Interlude 3

2970

Mist, Commander of the Valkyries, sat in Yggdrasil control. Where once the massive screen had shown information on the universe the computer controlled, now it showed tactical displays.

Currently, the screen showed a map of the heavens, including the wall that surrounded it. Much of the wall was green, a few showed yellow. But several sections were flashing red.

"Reinforcements to sectors 34, 35, 47, and 60." Mist called out.

"Yes ma'am." Chronos replied.

Mist smiled. Chronos was one of the few remaining Admins who knew what she was doing. Within minutes, those sections of the wall that had been flashing red, turned to yellow, then went to green.

Once again the heavens were safe, for now.

Mist glanced up at the current SysOp, Urd. The Goddess had a very troubled look on her face. She was troubled a lot these days, and Mist knew why in one word.

Belldandy.

Belldandy was becoming more and more distant since the loss of her husband. She was also becoming weaker and more frail by the day. Everyone watched what they said when she was near, and they made damn sure not to say the names 'Keiichi', 'Keima', or 'Sayoko'. The Goddess had also stopped talking to everyone.

Well, not everyone.

Belldandy would still talk to Kristine, which many thought was because the elder Goddess thought it was her daughter, instead of her granddaughter. Belldandy would also speak to Mana, the Queen of Hell, and Mana's daughter Sayoko.

Thinking about Mana brought something else to Mist's mind. Mana's 'other' daughters, Dawn and Yui. Technically, one was adopted and the other was a stepchild, but both women considered Mana a second mother. Either way, those two had been acting strange lately. Dawn, who had somehow been assigned to Mana's guard, was meeting secretly with Yui and Kristine. Mist only knew about it because she happened upon one of their clandestine meetings. She didn't hear quite what was said, but she saw enough to pay more attention to the three. She had a special program running in Yggdrasil that sent updates to her communicator, telling her exactly where all three were at anytime. Right now she knew exactly where one was. Kristine was working a terminal on one of the upper levels of Yggdrasil. What it was, Mist did not know. She had tried to find out, but was blocked out by a security clearance. In order to pass, one had to be a Norn, or a descendant of one. And at this time, there were only four, Belldandy, Urd, Skuld, and Kristine.

The screen was flashing red again. Mist directed her attention to it.

"Reinforcements to sectors 48, 49, 50, and 51."

"Yes Ma'am."

Mist watched the screen, waiting for the red to go yellow. Instead, the area of heaven right behind the flashing red went yellow. Mist sat up a bit straighter.

"Reinforcement status?" Mist called out.

"Enroute." Was Chronos' reply.

Now the yellow area was flashing red.

"Dammit!" Mist shouted, "Where are those reinforcements!"

Chronos typed away at her terminal frantically. She then looked up, her eyes wide.

"They're being overwhelmed." The Admin said.

"Full Alert!" Mist shouted, "Heavens have been breached! All Units to full active status."

As Mist watched, several more sections of wall began to flash red. Several more had areas behind the walls turn red with them. Mist pounded her terminal in frustration. Things were becoming very bad.

"All forces," she said, her voice breaking slightly, "Fall back to second defense line."

"Yes ma'am."

Mist stared at the screen as a new line appeared just outside the main city. These initially were yellow, but became green as units moved into position. Now the map was green again, only it was much smaller then before.

"Good job." Urd said.

"No." Mist said, "It isn't."

Urd pointed. "The boards green. They aren't getting in."

Mist sighed. "The only reason they aren't getting in is because we have a lot less territory to defend. As well as the fact the force we did have are now compacted closer together." She turned and looked up at the SysOp. "I've only delayed them. We have maybe another week or so before they weaken our forces enough to try that again." Mist looked at the map. "Our third and final defense line is this building." She looked back at Urd. "I don't expect to be alive when it reaches that point."

Urd stared stunned at Mist. "What!"

"If it looks like the second line is faltering." Mist explained, "I intend to personally lead the defense in the field."

"That's suicidal." Urd said.

"Not if it works." Mist said.

"We'll need you if the second line fails." Urd said, "We'll need you to lead the defense of this building."

"Urd," Mist said, "When it comes down to the third line, we won't have enough of anyone to hold out against the Demons for long. All they'll have to do is pound this building into rubble." Mist stood up. "I need to take a walk and clear my mind."

Mist walked away before Urd could reply. She moved silently to a back stair and headed to the upper levels. She then approached the terminal Kristine was working at.

"I don't know what your up to." Mist said, causing Kristine to jump in surprise. "I don't know what you, Yui, and Dawn have been discussing. I don't know if it will save us, or finish us off quicker. I just don't want to know. But I have one request."

"What's that?" Kristine asked.

"Hurry up." Mist replied, "I can only delay the Demons for so long. Whatever you're doing, you have at most a week, week and a half. Once they reach the third defense line, you will only have hours. After that……" Mist's voice trailed off.

"I understand." Kristine said softly.

Mist nodded and walked away.

For some reason, she felt like she'd just improved their chances of surviving.