CF#37

“Legends end”

Started by Chris Buchner

Finished by Jason Barker

My father always used to tell me, 'If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. But no victory is total if you sacrifice what's most important to you.' Been a few times I've lost track of what's important to me. The victory has become total and all. But this isn't just any victory. It's a victory against myself. The worst part.

I remember when my father used to take a big stick and beat me to sleep with it every night. He told me, 'You're a pathetic loser! You need to take what's yours! You don't earn it, you KILL for it!' He was right. You don't earn what's yours. I never did. I lied. I cheated. I stole. I killed. I respected that man, so he was my first fatality.

"Time has come to relive old memories." EUA says, looking at a computer console. It shows Faia, clear through all dimensional barriers. A red blip appears on part of the planet. "Aww, the Crystal Fighters are going after their most beloved of members." He turns to a device on a stand and puts his hand on it. A black teleportal opens. He turns to the screen and another red blip appears. "Time to rain on their parades."

"Is this going to work?" a scientist asks.

"Maybe. We're two sides of a coin, he may see right through the deception. But if my scanners are correct, we may have the variables necessary to confuse him enough. Send transmission."

The CFs, Eme, Entropy, Tala, Kyle and Pyro step out of the teleportal and it closes shut.

"So, where do we start lookin'?" Kyle asks.

"You're the telepath, you tell us." Entropy says with a bit of disgust. A feeling still shared by all for this psi-potent from another reality.

"Wait. Something's wrong..." Eme says. She screams and holds her head, Kyle following with her. In a matter of seconds, both shake their heads and stand up.

"What happened?" Tala asks.

"Just some dimensional turbulence, that's all." Eme says.

"Right." Kyle agrees.

"Transmission sent." the scientist says. "Do you think they'll follow it?"

"With Kyle, I can never tell. But Eme...I only hope she keeps a clear head. Because this challenge may not only mean their survival, but the fate of every reality as we know it."

"Hmmm."

Tala eyes them both thoughtfully, then shrugs. It must have been something only they could have felt.

"Soo.. what are we going to do? Split up, play follow the leader, or what?"

Entropy shoots her a glance, and she smiles at him. She didn't really feel like being around Kyle, he still bothered her.

"It's a logical question. We usually split up, but this is something different. Since we're searching for someone, instead of looking for Vile or whatever else."

"I say we do nothin'." Kyle says. All but Eme turn to look at him.

"And why should we do that?" Entropy asks with decreasing patience.

"'Cause I don't think he wants t'be found. Yet."

The teleportal opens and EUA steps out. He smells the air with a look of disgust.

"Ah, Faia...so putridly clean. The wars haven’t done enough to amend that." He picks up a cell phone-like unit and presses a button. "Rally the troops. I want strategic outposts on the four corners of this planet..." Another button flashes. He presses it and something appears on the small monitor. "...And make it quick."

"Transmission sent." the scientist says.

A TOWN, SOMEWHERE

Entropy, Tala and Pyro sit in a bar, each one silent in thought and staring at their glasses.

"Betcha I could set the glasses on fire." Pyro says with a smile. Tala and Entropy look at him. Eme comes out of a restroom and bumps right into Kyle.

"You felt it too." he says.

"Felt what? Your disgusting presence in my way? Look out." she says angrily, trying to pass him. He slides over and blocks the doorway to the rest of the tavern with his arm.

"Don't lie t'me, Emsey. You got that psi-message same as me."

"I...I don't know what I got."

"I do. Now, I heard your li'l telepathic push earlier when boss-man was tryin' t'figger out our moves t'tell him t'just sit tight. I can't believe ya really wanna go through with it...it's insane."

"What choice do we have?"

"Plenty. Fer one thing, he's been a few pine trees short o' a forest lately as is...how c'n ya trust him?"

"Because I can. And I don't have to explain myself to you. We follow the plan, or you can leave. It's simple." Eme growls. A flash comes from the tavern. Both run back inside to see Tala, Entropy and Pyro covered in soot and seated at a charred table.

"*Cough* Toldja so!" Pyro says. Suddenly, someone runs into the tavern.

"HELP! OUR TOWN'S BEING ATTACKED BY FLYING DEMONS!!! CAN SOMEBODY HELP!?!" yells a Faian woman with a cascade of orange-red hair and sparkling sapphire eyes.

"Who--?" Tala begins, frowning slightly as the others braced themselves for a quick exit.

Breathlessly she answers the only people who had responded to her cry with more than a quick retreat, "Zelia. Look, introductions later, they're dying out there, we NEED HELP!" She reached out a hand towards them, but resisted the urge to pull them along. She should be thankful for *any* possibility of help, not scare it away!

Pyro tossed what was left of the glass over his shoulder and wiped off his face, "Great, as if things weren’t bad enough, we got flying monkeys now,"

"I thought she said demons," Tala corrected him.

"Demons, monkeys, they both got tails and like bananas right? Who cares as long as their flammable, lets party!"

Hell, after fighting in a war that by all rights should have killed them all, nothing seemed too bad. Might as well enjoy a little well-intentioned carnage.

"Queen Emerald..." Eme glared, the girl would never learn. Lark rechose her words.

"Eme, are you sure you will be alright?"

Eme nodded and noticed both of her Crystalian people, Lark and Necile glaring after Kyle, "And Kyle is my problem, obey your Queen and leave this between me and him"

Reluctantly they both nodded and ran out of the bar, far too familiar, Lark thought. This time she was running to the fight instead of away but when the people realized they were the Crystal Fighters they would have more then demons to fend against.

Zelia urged them nervously toward the door, "Please, before there's no one left for us to save!" By this time, she was already halfway out herself.

Tala followed her, not caring what the townspeople thought about them being Crystal Fighters. She could wipe out this whole town if she wished it, but she had to keep a tight reign on her powers.

Her telepathic powers seemed to be waning, but she was glad about that. Someone's else thoughts suddenly blaring into your own was quite unsettling.

"Don't worry, Ma'am.. We're almost always able to save someone."

Hah. Didn't that sound comforting? Oh well. Better to say something then remain silent, she supposed.

"OK, let us cut the chit chat and kick some butt." Eme said to no one in particular. She surveyed the outside area to determine exactly what the problem was and then came up with an attack.

Lark had just pulled her swords free as the first wave of Vile fell on them, she shed her disguising robe and let loose.

"Damn, why won't these things just die and never come back!?" Eme said as she advances on a couple Vile and quickly dispatches them.

Necile shot off a round from her blaster pushing a Vile back up against the building wall. She ran forward and jump kicked it in the chest and it shattered under the impact.

"They're weak," Lark said "their chaos energy has not been able to grow even with the civil war on Faia and the widespread fear of us Crystal Fighters, the balance is tipped too far in the favor of our side now."

She sliced at a couple and they easily crumbled, "As sad as it is to say" Eme dealt with her share, "when Crystalia died, the heart of the Vile went with it."

Tala came out of a shadow and punched her way through another Vile, "The trouble EUA and Wizrobe went through to smuggle the few Vile Souls away from Crystalia was useless, these new ones can barely stay together even before we touch them."

"Yes, in a way Crystalia needed to die." Eme said sadly and Lark and Necile looked shock but understood, Crystalia had gone for the sake of the rest of them.

"Hurry, the last of the Vile will be easily dealt with!" Entropy commanded as the last cluster came towards them.

Zelia carried a stout blaster gun which she used expertly against the Vile. Somehow, just

one well-placed shot would take out the villainous creatures, even those powerful enough

to achieve flight.

“Behind you!” Lark shouted a warning to her, seeing a spear of energy

flying toward Zelia. But, it was too late and the woman obviously couldn’t hear Lark’s call.

However, Zelia heard the energy itself coming and her eyes narrowed sharply as she tilted her head

toward the direction of the zooming attack. Lark’s own eyes widened as she could have

sworn she saw the energy spear strike Zelia with an abrupt impact. The red-head’s body

jerked as it painstakingly passed through her. Lark didn’t even have time to shout a denial

for the life of their one-time comrade as the was double-teamed by two large and

particularly nasty Vile. By the time she had dispatched them, she had a reprieve to turn and

stare, gaping at Zelia. She was...alive?! How?? But.... Lark shook her head, convinced

that the battle around her must be playing tricks on her. A cold fear struck her as she

realized it might have been someone else she had seen, she scanned the battle for signs of

first Eme, their other red-head, then Necile and the others. Everyone seemed to be doing

well.... she shook her head again, turning back to her foes.

"Aw come on, I've fought puddles of slime that were stronger then these," Pyro's voice was muffled by his Rage Armor. He had summoned the armor expecting a fight, "Winged monkeys my butt."

Zelia cast her eyes toward Tala, who fought the familiar foes easily nearby, then dodged right as another energy spear was launched at her. It skinned a light gash in her arm and belatedly she winced as it smoldered slightly with burning energy. But, the Vile was worse off than she because as she dodged, she brought around her blaster. With one shot, a bolt of writhing green shot out to land with a thump in the center of the Vile. It took a second for it to lock its spindly green claws of electricity, but once it had, the Vile shuddered, flowed once with green and then disintegrated.

"A death for a scar." Zelia smirked slightly, "You deserved worse." The wound bled surprisingly little around the brown edges of her dull peasant-style jerkin, but perhaps that was just something about Faians that had gone unnoticed.

A dark, winged figure swooped down like a nightmarish gargoyle, but she had that covered as well. She emanated a low nearly inaudible hum that seemed to come from her entire body rather than her throat. Her eyes narrowed to a glinting glare that gave new meaning to Lark's startled exclamation of, "Whoa...looks can kill.." The Vile turned white to the wingtips as if every liquid had been drained from it's body, then it fell apart in a spray of ashes.

"Ahhhhh you jerks, I've always hated you!!!!!!" the scream came above as he watched the last of the Vile die, "You've destroyed all my friends!!!"

The CFs looked but couldn't clearly see who he was as he was floating directly in front of the hard glare of the sun.

"For that you will burn!!!!" Finally, Razis lowered into view and fired off a volley of fireballs that struck at their feet.

"Punk!" Necile said running forwards with her blaster charge.

"Nec, no!!!" Lark pulled the blaster down, "you don't understand, this guy is connected to a friend of ours, if he dies she does to."

Tala scowled at Razis. Then at Lark she pondered for a moment.

"Hmmm..."

She made a slight motion with her fingertips, and tendrils of shadow grasped Razis' ankles, causing him to fall. She didn't know if she’d be able to encase him within a shadow, since she had no real gauge on his powers.

Entropy walked through the group, watching as Razis struggled against the shadow tendrils. He sighed, then sheathed the Griever, walking over to Razis.

"Tala."

She looked up from the fallen man, giving him an odd look.

"Let him go."

"You've got to be kidding." she said, keeping her concentration on the man currently thrashing about in the shadow's grip.

"I'm not." he said slowly, looking down at Razis. "We'll finish this properly." The Griever hummed softly, as Entropy looked over Razis's form.

"Razis, here's the deal. I'm challenging you. Here and now. No powers, no weapons. I win, you quit pestering us and these people and work out your mental complexes on your own. You win...and we leave here, permanently, and leave you to your own devices. We won't bother you again. Understood?"

Pyro suddenly felt that summoning his armor was a good thing "$!%# THAT, LETS JUST FRY HIM!"

"Razis." Zelia stated the name under her breath, but gave no indication of exactly how she knew of him.

~He's probably been pestering the Faian's since we left..~ Lark guessed, trying to read the face of their comrade.

Zelia sheathed her blaster as the last of the Vile dispersed while Razis and Entropy's exchange continued. She strode toward Tala, keeping a careful distance from Razis and remaining, for the moment, beyond his notice.

Razis's eyes were distant and he gave a giddy laughter while struggling against the shadow tendrils as if he was having fun somehow, as if he was in a kids world. The last they had seen, he had an apparent breakdown, maybe he was really in loonsville now.

Entropy demanded Razis to look him in the eye and answer but he paid no attention till his faced suddenly went totally serious, staring eyes stern.

"Answer me." Entropy asked again.

"Not fair twist-tie!!!" Entropy felt like smacking him around when he noticed that this sad imitation of a once great friend wasn't looking at him he had been sternly staring at a moving figure. "I want her!!!!!" the flames ripped out across the frame of his body causing the shadows to dispel in the cast off light. Razis shot forward and Zelia thirsty for blood.

"Ohh..*lovely*.." Zelia groaned sharply and began to wonder how many charges she had left in her blaster. If she ran out she might have to resort to....other means of off-setting her old-time...companion. One short blast cast the rampant flames to ashes--it was a good thing he was being held captive, at least partially, at the moment or an attack like that.... She frowned, she was no so lesser in power, but this was not a good time.

"Figures it would be *you* sending along low-level minions." she sent back. She didn't retaliate physically, yet, because she wasn't quite sure how far gone he was. There was a time... Either way, she would wait...besides..one of the CFs had so kindly offered to duel him, a prospect she wouldn't mind in the least.

"LIKE HELL!"

A flash.

Razis stumbled backwards, clutching his face.

Entropy stood alone between Zelia and Razis, one elbow extended out in the final motion of a strike. He quickly changed his stance, pulling out the Griever and glaring daggers at Razis as the sword glowed with black energies. Razis recovered, staring back at him. His hand went to his face, and pulled back crimson.

"You...." he said slowly. "You made me bleed....."

"Damn straight." Entropy said flatly. "You're not hurting these people any more. No matter what."

"You really think you can order me around?"

"Give me a reason not to."

Razis growled. "Get out of my way."

"So move me." Entropy smirked. "If you can."

Razis glared at him again, wiping the blood from his broken lip. He was stronger from the last time...that he could tell, but how had he done that? With his powers, he should've plowed right through that low-grade shape-shifting trash. But that insolent little clod had not only stopped him...but he was bleeding? Why?

Razis screamed, his embroiled rage only heightened by his insane state of mind. He clutched his stomach, bending over as if in pain. His powers were charging and an aura like flame spread over him. When it seemed he would explode, suddenly he flung himself rigidly, throwing his arms and legs out and releasing nova blast that quickly consumed and passed through Entropy.

Their leader stood his ground, a little singed but most of all pissed and ready to fight.

Tala watched wearily as the flames engulfed Entropy.She knew that he couldn't be hurt by fire, or basically by what anything Razis threw at him. But still, she didn't like to see him getting hit by anything. She should have taken Razis while she had the chance, but if he was still connected to Zelda somehow...

She kept the shadows at bay for now, ready to use them against Razis again should she need to.

Zelia also watched, not surprised in the least that it hadn't hurt Entropy. He might be slightly different from.. But, they had never been so different, besides mental state anyway. She gave Razis a look of almost disdain, thankful that she had separated long before. As to their link...the separation *may* have eliminated it, she wasn't sure, though, even if it was still in tact.. She wasn't sure how far they could each be pushed--one can receive a d*mn lot of pain and survive.

From between Tala and Entropy, she smirked infinitesimally. No matter how much he hated her, she had an edge. For one thing, she was sane. And she knew quite a bit more than he did about their past. All the same, she *was* sane, sane enough to know it wouldn't be a pleasant experience, and not worth the outcome, to intervene at this point.

"Well, more power to him." Zelia said to Tala, of Entropy. Tala raised an eyebrow, quiet as she waited tensely for the battle to resume. ~He might even need it.~ Zelia observed, carefully watching Razis, aware that insanity *did* have it's benefits.

Pyro didn't like this any more then the others, but he was far from helpless. Though this mystic crap made no sense to him, Kevin had done a plausible job teaching him how to use the natural power within the crystal. With a dull flash Pyro disappeared from where he was standing and reappeared on the ground well behind Razis.

"I'll be, it worked. Just gimme an opening, I'll roast this guy once and for all," Pyro said with a grin, he was gonna enjoy cutting him in half.

Entropy growled, throwing himself into the fight. This was what he lived for. The Griever seemed to hiss with bloodlust as it reflected off of Razis's aura, as time and time again the leader of the CFs struck at his opponent. Blackened energies surrounded him, the flames themselves turning obsidian where the two forces collided. Entropy grit his teeth as one of Razis's strikes connected, opening a gash across his forehead. He instantly returned the blow, missing with the Griever but connecting with a massive head-butt to Razis's skull. As his vision blurred slightly, Entropy felt Razis's punch connect across his jaw. The shape-shifter was floored for a second, but rolled free moments before Razis's fist smashed into the ground where his head had been. Getting to his feet, Entropy charged foreword again, the Griever ready to taste the madman's blood.

Zelia continued to look on, arms crossed in a poise that looked relaxed on the surface, but only on the surface.

"Does he usually do this?" Zelia asked.

"Yeah." Tala observed.

ELSEWHERE

Isaku had been told that the Crystal Fighters had been spotted recently on Faia. Whoever told him that also told him that they were nothing but trouble, but he had been told that so many times that it no longer meant anything to him. He was grateful for the people who had taken him in ever since he somehow ended up here, but they had some kind of obsession with telling him that Crystal Fighters were awful people.

"I'm not one to judge," Isaku thought to himself. "So I won't judge them, or the Faians, until I see them and decide for myself." It was a lesson his father taught him while they were growing up... Never judge another by their reputation. Only by actions.

The bitter irony of this was that he felt like his family had done the complete opposite of their mantra when he was just a little boy. Despite that, he still respected his father and honored the lessons he had been taught while growing up. Reminiscing about all this had made his heart heavy, so he did the only thing that allowed him to get his mind off things. He went outside and found a large open field, and started to practice. Another saying of his father's drifted into his mind as he trained. A warrior is just like any other man; he can always learn new things, and should never think he has learned everything.

Isaku knew that was true... but just as he was meditating upon the meaning of this, he saw a flash of dark, followed by a flash of crimson, followed by several screams of agony. It was unnatural. It intrigued him... so he decided to find out what was causing such a disruption. He remembered something he told himself. No one deserves to suffer unjustly...

And so, he was off.

He could feel the pounding of his feet on the ground as he ran. The rhythm created by his feet began to increase in tempo. He closed his eyes, letting his other senses lead him to what he was trying to find. Finally, the smell and the aura of blood, flame, anger, hatred... All of it surrounded him. He opened his eyes to see two men fighting about 50 yards in the distance. His head started throbbing and he felt like some uncontrollable force was seeping its way into his brain. Suddenly, some strange vision appeared to him. It was a young man who looked almost exactly like him, wearing black robes and fighting viciously against what seemed like legions of white-robed men. He defeated them all bare-handed. No, he didn't just defeat them... he annihilated them. Something about this memory sent his body into overdrive, and with an almost-possessed yell he ran faster than ever for the two figures that he saw fighting.

Before he could get there, the Vile descended on him like a pack of harpies.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Zelia caught site of the man who had been running toward the battle. For a moment, she dared to take her eyes away from the scene and a frown creased her face as she watched the Vile descend upon him, realizing that he might need some assistance against the unnatural creatures.

"Tala."

Tala nodded, attention still focused on the dramatic fight.

"We'll help him." she said, it wouldn't be too far off and there were others to watch the action. Zelia nodded back, including herself in the 'we.'

Moments later, they reached the frenzied battle, Zelia already picking off Vile with her blaster as she moved forward. Slowly, one at a time they disintegrated in a accelerated atrophy. True, it was efficient, but... she still wished for enough control of her magic to *use* it... Even against Razis.

MEANWHILE

Razis shot flames at Entropy's feet, causing him to jump, in mid-air he kicked, his foot smashed across Razis face causing him to stumble away.

Razis shot back like a missile, punching into Entropy's gut and making him collapse forward until Razis's knee came straight back into his falling face and Entropy was thrown backward to the ground.

Razis came at him to stomp him but Entropy grabbed his foot and twisted, causing the ankle to snap sharply. Entropy kicked from the ground, shoving Razis back, then popped up to his feet.

Razis's insanity seemed to let him bypass the pain of the broken ankle as he stumbled on it.

Razis and Entropy squared toward each other again, Razis lunged forward throwing a wild punch. Entropy moved passed it and caught the arm in both hands then quickly forced one hand up while the other moved down and the arm of Razis snapped just like his ankle.

Entropy pushed the broken duplicate of someone they once knew and loved, and punched him with a right hook then a left jab. Razis was left stunned and Entropy quickly spun, gaining momentum as he pulled Griever free.

"NO!!!" Tala ran forward at Razis as the blade came down at him. Entropy brought the blade to a finishing blow at Razis's throat but it passed straight through, Razis untouched.

"What the HELL!!!!!" Entropy yelled looking at Tala whose hand was on Razis, causing him to phase through the blade.

"Are you crazy, this guy is connected to Zelda!" Tala yelled back.

"Zelda's dead," Entropy said solemnly, "This maniac here was lying to us the whole time."

"We don't know what the fate of Zelda is, and he could be lying, but Zelda seemed to believe the connection was real so if Razis is alive then Zelda is alive somewhere and we still have a chance of getting her back." Tala pleaded into Entropy's eyes, he dropped Griever to his side.

Razis began to stumble away towards the other CFs, tears rolled down his face.

"I just wanted Zelia," he cried like a little baby looking at the girl hiding behind the CFs then a devilish smile spread across his face "so I can torture the little &*%$#!!!" Razis' broken ankle gave way under him and he fell to the ground and slipped into unconsciousness muttering some insane words.

"Chain him up and lets find UA." Entropy said tiredly walking down the street pass the frightened on-looking Faians.

Zelia's face tightened into a disdainful grimace and she was the first near Razis. She took out a small container and began pulling out a dead-looking string from within it. Once she had half-mummified him with it, she tied the ends, activating the energy binding. It began to glow with a blue hue, accented by small white sparks anytime he shifted position.

"It won't hold him." She stated to Tala with a mixed look of gratitude and furious regret. "Then..why'd you bother?"

"Oh, it'll hold for a while. Definitely as long as he's injured, but you don't seem the type of people who'd ensure that he's perpetually leaking blood." Tala raised an eyebrow at Zelia's sangfroid, but let it go deciding that there were quite a few other questions that might need asking--later, like how Zelia knew so much about their old foe.

"Thank you," Zelia finally said, "Those Vile, plus Razis.." she shook her head, knowing she wouldn't have been able to survive that. She had been extremely lucky to duck her way into safety in time to call for some help, and even luckier to find someone who not only *would*, but *could.*

"I'm curious though, who are you, that could do this? And..you seem to know something about Razis..."

Pyro had to agree with Entropy on this one, he should have killed Razis, "How long you think we can contain him? We need to find a more permanent way to deal with this monkey,"

Lark placed a hand on Zelia's shoulder as she turned away from Razis, "Him wanting to get to you wasn't just frantic psychosis desire was it… you know him." Lark half-questioned half-stated to Zelia.

"I'm afraid so, I'll tell you as we go." Zelia pointed towards Entropy who was still walking away. Lark nodded and the began to follow as did the rest of the CFs. Pyro and Necile hoisted up Razis and began to pull him along. Razis was making gurgling sounds and drooling as he hung limply in their arms.

Zelia frowned slightly as she thought, then eventually began with a lowered voice, "I was...on the ship, Destiny’s Child."

Lark looked at her sharply, "But that was--"

The other woman nodded, she had guessed that they were the true CFs. "Yes. Ours was a reflection, caused by Faia's sun. As such..Razis was also a reflection, as well as the others--hence his insanity, I believe." She hesitated a moment, "I..knew our Zelda, he also had a psi connection with her though not as strong as with your own Zelda. I killed her before he could--and he loathes both Zelda’s."

"Before...? But he couldn't hurt ours..."

Zelia nodded, "True, but occasionally it wouldn't stop him from trying, he *is* crazy, right? But, basically, of the three red-heads he hates...the only one he *can* hurt, who he could take out everything on, the years of impotent wrath..."

"Is you."

"Exactly."

"If we need to really hold him, I'll do it."

Entropy glanced over at her.

"I'll place in a sort of null space. Not exactly a void, but he won't be able to escape."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I deal with it everyday, that's why."

She waited. No one said anything.

"We don't have much of a choice. Even his power can't break him loose; I doubt any of you could really get free of it. Perhaps you.. Pyro.. but even then, it'd be a long shot. This way, he's still alive. But unable to do anything. So if I may?"

She waited for any comments.

Zelia had no comments to make, so she didn't. However, she did notice that their new companion was still nearby. She whirled around, recounting what she had revealed to Lark, and demanded the usual, "Who're you?"

"I am Isaku," the young man said. "I don't know how I got here, but the people of this village have taken care of me since I arrived. Thank you for helping me, madam." He bowed at the waist in gratitude. "I was training, and... well, I saw, and almost felt, some kind of an intense, evil aura. I had to help whatever was being surrounded by that aura..." He looked away, and closed his eyes. "I still feel this aura. It is very powerful."

"Do it," Entropy said to Tala about her offer.

Lark again, "But Zelia, all we found on Destiny were insane duplicate CFs bent on killing anything that neared--how do you fit in, and how are you connected to Zelda and Razis?"

"Well see," Zelia started "A long time ago, there was a whole society on the Crystalia, inside Destiny. But a couple years ago the Crystal Fighters appeared and destroyed everything they not only wanted to rule the world but be its only living beings. Me, I am actually a part of my world's Zelda's subconscious. I was the good in her that at one point became so strong that the good and bad split into two separate beings of Zelda, it was an effect of her telepathic abilities. They called me Adlez." Zelia said with a bit of shame.

"Our Zelda had a split personality named Adlez, but she was the evil part of her!" Lark said excitedly.

"Our world would be a lot like yours," Zelia nodded "you see, an alien ship came one day to the world to study the strange reading coming from the planet, they are the ones that brought Destiny, I took refuge with them for the CFs wanted me destroyed since I wouldn't conform to their vile ideals."

"What happened to those aliens?" Pyro asked.

"They were killed by the CFs, but before that they had discovered that the planet was somehow a physical reflection being projected through the sun." Zelia pointed to the luminous star in the sky, "a reflection of the real object trillions of miles across the universe."

"My goddess, are you saying there is a connection between this sun here, and the one Crystalia once circled?" Eme asked.

Zelia nodded, "But I know nothing else, the aliens helped me escape to Faia in a small transport and I began my life anew, changing my name to Zelia. And then today I found you, the real Crystal Fighters."

Her story left the Crystal Fighters stunned and amazed.

After a few moments of silence, Tala smirked slightly. Not because of what had been said, just because this struck her as a big cosmic joke somehow.

"Well, they say everyone has a double. I guess in our case, we usually have five to ten."

With that said, she went over to Razis. The shadows followed her as she walked, instead of gathering there- which was their usual habit. Since Zelia had already had him in a hold, this would be a lot easier. The shadows seemly began leaching onto the field that was already there, till a husk of black was rapidly covering his body. She knelt down beside it, watching carefully. After all, she didn't want to mess this up, and kill him .. or turn him into something even more inhuman. She glanced over her shoulder at the others.

"Shall we take him along, or are you planning on hiding him somewhere? Either way, I can make it smaller."

"...Smaller?"

"Yep, the size of the outer shield won't matter.. the inner will remain true to his body, even if this...", she tapped it;"...was only the size of a quarter."

"Just don't *loose* it if you make it that small." Zelia warned, though her attention was on the newcomer. "Isuka, was it? Our..worlds.. were, after all, different in many respects, are you a CF then as well?" she asked, unsure of whether she might have just missed him at first or if he had was just meeting up with them again... but, he had said he'd been around Faia for a while. He wasn't a native, she could tell, but..she was just surprised she hadn't come across him before. Then again, she had mostly been in hiding.

"My name is Isaku," he said, slightly irritated, then sighed and continued. "I don't know what a CF is, much less if I could be one of them. I've never met any of you before." He looked at the group. They looked a little disorganized at the moment, but they had the appearance of a functional team. "All I know is, the day I received this," he paused, and pulled out the small Crystal pendant that was his family heirloom, "and it started glowing. I had to close my eyes, the light was so bright! When the light subsided, I was on this strange planet, in the middle of a small village."

Looking at the group once more, he made a decision. "If you can tell me anything about this," he motioned to the pendant, "I would be very grateful."

Pyro's armor disappeared in a burst of flame he walked over to the new guy. "Hey lookie here! fresh meat! I'll roast, you carve?" Pyro said with an evil grin.

Zelia raised an eyebrow, "Hmm. Sounds like our Pyro's weren't all *that* different." she looked him over and shrugged, "Looks like a CF to me, lots of mysterious insane magic--seems to define the group. But," she jerked her blaster in the direction of the others before she slipped it into the holster, "I don't have any authority with them, I'm near as much of a newcomer." Plus, she hadn't decided how long she was going to trail along behind them, or if they'd let her. Well...as long as they had Razis she would be nearby and watching.

Isaku looked at Zelia, utterly perplexed. "Magic? I don't exactly see what you're talking about. I don't know anything about any kind of magic..."

He decided that it was best to just forget it, and let the rest of the group tell him what they knew.

Zelia shrugged, "Well, you'll find out soon enough then."

Tala was thinking, "Entropy, didn't something odd happen to you near that sun?"

Entropy thought about his experience on the Omricron, "Yeah you’re right, my ship was flying out of control, we all went unconscious and should have headed right into the sun and been destroyed but all I remember was having a dream of Crystalia. It was strange…and when I woke up, we were safely away from the sun, on the opposite side." (*”Virus Ruin: 4.0”)

Zelia nodded, "The aliens thought that the sun may be some gateway." she said remembering, "but they never go to study it.”

"Maybe that’s why Dakey never came back when he tried to save Kyle, T, and UA when Wizrobe shot them at the sun (*”Child's Play”), maybe he went through." Lark pondered.

"Pardon me, but if that planet inside of Destiny's Child is a reflection of the real Crystalia trillions of miles away shouldn't that have been destroyed to like the real Crystalia." Kyle asked.

"It may be a delay, the reflection spanning so far or the reflection could actually be projected from another time in the past." Pyro thought, trying to use his scientific skills.

"If that’s true and there is also a gateway it would take us back to that time and we could save Crystalia!" Eme said excitedly.

"Oh I would love to be back there just once." Necile though out-loud. Lark smiled and squeezed her hand.

Entropy couldn't help but smile, he hadn't seen their faces so lit up in a long time. Their hope had been returned by this Zelia, claiming to be the hard light reflection of Adlez the split personality of Zelda.

Entropy couldn't exactly believe it was so good to be true but he let them have their hope, "It will be our main priority to study that sun when we get the first opportunity" Entropy spoke "but right now we still have a friend in need."

They tried to settle down as they moved on.

Zelia realized that it seemed they were searching for someone, "What's your missing friend like?" she asked with what seemed curiosity. In actuality, she had been around Faia for a while and knew at least a bit about the 'underground'..if their friend was also in hiding around here... Perhaps she already knew her, or him. And even if she didn't, she might know how to find the person. Then again, that might just be giving them too much assistance, she didn't need to go out of her way, after all. She couldn't afford to be distracted.

"His name is UA, we don't know where he was heading and he hasn't been here long but the one he is after has been hiding out here, probably waiting for us to enter his trap." Eme said. "We know this guy as EUA but if you've met him, he might be going around as Chris Wrenchler." Eme looked at Zelia as if to ask, 'ring a bell?'

"Not exactly the most inconspicuous name to use." Zelia pondered, "Either the lower towns, or among the elite guards. Depends on his strength and temperament, I'd say. We should check the lowers first, they'll be filled with rumors.." The problem with rumors, however, was that some evolved out of nothing at all.

"Knowing him, he tried to act as though he was nothing."

"Or the Biggest thing on this planet." Entropy added his own comment to Tala's. She shook her head slightly.

"No, he would have tried to blend in."

Zelia nodded slowly, "The lowers then. Huh. Sounds like you're first looking for this EUA and he's supposed to have some clue as to where your friend is. That's what I gather anyway."

Lark nodded, "And by the way, they look very similar."

"Thanks for the warning," she responded with a raised eyebrow, deciding *not* to ask at this time, besides, they already had enough apparent twins running around, she didn't need her head spinning any more. "Either way, definitely the lower towns." she decided, "Just, be on guard, and don't pick any fights, even if you *are* CFs."

Zelia cautiously led them into a fairy run-down looking area.

"Geez, this looks like the beginning of a bad whodunit." Lark observed dubiously.

Zelia shrugged, "Well, they're not the only ones who're starting there."

"How long is this going to take?"

"No idea, but if you want to do it the fast way.." it was clear in her tone that she didn't suggest that, "However, I *know* we don't have the time to sit around for weeks pretending to be drunk on the bar floor hoping we're lucky enough to pick up some info. We're going to have to do some questioning. Hey, Voval," she finished with a call to a blonde Faian, "Any disturbances lately?"

Tala followed along behind the group, every so often checking on the shield she had placed around Razis. Seeing Zelia.. it was a bit of a shock.. but then again, such things happened often in their world. Friends becoming foes, others returning from the dead, and finding doubles. Just an everyday sort of thing.

And now they were searching for another who had a double, albeit an evil one. So, which would find them first? That was the question now...

"Who are these people?" Voval asked.

"They're Crystal Fighters." Zelia responded.

"You serious?" Voval looked frightened.

"Calm down, these are the ones I've been telling you were out there. The real ones, the good Crystal Fighters, they say the ones I came from are all dead, well except for Razis."

Voval looked surprised, "Well then come to my back room, people won't take kindly to you considering those freaks that used to run around with your faces." they followed Voval.

"We need some info. Vov." Zelia said and the other girl listened, "ever had a guy in here going by the name Chris Wrenchler?"

Voval sat in thought for a bit, "Hey yeah it was a few days ago, he came in and I sold him some weapons, he also was looking for men that could fight for pay he took a couple from here." Voval said "why, he a friend?"

"Far from it" Eme spoke up, "He's an evil version of our UA who is the good original that Destiny's evil UA came from."

"What?!" Voval was confused now.

"Never mind, just do you know where he is?" Zelia said to the confused woman.

"Uh, he left a note to anyone who wanted to fight for him, I think it said where he could be found."

"Here," Entropy said stabbing the piece of paper that had been posted to the wall.

They all walked out, Necile grabbed Lark to hold her back. "Wait," Necile said looking frightened as she held Lark from leaving.

"You comin'?" Voval asked turning back at the two in the room.

"Can you just leave us be here for a bit?" Necile asked.

"Uh...sure thing kid," the door closed behind them.

"The others are leaving Necile what..." Lark began.

"We aren’t going with them Lark, I'm sorry." Necile fired her blaster at her side and Lark dropped at her feet, "I'm so very sorry." and Necile began to cry.

Zelia was the last one to leave, saying some goodbyes to Voval beforehand. "Wait....guys....where's Lark?" she asked suddenly, realizing how quiet it was. Lark was the one CF she had really talked a bit to, so far. ~She had to have realized we left...~ "I'll be right back..." she waved, jogging back.

She swung open the door to find Necile kneeling on the floor next to Lark

with tears streaming from her eyes as quickly as the blood that streaming from Lark.

"L-lark?!" she cried out in shock and horror. Not that she hadn't seen death before, killed by her own hands...but... "Why??" she demanded, grabbing Necile by the shoulder and yanking her upwards until she was standing unsteadily. "Why?!"

Necile jumped up, furious. Quickly, she grabbed Zelia, turning around so she held her from behind and clasped her hand over Zelia's mouth as she kicked the door quickly closed.

"Mmph!" Zelia mumbled angrily from behind the clasping seal.

"Please," Necile teared, "Please be quiet!" she whispered harshly at Zelia.

Suddenly a slight rapping came at the door and Necile jumped in surprise. Zelia struggled away in the moments hesitation. Scared, Necile quickly fired off a couple shots into Zelia's back and she stumbled down, nearly landing on Lark’s falling body, "Oh goddess!!!".

The knock at the door came again; Necile swung her head wildly breathing hard she raced to it after a second. She opened slowly and peaked out at Entropy.

"Is uh Lark in there?"

Necile nodded, "Lark isn't feeling so well all of a sudden, she's resting and Zelia wants to stay behind with her, we'll make sure Lark gets better. You guys just hurry and go get UA back!"

"Uh yeah" Entropy thought something was odd but turned to leave.

Necile gave him a last nervous smile then slipped her head back into the room and quickly closed the door behind her.

Strangely enough, no blood dripped from Zelia's wounds as she lay stunned and sprawled across the floor. She choked out a breath, and another, soon they were coming more easily and she pushed herself up on one hand. But, by the time her eyes locked on the door it was already closing and she didn't have enough control yet to call out for assistance.

If she had been shot just once, she would have been able to feign death for a time, to figure out what Necile was up to, at first it had seemed fairly haphazard...but, now she wasn't completely sure....

Necile turned back around from the door, but didn't get very far. She stopped dead when she realized she had accidentally positioned herself directly in front of the nozzle of Zelia's blaster.

"Talk." Zelia ordered darkly and through the holes left by the earlier shots, Necile could see the small pin-sized holes that were now left. Seconds later, the wounds had sealed completely, leaving Zelia a tad pale but apparently none the worse for wear.

Necile dropped to her knees by the door, Zelia's own pistol still trained on her.

"Kill me." Necile whispered, "Kill me."

She held her arms out so Zelia could complete the task.

"No, I what’s going on??" Zelia shook her head, none of this made sense.

"KILL ME!!!!!" Necile screamed violently, loud enough for others to hear but around here where people came to hide they often kept to themselves and no one came.

"Not till you give me a good reason." Zelia said, sternly now.

"I killed her, didn't I? Isn't that enough for you!" Zelia turned for just a second and Necile didn't even go for her own weapon she just let Zelia check for the pulse.

"She's still alive," Zelia said, but Lark was still barely hanging on.

Necile's eyes had grown distant but now they snapped back, "What?" she looked in complete shock.

"Oh thank goddess!" she burst into further tears, confusing Zelia even more was that they seemed to be ones of joy.

"You don't want her dead…" Zelia said and Necile continued to cry with her hands now holding her face "so why did you do it?"

Necile just shook.

"CFs need comms.." Zelia muttered to herself, watching the hysterical girl awkwardly. "Stay here, and *don't* touch her." Zelia ordered and sprinted out the door. She might not know these CFs very well, but she trusted their medical abilities a sight better than any of the "official" medical personel around here.

"GUYS!" she projected in the direction of the CFs. hoping they were still nearby.

ELSEWHERE

Entropy looked at the paper which had asked for fighters to join EUA at this place, they would receive a hefty pay for their services. Entropy looked at it, wondering if EUA would actually be there. It seemed a little too obvious, hiding out in the Faian headquarters they had begun building when they decided to settle in this system, back before they had met Zelia when they still believed getting Crystalia back was only a pipe dream. And maybe it still was, but there was definitely a new hope in the matter.

Entropy looked at his crew, "Eme, take Tala, and Kyle in the back ways" Eme made a stern face at that and Entropy remembered that Eme might be the one person that hated Kyle more then he did.

"<Sigh>, ok Kyle come with me, if you’re in, Isaku, come with me also. We'll be going up front."

"Thanks," Eme and Kyle said simultaneously and gave each the evil eye.

"If your team finds anything." Entropy said, tapping his head to indicate telepathy, "contact me Eme."

Eme nodded, if in a bit of disgust, then headed towards the back of the crumbling structure of the headquarters.

As Zelia was leaving from the room Necile pleaded desperately after her, "Please don't leave me alone with her, I don't want to hurt her but I can't stop it!" she pleaded into Zelia's eyes.

"Then tell me what the hell is going on!" Zelia said coming back to her.

As it was, Zelia decided in a second that she wouldn't have to leave, loudly she yelled, "HEY VOVAL!!!!!" and a few minutes later her friend had joined them. "Get Lark treated." she said by way of an explanation. "And *you*" she turned to Necile with a baleful expression and had her sit down at one of the tables, "are going to explain."

Necile watched Voval carry Lark away with the help of an assistant. With her friend safely out of harms way she began, "When I first met the Crystal Fighters only days ago I explained to them how I was from Crystalia, as a small child I had been best of friends with Lark." This brought on more tears from Necile. "But I was abducted back then, I told them I had been taken by scientist on the moon Demoglobin and sent on some deep space experiment to study the universe and bring back the information with them and then happened upon Lark here on Faia."

Zelia nodded to her, urging her to go on.

"But that was a lie, it wasn't Demoglobin that took me. It was Trax, a madman that the CFs faced and finally destroyed just before all of this."

"But why would he take you?" Zelia asked.

"Trax goes through dimensions and destroys Crystal Fighters. In one dimension he met Lark who not being a actual Crystal holder was like a wild card in the mix. He was unprepared and it was nearly a downfall" Necile recalled what she had learned over the years. "Lark only appeared in few dimensions as a member of the CFs but Trax took precautions, always going back in time to capture Lark's childhood friend, me."

Zelia was trying to take it in, the world seemed to always be turned upside down around these Crystal Fighters.

"There hundreds of them, duplicates of myself, we were all brainwashed and when Trax took on a new dimension that Necile was sent to destroy Lark against her own will." Necile looked shamed, "I held off as long as possible and they destroyed Trax, I thought I would be free then but it stayed and grew until I couldn’t contain it anymore, I had to kill her!!!" Necile screamed in pain.

Zelia took a hold of the frightened girl, Trax’s pawn, and Necile sobbed on her shoulder "Necile, we will get you help. Lark will live and the CFs will help you past this, they'll get you out of Trax's control, just be strong."

ELSEWHERE

Pyro was the first to spot him in the large living area that had been built for the minuscule of CF leisure time.

"Got him Eme, I'll fry the *&^%!" he raised his plasma cannon.

"Wait, I don't think that is EUA!" Eme moved over to him, it was UA laying there on the floor looking unconscious. "Chris, you ok?"

He looked at her and coughed, "Eme" he touched her face.

"Where is EUA?" she questioned looking around defensively.

"I had to port him to save my life, don't think he'll be back to soon." UA smiled up at her.

Eme nodded and smiled back then psychically said, ~Entropy we've found UA. I'll project the location, UA says that EUA is gone but be careful getting here none the less.~

Through the rubble, Entropy, Isaku, and Kyle emerged to find UA finally getting to his feet with the help of Eme, "Looks like you had some tussle with your significant other."

UA chuckled, "Yeah, he is still out there, we'll have to go after him but I suggest we rest tonight."

Entropy nodded. Through cracks in the ceiling, he could see that the sun was beginning to disappear.

"Eme you can go get him cleaned up the rest of us will work at cleaning this place up and making sure it's stable enough for a night’s stay."

Eme and UA left for a bedroom while the others began clearing debris.

Zelia continued to frown as she held the girl awkwardly...if the CF’s own Zelda had been here, she *might* have been able to help. Perhaps Eme... Either way, it was too dangerous for them to stay here, this close to Lark.

"We're leaving."

"What about--?" Necile began, a startled look on her face.

"There's no way Lark is fit to travel just yet, and I trust Voval with my life." she assured Necile, taking her hand partially to convince herself that things were under control.

After fairly demanding a ride on a medieval-style cart, Zelia made it to the other CFs and explained the situation, "So. Any of you equipped to help her? I wouldn't trust a smile to the supposed healers around here, let alone the mystics."

Pyro was trying to amuse himself as much as possible, after quickly summoning his armor he kicked a large piece of rubble into the air and blew it away with a quick burst of energy. "Target practice can be fun!"

Zelia stepped away as bits of debris flew through the air, "Pyro!" she exclaimed with tolerant irritation, "Go find something *farther* away from us to play games with, will you?"

Pyro just grinned and threw the biggest chunk of rubble as high as he could, then blowing it apart to send bits of rock everywhere, "oops."

Zelia gave him a dirty look and took out the next nearest boulder with her blaster, "Now, are you *finished* or are you intending to take out the planet *too*?"

"Gimme a sec, I'll get to that," Pyro said as he looked around for another rock, "Might have to, out of targets."

BEDROOM

"So.." Eme said, getting UA situated on the bed.

"I came looking for you, which I know you know. Why did you keep yourself hidden?" She surveyed his wounds and started the necessary chanting to heal him.

OUTSIDE

Zelia gave Pyro an almost startled look, "Uh...you're not serious?" she asked, "You might not mind being blow up with a planet, but the rest of us would like to have, if or if not enjoy, slightly longer lives." she said dubiously.

Necile gave Zelia a pained look, her eyes pleading for assistance, "Zelia??"

Called to task, she scanned the area for more of the CFs, "Who's left among you with telepathy?" she asked Pyro, partially to distract him from pondering what would happen if he buried a large explosive in the core of the planet. She refrained from explaining the situation, knowing that later she'd have to do it again anyway.

"That..and where *is* everyone? Tala?" she wondered, remembering something about Tala having at least marginal psi powers, maybe enough to dampen the commands imbued in Necile. Plus, Tala was the one connected to Razis' containment.

Pyro was distracted "Uh...well that jerk Kyle is suppose to be some super class telepath. When he first joined us he altered our minds, making us think he was our leader and dumped off UA somewhere and made us forget about him." Pyro gritted his teeth, "I still owe him a cherry bomb where the sun don't shine for that little stunt!"

Zelia backed away, "Ok maybe Kyle isn't the greatest choice."

Necile shook her head, it was easy to tell even for these newbies that Kyle wasn't the most trustworthy of their members.

"Kevin was a telepath, I think. That’s kinda a moot point now though since he’s dead." Pyro said as he pulled out what appeared to be a child’s chemistry set,

"Did you know that Triclorate and Ketropine makes a particularly spectacular explosion when air is introduced?"

Pyro threw a vial against a tree, and in a flash of purple and green the tree was blown to splinters.

"It’s amazing what you can do with even organic compounds." He started picking up things off the ground and examining them, occasionally stuffing a leaf in a pouch. "This planet is particularly rich with unstable organic compounds." He said with a grin as he started grinding leaves in a mortar. "Herbalists got nothin on me."

"Jeez, Pyro. Calm down."

They heard her voice, but didn't see her till her form was completely visible again. She brushed some black matter from her arms.

"Sorry. Had to check on our little friend here, that's why I was gone. So, what did you need me to do?"

Zelia explained, and she nodded.

"Oh, that shouldn't be too hard."

She turned to Necile. And then frowned.

"This might take a while.. do we have enough time? I'll need like twenty minutes.."

"That depends on how long it'll take for Pyro to find a new cataclysmic plant." Zelia said, staring at their companion and then getting slightly more serious, "Also, what else do we have to do? I thought I heard you found your friend....besides...this is *marginally* important." she finished with a touch of sarcasm.

"I meant that I was checking on Razis."

Tala didn't even bother to look at Zelia while she responded, she was focused on Necile.

"As to why this will take time, it's been ingrained in her since childhood. If I'm not careful, I can erase all of her memories. Which would make her basically a child again, would you prefer that?"

She glanced over at Zelia then, a slight eyebrow lift, but nothing more. Then, she went back to focusing on Necile. This whole time, she had been working on it, but Zelia's interruption had cost her a little concentration. While Zelia fumed, Tala finished.

"Done."

"Do you feel different?" Zelia asked.

Necile was looking a little dazed, "I don't know, I think I need some rest."

"As do we all." Entropy spoke coming out, "Everyone find a room and get a good night's sleep; we’re going to have a big day ahead of us."

Zelia looked at the CFs appraisingly for a moment, then shook her head. "I'll go back to Lark, someone ought to. But it's probably safer to keep Necile here, just in case." she said. While most of the others filed off, she returned to the inn, tavern...whatever it was, it served many purposes.

"Hey Vol," she called upon her return. "How's Lark?"

Her friend shrugged, "Seen worse, she'll make it."

"How'd you manage?"

"Ties, dear, ties, you haven't been around *that* long, but you should know by now--" "Okay, okay, oh-omniscient-one."

BEDROOM

"I didn't feel like being yelled at by you." he answered.

"You would have deserved it." Eme said as her hand stopped glowing and his wounds were healed.

"Would have?"

"You thirsty, I'm going to get something to drink." Eme says standing and quickly leaving.

~What am I doing...I'm falling for him all over again...Since when weren't you falling for him...I know but I don't want to get hurt...How would you get hurt...He wouldn't hurt you again~

Eme comes back with a couple of drinks and hands one to UA.

"It looks like everyone is off to bed."

"Would have?" He asks again, taking a sip of his drink.

"You won't let off will you?" She says sitting down in a chair. UA shrugs and gives her one of his smirks.

"I can't stay mad at you Chris, I love you...damn you." She says, laying it all out and feeling vulnerable. The fiery red headed beauty doesn't handle being vulnerable very well.

"Eme, T doesn't mean anything to me. I don't l..."

"I know Chris." Eme says, standing and then sitting next to him on the bed.

"I don't love her, I love you." He leans over and kisses her softly, putting one hand on the opposite side of her. She falls back onto the bed and he follows never breaking the kiss.

Zelia hadn’t yet gone to sleep--her mind was too busy to let her rest. Instead, she watched over the supine figure of Lark. Occasionally, the girl would turn uneasily in her sleep but she didn’t wake up. Zelia wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not…though she had always heard that the sick and injured ‘needed their rest’ so she decided to let the girl be. Sometime in the early morning, Voval woke and came to check on Lark.

“Still awake?” It wasn’t a question, she could see that Zelia hadn’t slept.

“What’re you going to do about ‘em?” was the real question.

Zelia shrugged, “Not much. They’ve got Razis and I’ll…follow them, I guess, until he’s dead.”

BEDROOM

Eme saw the first rays of light flooding the compound and she slowly pulled back the covers and rose out of bed trying not to disturb UA beside her. The cold air caught her bare skin sharply and she searched for her discarded clothing. It seemed her shirt had become lost in the night so she put on her light green pants then pulled on UA's magenta spandex shirt snuggly over her body then left to find the sunrise. She wanted to see the first sunrise since the object had suddenly become her passport back to her home.

She passed quietly through the halls until a faint noise came from a crack in the wall. She wondered if one of the others was awake and would like to join her so she moved for the nearest door and opened it hoping it would lead to the others.

Unfortunately it opened to just a stairway to the supply basement. Eme was already turning to leave and discard the noise when she heard a groan, she was suddenly unsure if she had actually heard it or if it was telepathically heard. Eme looked back quizzically down the stairway, then made her way, the sunrise could wait.

It was dark and as she came off the last step she stumbled and hoped not to run into anything, she tried to get her eyes to adjust but it was nearly pitch black and there were no sounds anymore. Eme was turning again to the stairs when the automated lights finally triggered. She heard the groan again and turned and gasped sharply.

UA hung chained to the wall by links at his wrist a collar clasped tightly around his neck. He was limp, his face was beaten and bruised and dried blood caked his chin and swollen lips.

"Ewww what an ugly muck, what is it, roadkill?" EUA said coming down the stairway towards Eme, his shirt was missing and Eme, in horror, suddenly realized why.

"Oh Goddess!!!!!!!!!"

ELSEWHERE

"Should I...?" Voval offered as she helped Lark over to Zelia who shook her head in response.

"No, sorry Vol."

"So, it's still 'over my head'?" She replied, a little offended.

"Look, I told you what I could, all right? It's better--"

"Whatever."

Zelia gave her heated friend a glare and left supporting Lark.

Not long later, the two had arrived at the CFs location, a run-down inn. She was not at all surprised to find Pyro STILL blowing things up.

"Uh...I hope no one was living there.." she commented with false subtlety as there went a house.

"Where're the others...Necile, Tala?"

"Nooo," Eme closed her eyes as if to try and turn it into a dream.

"Yes." EUA smiled viciously, waltzing down the stairs. "Who's your daddy, apparently it's me according to you last night!"

Eme glared and EUA almost lost it in a fit of laughter. Eme turned away she wouldn't give him more to feed on for this little laugh riot of his.

"Chris are you ok?" she went to UA who had his eyes closed.

"Chris!" she slapped him but not hard because of all the injuries.

His eyes slowly opened to hers.

"Eme?" she nodded sadly, EUA was just watching them.

~CFs~ Eme mentally commanded ~get down to the basement.~ then she turned to EUA "Why couldn't I detect it?"

EUA smiled at his own genius, "While Kyle was on Destiny's Child I manage to acquire T and his unborn child."

"You blackmailed him?" Eme asked.

"Yes and he nullified your psychic abilities to my true presence, don't worry I left him running off with the unharmed woman and child. You know he really cares about that child."

Eme nodded, she knew there was a heart in everyone and EUA had apparently found Kyle's. A creek came from above as the door opened at the top of the stairway and the CFs rushed through. EUA quickly extended a symbiotic tendril from his suit pants and it grabbed Eme by the neck and pulled her to him.

"Ah ah ah," EUA said "Tell UA to give me the location of his Crystal or the queen dies."

"*$&%)( you!" Pyro yelled.

EUA pulled at Eme's neck, threatening to break it.

"Take this Crystal and come to fight." Entropy held up his own and offered it to EUA.

"No, there is only one I want." and he motioned to UA.

"It's in my Crystal Dimension." UA choked out, surprisingly to the rest of them.

EUA smiled, "Figured as much, we've made good use of those little pocket dimensions of ours, so tell me what’s the dimensional frequency?"

"UA's Crystal isn't yours what do you think you could possibly do with it?" Tala asked.

"I guess we'll have to wait and see!" EUA turned to Tala then back to UA, "No tricks, 'brother'. I'm gonna get that collar off you long enough to open a portal." EUA says, jerking at Eme's neck. "I will kill her if you try anything."

"F-fine." UA says. EUA looks back at Entropy.

"Hey, mood-boy...take the collar off him. Slowly." Entropy growls a response but does as he's told.

He walks over to UA and takes the key off the far wall. He brings it down to the collar and unlocks it, popping it open. He steps back to the rest of the CFs. EUA smiles.

"Now, the portal."

UA clenches his teeth as the portal opens next to EUA and Eme. "Nicely done, bro. Let's go, sweetheart." They start moving towards the portal when they hear UA growl.

"Don't call me bro." Suddenly, the portal begins to wiggle and engulfs EUA and Eme like an organism before taking in UA as well. It flips upwards and Eme falls out and hits the floor hard as the portal shuts. The CFs run over to her and look up at the ceiling.

"IIIII didn't know he could do that." Pyro says.

"I don't think anyone did." Entropy responds. "Like any true warrior...he kept one trick up his sleeve." The words don't hit Eme's ears. She just stares into space, wondering what has just happened.

EUA looks as UA approaches him angrily, costume forming around him. EUA smiles nervously.

"Now, now, bro...let's not do anything hasty..."

"Hasty? Nah." He lets a fierce punch fly, sending EUA flying. "Overdue, yes!" He lunges at him and drop kicks him. He follows with a barrage of punches and kicks. EUA manages to escape long enough to grab a cannon that floats by. He spins and fires it at UA. UA evades and lands on an asteroid. He leaps back at EUA and knocks the gun out of his hands. He grabs his collar tight and pushes him back.

"Back to life...back to REALITY!"

The portal opens and the two fall back into the room. The CFs all turn back in amazed as they watch the two UAs going at it. A fierce barrage of punches and kicks, followed by jumping and dodging.

"You stole my life...you stole my team...and you stole the woman I LOVE!" UA says, upper-cutting EUA through the solid stone wall and outside.

EUA coughs as he struggles to stand up. "Love? Love is overrated, my friend." He turns and stands shakily, looking as UA comes out of the hole, the CFs following through a nearby door.

"What is she to you, anyway? This isn't your world. These aren't your people. Hell, she isn't even HUMAN! She's nothing but a sniveling sow meant to be toyed with and tossed aside. Last night proved that!" Eme listens on, the maelstrom of emotions tearing at her insides, freezing her outsides.

UA grits his teeth and his upper lip quivers a bit. "What did you say?"

"She's a sow! A pitiful wench!" EUA smiles as blood trickles down his mouth. "She is a cheap whore who belongs on 42nd street. But hey, no accounting for taste...she's not even that good in bed." With that, UA lunges, snarling like an animal, and throwing his hands ahead of him like spikes. They pierce through EUA, and he screams out in pain. He looks into UA's face and smiles.

"You c-can't kill me. Even if you could, you don't have it in you."

"Wanna bet?"

EUA's smile quickly fades as UA puts his hand on his throat.

"All I have to do is squeeze!" EUA suddenly gets a look on his face none have ever seen before...panic. He kicks UA off and starts running. UA regains his balance and runs after him. "You can't escape from ME! I will KILL YOU!"

"Rage." Tala says, holding her head. "A blood rage."

"He really will kill him." Zelia says, looking at them.

"We gotta stop him." Tala says. The CFs start moving, but Entropy hangs back.

"Do we?" They stop and look back at him. "UA is just finally admitting what he wants after all this time. I say we let him have it."

The chase leads the two men up to a cliff side. EUA stops and looks down, panting. He turns back to see UA quickly approaching, stopping and walking at him, breathing heavy.

"Well, you got me...come on and finish me."

UA lunges at him, only to have EUA grab him and flip him back over the cliff. He turns away, smiling himself, only to run into UA who grabs him.

"Doesn't work on someone who can teleport." He flings him aside. EUA looks up as UA approaches him.

"Now, you die." EUA kicks up his leg and pushes UA back. UA falls and lands on the edge of a teleportal. EUA lands on top of him, forcing him back.

"You are going down!"

"If I am, I'm taking you with me!"

"The hell you are!" UA snarls and lets out a yell, kicking his leg up and flipping EUA into the portal and going with him. The portal shuts behind them.

The CFs arrive at the cliff just in time to see the portal fade. They stop short in their running.

"That...that wasn't an ordinary portal." Tala says. "I...I can't sense UA anywhere!"

"Nah, he's gotta be here." Pyro says. "he's UA, he can't be gone."

"He's gone." Eme says, being led by Tala. They all look at the spot, wondering what has befallen their friend...and greatest enemy. They stand in silence for what seems like an eternity.

"UA had gone out with honor." Entropy says with grudging respect. "Never shall there be another warrior like him."

"No, there won't be." Tala says.

*Colors a tribute to the lost hero of the pink tights.

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