When George heard the scream, he knew he was alone with the Book of Darkness.

He didn't turn around to look at where the other Enforcer had fallen. He instead was forced to dodge around the room as several magical blasts chased him. It was… hopeless. He wasn't going to be able to defeat it by himself. Tanya might've had a shot…

No. Don't think about her.

He didn't, though, and that was what mattered. But in the past minute something strange had been happening to the incarnation of the Book of Darkness. The tall silver-haired woman hadn't moved, and her body seemed to be more connected to the floor of the chamber… with greenery. The new stationary aspect was helpful to the remaining Enforcer, as the attacks were now always coming from the same place… at least originally.

The attacks stopped for a moment as the woman raised her hands to the sky. "I have… failed again…" she said haltingly, and then she was engulfed in a darkness that quickly spread out from where she stood. George darted to and out the door faster than he thought possible and slammed his hand on the close-and-lock pad on the outside.

"Starfall, open a connection to the bridge."

Twilight

"George!" Paige shouted the instant the connection went through. "What is going on?"

"The incarnation of the Book is doing a spatial attack that I had to leave the room for. She… she's grown herself into the ground. I think there's only a matter of time before she breaks down the door…" There was the sound of an explosion and the video feed went dark. "The door's breached," George said in an eerily calm voice. "With vines."

"Clarify, George," Admiral Harlaown asked with a carefully controlled voice.

"She's spouting vines everywhere!" the video feed still hadn't returned, and George sounded like he was either running or "Luna Buster!" in a battle. "I'm trying to hold back the spread, but it's way too fast for me alone…"

"What happened? Where are the other Enforcers?" Paige interrupted.

"…I recommend abandoning ship," George finished, ignoring Paige's plea.

Clyde frowned. "This is a big enough danger for the ship…"

"I'm being overwhelmed, Admiral!" George snapped. Paige gasped as the video blinked back on for a moment to show a vine shooting straight at the camera source and then the video was gone again. George cried out, but kept talking. "Ah! I – I don't think that there's much time before the ship becomes unflyable or… worse. I strongly – Heavenly Blow! – very strongly advise evacuating the ship. Sir. George out."

"George!" Paige called again. "Don't you dare close the connection! George!" The screen in front of her read "Connection closed." She slammed her fist on the desk.

There was a long beat of silence on the bridge. "Evacuate. Code one. Get yourselves out." An explosion behind him punctuated his words and made his crew move from their frozen stupor.

I…

You what?

…You asked me not to apologize so I shall not. I will simply tell you: The Defensive Program has lost control. I cannot assert control. I cannot return you to the –

Crack. Unacceptable. Get me out now.

I can put you into a dream forever. I can suspend you in a pleasant dream for-

I don't care to be in a dream. I want to kill them! I want to get out there and take my revenge! Do you know what those Bureau bastards did to me?

I don't. You didn't tell the Knights.

…It doesn't matter. Get me out there by anyway possible.

I cannot.

You must.

I cannot… I…

You what?

I… have nothing I can say.

George never thought that fighting against the different roots and branches of a living plant could be so tiring. He was out of gas now, though he had managed to stall the progress of the Book's incarnation somewhat. He didn't think he was going to be effective for much longer, but there were escape pods only ten meters behind him that he didn't want to be compromised before they had been jettisoned.

"George!"

He heard Paige's voice behind him, and the moment of surprise was his undoing. The vine that came at him sharpened to a point he wouldn't have missed if he was fresh and fully alert, but in his state he had no chance to stop it in time. It traveled straight through his middle. Colors dulled. Sounds faded from his ears. Starfall fell from his hands. He clearly heard his name screamed from somewhere, but he didn't know where. Place lost meaning. Light faded to black other than a pinpoint of light. Then it was all gone.

This is the Number Two Transport ship, Hestia. The Book of Darkness is out of control, and we can't stop it. It has engulfed the bridge, and some of the crew. Navigation systems and the Arc-en-ciel controls have also been…

Admiral Clyde, expedite the escape. You are to abandon the Hestia.

I confirmed the evacuation of the remaining crew a moment ago. In a little over a minute, this ship's Arc-en-ciel will be fully charged. I will send the countdown to you. You must stop the ship before it fires…

Paige clung helplessly to the uniform of the person closest to her as she cried. She didn't care who she held, only that the person would let her cling while she aired her fresh grief… her two best friends among all the worlds were gone. Even the explosion of the Hestia behind her didn't affect her. She felt nothing but the pain, no matter how hard she clung to anything.

Signum looked up and closed her eyes. I am… finished. She faded from view, into a light that remained behind with the very confused soldiers that were guarding her.

Their report would later be disregarded by their superiors. They cited reasons of hallucinations and high-stress situations.

We'll sleep now… we'll sleep until the next master is ready for us.

We shall be ready when our master needs us.

Awareness came slowly but surely. Awareness of the others in the space inside the Book was comforting. It had been a long time, and yet a short time, since they had last seen each other. A camaraderie that had lasted for longer than anything. Camaraderie that was the only constant thing in their existence.

Our Master is ready for us once again.

What do we know about this one?

She is very young this time.

Maybe… maybe that will help.

It won't change anything.

Silence, it's time.

… Be safe.

"Anfangen"