Eleven: The Sequel of AlterMyth

And Hell Froze Over

Dejected, Irys lowered her head. She picked up her crystal scythe and grumbled.

"I hope so, Mumei. I really hope so."

...

Eighty-Third Scene - Smile For The Camera

Burdened with heavy hearts, Irys and Bae hurried to the GKTV-5 TV station. The American and Soviet soldiers manning the barricades around the TV station, despite the war-weary air lingering about them, greeted the Telstar Nephilim and the Representative of Chaos with hopeful cheers and fanfare.

Irys and Bae could barely reciprocate their gestures.

Bae, already tired from battle with the Horrors, hung her head low and kept herself ready to do battle once more. Irys, on the other hand, felt the doubts gnawing at her heart intensify tenfold. Even as MACV soldiers who worked on the Armed Forces AFVN Radio welcomed the famous Telstar Nephilim, she had to force herself to smile, nod and pretend to understand everything they were telling her.

Still, Irys understood enough to know that the Telstar satellite networks of the United States and the Sputnik satellite networks of the Soviet Union were standing by. The two systems were ready to broadcast Irys' song throughout Yekaterinburg and the surrounding areas - and to the world at large. All they were waiting for now was their broadcast tower to tune in to the SSS network - and for Irys to sing her song.

And so, while the AFVN technicians worked on activating the tower, Irys and Bae were led to the dressing room by the station's recording studio.

On their way there, they passed by the command center of the TV station. A dozen television screens on a panel were tuned in to major TV stations from around the world through the SSS network.

From Moscow to Saigon. From Tokyo to San Francisco. From Toronto to London.

The whole world was waiting for Irys to sing in real time. All of them turned to Irys, longing for Hope. Knowing this, Irys gulped nervously. Shivers ran up her spine.

Bae, tired as she was, saw this and tended to Irys.

"Oy - you alright?" She asked, "You look pale as a ghost."

"A ghost? No..." Irys shook her head.

Bae pursed her lips. Then she held Irys' shoulders.

"Hold still for a second."

"What are you...!?"

Before Irys could ask, Bae tiptoed to reach her height. The rat-girl then pressed her forehead on the Nephilim's. Irys' face promptly flushed red and she fell silent.

"Your temperature is kinda low but it ain't too bad. For someone who was just out in the cold Siberian winter, at least!" Bae assessed with a smattering of cheerfulness, "I'll have the AFVN boys run the radiators here overtime. It'll be warm and toasty in the recording studio when your time to sing comes."

"Mm..." Irys answered halfheartedly.

Bae looked at Irys more closely, but Irys shied away. The rat-girl hummed curiously.

"You're fretting about this whole SSS deal, ain't ya?"

"I'm..." Irys started, but she couldn't finish her sentence. Instead, she pouted, "You know me too well, Bae." She looked at the recording studio being prepared for her by the AFVN crew, "Singing to the whole world ain't a joke."

"You've sung for a global audience before." Bae folded her arms, "The Western world at least. Then, that song at the Bolshoi Theater was a show for the East."