie said.
The Goddess smiled. "A Goddess knows what all her angels are doing. Even when they forget they are being watched," she said.
"My Goddess," Misuzu said. "You could have summoned us directly," she added.
"I did," the Goddess replied. "Through your choices," she said with a smile on her face.She looked at Annie. "You seek great power," she said.
"I do," Annie said. "I want the strength to destroy him. I'll do whatever it takes and you already know this," she added.
"I admire your resolve," the Goddess said. "But power without unity is hollow. You must learn the value of your fellow angels," she added.
"I know the value of my fellow soldiers," Annie snapped as her fists clenched.
The Goddess smiled. "Misuzu showed you a path. You followed it. You shattered not one, but two walls. Yet you dismiss her now," she commented.
Misuzu lowered her gaze. I was only following the Goddess` plan. I'm just a vessel.
"She said you came up with the plan," Annie retorted.
"Then she is your fellow soldier," the Goddess said. "Your fellow angel," she added.
Annie gritted her teeth, but said nothing.
The Goddess's tone shifted. "You are right about one thing. We need greater power. The artifacts I gave you were fragments from the time when my strength was whole," she explained.
"You've said that before," Annie muttered. She thought this conversation had already happened before.
Misuzu looked annoyed. She never knows when to stop.
The Goddess raised her hand. A dark shadow swirled in her palm, then vanished. It revealed a small, black device. It was sleek and angular.
"Here," she said as the device floated toward Taniuchi, who caught it gently.
She turned it over in her hands. "It looks like a memory card," Taniuchi said.
"It is a Navcard," the Goddess said.
"Navcard?" Kawamoto echoed. She had never heard of that before.
"A device used to connect and unlock true power. The power I need. The power we all need," the Goddess said.
Annie's eyes narrowed. If she needs it must be important.
Misuzu stepped forward. "Command us, Goddess. What shall we do?" she asked.
"You will travel to a world plagued by the undead," the Goddess said. "It resembles your previous world Misuzu, but it is not the same. In the center of a vast cornfield stands a tower. You must reach it and insert the Navcard into the machine," she instructed.
"Why can't you do it yourself?" Annie asked.
Misuzu stood. She glared at Annie.
The Goddess's expression remained serene. "My powers are bound. My reach is limited. That is why I have you, my angels," she said.
"Yes, Goddess," Misuzu, Kawamoto, and Taniuchi said in unison.
The Goddess turned to Annie. "And you, Annie… I would like you to go with them," the Goddess said.
Annie hesitated, then nodded. "Fine," she responded. She thought of going along.
Kawamoto, Taniuchi, Misuzu, and Annie all left the room. "You were very rude to the Goddess," Misuzu said.
"I am like that to everyone," Annie replied.
"I don't care however if you do anything to hurt the Goddess I will end you," Misuzu said. Kawamoto and Taniuchi nodded.
Annie shrugged her shoulders.
They all headed outside where they saw Blackhawk waiting for them. "You are finally here," Blackhawk said. Blackout opened the door. The four of them entered and sat down on the jump seats. He closed his door.
"Thank you for waiting for us," Kawamoto said.
"The Goddess has told me all about the mission, there are a few more things we need to do as well," Blackhawk said.
"More things," Annie muttered.
"We will complete it all," Misuzu said. "Where is Starscreen and Jetfire?" she asked.
"They are attending to other matters," Blackout replied as he took to the sky. A portal opened up. "We will complete the mission," Blackout said.