They walked through London's streets, the five Bones were around Grant, making sure he wouldn't try to escape. One of them had his blade.

Pathetic.

If he wanted, he could have blasted the sword-carrier with dark energy, then recover his blade and finish the rest. He would then make a dash for the city's main gate and into wilderness. But he didn't know what would happen to his family, then... and he couldn't take that chance.

Guytes was grinning... the man obviously liked tormenting others. Disgusting human. Grant had many, many urges to harm the baron. But he had to keep them in check.

He knew exactly where they were going.

You see, golems, while most of the time obedient, sometimes just go nuts. They rebel against their human masters, sometimes even kill them. They then try to escape cities and go into the wild. Many have succeeded over the centuries, which explains why travellers are sometimes attacked by groups of them. In fact, there are golems who roam the lands from the times of the Golem Wars. Old ones, those.

The golems which are caught, however, are sent into so-called 'Disposal facilities', where they are broken down into the same ingredients, that created them in the first place. A cruel fate.

They were almost there... his end was nigh.

******

The Bones led him into a large room, which was full of other golems. He heard Guytes:

"Enjoy your last moments, defect! Hahahahahah!!!"

The baron left, along with the Bones.

Grant looked around. The room was quite large, with them one one end and a large machine on the other. It was split in half by a wall. Probably to keep the golems in their place. In the wall, was a gate, through which they escorted golems to the machine.

Above, on catwalks, many Dariaslez golems watched over the area. They seemed ready to fill him with holes, should he try something stupid. Though, their short bodies and green uniforms made them look a bit silly.

He now looked into the surrounding crowd. Many golems he could and many golems he could not identify. House Guardians, Plant Guardians, bulky ones, tall ones, short ones, skinny ones... and then... he saw an angel. An Archangel, to be precise. White robe, beautiful wings, long purple hair. She was sitting near a wall.

He came closer and she looked up. Her blue eyes were mesmerizing.

"Welcome," she started, "I gather you were also marked as a defect..."

"Yes... I threatened a human... but I am not defective... just different."

"How so?"

"I am... a prototype. An enhanced golem, with more intelligence and such."

"I see... you are like me." she giggled.

"Hmmm? Why were you sent here?"

"I... that is... I developed feelings... and my masters thought it would prove dangerous."

"Dangerous?! How?"

"I do not know... my function is to heal... my offensive capabilities are minimal."

She looked like she wanted to cry... but she had no such things as tears.

"Do not worry... all will be fine."

"Yes... in a few minutes. Do you have... a name?"

"Well... yes. My name would be Grant."

"As in Chaos Grant? You're original, I see."

That made him laugh.

"Hahahahahahah!!! I suppose. And yours would be?"

"Well... in secret... I used the name... Dahlia."

He wanted to reply, he really did. But another voice was heard:

"Next! The Archangel over there!" it was a Lord Onyx

She got up and hovered above ground.

"Well, it was nice meeting you. Farewell."

He at first watched her go... but that didn't last long. He couldn't let such beauty vanish. He just couldn't.

Grant charged the energy within his body and released a blast of dark energy at the catwalks above. Of course, those collapsed, several guard-golems with them. Utter chaos...

"Fool! You shall not escape! Fire!!!" the Onyx screamed.

The remaining Dariaslez golems aimed and shot.

"Dark barrier!"

A field of energy blocked all incoming bullets.

"Impossible! The Chaos Grant chassis was not built with such an attack!"

"Too bad for you! I'm a mark 2!"

Well, whaddaya know... that rhymed!

He ran to the Onyx and caught its blade. In two seconds, the blade had a new owner... and the ex-owner was cut in half.

He created another barrier, just in time. Those bullets looked like they would hurt. He looked to the right... and saw that the other golems just stood there, watching.

"Don't just stand there, fools! Help me!"

The crowd hesitated at first, but soon joined the battle. Flaming blasts flew in the guards' direction, forcing them to spread their fire. And that was all, that Grant needed.

He ran to Dahlia, who still stood, apparently shocked. He caught her by the hand.

"Come! Quickly!"

She floated behind him... yet he could still feel as if he was towing her. Strange. The entry-door opened and some Bones came through... one of them still had his sword.

A blast of darkness tore two to bits, a thrown Onyx-sword made took out another. He jumped over a lance-thrust and took his real blade back. The Bone collapsed soon after.

"This is more like it! Come, Dahlia!"

They ran/floated through hallways. Nothing stood in their way... the guards must have been occupied with the rest.

A staircase... up, up, up!

He opened a door... and saw, that they were on the facility's roof. And that they had no way to get down. They were trapped. Grant could hear voices coming from behind...

"Damnit! Seems our escape was unsuccessful."

"I wouldn't say."

"Huh?"

"Have you forgotten? I have wings!" she giggled.

"Oh... of course... heheheheh. But... how can..."

"Just watch!"

She came closer to him and caught him around the waist. He felt kinda shy. She spread her wings and they were in the air. Some Dariaslez golems appeared and started shooting.

Grant quickly summoned a barrier. No bullets got through.

They were out of range... and no more bullets came.

The people who looked up, saw a white star in the sky... accompanied by a dark-blue spot. Being carried... felt strange. Being carried be a female... stranger.

"This is certainly not an outcome I had expected."

"Why so?"

"You know... damsel carries the supposed hero out of danger."

"Oh, heheheheh. But without you, the damsel would... be no more. Thank you, Grant."

"T'was my pleasure, Dahlia. Now... where are we headed?"

"The wild, of course!"

She smiled. He felt shy, again.