Adam (muttering): So...is this a clue?
He tests the sword in his hand.
Adam (muttering): Still nothing...
He stares at his hand again and sighs.
Adam (muttering): Why do I put up with all of this, anyway?
[Flashback]
The Authoress, looking very much like a lost child, clings to Adam tightly..
Dot (softly): Please, Adam...I need to hear it from you.
[/Flashback]
Adam: ......
The thread pulses rhythmically, as if waiting for something.
Lain (thinking): I had been certain that those fools would not be able to stem the tide of fate, but...perhaps...not all is lost, after all...
Out of the corner of her eye, Lain spots a bright streak and barely manages to avoid getting run over. The streak slows down and resolves itself into Synthesis, who gives an impressed whistle.
Synthesis (sarcastic): Ooh, how impressive! But then again, I don't expect any less from you.
One flashy transfomation sequence later...
Synthesis (raises an eyebrow): "Chatty's brats"?
Synthesis (cooly): How can I deny why I don't even remember? Besides, if what you say is true, then surely she would have disowned me by now given what I've done to her.
Synthesis (grinning): Nope! Niichan's opionion is more important right now. (pouts) He finally came back, but he doesn't seem to take to well to the idea of a long-lost sister, so...
Synthesis (shrugs): So what? (smirks) At least killing LAIN of the Wired will go well on my resume.
Synthesis (shrugs again): Just a hunch.
Insert standard destructive battle sequence here.
Vocal (intrigued): Well, well, well! Things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser, don't they, Choirmaster?
No response.
Vocal (feigned puzzlement): Choirmaster?
He holds up the pokeball in which Choirmaster had been trapped, and pouts when he sees that it is now empty.
Vocal (liltingly): Aww, Choirmaster doesn't want to play any more?
Still pouting, he looks up...and breaks into a very, very scary grin.
Vocal (brightly): Oh, look, here comes a new friend!
Casually, Vocal brings his hands forward to block just as Voidstar appears with an immense amount of energy swirling around him. The resulting blast clears nearly all of the snow from the building on which Vocal was perched.
Vocal (whistles): Wow, not bad! You've grown up a lot, Voidstar-chan!
Voidstar (casually): Thanks, although I can hardly say the same for you. Are you still insisting on that meaningless duel with Choirmaster, or have you actually managed to get a life?
Vocal (pouts again): You're so mean, Voidstar-chan! If it weren't for our so-called "meaningless duel", EGC wouldn't have been rebuilt!
Voidstar (smirks): And who says I wanted that, hm?
Another exchange of spells occurs, and Vocal's demeanor wavers a little as he realizes that Voidstar might very well be on equal footing with him.
Vocal (forced smile): What do you mean?
Voidstar (dangerous grin): I think you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Voidstar throws another half-hearted spell at Vocal.
Voidstar (carelessly): But since I don't have any interest whatsoever in being part of Choirmaster's plans ever again, you can live for now. (blinks) Where is the manipulative bastard, anyway?
Vocal (faking sheepishness): Ah, well, you see...while Choirmaster and I were playing...I sort of, um...
Voidstar (raises eyebrow): You sort of what?
Vocal (scratches his cheek): ...realized Choirmaster is a Midori. (beat, sheepishly) I think. It's kind of hard to tell, but things do make a lot more sense if that were true, don't you agree?
Voidstar (unimpressed): I don't see how that makes any difference.
Vocal (thoughtfully): Well... (laughs) What do you know? You're right, there's no difference at all!
Voidstar: Anyhow, we've gotten off the subject.
Vocal (nodding): Indeed, indeed. (pouts) But I'm afraid I can't help you, Voidstar-chan. Choirmaster ran off by himself and I don't know where he is, so...
Vocal's aura grows dangerously hot, vaporizing more snow.
Vocal (grinning): Won't you play with me instead, please?
Gourry: Zzzz...
Lina: Zzzz...
Just outside, a loud and heated argument is taking place.
Vermin's voice (furious): Okay, so let me get this straight: you infiltrated the roaches and "just happened" to fall madly in love with your own worst enemy?
Chatty's voice (sheepishly): Aheh, well, if you want to put it that way...
Lina's eyes pop wide open.
Lina: Zuh?
Roach's voice (furious): Of all the things you've done, this...this takes the cake! I can't believe you stooped that low!
Chatty's voice (sheepishly): I suppose a touching mother-child reunion is out of the question at this point...?
Lina (mouthing: "Mother"...?!?
Roach and Vermin's voices (furious): Do you even have to ask?
A door opens and shuts, and the argument abruptly goes quiet.
Roach Leader's voice (sternly): That's enough, both of you.
Rio: ...and with each cycle, the relations get more complicated.
Atsuko (getting a bit overwhelmed): I'll say.
While they're busy pondering, Adam appears behind them.
Adam (leaning over Atsuko's shoulder): My, my, what's this, Six Degrees of Chatty Arisu?
Adam barely avoids getting malleted by two irate women.
Atsuko (twitching): You're STILL around?!?
Adam (coolly): "Still"? I haven't stepped foot in EGC proper for quite a while now, if you haven't noticed.
Atsuko (nearly shouting): You know what I mean!
Rio puts a hand on Atsuko and shakes her head.
Rio: Let me handle this. (To Adam, with eyes narrowed) Don't you have an Authoress to get to?
Adam (casually): She can wait. Your daughter, on the other hand, has had the great misfortune to run into one of the few cameos who not only has the guts to challenge her, but also possesses the means to kill her in a most unpleasant manner.
At the mention of Lain, Rio flinches slightly.
Rio (forced composure): And why should I care about that ungrateful brat?
Adam (pointedly): Because she's your "ungrateful brat", that's why. No parent, especially not a mother, is going to let her child go off and do all sorts of stupid things out of spite.
Not to happy about being ignored, Atsuko breaks free from Rio's grasp and glares at Adam.
Atsuko (dripping with sarcasm): And what makes you the reigning authority on parenthood, hm?
Adam (calmly): Because... (smirks) I'm a parent myself, that's why.
Atsuko (skeptical): You?
Adam (laughs): Yeah, I guess it's pretty unbelievable. (somewhat mischievously) But hey, truth is weirder than fiction, y'know.
With that, and a cheeky wave, Adam is gone again.
Atsuko (thoughtfully): Adam has a kid...I wonder...
Sailor Pluto (alarmed): Your Majesty! If you activate the Crystal now--
Sailor Moon (solemnly): I know, Pluto, but it's a risk I'll have to take.
Sailor Pluto: But--
Dan's voice: LOOK OUT BELOW--!
To the surprise of all (except perhaps the astute reader), Dan falls out of a plot hole and lands skull-to-skull with Sailor Moon, causing her to detransform as they end up in a heap.
Sailor Moon (dizzy): Pretty stars... @.@
Insert much sweatdropping here.
*dripping with sarcasm* Ooh, I'm _so_ scared. What are you going to do, bean me to death?
Velvet (dropping into battle stance): Drop the heroics. Both of us know the true meaning of this [Snow].
I know, and I know you know. Why else would I be in this form right now?
Velvet (narrows eyes): You think you can avert the effects of Reversal by partially becoming a Cameo? How laughable.
A fast and furious exchange of blows occurs.
*supremely confident* Of course I can. I helped _plan_ the whole mess, after all.
Velvet (not impressed): Planning is one thing. (smirks) Now, execution...
(At this signal, Mira drops down from her hiding place, unleashing the Ordinal's weapon at the same time.)
!!
The Authoress tries to dodge, but the chains follow her.
Velvet (still smirking): Execution, on the other hand...
The struggle quickly becomes useless as the hooks embed themselves into her one after another. The ground grows red with blood as the Authoress persists in attempting to escape.
*strained* These...toys...will...never...AUGH!
The Authoress screams in anguish as Velvet steps on her, hard, pressing the steel toe of his boot into her side.
Velvet (enjoying himself thoroughly): Payback time, Miss Warner.
And then he proceeds to rip her wings off with his bare hands.