This chapter takes place just after those events :
-Albedo is defeated and scattered in many particles by the Omega Res Novae controlled by Sergius XVII.
-The Testaments arrive and annihilate Sergius and Omega.
-The Testaments awake U-DO who sleeps into the Zohar.
-Shion and her friends escaped (thanks to KOS-MOS) and boarded the Elsa.
CHAPTER 20 : PULSING – HERZ –
Unkown place. Maybe it's Albedo's subconscious domain.
? ? ?: …lla. …azolla. …bedo Piazolla. …Albedo Piazolla.
? ? ?: Who's there…? I've become a molecule that keeps drifting… I'm enjoying this moment on the way to annihilation. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't do absurd things like talking to molecules.
? ? ?: I'd think it absurd for something on the molecular level to still be capable of consciousness, but…
? ? ?: Now is not the time for that. It is time to use your strength.
? ? ?: Stop, I…
? ? ?: We will help you. Now, we will let you touch U-DO again…
? ? ?: I'm telling you to stop. I'm…I…!
In the Elsa.
Shion: KOS-MOS, you…what did you do…!
KOS-MOS: In accordance with the phase transition phenomenon, I have fixed the local matter transmutation to this sector. I judged it a more effective method to prevent dispersion.
MOMO: The rewriting of spatial information really isn't spreading anymore.
Shion: That's all well and good, but deciding on your own to use such dangerous equipment is…!
KOS-MOS: Shion, I have been assigned the duty of protecting you from the danger that is pursuing you. Every judgement I make is in service to that purpose.
Shion: Duty…who assigned you that duty?!
KOS-MOS: I cannot answer that.
Shion: KOS-MOS…
KOS-MOS: However, at present there is one fact I should advise you of. The phase transition unit is still operating at maximum output even now. At this rate, it will eventually reach the limits of its capacity and become unable to continue functioning.
Shion: In that case, the local matter transmutation will start spreading again…
KOS-MOS: That is correct.
Matthews: I don't really get it, but what's gonna happen if that thing starts spreading again?
chaos: It means the information of physical matter will be rewritten. The space around us will probably be transformed into a world unknown to us.
Matthews: An unknown world…
Tony: Hey! The situation's really bad if we know this little about what's gonna happen!
Hammer: Yeah, anyone wanna try to do something?!
chaos: You said “someone”…but in every battle so far, the Ormus fleet has defeated the Federation…the Federation fleet has been decimated by the Omega System. We're probably alone in this sector now.
MOMO: Yes, no man-made physical objects apart from the Elza are registering within the range of MOMO's scans.
Hammer: Th, that's…
Ziggy: There's nothing we do about that. We'll have to rely on our own…
Jin: He's right. We came here to look for the original Zohar. We should see that goal through to the end, even in this situation.
Shion: It'd let us stop the matter transmutation before the phase transition cannon goes over its capacity…but, that phenomenon came from the Zohar's power…is there really anything we can do about it…?
Jin: Shion…
Shion: Brother, it's okay even if you don't say it. We'll act quicker this time, so we're not too late. That's what I want to do now.
Jin: That's…you're right.
Ziggy: First, we need to gather information. We don't stand a chance if we don't know what our enemy's really like.
MOMO: Please leave that to MOMO. The abilities of an Observational Realian will be useful here!
Canaan: I'll back you up too. Let me use the terminal on this ship.
Hammer: Got it. I'll set up the link now!
Shion: Everyone… (speaking of “everyone”, where has Jr. gone off to at a time like this…?)
Hammer: Um, there's a transmission coming in from Ziggy's employer.
Ziggy: For me…?
Hammer: Yes, it's from the Subcommittee On Close Encounters.
Jr.: (Back then, maybe Albedo's particles, his fragments…maybe they passed through me…why did he…fool me me fourteen years ago?)
Shion: Ah, Jr…
? ? ?: (Hey, Rubedo…)
Jr.: …Albedo?
Albedo: (Heh, heh, heh, I've come back, to this fleshy prison…)
Jr.: You…didn't you die…!
Albedo: (Come on, can't you show some surprise for me?)
Jr.: Ah…so it was your heartbeat I've been feeling for a while, throbbing away on the right side of my chest.
Albedo: (Ah, hahah, I get it…look, Rubedo…! Look at this beautiful distortion of space!)
Jr.: Distortion?
Albedo: (The time has finally come, for the eternal chain to stretch out! The time to plug the source of my longing!)
Jr.: Albedo, you weren't supposed to hope for something like that!
Albedo: (Come, Rubedo…I'm waiting. Do you understand what I'm saying?)
Jr.: Yeah, I have to g…
Albedo: (Heh heh…I'm waiting…)
Jr.: Albedo…
Shion: There you are.
Jr.: Uh, Shion, huh…?
Shion: The one you were talking to just now…it was Albedo, wasn't it?
Jr.: You could hear? No, I'm the only one who's able to hear his voice, so…
Shion: Jr., hasn't he's called out to you many times already?
Jr.: Ah, that's…yeah, that's right.
Shion: When you heard he was alive…were you happy, Jr.?
Jr.: …he's calling me. He wants to end this, no matter what.
Shion: But he's a sibling who's very important to you. Could you really fight him?
Jr.: I can do it. There's something inside me that wants to fight…just like he does. I can't just walk away from him…from Albedo. Since I'm the only one who can stop him, I…
Shion: Jr….
Jr.: How's Ziggy? Can he move again?
Shion: A transmission from Juli came in a little while ago. Apparently she showed him how to repair himself using some of the parts we've got lying around on this ship.
Jr.: Right…I'll go check on him then. As soon as we've finished preparing, we strike. Tell everyone to get ready.
Shion: …understood.
Juli Mizrahi: […there, now those parts should be compatible with the Ziggurat series too. This is just a temporary measure, so you should get them replaced with the proper custom parts when you return.]
Ziggy: Thank you very much, Doctor Mizrahi.
Juli Mizrahi: [“Juli” is fine. I'm sick of people calling me “Doctor”. In any case, we need to talk…Mr. Jan Sauer.]
Ziggy: I'm Ziggu…no, what?
Juli Mizrahi: [It seems like you're rejecting treatment to extend the life of your organic parts. However, it has already been a century since you were ressurected…for those who don't undergo life extention treatment, average lifespan is 130 years. Would you be willing to live just a little longer…for MOMO's sake? There are thing I'd like to learn from you too. The way you live your life is…]
Ziggy: …could I have a little time to think about it?
Juli Mizrahi: [Yes…I'll be awaiting your favorable reply.]
Ziggy: …did you need to talk to me about something?
Jr.: Sorry, I couldn't help overhearing.
Ziggy: I don't mind. I don't have anything to hide.
Jr.: Right. …anyway, I was a bit surprised.
Ziggy: About what?
Jr.: I think it's the first time I've seen you get mad, back at the Omega System. Looks like there's some feeling left in you, old man. It was…honestly, I felt reassured. Like you're human too, after all.
Ziggy: …
Jr.: And…even you couldn't keep your cool completely when you had to face your enemies.
Ziggy: Huh…that goes for you too.
Jr.: Absolutely. When it comes to that guy, I just go to pieces. I don't have any idea why, but…
Ziggy: Jr., I can't understand how you're thinking, and I'm not going to deny that. You shouldn't worry about it.
Jr.: Old man…
Ziggy: He's being unreasonable, and you should call him out on it.
Jr.: Yeah, I intend to. But, uh…old man, what happened when you were with that Voyager guy?
Ziggy: …
Jr.: Sorry, if you don't want to talk about it, I didn't mean…
Ziggy: No, it's fine. He…Voyager, he stole the ones I loved the most from me.
Jr.: …!
Ziggy: I took my own life to escape his temptation…but that was…thinking back on it now, maybe I was just running away.
Jr.: Old man, that's…it's not strange that you were that angry…
Ziggy: No, my anger was…towards myself, for running away.
Jr.: Yourself, for running away…old man, thanks for telling me about all this.
Ziggy: Jr….
Jr.: I'll try to live my life without being angry with myself.
Ziggy: Yes, that's probably a good idea.
Jr.: Then, let's go…
MOMO: Yes, let's get going, to that place…
Jr.: MOMO…I thought I could keep it from everyone, but the 100-Series are really something, huh…
MOMO: Do you intend to go alone?
Jr.: …
MOMO: But why? Jr., you're always taking all these burdens all by yourself…MOMO…can't MOMO come with you?
Jr.: He's calling me. It has… to be me. Because we really are brothers. He hasn't been a good big brother, or one I could be proud of, but…at least I want to finally finish this myself.
MOMO: Jr….
Jr.: I'm sorry, but could you keep the others from finding out?
MOMO: Just…make sure you come back, okay?
Jr.: …
MOMO: Please promise me that you'll really come back. If you don't, MOMO…MOMO…
Jr.: Sorry, I…
MOMO: …
? ? ?: MOMO, you can't let him get away with that. MOMO: Miss Shion…!
Jr.: Everyone…I'm not asking any of you to come with me.
chaos: Jr., there's something you don't understand.
Ziggy: We're not saying we're going there to help you confront your brother. But we do need to procced to the center of that place to stop the local matter transmutation. That's all.
Shion: Just like you have your own reasons for going there, we have our reasons too.
Jr.: …I know that. We've been through a lot as friends.
Ziggy: Jr….
Jr.: But I'm saying you have to understand this too: I'm going there on my own. Uh…MOMO, you…
MOMO: This is…on big sis Sakura's behalf.
Jr.: Sakura's…?
MOMO: Big sis Sakura would definitely have been sad to see the three of you fighting each other, Jr. But, that person is…so, MOMO…
Jr.: But, MOMO…and everyone else, too…the reason I wanted to go alone was that I didn't want you all to see me.
Shion: See you…?
Jr.: Yeah, in front of him, I wouldn't be able to fool myself anymore. You'd see his wishes and mine coming true at the same time. I didn't want you all to see how pitiful I'd be then. But…all that stuff, maybe I didn't need to worry about it after all, huh?
MOMO: Jr….
Jr.: MOMO, will you be okay even if you see my true face, and the blood on my hands?
MOMO: Yes! And I'm sure everyone feels the same way…right, miss Shion?
Shion: Huh? Yes…(and the blood on my hands is…)
Jr.: …got it, let's go. I'll come with you when you go there. That's fine with me.
Ziggy: Then that's our agreement.
Jr.: Heh, that's a tricky way of putting it.
Local matter transmutation
Shion: We were supposed to enter using E.S., but…
MOMO: MOMO understands what's going on here. What came flowing in at that time, from inside that person's heart…an inner world…
Shion: MOMO, are you okay? (So the terror we felt back then was…?)
MOMO: Y, yes…I'm fine.
Jr.: …here. He's in this direction.
MOMO: Ah, Jr.! Jr….!
Ziggy: The showdown between the brothers is drawing near. I wonder if he's feel it too.
MOMO: Yes…
Albedo: So you made your way here, Rubedo. Did you make some kind of pretend-friends again? I'm surprised, since I thought you'd frighten away anyone who'd get close to you.
Jr.: Shut up, I'm not like you.
Albedo: Your tough talk doesn't fool me. Are you scared? Just like back then, maybe you turned your back on your new friends…maybe you abandoned them…hah hah hah…just like the coward you are!
[Battle against Albedo]
Albedo: Come, and meet the true me. Until then, we'll just have to see if your soul can take it.
Jr.: …I'm going.
Shion: Jr….
Shion: …Albedo!
Jr.: No, he's not…
Shion: Not him? But, that's…
Jr.: He's already thrown away his old self. With that form, the only thing he wants to destroy is his past self…
MOMO: Wants to destroy his past self…
Albedo. Hey, Rubedo…are you still fond of that doll?
MOMO: ! (Doll…)
Jr.: Albedo…you…!
Albedo: Is that doll important to you? Looks like you're already too late. I've already dirtied it, so…
MOMO: (…)
Jr.: Stop…don't say anything else!
Albedo: Touching it…felt very good. You should try it too, I'm sure you'd enjoy…
Jr.: I thought I told you to stop!
[Battle against Albedo]
MOMO: …
chaos: MOMO, it's okay. He's gone now…
Jr.: Sorry, but we should hurry up and get going. Those who can't come with us should wait here.
Ziggy: Jr.!
Jr.: …
MOMO: Ziggy, everyone, MOMO…MOMO's all right.
Ziggy: Don't overextend yourself.
MOMO: No, MOMO's…decided to go with Jr..
Ziggy: I understand, but we're coming with you too.
Shion: E.S.!?
chaos: No! That's…
KOS-MOS: I cannot detect the presence of an Anima Vessel. I would suggest that it is merely mimicing its appearance.
Jr.: It's because we're inside his soul. That's the armor protecting his heart. If he's relying on something like this…
Albedo: lEt's gET ThIS shoWdOwn oVeR With QuicklY, tHen! I'm SiCK of yOU cLiNGiNG tO Me lIKE A StICKy tOMaTo! GYYAAHHH…!
Jr.: Sure, if you want a fight, we'll give you one!
[Battle against E.S. Shimeon]
Jr.: How do you like that, huh? But I get it now.* Wait…
chaos: Jr….
Jr.: Albedo…
Ziggy: That's Albedo? But that body's…
KOS-MOS: There is no doubt. His particular emanations are consistent with previously observed data.
Albedo: That's right, it's me…you did well to get here, Rubedo. Look, look at what I've become! I've finally reassembled my missing “fragments”. I had lost even my body, so it's really an exhilarating feeling.
Shion: Stop the local matter transmutation right now! There's still time!
Jr.: Forget it, Shion. He's not gonna listen.
Albedo: Ah, hah hah…“Repent! [penitenziagite]”, huh…such an annoying concept. It has been my duty as an immortal to prepare mankind for a totally new point of view.
chaos: (The duty of an immortal…)
Albedo: In the past, when I was connected [linked] to U-Do as if I was a part of it, I saw myself ascending the stairway of evolution. It was not the leaning tower called “culture”, constantly built by people. No, not a tower! Footholds made of rotting wood, scraped together using meager knowledge and poor methods…however, this is something kind people aren't supposed to say, isn't it? Hellooo, that's wrong…yep, wrong! Hiyah, hah, hah, hah!
Jr.: …
Ziggy: What are you hoping to achieve, going on like this?
Albedo: Well, if I trigger this local shift, won't this region of space collide into a higher plane? Instead of grovelling before gods, we life forms of this lower plane will flood into a higher plane of existence! Can't you see it…this is our true connection to eternity! The fulfillment of our missing “fragments”! It is an evolution of people, and the world itself, where people are put in their proper place as if by qualified observers! Rejoice, the day of rest will bear my name. That is, if there will be any concept of the Sabbath on the other side!
Jr.: That's not gonna happen. Because I'll take you down with my own hands.
Albedo: Come then, my opposite pole [lit.: positron]. You're an anti-U-Do weapon…a weapon shouldn't have to feel any shame for craving battle. Humans themselves are like weapons created by someone in the first place!
Jr.: You're right, I'm a weapon…every cell in my body thirsts for battle. For non-existence and conflict!
Shion: Wait, Jr.! It's okay! It's really okay!? Your precious…he's your precious brother!
Jr.: Out of my way, Shion…
Shion: Jr….
Jr.: Sorry, but it was decided a long time ago…no, we decided. Decided it'd end like this. I didn't come here to reform him. I came to destroy him.
Albedo: You've got a point, Rubedo! I feel the same way. I want to kill you soon!
Shion: Don't be stupid…
Albedo: Stupid? You wouldn't understand this feeling of ascension in all of eternity! Hyah, hah, hah!
[Battle against Albedo]
[Flashback begins]
Rubedo: Albedo, what're you doing? …! That's…
Albedo: Heh, heh, heh…I'm digging a grave for you and Nigredo. But even if I call it a “grave”, it's really just a sham. I'm preparing myself not to cry even if the two of you should die. But are you going to put me out of my misery if I'm contacted by (linked to) U-Do again? …that's a leader's duty.
Rubedo: I…don't want to kill you.
Albedo: He, he, he…you would, that's the way you were made.
[Flashback ends]
Shion: Ah…(This…was there no other way?)
Albedo: Aren't you going to do it, Rubedo…
Jr.: Albedo…
Albedo: So how about it, Rubedo? You'd better appreciate this…did you have fun?
Jr.: Yeah, I had fun…my blood was dancing. After all, we U.R.T.V.s are tools for battle, nothing more than weapons.
Albedo: No, you're wrong…our foolishness doesn't come from us being weapons. …it comes from us being men (human beings).
Jr.: Albedo…
Albedo: Being extinguished…that could also be said to have another meaning, of liberation. At least…
Jr.: Once again…you're not going to be frightened at anyone's death [not even your own]…right?
Albedo: Rubedo, you…eh, hehheh…that's just like you, brother. Seeing everything so clearly…
Jr.: Yeah, after absorbing your molecules…I even understood what happened…when Sakura died.
Shion: So that's what…
Albedo: I killed her, and that's the only…
Jr.: You damn idiot…if you'd just…a little earlier…
Albedo: Because of that…I got to be extingushed. That was…a victory for me.
Jr.: Yeah, you won't be losing again. Prepare to be…
Albedo: Rubedo…beware of Nigredo's influence.
Jr.: Wh…what?
Albedo: Think about the reason why…he's not responding to U-Do.
Jr.: !
MOMO: …the Kirschwassers…!
Shion: (Kira *, you found a place to call home, didn't you?)
Jr.: No, don't go! Don't go, Albedo! Don't leave me!
Albedo: I'm sorry, but look at me, Rubedo…I'm the reason…
Jr.: Albedooooooo…!!
Shion: I didn't understand it…Albedo's hopes…but Jr. understood it all completely. And, he fought his brother… I gave the order that cost Cecily and Kath their lives, so I'm in no position to criticize him. No, it doesn't really have anything to do with positions…I definitely don't want to condemn him, since I know the heat of the tears he shed after he did what he had to do… Cecily, Kath, Albedo, Kira *, the lieutenant colonel… I wonder when the time will come for me to rest like they do…
* Shion refers here precisely to THE Kirschwasser that played a major role during the events of Episode 1 both in Xenosaga The Animation and in the DS version. In The Animation, this Kirschwasser died by sacrificing herself into the Proto Merkabah that was collapsing. In the DS version, she died because she decided to be absorbed by the Vessel of Anima of the E.S. Simeon, in order to help Albedo.
Nephilim: He's finally at peace now, isn't he?
chaos: Yes…Jr., Shion…they've grown strong. They accepted the need to dirty their own hands, and were able to bring peace to those they care about.
Nephilim: That…sounds like they may have overcome their past.
chaos: I don't know. But they've taken their first steps towards the future. But…this isn't the end.
Nephilim: Yes, this is the beginning…this has created small ripples through the world that surrounds them. These ripples will eventually become great waves, which will crash over them…
chaos: That's right…but they're not helpless victims who will let themselves be swept away by the waves.
Nephilim: Finally…you understand now, don't you?
chaos: I…definitely lost my way. Is it good for Shion and the others to be shouldering such a burden, like the one they bore in the past? But they've all become much stronger than I expected. It took me too long…to realize that.
Nephilim: It's okay…time should still be on our side…we're definitely not too late…
chaos: Yes, I think so too…