Now, even if we assume that this guy is telling the
truth, from what I heard, he beat us bad, last time. The
loss of my use of my leg, and the addition of an old man and
some minor psychics aren't going to help us."
Tala nodded to Eme, then cleared her throat, looking at Zelda.
"Ma'am..I can do slight mind-scanning. I can scan both of
them, to find out if he is real or just a fake."
As she says that, she tilts her head to the older man.
"But it's up to you, of course."
Nity (50yl) turned to Krakken "You always were the ignorant
one on the team. Maybe that’s why you were the first to die."
The Crystal Fighters wonder if this is a threat or a true
fact.
"Zelda, I am not sure how you are to defeat him only that it was
written in the prophecies and in the gods words themselves."
says Nity (50yl) telling of the prophecies that Sentinei had shown him.
"We know that McTorn is extremely vulnerable to metaphysical energy.
It showed when Eme went head to head with him and
almost defeated him before.... well maybe it is with your
aid to Eme, we over come him."
"Almost defeated him before what??" Eme asked hiding her
nervousness.
Nity (50yl) shook his head and looked away from her, "If
memory serves me right, some of
Deatcon McTorn's men, he calls Darkens, will be here in a
little while. We must leave to those ships and find McTorn
and destroy him. We will also need two people to stay here
and defend the castle against the Darkens. Nity and Ganthet
you should be able to take care of them with no trouble".
"Hey I'm the leader around here!" said UA.
"I know, it might seem weird to you, but I have a lot more
experience then you now, plus, I know what’s going to happen. I
know where to go and what to do so I lead this one".
You would think this would be strange for Nity but somehow it
isn’t and he knows the man's words are true, they are his
words.
Pyro, looking at Nity<50>, remembering the research done on
Quantum Mechanics, calmly notes "We've still failed.
The nanosecond that he changes history, he'd disappear into
nothingness."
"Right, and if he doesn't exist he can't tell us, so then he
does exist and tells us and then he can't exist....we might
be setting ourselves up for an eternal Time Loop!" Zelda
said, remembering Zaria's lengthly description of time loops
and paradoxes, from..somewhere. "Plus, prophecies tend to mean
something
~completely~ different from what you'd think." She finished.
Then she thought a moment, "On the other hand, if somehow
Nity(50yl) is immune to the time loop theory due to the way he
traveled through time, he might still be able to exist to
tell us in the past if we succeed in the future. Or if he's
from another timeline that's doomed to always fail, but
traveled to this timeline where since he made it it's
possible to have a different future than the timeline he
came from." she took a breath about to say something, then
sighed, "Too many "ifs", well, let's just say this isn't
going to create a time loop or whatever, Tala can mindscan
him, and if you guys still aren't sure.." she shrugged, "we
can always at least ~try~ talking to this McTorn guy,
right?"
“But I am confused, I would think Rupay has stronger mind
powers then Zelda. No offence Zelda, but that is her
section. If mine weren’t powerful enough, why didn’t she try
in...the...future.'' A realization came to her. In her mind
she finished her statement. Unless she was killed before
hand and it is possible for her never to exist.
Rupay remained quiet, listening to the others around her.
Zelda grabbed Rupay's hand, making sure she was still there
and guessing what Eme had been about to say.
''She was about to say that if I didn’t try with my powers
then maybe I died before this took place. Meaning that I can
die in the real world.'' Rupay said to Zelda with a calm
voice tinted with fright.
Krakken snorted, still muttering over what Nity(50yl) had said
before, most likely to make him be quiet. "'...the first to die.' Maybe
that's
because some b*stard shot me in the leg. If what Pyro says
is true, then you traveled back in time, anyway. You
haven't changed anything."
"I think I would remember if my future self traveled
back in time to meet me. Not only that, but Sentinei pulled me out
of my timestream for a while and then sent me here, it wasn’t
supposed to happen, the prophecies declared that McTorn would
fail, something went terribly wrong, the murder of Zelda. That
screwed up everything and he sent me to fix it. I’m not completely
sure what will happen to me, I might just fade away, but to stop
McTorn I ~will~ take that risk, not like I have any real life to go
back to anyway. Now, believe it or not, it’s true." the grizzled
old man coldly
retorted. +Everything around the time that these events are
going on... it's a gray area. I just... can't remember.
Still, it couldn't be something like that. I can't let them
figure out my lack of memory, it would cause me to lose my
already difficulty-gained influence. It doesn't matter,
anyway, it couldn't.+
Unable to come up with a response to the hard wall of
Nity <50yo>'s logic, Krakken remained silent.
"Okay, Tala, go ahead. Scan his mind. It's the only
way we'll know." Krakken nodded, agreeing.
It was time.
After examining her choices, Makara started down a long
hall. Hearing voices she stopped and listened closely. It
was a female's voice, but she couldn't tell what was being
said. Makara ran quickly before coming to a door. Reaching the
end of the hallway she pressed her
ear against the door. Accidentally, she leaned against it a
bit to much and the door flew open, with her falling to the
floor. Looking up slowly, and quite embarrassed, she blushed
and smiled to the group of people. From her position on the
floor she spoke quietly.
"Oh, hello." She paused and waited for their reaction.
Arching a white eyebrow, Krakken glanced over his
shoulder, "Thanks for knocking."
"Look can we wrap this up, I'm retooling the castles
defenses to be more effective against the Vile." Pyro said
impatiently. "Just fry his mind and get it over with."
Zelda looked up in surprise at Makara, "Umm..Hello...I'm Zelda..."
she shrugged then introduced the rest of the Crystal
Fighters while the rest of the group discussed Nity<50>.
Makara stands slowly, gripping the pouch still quite
embarrassed. She nods towards Zelda as she introduces the
rest of the CFs.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Maia- er, Makara. Or both." She
shrugs still a little confused about her new powers.
Tala nodded in greeting to the other Fighter, thinking her crystal
to be a beautiful green. Idly reached up to touch one of
the three she wears, while studying both Nity's intently.
She isn't scanning them, just watching. She wouldn't want to
scan them without their permission.
As Makara listens, she looks from one CF to the other,
trying to remember their names. Zelda smiles warmly, "Here, take a
seat." she said and
pointed to an empty one. Either her memory, unlikely, or
psychic powers, almost as unlikely, kicked in at that moment,
"You're a Crystal Fighter, right?"
Looking shocked, Makara nodded. She drew the dark green
crystal out from her pouch.
"I am. How did you know?" She said forgetting that she
had been offered a seat.
"Umm..I don't really know...you didn't say anything about
that did you?" Zelda shook her head and shrugged.
Entropy sucks in a breath through his teeth as he looks up
at the odd portal that had appeared outside. "Well, if you were the
only survivor of
the Crystal fighters of your time, what happened to the rest
of us? What I'm getting at is, just how did we all die? I
mean, It's not like we just gave up, right? Not only that,
but why would you help us? The second we win, IF we win,
you and this entire future will be destroyed as well as this
emperor. Now, please do tell."
"No you didn't give up you all fought to the end and died as
heroes, and I came back to help, to save life, we are
the last defense in this battle, and I will be glad if and
when we defeat McTorn, to be no more. No more of the life I
had to live. A life of hell." the sound of Nity (50yl)'s
voice brought a sharp pang of pain to the hearts of the CFs. "Now
come on Tala scan my brain so you can tell them I speak the
truth.".
Pyro looked a little annoyed. "#%$^ this, I got work to do."
as he stormed off to his lab, praying he can get the new
defenses up before the next attack, or the "future" might
just come to pass.
Tala arched one brow, feeling the truth that he speaks about the
life of hell, but if he was telling the whole truth... that
was another story. She closes her eyes, opening her mind to his and the
original Nity's. It only takes her a few moments, and they
both feel nothing as she scans them. She had been practicing.
She turns to look at Zelda, after opening her eyes once
more.
"He speaks the truth."
Zelda nodded at Tala, "Alright." then she
winced as full meaning started to sink in, "Ack..that means
we're in ~big~ trouble...any ideas guys? and Nity can you
tell us more about these Darkens and McTorn, any weaknesses
you know of?" Ganthet only nods solemnly. He was sorry to hear
that'd he'd
die, but proud that he'd die in battle. That was his truest
wish, to go out honorably. "A warrior should know his
enemies. With fore knowledge of these creatures, we have a
better chance of victory."
PYRO’S LAB
In his lab Pyro works diligently, building new
anti-electron guns to be mounted around the castle, using
computers to guide them, they should stop the vile from
using or gaining any new power.
GREAT HALL
"Thank you Tala." Nity (50yl) said. "Well the Darkens are
McTorn's warriors. They’re foolish and lousy fighters. Their
only chance is their guns which pack a mean punch."
They heard the shatter of glass as the windows exploded
inward around them.
Men in black armor swarmed in with jet packs strapped on and
big laser riffles in hand. There where at least forty of them.
"The Darkens!!" yelled Nity (50yl)
"Nity...or Nity, whichever, might want to try one of those
protection sphere thingies..." Zelda said nervously, looking
at the Darkens. "Mystical Rydia Lunaris Power!" she called
and in a whirling of blue and purple colors she was Rydia.
"Rydia Aqua Vortex!" she said, using one of her favorite
attacks to knock a bunch of the guns out the window.
Caught by surprise, Krakken dove beneath the table,
hoping the others would cover him while he gathered enough
wind around him.
Pyro nearly falls out of his chair when he hears the
commotion upstairs. "Computer, on screen." The computer
blinked on showing a picture of the mess. "HOLY @^%!" He
grabbed one of the newly built guns and rushed upstairs.
Kicking the door down, he held the gun at the "Darkens".
"Howdy boys, I see you got big guns, BUT MINES BIGGER!!!"
He happily fires a blast above them, shattering a piece of the wall
like glass. Thinning out the beam to a pinpoint, he
carefully shattered a few of their guns. "Done yet?" One of
them fired and caught him in the shoulder, he nearly
dropped the gun as he slammed against the wall, the new hole
is his arm neatly cauterized. "!#%!@$#, too careless."
He begins to recharge the gun for a full power blast. "10
seconds to go."
Hearing Zelda, Rupay transformed. ''Dreamscape Deena
Power!'' Then one of the bad guys came up to her and punched
her. Ducking she said. ''I wouldn’t have done that,'' Then in
touching his forehead she said. ''Psychicatic Mind
Elimination!'' And with that the bad dude grabbed his
head screaming in agony as his mind started to deteriorate.
Eme jumped up and started beating bad dudes to a pulp. Once
she said, ''By the Gods, Lightening Thrust down upon thee!''
And the man fell to the ground, twitching as if electrocuted.
Staring in surprise, Makara snapped back to reality. "Makara
Surround!" She yelled quickly holding her Crystal in front
of her. Instantly, long, thick vines burst through the floor
wrapping themselves around a group of Darkens tying them up.
"Oops." She said quietly, realizing she had destroyed
quite a bit of the floor.
"Rydia Aqua Electricity!" Rydia said, remembering that power
after seeing Rupay attack.
Tala backed away towards the table that Krakken was under.
She placed
her hands out in front of her, and murmurs something. Some
of the men find themselves unable to keep a grip on their
guns, as she uses her power to mentally lift them.
Seeing as that will only do a few at a time, she changes
tactics, and three men that began to move closer to her.
Suddenly they start to stumble about..looking lost, as she wiped
out their memories completely.
Rydia grinned at Tala, "Neat trick, when we have time, can
you teach me that?"
"Sure, I can teach you it."
Tala said.
Suddenly, teleportals appear under the Darkens, and they all
disappear. The CFs converge at the conference table and
look around at the now quiet room.
"Where'd they go?" Tala asked.
"I don't recall them ever doing that." Old Nity said.
"No...but I recognize that power." Nity said. They all turn
to the sound of clapping.
"Oh, very nice. You really did me proud with those sloppy
tactics. Hope everyone enjoyed their tea party while
letting those Darkens sneak in."
"But how did you--?" Zelda began to ask.
"Temporal rift and a flux capacitor were detected in UA's
secondary lab." T.I.M. says. "Medieval time castle is also
rigged with a network of intercoms linked to go on and alert
the Crystal Fighters of said anomalies and strange bio
signatures."
"Hey, I'm supposed to talk like that." UA exclaimed.
"Sorry."
"Anyway, what he said with a cherry on top--and that's it."
He pointed out the window to the portal. They see it
pulsating like one of his, but seeping darkness. "That was
the scout squadron. McTorn’s ship will be coming through,
shortly. And so, we have to prepare. Nity, good job
leading the team, but it's time I stepped back in. You and
Zelda take our new allies to the garden and give them a crash
course in Crystal Fighters 101. Eme, tell your people in a
ten mile radius to get the hell outta here so we have some
elbow room. The rest of you aid in the evacuation. Old
dude, you come with me and tell me all you know and we'll
work out a plan of action. T.I.M., you finish our project."
"Right." They all said. They move off in their directions.
"Query: what are we preparing for?" T.I.M. asked.
"The fight for the future, I suppose."
LAB
T.I.M. flew back to the lab to do what ever he and UA
were up to. After he uses his laser to take care of some of the
mess.
CRYSTALIA: COURTYARD
+CF 101?+ Zelda wondered, then shrugged guessing at the
meaning. +What odd sayings they have where he comes
from...+ she thought to herself as she guided the newest CFs
toward a courtyard. When they get there she starts to
wonder how she's supposed to teach them anything since their
Crystals probably work different than hers. Zelda shrugged
and then started to explain about the team. Things like,
people's positions, basic stuff about the other CFs, and
some of the ways the Crystals have been used. Then she
explained a bit about the Vile.
EME’S CASTLE: LAB
Pyro headed back to his lab hoping to get the defenses up
before something like that happened again. Hours later,
after completing several guns he goes to the intercom and
yells "WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO HELP ME PUT THESE
THINGS UP?"
CRYSTALIA: COURTYARD
Ganthet, simply waited, preparing himself for the eventual
battle. Out it the court yard, he prepared. "We fight for
to protect the defenseless. We fight, to defeat those who
would harm the innocent. We fight, for honor. Honor is my
blade, justice my shield. I follow the Crystal Fighters, my
family and leaders. If I die, it will be with honor, and my
place in the Hall of Warriors is assured." There, the
ritual had been complete. He was ready.
"I know how you feel, my stonefaced..maybe I should say
my crystal-faced, friend." Entropy said
as he gazed up at the portal. "I certainly hope we don't
have to make good on those promises to die in battle too
soon, that's all."
"Death is the ultimate reward for the honorable, but I have
much to do in this life, Entropy," said Ganthet. "I am
not comfortable with the situation...I do not like having
so little knowledge of my enemies."
EME’S CASTLE: GREAT HALL
In the now empty conference room, UA and the old Nity sit.
"Now, tell me what you can. Everything. I don't want to
put Zelda in danger without an organized plan."
PYRO’S LAB
Groaning about the fact that he's gotta set the guns up him
self, Pyro finished the last connection. Heading down to the
control center he checked the new targeting systems. "Yeah."
The screen flashes momentarily. "Movement?" the screen
flashes to a small rabbit, standing still except for
shallow breathing. "Woah. If it picks that up..."
the screen prints out "Animal: Rabbit" then returns to
normal. "Well, it won't be picking off rabbits." He laughed
quietly then returned to his lab, hoping to make more mobile
versions of the guns.
EME’S CASTLE
Eme did as told, plus some. She had the whole world
leave again, just in case.
LAB
Back in the lab, T.I.M. worked as hard as a Jetboard can work
with his one robotic arm on UA's and his project.
BOTC sat on a shelf and cawed words of advice, and while
T.I.M. got frustrated by the Eagle’s Supervision
CRYSTALIA: COURTYARD
Zelda belatedly notices that Pyro said something over an
intercom and played it
back, then she called the trainees over, "Pyro seems to need
a bit of help, let's see what we can do. Any of you have
much mechanical experience?
Makara shook her head quickly. "Living in the forest
your entire life doesn't give you much experience with
mechanics."
EME’S CASTLE: PYRO’S LAB
"No, no, no, NO!!!" Pyro slammed his fist against the table.
"It's not supposed to do that!!!" He reset the gun and
fired again. It splashes against the wall harmlessly.
"%^#@&@&@^&$%!!! LET'S SEE IF A FULL POWER BLAST
DOES
THAT!!!" He pushed the gun to full power and fired, despite
the warning flashing across the sensor's screen. The blast
hit the wall and with a wave of energy bounces back to hit
Pyro. He flies through the door and hits his head against
the wall, completely unconscious.
By the time they get to Pyro's lab, he's been unconscious for
a bit. "OY! What happened?!" Zelda exclaimed as she takes a
look around, not noticing at first that Pyro's unconscious.
GREAT HALL
Nity (50yl) replied to UA. "Well, what the Seers told
us was that McTorn could have been destroyed by psychic
power. It showed when Eme went head to head with him in a
battle of psychic powers which she has a lot of. The psychics
were always the first killed, McTorn knew this was his one
weakness. We really have to protect Zelda, Eme, Rupay, and
Tala. Something we didn’t do especially well the first time."
"But why did you wait fifty years?" UA asks.
"We couldn’t design the time traveling machines right, they
failed time and time again. We got a big break when we
stumbled upon the Vile's time machine. It was an easy fight
against the last remaining Vile guarding it, to get it." answered Nity
(50yl)
So you think if we can keep those five alive we have a
chance" asked UA.
"Yeah and Zelda needs to be protected the most, she is the
key to it somehow, the Seers weren’t exactly sure how but
Zelda is definitely the key. If she dies we lose it all".
"Well then I guess it’s time to go fight McTorn."
"Again."
"So can you help me with the plan, this being your second
time and all?"
"All I can say is we go in fighting and give Zelda a chance
to do what ever she has to do." replied Nity <50>.
CRYSTALIA: COURTYARD
“Hmph. Well then, perhaps UA and that old Nity have some
information for us by now. I'll go check, call if anything
happens.”
"Do so please," Ganthet rumbles, "I will be here. Call me
when it is time for battle. I will be probing the harmonic
field of the planet, searching for any thing on our enemy."
EME’S CASTLE: PYRO’S LAB
Slowly waking up, Pyro’s eyes open with a start "YEAH!!! I
JUST REMEMBERED. He ran back into his lab and locks the
door, completely ignoring the people around him and muttering
only "Krimson" On his way in.
Tala glanced around as well, then clears her throat.
"Uhm, he looks like he could use some help. Unless that's
how he normally is?" she pointed at Pyro as she speaks.
Zelda tilts her head at Tala, “Actually, I think you may just be right
that that’s normal for him...”
EME’S CASTLE: GREAT HALL
"As much as some of your old teammates would love to just go
in fighting, we can't. We need to plan--get everything down
to a strategy. We can't risk getting anyone killed over
lack of preparation." UA stated.
"I understand, but time is little." Nity said.
"You're right--McTorn can come through any time..."
"We need to get those psychics to him and strike."
"Not just yet. First, we get them underground and have the
other CFs at the ready." UA hit an intercom button.
"T.I.M., find a way to close that portal yet?"
"You kidding me?" The intercom clicked off.
"Guess not."
Entropy walks in. "Glad you're here. I need
you to get all the resident telepaths and or telekinetics
down into sub-basement 2 of the castle. Have one of the
others continue the rookies' training. Then you and the
others go on guard alert." UA said. Entropy nods and runs out.
Then to Nity(50yl) UA said, "Nity,
come on." They begin to run to the tower.
"By the way--in
the future, when and how do I die?"
"Please don’t bring back those memories." said Nity (50yl) with a
slight catch in his voice,
"The truth would only disturb you. At least you should know
you were remembered as one of the greatest heroes of the
universes. You even had a giant ten story statue made of
you with the other six story Crystal Fighter statues
surrounding yours as you led them into glory" a tear dropped
from Nity's eye as the memories flooded into him. "So you
are the leader what exactly is the overall plan?"
BASEMENT
Zelda and the other 'psychics' are led by Entropy far down
below the castle to a type of storm shelter. "Umm..what're we
supposed to DO done here
anyway?" she asked.
A little later T.I.M. came out of the lab. He decides to pay the
safeguarded and much coveted psychics a visit.
"Zel, what do you think?" T.I.M. asked
Looking, Zelda saw that T.I.M. had a new paint job. Instead
of the faded battle scared red paint, he is now a shiny
metallic blue.
"Real nice T.I.M.... why the sudden change?"
"Well after the run-in with the copycat CFs I started to
fill a little insufficient, so while talking this over with UA
we decided to improve a bit...!" he says as almost shy.
"T.I.M. why or you so shy...?" Zelda inquired.
“Well because of this....”
and in a flash of red Light T.I.M. turns into a three foot
runt of a robot man.
Landing on feet T.I.M. bows to the ladies,
"What do you think?" T.I.M. asks.
TOWER
"The plan is I try diplomacy first. Maybe I can convince
McTorn he's got the wrong castle...the wrong dimension.
Maybe I can buy us some time and get us a battle plan by
scouting out his ship. I'll 'port up and get the Darkens to
take me to him. Then, we'll talk it out and hopefully he's
as dumb as I hope."
"But, what if he knows what you look like?" Nity asks when
the reach the tower. UA morphs into a king.
"I knew that deck of cards would come in handy some--"
Suddenly, the intruder alert comes on. UA clicks on the
patched-together temp computer to see the sky grow a dark
purple. The portal pulsates as an object begins to come
through. UA gets on the comm.
"T.I.M., drop everything and stand guard on the psi’s.
Non-lethal force if possible."
"Right." T.I.M. said, it was easy since he was already in the
“McTornStorm shelter” with the psychics.
"You psi talents, just hang tight and cover your thoughts.” he said
to the hidden psychics, who were having a little conversation with T.I.M.
The rest of you, on your guard, but stay hidden. Keep your
Crystals out of sight as well. The guest of honor--has
arrived."
CRYSTALIA: COURTYARD
Out in the courtyard, Ganthet saw the coming horror. He
steeled himself. UA undoubtedly had a plan. He would not
jeopardize it by striking now. He rushed back into the
castle, to join the others.
EME’S CASTLE: BASEMENT
"Wow!" Zelda exclaimed in surprise, looking at T.I.M., "That's
truly amazing!" she decides against asking how it was
possible since she'd probably get a technical answer that
would only confuse her more so instead she asks, "Why did
you choose to be able to change into a..humaniod form?" But before
T.I.M. could give any kind of answer, there was a large explosion.
TOWER
Finding UA by the computer room, "I think we're gonna need
some help, I got a couple of friends who might be able to
help." Pyro calmly said as he pulls out a dimensional
emitter.
"We need all the help we can get." UA said never taking his
eyes off the screen. Pyro flips on the emitter and a portal
opens wise. "HOLY %#&%#&" Two people come through. "Lucas?
I thought you were dead." One says.
"Later Spike, we got a problem, ready for a fight? And call me Pyro."
Pyro
says as he closes the portal behind them.
"What do you mean later, Lucas, we saw you and the
DragonStar disappear." The other one says.
"ShatterStorm, relax, we got a major problem, and call me
Pyro will ya?"
"So what's up?" Spike asks, finally realizing he hasn't
gone nuts.
"I'm not the brains here, ask him." Pyro says as he points
to UA.
Makara sighed. She knew she was waiting for a battle,
but she knew nothing of the enemy. +I wish Zelda was here.+
She thought. So far, she had been the only one to even notice her,
let alone
be kind to her. Watching all the commotion she felt
quite useless. Out of her pouch she took a small coin from
her land. On it, was a picture of her father.
Main Island
Part ICF# 13: Dangling Future
Part IIICF# 13: Dangling Future
NextCF# 14: Replaced