Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 31

Chapter 31:The Beginning of Our Memory
Earth: The Year 20XX
"Doctor...these readings..." 
"Yes...and look at these images." said the dark-haired scientist. He and an assistant were gazing at a series of computer screens, some of them showing footage of what appeared to be the laboratory, yet the coloration and other details were different.
"I don't believe it. Is this...the inside of your brain, Doctor?"
"It's more than that. It's a reflection...this is my cognition. It really exists...do you understand what this means?! There really is a world constructed by human thoughts! The possibilities are endless! All that's left..." The Doctor began to type away at his computer. "...is to transport ourselves into it!"
He got into a giant tube, with wires attached at various angles.
"Miyatsuko, wait!" A dark-haired woman in a lab coat ran in.
"Don't interfere, Kaya! I've finally done it! The Holy Grail of cognitive science is within our grasp! A way to finally expel malicious thoughts from people, to rid humanity of its selfishness once and for all! I can't stop now, not when we're so close!"
"It's too dangerous, Miyatsuko! We haven't attempted to transport organic matter yet! You don't know what the effects could be!"
"I don't have any other choice, don't you understand?! Kaya...you know what's at stake. You and I both know what humans have done to this planet. We've burned away our forests, destroyed our atmosphere, condemned ourselves to disease and squalor! All in the name of greed, power, and 'progress'! Again, and again, for years we've tried to warn them! And over and over, they've done everything to ignore those warnings! That's why...if we can traverse humanity's cognition...if we can find the source of our malice and selfishness...we can do away with it all!"
"You're delusional. You're talking about altering the behavior of billions of people. We don't know what will happen once you press that button. There's too many variables..."
"I'm sorry, Kaya. But time has run out on humanity. No more letting us destroy ourselves!" Miyatsuko pressed a button on his watch, that locked the tube and started up the machine.
"It is time. Destiny waits for no man. Here, now, I bring humanity towards a new dawn!"
"STOP!"
Energy crackled as the machine was turned on. That crackling turned into bursts. Those bursts turned into a cyclone. Reality itself began to fall apart, and was consumed by the exponentially growing onslaught of energy. 
All that was...was no more.
---
April 2, 2029
Tsukiyomi looked through the window of a room inside of the lunar skyscraper. The streets were lined with hooded Death's Hand troops.
Outside the room, troops led by Creon tried to break down the door, but nothing made it budge. "Force won't work. He's got a field over it preventing teleportation. He won't be coming out unwillingly." Creon said. "Any word on the 'goddess'?"
"Nothing, sir. She's barricaded much like he is. They won't leave unless it's of their own volition."
"Tch. Then they won't be leaving. Even in this state, the city is still under their control. Unless the Master finds a way to goad them out, this is a fruitless endeavor."
In another location, the Master sat on a throne. "No progress?"
"Nope. Whatever voodoo they used on those doors is keeping us out. There's no way to get them out unless they do it themselves." Viper explained. "SO. Since that's a wash, how about you give me the key to those vaults?"
"Hmph. So simple, so single-minded. You'll get your payment when your job is completed. One would assume that a master thief could figure out how to open a door."
"Hey, breaking through some freaky deaky magic is way different from breaking a lock, old man. If you're such an all-powerful genius, how about you figure it out yourself?"
"Exactly what I'm doing." Wires came out of the Master's hands, connecting him to a computer system directly above him. His eyes began to glow. In his sights, an image of the Earth. He starts to zoom in. The Western Pacific region. Japan. Tokyo. Naruki City. A three-bedroom house in a simple, quiet neighborhood.
"Time for an overdue discussion."
---
Evening. Quiet, like any other. Rin and Rose were in their living room, accompanied by Tenko and Jin.
"You sure you don't want to do anything bigger, Rin-Rin?" Tenko asked.
"I'm fine with a quiet dinner with everyone. Plus it's hard to get a big birthday together in only three days." Rin replied. "Sorry if it's a little too safe."
"It's like you, though. Just have to warn this one about taking it easy on the sake." Jin said while eating his candy.
"Nyeeeh. You never let me have any fun." Tenko griped.
"I brought a four foot tall bottle into the delivery room. I'm not anti-fun. I'm anti-letting-my-wife-go-to-work-with-a-hangover."
Rose was in the kitchen, brewing tea. As she walked out, the lights began to flicker.
"That's strange. I just replaced the lights yesterday..." she wondered.
Suddenly, an image fizzled on in front of the TV. It was a hologram; the towering figure of the Master.
Tenko quickly jumped to her feet and materialized a light sword. "Hold on! It's a hologram. He's not really here." Rin stopped her.
"Very perceptive of you, Ringo Kubo. I am broadcasting this from a secure location very, very far from where you are. I am pleased to finally meet you. Perhaps you have heard my name. I am the Master of Death's Hand."
"So you're the one behind everything that's been happening. What do you want?" Rin demanded.
"I've come to arrange a meeting. I believe it's long past time we meet, face-to-face."
"Finally, something I agree with. Name the time and place. So we can finally put an end to this."
"Patience, servant of the false goddess. I have a few things you should be made aware of. The ones you call Tsukiyomi and Amaterasu. They are in our possession."
"What?!" Rose exclaimed.
"Fear not. No harm has come to them. Unless you acquiesce to my demands, however, that could very much change. You have had your way with my servants up to this point. But you have no room now to refuse."
"Tch...go on. What do you want?" Rin asked.
A small portal opened up. "This will take you to our location. You are to come along with no one. No one..." He pointed at Rose. "...besides her."
"I assumed as much. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to explain your resentment towards me?" Rose asked.
"Resentment? Hmhmhmhmhm, you fail to even realize the half of it. All will be explained once we meet. And how I've longed to meet you...Galatea."
Rose looked puzzled. "What did you just...?"
The transmission cut off. 
"We're...we're gonna go wreck this guy, right?" Tenko asked.
"You'll do no such thing. If we bring anyone else along, Father and Mother will be in serious danger. It's too great of a risk." Rose replied.
"This is obviously a trap. Who even knows what's on the other side of that thing?" Jin said.
"I'm aware of that. But still...this is our best opportunity to finally end this torture. Rose and I will be fine. We have the strength to do anything." Rin retorted.
"But...!" Tenko exclaimed.
"Listen, Tenko. I'm confident we can handle whatever's beyond that portal. But if too much time passes, and we haven't returned...I need you to be here for Shizuka. And mobilize the others. If we lose, him and his followers will surely come for you all next."
"Don't talk like that! There's no way you can lose to those freaks! But..."
"We'll do what we have to." Jin interjected.
"Grr...fine. But we won't have to worry about anything. Cuz I know you've got this." Tenko griped.
"Thank you. We'll come back, I promise. And when we do...this latest nightmare will be over." Rin asserted. "Rose?"
".....hm? Oh, right. Yes, let's go. There's too much at stake to waste another second."
With a final reassurance, Rin and Rose entered the portal, which closed immediately after.
"Well, that just happened. Should we go wake up the little one, Ji--" Tenko began. "Jin?"
Jin had vanished.
"...shit."
---
April 3, 2029
"...you want to repeat that?" Kibō asked, dumbfounded. 
Tenko, Shūjo, Hiyoko and Jugo were in the students' classroom.
"You're telling us they just...left and went after Death's Hand?" Barbara asked.
"That's about the sum of it. Sounds like the main man himself didn't give 'em much of a choice." Jugo replied.
"Tsukiyomi and Amaterasu are the closest thing to parents Rose has. It's no surprise she would jump to go save them. Not to mention the goddess is the source of most of Rin's power." Hiyoko explained.
"With those two I for sure thought they'd be okay. Why the hell did Jin go with them?" Shūjo asked.
"That's just how he is. Never has liked the idea of girls getting into trouble, even when he knows they can take care of themselves." Tenko replied.
"I think he's going after my sister." Kitty piped up.
"Why would he do that?" Sahir asked.
"That's right...when you all first arrived...she stole from the game shop. And she took one of his old systems." Tenko said.
"Did he really sneak away just to get an old console back?" Max asked.
"It wasn't just any old system. It was his dad's. It was one of the last things Jin ever got from him before he died. Having it stolen right in front of him was a gigantic setback. That's when it started feeling like the world was against him." Tenko replied.
"'Uncle Jin is always sad'. That's how Shizuka put it." Barbara said.
"Heh. Well, if a four-year old can see it..."
"Let's get back to the main problem at hand." Jugo said. "Boss and co. still haven't come back. Could be in trouble, could have handed those masked hombres their behinds and can't find their way back. Point is, this radio silence isn't good."
"We've got no idea where they are. Every tracking system we have ain't picking them up. Wherever they're at, it's far away from here." Shūjo added.
"I don't have a good feeling about this. Even with them being as strong as they are, taking on the entirety of that cult by themselves..." Hiyoko uttered.
A memory flashed through Kitty's mind. "The time of reckoning is quickly approaching. There will come a moment when all will seem lost. You must gather the strength needed to bring those closest to you from the brink. What happens after that moment is entirely on you."
"Well, if they're in some kinda trouble...the only ones who can do anything about it are in this room." she said.
"Are you suggesting what I think you are, Kitten?" Carrie asked.
"Nuh uh. It's way too risky. If Boss and co. couldn't handle it--" Jugo began.
"There's nine of us. Prof trained us for a moment just like this. If the Lonely Hands Club hasn't come knocking yet, it means nobody's lost yet. All their boss said was that the two of them would come alone then. It's been half a day, and he probably isn't expecting anyone to follow now. We're better equipped to sneak in and take care of business. If we mess up, y'all are the last hope of dealing with them. We've gotta repay the Prof and Doc Rose sometime." Kitty dictated. "And we've got scores to settle."
"...welp. Who are we to tell a bunch of kids not to do something reckless?" Tenko conceded.
"Wow. That didn't take much." Kitty uttered.
"We were in you runts' shoes once upon a time. Even if we said no, you'd end up doing it anyway." Shūjo said.
"Where do we even start, though? We don't know where they are." Natalia asked.
The students began discussing amongst themselves, while the adults exited the room. "Tenko, we know you're hiding something." Hiyoko asserted.
"Guhhhh..." Tenko grumbled.
"What else did that guy say? No way it was just 'come to my lair, please'. There was something else." Shūjo said.
"Ugh. Okay. There was something weird--well, relatively. That Master guy...he sounded like he knew Rosie. He called her by some weird name...Gala...something."
"Probably just trying to freak her out. Did she say anything back?" Jugo asked.
"Started to, but then he kept babbling on. For her part, she didn't seem to know what he was talking about. Still...nothing about this is sitting right with me."
"You're doubting Red? That ain't like you at all." Shūjo said.
"I'm not doubting anyone. But there's a ton that we still don't know. I hope Jin hasn't royally messed things up. Hopefully he stayed hidden."
"He wouldn't give himself away after going to the effort of hiding. That said, the longer this goes on for, the less I like the chances of him keeping it together. On the other hand, maybe the berserk approach is what's needed." Jugo said.
"No way. He's not a rabid dog to be sicced on someone. Rosie can calm him down. I'm sure of it."
"If you say so."
Tenko's thoughts shifted back to the night before. To the look on Jin's face before leaving. His eyes, as always, filled with a degree of sadness and anger.
"Please. Please let him keep it together."
---
"What is he doing?" Haimon asked.
"Accessing the memories from after we were banished, seems like." Ismene replied.
The two elites were in a circular room, dark and worn-out like the rest of the city. Lining the room were five containment pods, each of them appearing as though they had not seen use in many years.
Within the second containment pod, the Master lay dormant. On the bottom of the pod, there was an engraving: "II. Πιττακός".
"It must be so much to take in. Our home, our people...we are all that's left now." Haimon mused.
"Indeed. I had hoped that some of us would have remained here, but that doesn't seem to be the case."
"Pittacus...how long he has suffered to bring us here. To think Kaya sent us away for being 'ill fit to govern mankind', yet look at how the humans have fared under her guidance. Or lack thereof."
"I feel as you do, dear brother. They are like petulant children. Kaya gave them only a middling glance when they needed a firm hand to guide them. Now look where we are. Our home in ruins, our people reduced to hundreds when once there were thousands."
"The world requires better governance. Exactly what Pittacus will give them, once Kaya and Miyatsuko are out of the way. Once that is done, not even that woman or her disciples will be able to halt our progress."
Ismene glanced at the two pods next to the Master's. They were marked with "III. Αἵμωνος" and "IV. Ἰσμήνη". "Have you thought of going back inside? Just to know for yourself?"
"No. I can already hazard a guess as to how it all fell apart. Years of neglect so that Miyatsuko could perfect his 'masterpiece'. Why create something to live amongst the humans as they are now?"
"I realized eons ago that trying to understand that man's thinking is a fruitless endeavor. Speaking of, is there still no word on our guests?"
"None whatsoever. Kaya or Miyatsuko must have found them before we ever could. Until we can breach their barricades, we are at an impasse."
They looked to the first pod. It was marked "I. Κέρβερος", and appeared to be damaged, the glass on it shattered. "It's times like these where we could have used Kerberos' raw strength." Haimon said.
"Hm. Her strength, certainly. Less so her insanity. Bringing order to the humans is one thing. Slaughtering them en masse for the sheer joy of it is another entirely. So hate-filled, that one."
"She learned nothing from the humans save the hatred in their hearts. Whether she returns or not, it would be a grand task to reign in her chaos. Perhaps too grand for the amount of people we have left."
Suddenly, the second pod turned on, and the glass door rose up. The Master's eyes flashed back on, and he rose up slowly, hovering slightly above the ground. "Kerberos..."
"Pittacus, did you overhear our discussion?" Ismene asked.
"I saw it all...the capital's annihilation...our people's destruction...it was all Kerberos. With us banished, she was free to do as she pleased. And our creators could do nothing to stop it. Almost as soon as the slaughter began, it ended. Their perfect guardian turned out to be the perfect killer. And so she vanished amongst the humans. All because we were not here to stop her."
"Just another mark against our captive pair. When the throne of the world is yours, we can begin devising how to finally rid the universe of her--" Haimon began.
"Kerberos has already been slain."
"Slain? Are you certain?" Ismene asked.
"Time and again, Kerberos' body has failed her. So she hides within the humans, looking for her chance to regain herself. And as it so happens...what is left of her has made its way here."
"Then we must refocus on finding her before she has a chance to regenerate. Nip the problem in the bud, so to speak." Ismene surmised.
"The piece of her is so minuscule that her human host will likely expire long before she has a chance to regain her body. Kerberos is of no consequence. Focus instead on readying our troops for battle."
"Have you found a way to breach Kaya's magicks?" Haimon asked.
"Not yet. But my chamber gave me a vision of the newly designated Fool. The children will arrive here soon. We cannot be caught by surprise. Convey my message to Creon."
"Of course, Pittacus. As you command."
The three began to leave the room. Ismene gave a look towards the final pod. This one looked relatively newer than the others, and showed signs of better maintenance. It bore the title "V. Γαλάτεια". Ismene pondered for a moment, before departing.
---
"Still nothing, Care?" Natalia asked.
The students had gathered in the girls' dormroom.
"I wish I had better news. I've been combing international lines since we got out of class. Neither the Professor's or Ms. Rose's phones have pinged off any cell towers since last night." Carrie replied, sitting at her computer. 
"Maybe they're somewhere remote? Wouldn't expect some weird cult to put their hideout in plain sight." Sahir said.
"Technology has advanced to where phone signals can be detected for miles. For them to not appear anywhere is highly unusual."
"Maybe their phones were destroyed?" Barbara suggested.
"Even if that happened immediately after they got to the Den of Hands, there still should've been some kinda signal." Kitty replied.
"Wherever they are, they're probably in the Metaverse. Phone signals wouldn't go through there." Kibō said. 
"I've already considered that, but they're not showing up there either. I've already searched through the Metaverse using the app. Nothing." Carrie replied.
"Wait, you did? How? I'm the only one with the--"
"I've got it." Kitty interrupted.
"You...you do."
"Yep. Popped up on phone a couple days ago."
"And you didn't tell anyone this?"
"Didn't need to til now. And I think we've got bigger problems than an app on my phone. Hey, Maggie."
"Kitty-san, I've told you everything I know. The hideout must have been somewhere in Japan. The architecture was too distinct. If they aren't here, then I don't know where they could be." Sakuya replied.
"You were one of their top members, though. You must have known about what they were planning." Barbara said.
"There were secrets the Master kept even from me. Even amongst the elites I was on the outer fringes. The ones closest to him were always Creon, Haimon and Ismene. The only hints I ever got were that after disrupting society's foundations, we would 'turn our gaze outward.' Whatever he meant, I can't say."
"Nothing more than vague sentiments. How very cult-like." Kenji said.
"There's gotta be something we're missing here. We should've found them by now. If they're not in the real world or the Metaverse, where the hell else would they be?" Max asked.
As the others discussed, Kitty went to her thoughts.
"To be able to see past illusions, and lead others towards the truest path. The power of the moon...it is what controls the tides on this planet. The time will soon come where you must alter the tides of this conflict, Kit So-yin. Reality itself may depend on it..."
"I know Mr. Big Nose was trying to be symbolic, but...why such a focus there on the moon?" she thought. "Not in the real world or the other one...turning your gaze outward..."
Suddenly, it clicked.
"...what." she muttered.
"Kitty-san? What's the matter?" Sakuya asked.
"Y'all are gonna think I've lost it."
"Some of us already have, but go on." Kenji joked.
"I've got this really, really ridiculous thought. The Prof and Doc Rose haven't pinged since yesterday. The Metaverse is coming up empty. It's almost like they aren't even on Earth anymore. What if that's because...they aren't?"
"Not on...are you trying to say that they're somewhere in outer space?" Kibō questioned.
"Not just somewhere. I mean like, on the moon. I know, this sounds crazy, but when you've looked everywhere else, maybe it's time to get crazy. We've been to a dimension within the mind how many times now? Space almost seems like the logical next step."
"The moon. The actual, physical...floating up there, the moon." Max pointed.
"That's what I said, blockhead."
"Alright, we're waiting for the punchline."
"Your face is enough of one."
"Settle down. I would've worded it different, but he does have a point. How would we even track down a signal on the moon, much less find a way to get there, or find a way to breathe there?" Barbara questioned.
"I'm still a novice at this, Kitten. The only way to find something on the moon would be to hack into a satellite. That is far beyond my capabilities." Carrie said.
"It would take something far from our power to get us there--if that's even where they are." Kibō added.
"I mean I can believe the hand freaks would be hiding somewhere far off like that. And if that's where they are, they'd have a way to get there, right?" Sahir suggested.
"Please, you guys. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But if they're in danger, and they're where the bad guys are, we can't leave anything out. I don't want--" 
Kitty's speech was interrupted by her phone ringing. "Oh. I've gotta take this." She stepped out of the room. "Hey, princess. How are you holding up? Wait...you're where?"
Kitty ran over to her dormroom. Sitting in front of the door was Shizuka. Kitty knelt down next to her.
"Princess? How'd you get here?"
"I ran away from Aunt Tenko's house. I can't go home so I came here."
"You can't run away like that, ladybug, they're probably worried sick."
"They won't tell Shizuka where Mama Rin and Mama Rose went. Did Shizuka do something wrong? Did they go away like my old parents? Do they not love Shizuka anymore?" The girl began shedding tears.
"Princess, don't say that! Of course your moms still love you. You'd have to be some screwed-up nutjob not to. They had to go fight the bad guys. Me and my friends are trying to find them so we can go help. They're doing it so you don't have to be scared. Please don't cry, cuz then I'm gonna start crying and then it's just gonna be really sad."
Barbara came up to them. "Shizuka, hon, what's wrong? Why are you here all alone?"
"She got scared and ran away. She thinks her folks walked out on her. Think you can call the neighbors and let 'em know she's alright?"
"Will do. Care just called up Mr. Shinji to get his help with the search. He's got more experience and tech with him to expand it. All we need to do is pinpoint where they're at, and we'll be there in no time."
"Gucci. More hands on deck, the better. You head on back. I'm gonna keep this one company."
"You got it."
"Come on, princess. I'm gonna show you my place. Few mortals have the privilege..."
Kitty picked Shizuka up and took her into the dormroom. Once inside, she sat the toddler down on her bed. "Sorry it's a little messy. I don't have a lot of guests, hehe. Make yourself at home."
Shizuka yawned.
"Tuckered out, huh? Running here must've taken a lot out of you."
"Kitty Kat, can Shizuka stay here tonight?"
"Of course, ladybug, you don't even have to ask. My home is your home. Let's get you to bed." Kitty tucked the girl into bed. "Comfy?" 
"Uh-huh..."
"I know you don't like sleeping without a little friend, so..." Kitty plucked a plush toy of a purple cat from her desk. "This is Purrloin. I know you prefer bugs, but kitties are all super huggable. She'll last you the night." She handed her the plush.
"Thank you, Kitty Kat...Kitty Kat?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Why does Kitty Kat love Shizuka so much?"
Kitty paused. "That's a silly question. But since you're my guest, I've got no reason not to answer. See, princess, before I met you, I didn't think I was a good person. You helped me see that there was something about me that people could actually like. I realized that there's this tiny thing out there that, for some reason, wants to be like me. You helped me grow up, in a lot of ways. Plus, since your big sis can't be here to look after you, I wanted to help with that. You're someone I can be a big sis to."
"Doesn't Kitty Kat have a big sis?"
"Yeah...and even though she does a lot of bad things..." Kitty looked to her nightstand. There was a picture of her as a toddler, being held up by a smiling Lin. "It wasn't always so bad. She was a good big sis to me. Even sang me to sleep when I was little. Oh, hang on! The Prof sings lullabies for you, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well I can't guarantee that I've got your ma's pipes, but I can try my best. Lin sang this one cute number all the time...hope I remember all the words."
Kitty sang a lullaby in Korean, for a couple of minutes until Shizuka fell asleep. Certain that the girl was slumbering, she turned off the lights. "Sorry your moms can't be here now, princess." She kissed her on the forehead. "I know they're thinking of you, wherever they are." She walked out and closed the door behind her. Her phone rang.
"Yeah, Barbie? What's up?" she whispered.
"Mr. Shinji found something. You're not gonna believe this..." Barbara replied.
---
"You've got to be shitting me." Max uttered.
"Blockhead says what?" Kitty chided.
On Carrie's computer screen was a map--not of anywhere on Earth, but of the moon. Two glowing dots could be seen on its surface. On the corner of the screen was Shinji. "Yeeeeah. I thought it was some kinda joke when you asked to check for signals on the moon, but...there you go. Kubo-san's phone is right there. Now I know you all dabble in really weird nonsense but I'm at a loss to explain this." he explained.
"Gotta hand it to you, Kitty, when you're right you're right." Sahir said.
"They're really on the moon...what could Death's Hand be doing up there? Are they even there? Or did they get drawn into a trap?" Kibō questioned.
Kitty pressed a button on her phone. "There we go. Map's on the app. No, that wasn't on purpose." She looked at it for a moment. "This answer your question, Keebie?"
Two dots signifying a human appeared on the map, next to one indicating a Shadow. A large number of Shadow dots covered the screen.
"God, look at all of them...there has to be hundreds..." Barbara uttered.
"Why's there only two humans? Did something happen to Ms. Rose?" Natalia asked.
"Hmm...Ms. Rose. The enigma wrapped in a riddle." Kenji pondered. 
"All of those people, walking around on the moon like nothing. At the very least, we know the Professor is alright. And Mr. Mirai. But now for the biggest question of all...how do we get there?" Carrie asked.
"Same way we get anywhere with this thing." Kitty pointed to a button on her phone labeled "Transport". 
"Hold on a sec, this thing can just take us to the--" Natalia uttered.
Kitty pressed the button, before getting a prompt back reading "Low on power". "Uggggh, figures. My battery's nearly kaput. It'd probably take a crap ton of power just to get there."
"Just as well. Rushing in there now after a long day would be like suicide with that many enemies. We know they're still alive at the moment. I think we should get some rest, get our energy in order, then proceed first thing in the morning." Sakuya suggested.
"Much as I hate waiting, she's right. This is the core of the enemy's force we're dealing with." Kibō said.
"Um, am I the only one freaking out that we're just casually talking about going to the actual moon?!" Max griped. "We're probably gonna freeze to death the second we step out of the portal!" 
"The Professor hasn't. No one else on the map has. If we're headed to the Metaverse up there we should be okay. What's a big, strong hero of justice got to worry about?" Kitty asked.
"I know this is crazy, but we can't abandon them now. Not now, not at the critical moment. And not with a four-year old in my bed wondering when her moms are gonna come home. If there was ever a time to put an end to the Brotherhood of Hands, it's gonna be now. Right?"
"Right. This is our best chance at putting an end to this, far away from where people could get hurt." Kibō replied.
"I don't want Shizuka to worry any more. We have to bring her parents back." Barbara asserted.
"Wouldn't do to leave them to suffer alone, would it? If I wanted to be an ignorant bastard, I would have stayed an ignorant bastard." Kenji added.
"I've survived this long for a reason. Turning and running would spit in the face of everything you all have done to get me here." Carrie added.
"Right. No more running. Scaredy Cat Nat isn't here anymore. I'm gonna be brave!" Natalia asserted.
"Can't just leave a pair of lovely ladies in trouble, can I? Especially after they've bailed us out so many times." Sahir added.
"It's time to put Death's Hand to bed. No matter what they did for me before, the terror has to end." Sakuya said.
"Y'all are crazy. This is crazy. And I guess I'm crazy to go along with it." Max uttered.
"Buncha jackasses standing in a circle, proclaiming their resolve. I love it. First thing in the morning we're leaving Shizuka with the neighbors. After that..." Kitty thought back. To the last time she saw her sister.
"After that...it's the endgame."
---
April 4, 2029
"You kids sure you don't need the backup?" Jugo asked. Everyone had gathered in front of Rin and Rose's house.
"We'll be alright. If we don't make it back, you'd be the only ones left that can handle them. Sending us all up there would draw too much attention." Kibō replied.
"We'll be back before you know it, princess. With your moms." Kitty assured.
"You promise?" Shizuka asked.
"Pinkie swear. And we'll drag your Uncle Jin back, to boot."
"Please do. I've already prepared the earful I'm gonna give him." Tenko said.
"You runts give those hand freaks a proper beating for us, yeah? Though I wouldn't mind the chance to bash 'em a bit myself." Shūjo said.
"JoJo, please. You having to fight would mean the children failed. Try to not assume the worst already." Hiyoko retorted.
"Yeah, yeah, sorry..."
"Just so you kids know, Rin-Rin sings your praises every chance she gets. Don't let her down. Or any of us, for that matter." Tenko said.
"We won't let anyone down. Everyone's gonna come home. Everyone." Kitty took a deep breath, and opened the app. Behind her, a massive portal opened up. "We'll be back."
Taking one final glance, and waving goodbye to Shizuka, Kitty and the others walked through the portal.
"You kids better." Tenko said as the portal closed.
---
Sitting on his throne, the Master's eyes lit up. 
"Our guests have arrived. Let's give them a proper welcome."