''This is too easy.''  He 'ports away.                        
                                                            
THE BASEMENT 
                                               
UA turns a few screws and connects a few wires.  Another    
T.I.M. appears and shoots UA off.                           
''What the--''                                                
''You will be destroyed.''  UA looks at the unit.             
''That's just what I need!''  He extends his hand and jams it into 
it and rips out its main circutry.  It falls on the ground  
and UA begins to fiddle with the machine again.  He looks up
as he hears the sound of fireballs.  He extends his neck to 
the nearest window and sees the giant Vile.                 
''No.  I have to hurry.''                                     

OUTSIDE

After the Crystal-nulifer was broken Zelda was able to turn 
back to Rydia, ''Rydia Ice Water Freeze!'' she called,        
stopping one of the fire balls.  She stopped a few more, but
they kept coming, she couldn't keep it up forever, but she'd
do her best, hopefully giving time to one of the stronger   
CFs. 
Rupay turned back to Deena. ''Mind crush!''   
Ganthet calls upon his, ''Onix Armor!''  His facets turn pure  
black, lie starting into the abyss, and fuse into one       
streamlined surface. he draws his blade and slashes at the  
giant creature. Now, was the time to put his newest talent  
to work.  ''PHYSICAL AMPLIFACATION!''  His crystal draws mass 
from some unknown source and his size increases many times  
over.  He was at least 15 feet now, but still dwarfed by the
Vile. 
Krakken, sent a whirlwind into 
one of the fireballs, the flames coursing upon its sides.  The giant   
Vile was badly scorched by the fiery attack.  Krakken       
grinned fiercely, preparing his next assault.   
Razis flew in trying to get at the Vile to give it a good   
sucker punch when streams of fire shoot from the Vile's eyes
and shoot down Razis. Razis falls to the ground covered in  
flames.
''Ah goddess! Razis!'' Rydia called then she used one of her  
water powers to douse Razis.  But before she could go over to make sure 
he was all  right the giant Vile attacked    
her.  Again she stopped the fire with her water, but her    
Crystals color was starting to flicker out of energy.

THE VILE LAIR

Entropy Utilizing his knowledge of the Vile base's floor plan,      
Entropy and Tala quickly make their way through the         
hallways, avoiding the occasional deathtrap every now and   
again.  Suddenly, they arrive at a three-way branch in the  
hall. ''What is it?'' Tala asks.                                  
  ''Well, there's one of two things we can do here.  Down the
left way is the throne room, where Phyllite and the staff   
are likely to be, and down the right way is the castle      
command room.''                                              
  ''What about straight ahead?''                              
  ''The way out.''                                            
  ''So where do we go?''                                      
  ''Hey, how'd I get elected- Oh, never mind.''  He takes a   
quick look down each passageway, then sprints off, towards  
the throne room.  Tala follows, and soon they arrive at the 
massive doors which acknowledge its presence.  Entropy draws
out his sword, activating it and cleaving a gash into the   
huge doors.  A moment later they dissolve into black dust.  

  ''That wasn't necessary.''  Tala says.                      
  ''Gotta make an entrance.''                                 
  The two slowly walk into the room, of which no light dares
penetrate such evil.  Suddenly, a chuckle breaks the        
silence.  A pair of torches flare up, their green flame     
illuminating the shadowed room.  Another pair soon follows, 
and another, and another, their pace quickening as they     
finally reveal the figure on the throne, the one carrying a 
long, ornate staff.                                       
  ''I'm glad you could make it, dear.''  Phyllite says,       
smiling.                                                    
  ''Tala, get out of here.''  Entropy says, raising his sword 
in a defensive position.                                    
  ''I can't-''                                                
  ''Damn it, GO!  Now!''  Tala hesitates, then rushes off,    
back down the hallway as Entropy steels himself for the     
fight of his life.

OUTSIDE

Razis suddenly demorphs and Nity lies limply on the ground. 
The Vile turns away from Zelda and reaches down and picks up
Nity's motionless body then he begins to run off towards the
Vile Lair.

VILE LAIR

''Not so fast, love.  Allow me to introduce our new Vile     
warrior.'' Phyllite says.  The Dark Eme emerges from the     
shadows.                                                    
''EME?'' Entropy exclaims.                                    
''Our spy told us you wanted this staff, so she's a little   
extra insurance.  In order to get to it, you have to come   
through me--and her.''                                       
                                                            
THE CASTLE 
                                                 
UA runs out of the castle.  
''Shooting fire balls? THAT'S MY JOB!!!'' Pyro runs       
towards the DragonStar and gets in. ''Let's have some fun.''  
He moves it to the giant Vile. ''Eat my fireballs!!!!'' The   
dragon's ''Mouth'' opens revealing a launcher of some kind. 3 
flamming missles fly out towards the Giant Vile.                                      
''Ganthlet, energy bursts!  Use your new power!'' UA calls as he sees Ganthet.
 Ganthlet   
nods and aims an arm.  With extreme focus, the energy       
pulsating in his body runs up it, and out as an intense     
energy beam.  It hits the Vile's arm, shattering it.        
Getting a good idea, Ganthlet grabs the Vile's leg.  He     
begins to vibrate faster and faster, until the Vile shakes  
apart.  Chunks fall everywhere.  UA joins his team.         
''It will take time to get used to my new power.'' Ganthlet   
whispers.                                                   
''You'll get it.  Eventually.  Status report.''               
''Entropy and Tala are gone, Nity's down,
Zealen's suit is damaged, and the rest of us just have minor
injuries.'' Pyro states.                                    
''Entropy and Tala are gone?  Anyone know where?  Great.     
Wait...where's Kyle, Kyle and UA?  Anyone seen--''           
''UP HERE!''  The CFs turn to the castle to see EUA standing  
on the highest turret, holding a remote control.            
''One question.  Where do the CFs go when it rains?  Answer? 
NOT HERE!''  He presses a button on the control and 'ports   
away.  Explosions begin to sound throughout the castle.     
Aides and servants run out of the castle as the CFs watch it 
begin to crumble to the ground.  As the stones fall, a great
cloud of dust rises.  Fire spreads throughout, and Vile left
standing or in a few pieces by the castle are destroyed.    
The CFs can do nothing but watch.
                           
''The castle...''                                             
''Eme's gonna rip my head off.'' UA says.  
''Ah Goddess..such destruction..'' Zelda whispered in horror.
The final explosion
sounds, and dust and black smoke fill the air.  UA appears  
on top of the courtyard wall.                               
''Aw, did I destroy your little home?  So sorry.  Oh, and I  
hope no one was attached to that tower out back.''  He       
presses another button and explosions sound in the distance.
'''Cause that's gone too.  Oh, and I found this hunk of stone
out back.  Maybe you could use it to rebuild.''  UA tosses   
down a tombstone.  It shatters on the ground.  UA picks up a
piece and finds out it's Coda's.                            
''You...filthy...animal!''  UA extends a fist to UA's spot,   
but he 'ports away.  He reappears on the other wall.        
''Sorry, our battle isn't here yet.  But rest assured, I'll  
be back.  And here's a little going away present for you!''  
He points a finger to the sky, then 'ports away.  Clouds    
appear in the skies and rain begins to pour down on them.   
UA looks up.                                               
''ULTRA AVENGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!''   

Ganthet picks up Nity off the wet ground 
and carries his body
over his shoulder ''He is still alive.'' he says.              
Makara shakes his head ''It looks like we arn't quite         
unbeatable as some of us thought, the Vile have the upper   
hand now.''                                                   
''Big time.'' says Pyro looking at the castle ruins, ''I alway thought 
I would be the one to blow that place up.''                   
They all give a slight laugh but it doesn.t ease the tension.
The sour taste of defeat is upon them. The rain pours over  
them as if confirming it.

THE VILE LAIR

Phyllite smiled evily as Evil Eme advanced towards Entropy. She wanted to 
be SURE    that Entropy would not leave here alive. In case Eme failed she
 would still be ready. She held the staff tightly, ready 
to use it at a moments notice.  
''Come and get me big boy'' Eme cooed teasingly as she      
circled him. He knew Eme was very powerful and              
strong...could he defeat her?
Entropy keeps stonefaced as he begins circling Eme as well. 
  ''Don't fight me, or I will kill you.''                     
  ''That so?  You'd kill a friend?  Not suprising.''          
  ''My sword will instantly destroy whatever it touches.     
Don't make me.''  Eme suddenly whips out her own sword, a    
long, wicked blade with strange runes carved into it.  
A moment later, Entropy charges, his sword meeting Eme's with 
a hail of sparks.  Pushed back, Entropy begins his attack   
anew, but this time is knocked up against a wall.           
  ''Ok, Eme.  You wanna play hardball?  Let's play.''  Entropy
suddenly begins chanting, and his sword begins to glow, its 
black blade pouring out purple energies as he does.         
  ''Ooh, scary.'' Eme says, giving an insane grin.            
  ''You should be.''  Suddenly, Entropy's sword doubles, its  
energies focusing into a second sword, just as powerful as  
the first.  Almost as suprisingly, Entropy divides as well, 
one of him each taking one sword.                           
  ''Double team.''  Entropy #1 says.                          
  ''My favorite.''  The second finishes.  The first then      
renews his attack on Eme, making sure he isn't too lethal.  
The second looks at Phyllite.                               
  ''Hey there, sweet thing.  Wanna dance?''  He grins as he   
charges, his battle cries echoing across the lair. 
Eme laughs evilly. Who needs a sword? She thinks. She       
attacks #2 doing that cool move, cant think of the name,    
where his sword gets thrown away. She tosses hers aside and 
charges him, jumping up and double kicking him across the   
face with her right foot. She lands on her two feet in front
of him, crouches down and sweep kicks him, making him land  
on his back. She mumbles in elven and the ground moves up   
and over his hands and legs, securing him so he cant move.  
She walks over to his head and puts her foot over his       
neck ''Prepare to die, love.'' 
The second Entropy flows out from under her, then       
absorbs himself into her clothes in his fluid form, seeping 
out and then flowing down her throat, making its way into   
her consiousness.  As his etherial form appears, he looks   
around.  
''Damn, that was cool.''  His sword materializes in  
his hands, and he prepares to fight whatever nightmare has  
overtaken her.  Meanwhile, the first Entropy continues to   
fight with Phyllite, sword and staff arcing lightning as the
opposing forces clash.  As Eme convulses on the floor, the  
Entropy fighting Phyllite smiles.  ''You've lost, Phyl.      
 give it up!''                                               
  ''You know...I never do!''  Phyllite says, struggling to    
hold off his assault.  Entropy's strikes grow harder, and   
while phyllite's defence is strong, it is still a temporary 
defense.                                                    
  Phyllite scrambles up against a wall as the staff is      
knocked a few feet away, well out of her reach.             
  ''I take it this would be where you try and bribe me?''     
Entropy laughs.
''Not yet dear.'' Phyllite muttered turning back to her Vile form.  She took
out a knife, dirk actually, with a poisoned tip.  Most likely the ''evil 
syrum''
then her knife clashed with his sword, the sound echoed loudly.  In a last 
ditch effort
she threw the dirk at him, but her own nervousness broke her concentration
 and it clattered harmlessly to the ground.  

Entropy brought his sword to her neck, ''How about now?''                                             
  ''An-an-anything, just ask it and it's yours!''             
  ''Money?''                                                  
  ''You've seen the treasury before, it's grown!''            
  ''Power?''                                                  
  ''I can get you an entire star system under your command!'' 
  ''Girls?'' he says with a smirk.                            
  ''A harem from every planet in the known universe!  I can  
even get you that Tala...girl!''  She says, struggling to    
contain her insults until after she can save her hide.      
  ''You know, there's some advice I got once back at the     
hunter command that really fits here.''                      
  ''H-huh?''  Phyllite stammers, a twinge of fear evident in  
her voice.                                              
  ''Have a little dignity.  Quit groveling.''  With that, he  
pulls his sword back to strike.                         
  ''Damn you you son of a bi-''  Phyllite says before the     
blade comes down, spraying the room with black blood.  As   
Entropy looks down at Phyllite's headless corpse, he quickly
thinks, then reduces to his fluid form and flows down Eme's 
throat, to help his probably beleaguered double.
As Entropy fights the black poison in Eme's consciousness,  
another form appears.  It taps him on the shoulder.  He     
turns to see EUA.                                           
''Hello.''  He punches him, sending Entropy back to the real  
world.                                                      
''What?''  UA walks out from behind a wall as Eme lays still. 
''You forgot about me, didn't you?''  He opens a teleportal   
and grabs the staff away.  ''We can't be defeated that       
easily.  And don't worry, Eme will return to normal in a    
matter of seconds.  
Now, back where you belong!  Ta!'' He 'ports them away.    
                                       
THE er, CASTLE? 
                                            
Entropy and Eme land in the wet grass.  Entropy looks up.   
''Guys?  What's with the serious looks?''  He looks past them 
and sees the rubble.  ''Is that...was that...''               
''Our home.''                                                 
''Come on.'' Krakken helps him up as a couple others bring Eme
over to the Dragon Star.  Entropy looks around and sees     
Tala.                                                       
''You made it back?''                                         
''I just got here.  Glad to see you're still alright.''       
''Wish I could say the same for the castle.''  He sees UA     
standing by some seperate rubble, looking down.  ''What's he 
looking at?''                                                
''Coda's..gravestone.'' Zelda says.                            
''Oh...''                                                     
''Come on, people.  Home is here tonight.'' Pyro calls from   
the ship.  The CFs go inside as the rain continues to pour. 
UA picks up a rock.
                                        
''The measure of good and evil is still unknown.  But what is
known, that no matter how many times you beat evil, it      
always comes back, stronger, badder, and worse than ever.   
The true power of evil comes from an unknown source.  And   
for every fighter for good comes about three for evil.  No  
matter how much you beat them, they come back like roaches. 
Today, my dimensional other crossed the line.  It's not the 
castle or tower I'm upset about.  They were never my real   
home.  Home is with the CFs, still all present and accounted
for.  Home is with people you care about and care about you.
But what was the final straw was when they went as low as   
disrespecting the dead.  And for that, they're going to go  
down.  Hard.''                                               
UA crushes the rock and the dust and pieces fall on the     
ground.                                                     
                                                            
As the CFs arrive at the Dragonstar, they suddenly notice   
yet another problem.                                        
  ''Whoops.'' UA says, looking in.  ''There isn't enough room  
for everyone.''                                              
  ''What, you mean some of us are stuck here?''  Pyro snaps.  
  ''Hold it, folks.  I have a solution.''  Entropy remarks,   
suddenly pulling out what looks like a miniature radio.     
''Ok, Harven, bring 'er in.  Try not to go too conspicuous,  
ok?''                                                        
  ''Harven?''  Tala asks, coming up behind him.               
  ''My helmsman.''  Almost instantly, a massive ship appears, 
4 times the size of the Dragonstar and bristling with all   
sorts of weaponry.  It is a deep navy, resembling a flying  
arrowhead with needles all along the edge.  As it lands a   
few yards away, Entropy smiles, looking up at it.  ''Hey     
folks, meet the Omicron.  My ship.'' 
                        
  Suddenly, a hatchway hisses open, revealing three figures 
in differing types of body armor.  The one in front has     
obviously much more years on his, its numerous chinks and   
scratches showing off the many battles he has been in.  As  
he removes his helmet, it shows in his white-haired face.   
Entropy walks up to him, shaking his hand heartily.  ''Dhaens, I'd like you 
to meet the Crystal fighters, some friends of mine.''                
  Dhaens walks up to the CFs, studying them carefully.      
''Well, I'm glad you made the company of such a crew, m'boy. 
It's not often that an old hunter like me gets to share the 
company of such-''  He then leans over, taking Eme's hand and
kissing it.  ''Enchanting people.''  He then turns back to the
two younger hunters nearby.  ''Well, what're you waiting for?
 Get some quarters ready for these folks!''  The two other   
hunters rapidly salute and rush off, back into the ship.    
  ''By the way, Crystal fighters, this is Dhaens, Legend     
grade hunter.  He's the one who found me, made me what I    
am.''
                                                        
  ''Quit giving an old man credit for stuff he's gotten too  
much of in the past, boy.  Now, you and your friends here   
best get in and get settled.''  He turns back to the CFs,    
half of them still gawking in awe at the massive ship.      
''It's good meeting you all.  Now, there's quarters being set
up for you as we speak, get your stuff and get going.''  He  
then notices the Dragonstar.  ''Hm, nice ship.  Once we get  
airborn, we can dock up with it if you like, take it along  
for the ride.''

Check out the next CF adventure as mystic rites of foes...or friends?...take
the team to strange realities.