Crystal Fighters Annual Special #1
“The Journey Home”
Starring UA & Entropy
*Note: This Takes Place During Crystal Fighters 15-17.
PART I
The teleportal opens and I fall. So what else is new?
I land in a rustic area. Hard. I slowly get up and shake
the little birdies from my head (being I hit a nest on the
way down.) I stand and look around. Can this really be
another dimension? Usually, I end up in some form of New
York City. My home town. Maybe I should start from the
beginning.
My name is UltrA AvEngEr. I come from the island of
Manhattan in some alternate world. While a group of heroes
and I were fighting to keep the evil entity known as Death
from taking over the world, my teleportal got zapped and I
was sent from one alternate world to another.
Eventually, I found myself on Crystalia where I became
leader of the legendary Crystal Fighters. Long as it
lasted. I was thrown off and replaced by Kyle, a rookie
with an attitude. So, I left to set out on my mission to
head back home. THIS, however, does not look like it.
"You're right, sonny." I turn to find an old man.
"You're still a loooooooooong way from home."
I looked around. "You talking to me?"
"No, I'm talking to that purple elephant there behind
you. Don't you know where you are, boy?"
"Uh, not exactly."
"And y'know why? That's because you done melted that
there compass of yours."
"H-how--?"
"There's nothing I don't know 'bout you there Crystal
Fighters. Like for one thing, you're still on Crystalia.
Southern Crystalia, to be exact. Y'can't leave your
responsibilities behind. You chose to lead the Crystal
Fighters, and that's what you gotta do till the threat of
the Vile is eliminated."
"What's the point of me staying? I was thrown off the
team. Kyle's their leader now." He bops me on the head.
"Corn sakes, man! Used the brains which you were
blessed! Kyle is a, what do you call it, alpha level
telepath. Think about it." ???????----------!
"D'oh! How could I have been so dumb! He must have
used some kind of psionic mind alteration! That's why they
liked him! ARGH! I'm gonna kill that little puke!"
"Now, all you need to do is git back to that castle."
"Right!----But I can't teleport there."
"And why not. Nother hour an' you'll be back up to
speed--"
"No, no. I don't know which direction to teleport.
I'll have to hoof it."
"Then, may I reccomed that way?" he says, pointing
behind me. I turn, then turn back.
"Thanks, whoever you are. I need to get back to my
team and save the universe!" I turn and run.
"Run! Run! Go like the wind! HA, HA!" After UA is
out of sight the old man turns into one of the shadow beings
that are the keepers of the crystals. He nods then
disappears.
Nice directions, old man. You sent me right to some
ancient ruins. An old castle stands before me, walls broken
down, charred by fire, and debris everywhere. And I thought
Eme's castle looked bad after a fight. I think this bears
some investigation.
As UA walks into the ruins, two red eyes watch, then
fade into the shadows of the nearby trees.
Hmmm, so far, I've searched every hallway still in tact
in this place and haven't seen any reason why I would be
sent here. Eh? Oh, thought I heard something. Wait, up
ahead are two oak doors still in place. The structure of
Eme's castle is fairly the same, so I'll assume that may be
the library. I'll give it a look--I turn fast. Nothing. I
continue to walk, a little slower, then I turn fast and reach
into a shadow of the dim corridor. I pull out a being in
dark armor.
"You spying on me?" I ask. It tries to swing at me,
but I easily block it with a side arm block. I jump front
kick its helmet, then do a roundhouse kick on its leg,
knocking it on its back. The eyes begin to glow a bright
red and flame streams shoot at me. I evade them, grab a
shield hanging on the wall, and toss it up to the cieling.
It hits a patch of loose stones and they fall on top of the
knight. I walk towards it with the shield. It fires again
and I deflect them back next to its head.
"Okay, I'm officially impressed. Now, I have some
questions that need to be answered."
"Do your worst, varlett! I will tell you nothing!"
"Waitaminute..." I reach down and yank off the helmet.
I'm faced with a woman whose face is covered in soot and a
few brusies. "You're my attacker?"
"Why so hard to believe? Because I am a woman? Do
what you came to do and get it over with quickly."
"Actually, because I was expecting nothing more than
anyone, male or female. (that's usually the case with dark
armored knights). And I'm afraid you have me confused with
someone else." I pick the stones up off her and toss them
aside. I offer her a hand up, but she smacks it aside and
gets up herself.
"Then you are not of Gorgon's army?"
"Last time I checked, anyway. Now, why don't you tell
me about this army." And boy, does she!
Aparently, there's this dude named Gorgon who has some
kind of Vendetta with Eme's family. He has been secretly
building up an army of knights in mystic midnight armor
which blends into the night and shoots fire (if you weren't
paying attention before!). Gorgon had finally built up his
army strong enough to take on all the Crystalian ruling
palaces under Eme's control--which would be just about all
of them. Gorgon attacked this one first. This was the
palace of the historians. They recorded Crystalia's history
since they developed a written lanquage. There was a great
night battle, but more knights were killed than dark
knights. Only Jonna here survived by being caught under
some rubble.
"These must be some tough dudes to take out that many
people." I say, my nose burried into a book in the library.
"Aye. 'Twas a great loss. We had nary a chance." She
comes out from behind a huge stone slab in a maiden's dress
carrying the evil armor. She places it on the table I
temporarily fixed up. I examine it.
"Very facinating. I'd like to examine it, but we don't
have too much time. I have to stop them before they reach
Eme's castle."
"Hold it, I am coming also!"
"No, I can't put you into..." She grabs my collar.
"You ARE taking me, lest I feed you your spleen."
Whooo-boy. I just strike out left and right, don't I?
"Ready the battlements!" a knight shouts. Knights run
around setting up catapolts and bows along the castle walls.
"Those Dark Knights are not getting through our defenses!"
We ride through the woods on horses. Okay, so I
brought her. If I didn't she would have just followed and
gotten hurt. I just hope she's got the skills with that
sword to go with her leather warrior out-fit.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"To the caslte Balkhorn. That is the next nearest and
most likely target."
"Marvy."
"Marvy?"
"Never mind." I should warn the Crystal Fighters.
Just in case we can't stop the knights at Balkhorn. I open
a small teleportal into the crystal dimension and pull out
the Crystal Comm.
"Crystal Fighters, come in."
Meanwhile, the castle stands empty, as well as the
tower, as some of the CFs exercise outside, and the rest are
on another world (see CF: HOMECOMINGS for details).
"Crystal Fighters come--FZZZZZZZZZT*"
"Damn! Without my crystal, this thing is useless!" I
place it back in.
"When we took the armaments from my castle, you placed
them in a glowing hole. Art thou some form of wizard?"
"Nah. Just your everyday joe from New York."
"New York? Have they left old York?" Oh yeah,
communicating with people from here on is going to be FUN.
"Sire, two approach the castle!" a man shouts over the
drawbridge.
"Be they friend or foe?" a knight asks.
"A warrior woman and a man dressed in strange garb!"
"Let them come."
"Drop the drawbridge!"
"Drop the drawbridge!" Two men crank the bridge down
and Jonna and I ride in. We hop off our horses in the
courtyard and what looks like the head knight comes up to
Jonna.
"Princess Jonna?" PRINCESS????
"Sir Lyle!" They hug.
"Aye, how is your father?"
"The Dark Knights stormed our castle and killed all."
"I'm truly sorry. And who is this?"
"This be Ultra Avenger. He agreed to help us against
the Knights."
"Howdy." I say, extending a hand. He clasps my wrist
and we shake (just like on Hercules. Imagine that.).
"Pleasure to have ye."
"Sire, the sun sets!" A man shouts.
"Aye. Tis almost time. The fight shall begin." Why
don't I like the sound of that?
"They come!" I rush up the stairs to the battlements
and look over the knight covered hill. Correction, horse
covered. All I can see is an army of horses. You heard me.
The riders don't become evident until they reach the light
of the castle. And they're only the first regiment meant to
waste our ammo and draw our fire. I take a quick walk
around the battlement, and estimate about a good thousand
Dark Riders. Give or take five. In other words, we're
toast. I head down to the courtyard.
"Sir Lyle, this all the men you've got?"
"Yes. The others fleed in terror, the cowards."
"Where is my place?" Jonna asks, coming up to us.
"Your place is in hiding. This is no place for a
princess."
"But--"
"No buts. Now go." She gives him a look then walks
off. I try to get things back on track.
"Look, I have a plan on how we can even the odds in our
favor." So, I tell him my sure fire plan, until--
"Sire, the princess has run out into the battlefield!"
"What? How?" Lyle asks.
"She must have found the secret passage!" Terrific.
So much for my plan. I head up then jump over the wall.
I land in front of the castle to be faced with the
first battalion of Dark Knights. I send out a giant fist
which knocks a group down. That sends them and the others
concentrating on me. Good. (No, I'm not nuts. Just keep
reading!). I clothesling one, kick one in the gut causing
him to hunch over, use him as a support and spin kick six of
them. Then, I knock him down. He lands and his helmet
falls off. Nothing inside.
"Oh, sure. Now there's nothing." I duck a shot and
counter. I spin and trip one. I grab another and spin him
around and around and around and around and around (boy am I
dizzy!), hitting knights as I do. I let the one I'm holding
fly.
Archers shoot at me. I catch every arrow. I morph
into my good buddy Wolverine and start slashing knights.
Since they're mystic, like I predicted, I don't hold back.
I turn my back and soon I'm overrun by the North, South,
East and the West battalions. They pile on me and begin
hitting. Well, at least I got them away from the castle.
I wait a few minutes then 'port out of that mess.
They're still going at it.
"Ahem." No answer. I morph into a megaphone. "AHEM!"
That did it. They all turn to me. "Remember me?" I say
before I open a teleportal under them. They all fall
through. I look to the army waiting on the hill and wave.
I do a nice little dance for them. Y'know, getting down wit
my bad self!
"A lunatic." I imagine the head honcho saying. I stop
and pretent to look at a watch. I begin counting on
fingers. 4. 3. 2. 1. Then, all the knights I ported
land where they were, breaking into pieces of armor. I turn
again to the army. I give a slight wave. They stare at me
for a while before turning tail. Man, that was easy. Maybe
a little too easy. Methinks I was not the only one
toy--suddenly, everything goes dark. I look to where the
castle--was?
"Aw, man! I got the army and they ditched me! They
ditched me! Boy, I feel rejected." I see a form running to
me.
"Sire! Sire!" It's Jonna. "They have the castle!
Tis black magic, it is."
"Something tells me there's more to this than the fact
they have a couple hundred lives at their mercy here."
"Aye. The castle was the keeper of the CRYSTAL OF
BALANCE." Those are three words I may regret hearing again
for the first time.
We make our way through the woods to where Jonna says
there's a town. Right now, I'm beginning to get skeptical,
and my instincts are never wrong. I light the way with a
torch I crafted from a rag, a branch and some flintstones.
Yeah, I know. WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
"How much farther?" I ask.
"Just under a mile." she says. She passes by a huge
dead rose bush. And I see--exactly what I been looking for.
A slip-up.
"I think you ripped your costume." I say.
"Huh?" I motion to her arm. She looks. She has a big
gash from a thorn, but instead of a blood red cut, she has
a black, bloodless cut.
"Who are you? Really?" She sighs and in a wave of
light turns into a shadow being I've heard about from Nity
(*Remember, he was the one actually recruited
personally by the beings.)
"It appears your reputation does you no justice. We
need your help."
"So, what's going on?" I ask.
"We--I need your help on a mission of cosmic
importance. The Crystal Of Blance has been stolen by the
Dark Knights. They wish to use it to conquer Crystalia."
"So, you hoped to dupe me into helping you by creating
the Jonna persona and two castles?"
"Actually, that was to make sure the man we've observed
these pass months was all we hoped he'd be."
"And the Knights?"
"Real. That was but just a sample of their true might.
The full army is much more powerful and twice as deadly."
"But why me? Why not another Crystal Fighter with more
power than I have? Like Razis, Pyro or Eme herself?"
"Becuase they have niether the experience nor the
knowlege of the crystal needed."
"Another thing, this crystal, it's like the one I've
encountered, right? (See Death's Coming part 16 in Atomic Comics)"
"Correct." This is starting to shape up. If this
crystal can be as easily manipulated by cosmic forces as the
one from my world, I can use it to get home!
"So, what do I have to do?"
"Confront the Knights. Get the crystal. Return it to
its pedestal."
"Oh, is that all. Alright, I'll do it."
"We knew you would. Another reason we chose you." In
a wave of light, we're not where we were anymore.
We appear by a town.
"This is as far as I can take you. I am as barred from
interfiering as your former suit."
"You know my suit?"
"Farewell."
"Wait!" Too late. Gone. Well, now looks like I have
some detective work to do. Better get started.
I walk up to a store where a--something--sweeps the
leaves.
"Er, 'scuse me?"
"Yes?"
"Do you happen to know where I might find the Dark
Knights?"
"DARK KNIGHTS!" Suddenly, everyone runs from where
they were inside their houses and shuts themselves up. I'm
left all alone on an empty street. Well, so much for
detective work. Hmmm, mayhaps not. I head over to a place
that reeks of Ace's Bar, Rebel's favorite haunt. So, I'm
going to assume this is a bar.
I walk inside and find I'm right. Gee, I'm so smart.
The noise stops and people, if that's what you wanna call
them, look my way. I realize I better come off the right
way, being I just stormed in uninvited and not exactly
making a fasion statement here.
"I'm looking for the Dark Knights." I say in a low,
gruff voice. Suddenly, seven huge--beings (I don't wanna
call 'em men and get it wrong. Gee, there are a lot of
species on this planet!) stand up. Looks like the classic
gratuitous fight.
"You fellas gonna pound me to mulch?" They bang their
fists as they walk towards me. "Well, I'm game." I run,
flip over the middle one's shoulders and drop kick the one
behind him. I then spin and trip him. I jump on a table,
then back flip over another guy just as he brings his hands
down and smashes the table. I land, fall back and grab one
behind me in a neck grab, then flip him over with my legs
into the other guy. I duck a shot from one, then jump
another. I then back-flip kick them then jump punch them.
I'm in somewhat of a rush, so I'm using half strength on
these guys, which is enough to take these big suckers down.
Five down, two to go. The one I tripped grabs a table and
tosses it at me. I easily catch it, spin around and send it
back, first class air-mail. It whacks him in the head.
Six down.
The last one tries to sneak up on me from behind. I
flip onto a table, but before it can fall off it's barrel
base, I jump up high. The guy ends up by the table as I
land on the other edge and smash him in the chin. I flip
off and take the top and smash it over his head, and down to
his arms (or whatever they were), tying them. He sits on
the floor, still conscious. I flip onto the table top and
gave him one good punch. I flip off and see him still
conscious. I step back a little, then start running. I
bring my arm back and send it flying. But I stop it short,
pull it back, and blow on him. That felled him but good.
I turned back to the people inside.
"Now, where are the Knights?" They all point east.
"That way!"
"Thank you."
As I walk, this makes me wonder--what do they propose
to do with the Crystal Of Balance? That controls reality.
In the event it's tampered with, all reality will flux and
eventually other realities will begin to merge and rip apart
at the seams. Especially if they find a way to link all the
crystals from alternate realities. That'll cause a
four-fold dimensional cross-rift which could have
disasterous effects on the whole cosmos! Heavy, huh?
Uh-oh. I come upon a dark castle. I'll give you three
guesses who lives here, and the first two don't count. I
'port up to the wall and morph into a brick. I observe the
courtyard. I see Dark Knights training harder than I ever
have, and that's pretty damn hard. They kind of remind me
of ancient Sparta--bred for war, death in battle. How am I
gonna beat an army of that?
The way I figure it, these dudes are like Vampires.
They seem to only strike at night. Their suits seem to
function better at night. Their castle only exists at
night. I fall and land flat on my face. The castle is
gone. Crap. So much for a sneak attack.
Okay, now, why would they want the Crystal of Balance?
The most they can do with it is cause all realities to merge
into one another until they eventually collapse. How does
that help them destroy Eme and get what they want? Well, I
got 12 hours to find out. Better make the most of them.
THE CASTLE OF THE SCRIBES
I return to the ancient ruins where I met Jonna a.k.a.
the Shadow Being. At least this was real. I begin looking
through the texts. According to what I was told, the
scribes had a mystical ability to know what was going on and
how it was. I think they may have also been able to write
the future. Gives new meaning to as it is written, so shall
it be done, doesn't it? GOT IT! I have something on
Gorgon.
Gorgon, a being with unsurpased powers derived from a
cosmic gem he wears on his headdress... He also is known as
the undefeated... unbeatable... un--I drop the book and
stare into space. Damn it. Once again, the ALMIGHTY cosmic
beings stick me on another SUICIDE mission because of some
almighty COSMIC LAW or something. I think I'm cursed.
Night seems to come fast. I hate when that happens. I
wait in the bushes as the sun sets. I have no choice but to
wonder if I'm standing in someone's business. Then, the
castle appears. I wait a little bit more until I see the
knights leave for their next pillage. I then make my way
for the castle in my ultra sneaky ninja mode.
Minutes later, I'm deep inside the castle, and making
my way to the inner parapit. I avoid a few guards by
becoming the shadows. I move swiftly and quietly. Man, I
EARNED my black belts. I head into a heavily guarded room
and find my target on a pedestal. The Crystal Of Balance.
Yes! This was easy. Too easy. Well, I'm too close now.
I make a grab for the Crystal. I pass right through. A
hologram?!?
"A hologram?!?" Suddenly, I'm smacked back. A tall man
in bestal armor with a crater face and jeweled heddress
appears in front of me. "Ah. Dr. Livingston, I presume?"
"No. I am the Mighty Gorgon, and you, are dead!"
Somehow, I knew that was coming.
"I will eat your intestines for breakfast!" Gorgon says
as I backflip to avoid a blast from his huge hand.
"Oh, puh-leeze!"
"You are not impressed by my taunting, fear inducing
threats?"
"You kidding? I hear that kinda stuff three, four
times a day!"
"Very well. Enough idle chatter. I'll just destroy
you now." He manages to clip me with a blast and sends me
into a wall. Well, that was smart. Gonna have to be
creative for this one. But, maybe outside, I think as I
roll to avoid another blast. I begin running through the
castle only to find the guards I passed by to get in. Well,
that's two for stupidity. I 'port behind them and keep
running. I hear Gorgon running behind me as he crashes
through his own guards. Huh. Just can't get good bosses
these days. I finally make it outside and realize I still
ain't got no plan.
"Nuts. Think, think, think..." Gorgon comes out after
me. "NUTTIER! RUN, RUN, RUN!" Oh yeah. I am so batting
1000 tonight. Well, let's see my options...based on what I
read, Gorgon's jeweled headress makes him invincible. But,
he IS weak against daylight. Maybe I could wait for
dawn...if I could run for the next six hours. Wait! The
headdress! Why didn't I think of that before? I stop dead
in my tracks, duck down low, and then backflip over his
head. I reach out to grab the headdress and then I feel
1000 volts coursing through my body. I fall behind him,
coughing up smoke.
"You think a cosmic device this mighty would not have a
defense mechanism?" He says, laughing. "Little man, I know
not who sent you or how you found out about my plan, but I
will cause reality to collapse. And I'll make sure
Crystalia goes with it!" He pulls out the real Crystal of
Balance and holds it up high. "I was going to wait until
midnight, but from the fear others may try to succeed you
in stopping me, I'll carry it out now and then destroy you.
BEHOLD! As I make your efforts all for naught!" The jewel
begins to glow a bright green, then it shoots a bolt into
the Crystal. It begins to levitate out of his hands and
flies up to the night sky. It begins to glow and eerie
white before sending a stream into the sky. Suddenly, a
huge, black, swirling portal opens up larger and larger.
Okay, so I'm 0 for 3 tonight. Sue me.
"Soon, it will be big enough for the crystal to link up
with the other crystals in all realities, and then, goodbye,
Queen Emerald!" Okay, let's see if I can do something right
tonight. I spin around and then trip him. He falls on his
back. I get up only to hear something whistling above me.
I look up as the sky begins to look almost like a sunrise to
see an AK-47 falling right for us! I jump out of the way but
we still get caught in the blast and are thrown to the side.
I fly into something metal which collapses all around me.
Then, I feel something slimy land on my shoulder. I open my
eyes to see a banana peel. I look around to see I'm covered
in garbage with collapsed garbage cans all around me. I'm
back in that 65th street alley!* This is just TERRIFIC!
Now, I'm really--*HONK, HONK!*. Honk, honk? Uh-oh! Big
truck, heading right for me in a dead-end alley! Not good!
(*For details on that alley, check out the UA mini-series in Atomic Comics)
I 'port out just as the truck crashes. I suddenly realize
realities are beginning to combine and cross over. That's
really not good. Overhead I see a P38 lightning,
decommisioned since WWII. But behind it, I see a familiar
pen-cap shapped jet. REBEL! I morph my radio up.
"Hey, Rebs, howabout a pick-up?" The jet angles down
to my position as I wait for the grappling hook. But,
instead, the missile silos pop out of the sides and I
realize I made a BIG mistake. Oh, and if you're keeping
score, that's 0 for 4.
That's not MY Rebel jet. That's not even MY Rebel!
That's the alternate clones*! I dive out of the way of a
smart bomb. Fortunately, though there are some differences,
that jet is the same as I built. Which means, I can take it
down.
"There's that stupid double!" UA says.
"Yeah! Let's fry him!" Rebel agrees.
"This time, don't miss, stupid!"
"Ah, shaddap!" He hits a button and fires another
shot.
I only got one shot at this. That's a molecular
(*You did not miss TEAM REBEL #46, did you? For shame!)
missile. It can vaporize the molecules of anything it hits.
I open a teleportal and the missile flies in. It shoots out
behind the jet.
"Nice shooting, jerk-hole! It's coming right for us!"
"Bite me!" They eject as their jet is vaporized.
"Now look at my jet!"
"Good riddance! You could't fly anyway!"
"Kiss off!" UA grabs Rebel and they 'port to the
ground. I think this is my mark to boof! I run into
something metal. I look to see--ROBOCOP??? Okay, I am
officially freaked now.
"Stand aside, citizen." he says. He walks past me at
the alternate Team Rebel. Looks like he's on my side.
That's the best news I've had all day! "You are in
violation of flight regulations. Come peacefully or you
will be killed."
"Shove off, Tin Man!" Rebel says. He pulls his gun and
opens fire. The shells fire bounce off of him.
"You can't beat him with that, dip-wad! Do I haveta do
everything in this family?" He opens a teleportal over
Robo's head and port's it away. Robocop falls. Then, they
come after me. I've fought these guys. No way I can beat
them alone. Something above catches my eye. I look up to
see a man falling. The two follow my gaze.
"Oh, @!#)@$)&!" The man lands on them. It's Entropy.
I help him up.
"Nice of you to drop in."
"GROAN. What's going on?"
"You don't wanna know." I say, looking up as lightning
comes from the portal.
"You have any idea where we are?" Entropy asks.
"None whatsoever."
"Great. Well then," He says, pulling out a much
different sword from that which I am used to seeing him use,
"Shall we remove these annoyances?"
I look up as a wind begins to develop and lightning
strikes.
"Purple Lightning. THAT's a good sign." The wind gets
heavier as something strikes down from the portal. "A
twister! Probably from an alternate Kan--" I see something
purple coming right for--crap! "Entropy, look--" The
weird tree rams into him and sends him flying. "--ouch."
Okay, time to get serious. As it was. I make my way for
Gorgon who's relishing in this converging of realities.
"VENGEANCE IS MINE, EMERALD!" I tap him on the
shoulder. He looks my way.
"Pardon me..." I let him have a full power punch which
sends him flying a centimeter, but flying. "...do you have
any GREY POUPON?"
"I know not of which you speak, but rest assured, I
care not for I will destroy you either way." He stands up.
I let him have another punch, but he grabs it in mid-air.
He flips my over to where Entropy is.
"OOF!" That was smart. I stand and
I look to the sky to see another someone plummeting to the
concrete jungle below.
I takes off in full sprint, cape flapping behind me.
Then I flash off in a teleportal and
appear just below the freefalling person.
My arms buckle as the heavy figure drops into them.
Then I teleport me and my new friend back down to the ground safely.
I finally get a chance to look at the person I saved and I
sees Nity's face stareing back at me.
“Nity!?!”
“Do I know you?”
“Oh great!”
Okay, enoughs enough! I gotta stop this thing before
this whole forest begins to match up with that alley, and
then ultimate destruction. And I think I have an idea.
Time to get SILLY! I walk up to Gorgon.
"Okay, now I'm angry. And when I get mad--" I turn
into a giant, green, behemoth with purple pants. "--Hulk
gets STRONG!" He looks at me in surprise as I pound the
ground under him and knock him off balance. Then, I give
him an uppercut that sends him high into the air. I 'port
up to him and come out swinging with a THWIP. I grab him.
"Hey, it's web time! Going down!" I let him go. I
'port below and pop my adamantium claws.
"Time fer some shiskabob! Juuuuust kidding!" I send
my arms up into the sky, grab him, and slam him down on the
ground. Then, I notice his headdress is gone. I look
around and find it near the twister.
"Why am I wasting time with you?" I jump over Gorgon
and dive for the headdress, but he grabs me and trips me.
We have a struggle on the ground. I notice he's slightly
weaker without it. Looks like my hunch was right. He has
me pinned. I make a reach for the headdress, but I have to
keep pulling my hand back to keep him off. That's when Nity
grabs him off.
"I don't know what's going on, but BACK OFF!"
I roll over and grab the headdress. I snap it in two.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Gorgon
screams. "MY POWErrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....*" He passes
out.
"Power isn't everything, buddy. But sometimes it
helps." I notice Entropy's up.
"E! CATCH!" I pull back and toss a half up at the
crystal in hopes the wind won't stop it. Luckily, it hits
the crystal, knocking it outta the sky and into Entropy's
hands. Then, the portal goes in reverse. "Everyone, grab
hold of something!" We all do. Everything not bolted down
flies up into the portal. The TR clones. The alley. The
truck. The tree. A normal tree. Everyhting. In what
seems like hours, the portal finally closes and gives off
one final bright flash, and then the Crystalian night sky is
back.
"Woah." Entropy says. He hands my the crystal. I
juggle it.
"YOW! THAT's HOT!"
"Well, the baddie is gone, and so is everything else."
Nity says.
"What now?"
"Now, we find our way back to the castle. I think some
funky [stuff's] going down in the city, if you know what I
mean." I open a crystal portal and toss the crystal in. We
head off in a random direction.
"Entropy, what's going on?"
PART II
"In all, I'm not positive, but I think Kyle threw me
through a teleportal. I ended up here, and I want him
dead." Entropy says, sneering a bit. "However, I think
he'll be ready for us if we try a frontal assault. He's not
likely to make the same mistake with me twice. He might
even turn the others on us. And UA, don't bother trying to
reason with them. They don't even remember you, not Zelda,
not Eme, no one. Not only that, but they follow all Kyle's
commands to the letter. We might have to fight them, god
forbid." He looks around for a second. "First of all, we
have to get there."
Nity follows the two silently, slowly he pulls out the
brutal looking knife from his pocket. The blade so sharp it
could cut through Entropy's neck like it was jelley and he
knows it.
Nity raises the knife in a path with Entropy's back.
UA suddenly catches something in the corner of his eye
reflecting the moonlight "Watch out" he throws down
Entropy catching the blade in his shoulder.
"Dont interfere" yells Nity kicking UA in the stomach who
doubles over.
UA doesnt climb back up right away the knife had given him a
very deep gash he hand to tend to his wound.
Nity drops his knees into Entropy's chest.
Entropy's sword gives a metallic ring when released.
Nity's knife is against Entropy's throat and his sword is
against Nity's throat.
They both stare back at each other feeling each others rage.
The wind picks up just enough to cause the collar on Nity's
shirt to flap away from his skin exposeing the mark that has
become unmistakeable to Entropy after the last month.
"A clone" whispers Entropy "how did you escape your own
world and find me"
"Die, Original" replies the Nity clone.
UA grabs the clone and flings him into a tree. His spine
snaps.
"I hate clones." UA helps Entropy up.
"We need to get to the castle. On the way, you can
tell me what's going on, and I'll try to do the same."
We walk along and I explained all that happened. With
the knights. With the sadow beings. My connection the the
crystal. I tell him best I can.
"Great. So we have Dark Knights running around?"
"Guess so. They're bent on destroying Eme and
Crystalia. And I don't think they'll stop 'cause their
leader's gone."
"So why don't you just teleport us to the castle?"
"Well, 1, I can only teleport a maximum distance of 1/4
of any planet and it takes me an hour to recharge. 2, we're
in the southern part of the world. 3, I have no idea what
may be where we teleport, and so we may materialize inside
solid rock. And 4, I have no idea which way to go since
maps seem to be a foreign concept around here, so we gotta
hoof it. So, why don't you explain to me everything that's
happened since I was thrown off the team."
"Hoo, this is gonna take an effort." Entropy says, trying
to recall everything. "Ok, lemme think. Kyle made us boot
you off the team, then the lot of us went to what I believe
was my homeworld. However, we, uhm, ran into a Vile base
and I had to stay behind to defeat this thing called a
master vile while the others escaped. I'm mostly guessing
here, but I was able to activate my full power spectrum
killing that thing, and when the base caved in on me and the
master vile, the energies from the two of us warped me into
a clone dimension where I think souls are created. Anyway,
Zelda and Zealen showed up after a month, and the three of
us were able to escape. After that, I went undercover to
see Tala...so I could get my pendant back. I guess I lost
it when the base collapsed. Anyway, Kyle found out I was
there, and I tried to blast him before he could hack my
brain again, but I just singed him. Must've messed up his
concentration enough to just throw me here instead of some
other random dimension. I've got very little knowledge
about what happened with the others, and Kyle must've gotten
back to Zelda and Zealen by now. Also, now that I'm a
full-range shapeshifter, I'm not affected by Kyle's
psionics. Essentially my brain's distributed all around me,
so I can't be hurt by him anymore. By the way, you said you
needed to re-charge. What kind of energy?"
"Good question. Truth is, I have no clue. When I was
separated from my symbiote before Death's Coming, it left me
a fraction of its powers. At first, I thought they were
unlimited. Now I find they're not just few, but like 1/4 of
their original cosmic powers. As good as that is in normal
scales, it's not good enough to get us home." Entropy
continues to talk, and I absently listen. Something still
bugs me. Kyle's an alpha-psi. Which means he can rip a
hole in the fabric of space and time, so the only thing that
can bother me about that is he stole my patented name for
that.
What bugs me is how Entropy's acting. He seemed to
tense up when I asked for an update...and he slipped off
when he was talking about his homeworld. Like he was trying
to hide something. Whatever it is, maybe soon he'll find a
way to tell me. And I just hope it's not bad--'cause I
don't think I can take much more bad good guys in my life.
"Uh, you smell smoke?"
"Yeah--LOOK! A village is on fire!" Here we go again.
Entropy charges in, noticing the large contingent of Vile
attacking the village. "Ok, I certainly hope the old saying
of two heads being better than one fits here!" Entropy
suddenly flows into another shape, a huge, mechanical
four-headed Hydra. "DIE!" the four heads hiss simultaneously,
as each grabs a Vile in its jaws, crushing the life from it
and spitting it out. Entropy then shifted back to his more
nimble human form, drawing his sword. "I'll be there soon,
Tala. I'll save you all." He says to himself, well out of
UA's earshot.
"I'm impressed." UA says. He shatters a few more vile
before he hears screaming from a hut. He looks at it. It's
completely on fire. "Oh, yeah. I REALLY need this." He
pulls his cape over his head and charges in. A few minutes
later, he comes out with two kids and is greeted by three
Vile. "Here!" He tosses a kid into one's arms and he
tosses the other high in the air. He grabs two Vile and
smashes their heads together. He catches the kid and puts
him down. He takes the other from the Vile.
"Thank you." He gives it a back kick and puts the kid
down. He spins and kicks the Vile’s head off. After fighting a
few more, the two gather in the center of the town, out of
way of the fire brigade.
"What are Vile doing this far south?" Entropy asks.
"I dunno, but you know it's gonna be something bad.
Come on, let's go get something to eat."
"Yeah."
After a minute amount of searching, the two of them find a
bar and order up their respective meals. Entropy, casually
sipping a glass of Yssurian brandy, soon renews his
conversation.
"Ok, how long would it most likely take to get from here
to the Crystal spire?"
"Two months, maybe four, considering where we are."
"Would a sublight one-man craft help?"
"No, only one of us would be able to go."
"Not if one of us was the ship." UA's expression
brightens as he takes a sip of his own drink.
"How soon can you get us there?"
"Depends. But even so, the alcohol's helping my fluidity,
so I should be able to do it pretty quickly. If all else
fails, I can probably just morph a bird for extra endurance
if I run out of shift time."
"Shift time?"
"Well, parts of me can form inanimate objects for an
extended period of time. I myself can only do it for about
a half-hour before I start solidifying. Organic beings are
much easier because their cells are constantly moving. If I
drink enough, I should be able to get there just before I
run out of time."
"And then we plan out our attack."
"If need be. Well, you're the leader, what do we do?"
"Hmm--that wouldn't necessarily work. There's no way
we can traverse a whole planet using a life-form. First,
we'd have no idea which way we were going." UA shows him a
compass. The needle spins frantically. "This whole
dimension is one big magnet, so this is useless. We could
pass by the castle by a matter of miles and end up back
here!"
"So, what do we do?"
"I need to find a blacksmith. If I can get my hands on
some metal and some spare parts, I can probably whip up a
two man jet."
"A jet? Out of scrap metal?"
"Sure. How do you think I repaired the Rebel Jet."
ELSEWHERE
A vortex opens above a nearby village. Out falls a man
in a green overcoat and casual 1990's street clothes. He
lands on through a hut, causing people to scatter in fear.
In seconds, the man stumbles out of the door, grasping a
gold pocket-watch.
"Woah. What a hangover."
Once their meals are finished, the two head down to the
town blacksmith's shop, and are greeted by a hairy,
muscle-bound mound of human flesh, who holds a massive
hammer that makes him look all the more intimidating.
"Whaddaya want?"
"Uhm, do you have any spare scrap metal we could use?"
Entropy says, after getting elbowed by UA.
"We're probably going to need tools too." UA adds.
Entropy looks back. "I doubt it. I'm a shapeshifter,
remember? Any tool we need I could whip up myself."
"If yer done talking," The blacksmith grunts out, "Just
what's in it fer me?" Entropy lets out a big sigh, then
says, "Ok, you know how the village was on fire? We put it
out. I think you have an obligation to us for doing said
hero job."
"Ah, that was you guys! Well, ya got me there. All the
scrap's out back, and I can...hey, what about that sword 'o
yours?"
"What about it?"
"I can probably reforge it, sharpen the blade some, if ya
want."
Entropy draws it out, taking a quick look. He then hands
it over to the blacksmith. "Oh yeah, the things I can do
with this..."
"Try and keep it in that form, but a few modifications
can't hurt." Entropy turns to UA. "Anything you want
remade?"
"No, we have to concentrate on getting our ride together.
You said the scrap was out back?"
"Yeah, have at it." The blacksmith says, admiring
Entropy's sword. "I can have it reforged by around five. That
all right with you?"
"Sure, we have the time." Entropy says. With that, the
two head back, and Entropy shifts form into a huge assembly
line, completely robotic. His face appears on a computer
screen. "I should be able to put together a couple parts
before I need to rest, but we ought to speed things up."
"Woah! Slow down, hot shot. Let's see what we got to
work with." Entropy morphs back and they begin to shift
through the junk. UA smiles a HUGE smile. "Well, the good
news is, we got enough here to build a jet capable of
getting us where we need to be with the force we need."
"The bad news?"
"The bad news is in order to feul the engines..." he
steps into a clearing and points to a volcano in the
distance. "...it's gonna be pretty dangerous."
"We'll worry about that later. Let's get building!"
UA has Entropy make some essential technological
equipment before his morphing time runs out. Then, they
begin hammering and forging away. They double check plans,
consult each other on their progress and work feverishly.
MEANWHILE
The man walks drunkenly into the village and looks
around.
"M-medieval times. *HIC* Great." He wobbles into a
local tavern. "Ah, r-rIgHt WhErE iT sHoU*HIC*lD bE."
A Crystalian runs into their work area. UA and Entropy
look up.
"SWRO WHFOHWO WYOHWOHF WFHCO WOYFH WOY WIUFJWNOFH
WUJLNJHS !"
"SAY WHAT?!" they both say. It grabs UA's arm and
begins to tug.
"I think it wants us to follow." Entropy says.
"Gee, what tipped you off?" In minutes, they're in the
square when the creature stops. "What is it, Lassie? Timmy
fall in the well?" Suddenly, a big man tosses a fallen man
out.
"Don' ever come in here again!"
"Filthy blaggard!" The man says, getting up. "I'll fRy
YoUr GizZaRdS!"
"TIME MASTER!" UA exclaims.
"You know him?"
"A guy from my era who accidentally invented a
pocket-watch that could rip through the fabric of time. But
I never knew it was dimensional." They walk up to him. He
looks at them.
"*HIC*. Oh, nO! ULTRA A'enger..." he passes out.
"Great. Now we gotta carry him." UA picks up his
feet, Entropy his head just as he belches.
"AW, MAN! His breath wreaks!"
"Now you see why I took the south. It's much safer and
enviro-friendly." They begin to walk back to the shop.
Time Master sleeps while UA works on some calculations.
Entropy walks up to him.
"What now?"
"We wait till he wakes up, then we interrogate him."
"Oh. What do I do till you're done?" A vile drops
through the roof, followed by a few others.
"You had to ask, didn't you?"
"Ok," Entropy says to himself. "Originality 101." He
suddenly shifts into a full nine foot tall heavilly armored golem
with guns for his hands. Turning to face the Vile, he says
a distinct "Who wants some?" Before ripping into them with
twin beams of plasma-heated death. However, one of the Vile
jumps up on his back, away from the powerful cannons. "Bad
idea." Entropy says, enforcing it with a massive electrical
charge suddenly shooting through the Vile's body. It lands
on the floor with a hollow thud, then crumbles. "Next!"
"Nice." UA grabs a few Vile and begins tossing them
into each other, shattering them. He notices a few heading
for Time Master's watch. "Oh, no ya don't!" He pounces on
them, knocking them down and shattering them. The one who
had his watch let's it drop and it begins to tick. "Uh, oh!
Time vor--" And then, they're gone.
"Yeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-Whoulf!" is about the
equivalent on the sound made as Entropy, UA, and Time master
crash-land in a large clearing. Entropy is the first to
awaken, his fluidic body more capable of absorbing impacts.
"What the...Where are we?" he says as he gets up, rubbing
the back of his neck. Suddenly, armed soldiers burst into
the area, bearing various kinds of laser weaponry. The
leader, a woman wearing a black metal mask, carries not a
gun but a crystal. Entropy draws his sword, expecting the
fight of his life.
"Travellers!" The leader yells, directing her voice at
the three of them, UA and Time master having just woken up.
"You are in violation of the teleportation act of 1999, as
ordained by the great lord Kyle. You are to be placed under
arrest and slated for execution. Resistance will be met
with torture."
"Great lord Kyle? 1999?" UA says as he wakes up. "Sorry,
I think you have us mistaken for someone else." As he says
this, a glimpse of his crystal is seen. The leader suddenly
falls to her knees, removing her mask. "Forgive me,
fighters. Southern patrol commander Zelda awaiting your
command." UA is visibly startled a bit, but Entropy
attempts to play along. "Uhm...Insolent drone! How dare
you threaten us like this! Take us to Lord Kyle,
immediately!"
"Yes, fighter, but-"
"You wouldn't want to bring down lord Kyle's wrath on you,
would you?"
"No, fighter. It is just that queen Phyllite is only
accepting the elites into the crystal spire."
"We report to Lord Kyle himself. Do not tempt us. We can
dispatch your men and you in moments, so take us there now!"
"Immediately, fighters."
Almost instantly, Zelda conjures up a teleportal. "This
will take you to the courtyard of the crystal spire. Lord
Kyle is making an audience there within the hour. We are
honored by your presence, fighters."
"You'd better be." Entropy says, sneering a bit. He
turns to the others. "Come, lord Kyle will be expecting
us!" The three quickly step through the portal.
They appear in the great crystal throne room.
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." UA whispers.
"Oh, man! This is just bloody great!" Time master
says. UA grabs his collar.
"Just what is going on here? Since when can you
transverse dimensions?"
"It's complicated, hero. You wouldn't..."
"Try me. Later."
"So, what now?" Entropy asks.
"We wait for Kyle. Speak of the devil." Kyle walks in
and takes his throne.
"Well, if it isn't my LOYAL fighters. Tell me, where
have ya been?"
"Oh, here and there." UA answers.
"Really. Here an' there with th' REBELS?"
"The who?"
"Surround them." Crystal guards that look like
just like Ganthet surround them.
"What now, heroes?" Time master asks.
After a few tense moments of Kyle's ranting and raving, the
three of them are led off, into a large and extremely dark
cell in the dungeon. It's obvious that there are other
people there, but none can-or want to be-seen.
"Hey Entropy, can't you just turn into something small and
get out?" Entropy responds with a touch to the space
between the bars and a slight "Ow!" He turns to them. "Not
when he's put up a forcefeild around the cell."
Aglimpse of moonlight seeps into the dungeon. In the light,
chained to the wall is the back of a redhead. The hair is
chopped off and her clothes are in complete wrags with
glipses of green on the fabric. She turns around and looks
at the three. Her mouth looks as if it was hand sewn closed and
her green eyes are souless and emotionless. She has two
scars. One runs across her left cheek and the other runs
from the upper left corner of her face to the lower right
corner. Her clothes almost reveal everything, and look hand
ripped. Her hands are tied behind her back.
A slippery mass of blue flesh hung from the wall.
Pus oozed out of sores around Krakken's eyes. Hanging from
rusty hooks, his back was arched unnaturally. Krakken's
teeth had been forced to grow incredibly fast, piercing his
lips and exposing bleeding gums. His legs had been crushed
into a pulpy, stringy mess of blood-crossed putty. The
agonized man's stomach looked as if it had been torn off,
his intestines sewn to his insides with coarse thread.
Krakken's eyes were dull with pain and despair. But
somewhere within those eyes, something waited cautiously,
like a child listening to his arguing parents. It wasn't
anger or some sort of spark that lurked. It was a promise.
A promise of cold murder.
In one corner, a head sits, crystal shards on the floor
around it. Kyle had a fondness of telekenticly
dissassembling the crystal man facet by facet, leaving only
his head. He didn't have enough mass to regenerate, and was
in great pain. He couldn't even generate enough of a
harmonic pulse to "talk".
Tala sat alone in a seperate corner, her ankles and wrists shackled
together. She was stuck in a kneeling postion, as if one was
forcing her to "pray". After all, her and Kyle had gotten
into quite a few fights and this was how she ended up.
The back and sides of her shirt was mostly flayed, like one
who had been whipped, and whipped often. She was still bleeding
from several of the deeper lashes on her sides. Breathing
brought great pain as well, she had a feeling a rib was
broken. However, thankfully, most of what had happened to
her was just a haze..she assumed she had blacked out from
the pain. She knew that new people had just been brought in,
but hopefully, they would be able to get out before Kyle got
to them.
UA looks around. He suddenly has the feeling he's in a
certain SID's room.
"Well, I always knew this Kyle guy may be trouble."
Entropy says.
"And I always agreed, but remember, we don't belong
here. This isn't our reality. Well, the one we've come to
know as OURS." He turns to Time Master. "Start talking."
"Fine. Since we've last fought, I've tried to steal
objects through the time stream. But I always got bloody
stopped by that centuries' do-gooder! On one time trip, I
was struck by a purple lightning and flung here. That's all
I know."
"Purple...lightning?" Entropy and UA exchange a glance.
"Gorgon strikes again."
"Who?"
"Well, we've gotta get out of here...but we can't just
leave the CFs here." Entropy says.
"Agreed." He looks at them. They all appear to be
looking at him in fear. "I wonder why they all seem afraid
of me?" Suddenly, a familiar FZZAMP! is heard, and they
turn to see ANOTHER UA dressed in black leather with a shiny
cape, gloves, boots and his famous magenta mask right in
their faces.
"Well, well. Traitors caught in the court. And my
dear double. Trying to pass yourself off for me again,
Rebel?"
"uLTRa aVeNGeR!" UA growls.
"Well, duh!"
"Didn't think you were the type to be taking orders,
other."
"Oh, my position is only temporary. I've been using
the king to further my plans to take over all reality!"
"Some things never change." Sounds of explosions are
heard above.
"The castle is under attack by the rebels again. Oh,
dear. Looks like I have to go bail out my LORD again.
Catch you on the flip side...or the chopping block.
Whichever comes first." with a FZZAMP!, he's gone.
"We're going to help the rebels. And you're coming."
UA says, grabbing Time Master.
"But ho--" with a FZZAMP!, they're gone from the cell.
As the three of them reappear outside, Entropy twists out of
UA's grip. "Who the hell do you think you are? I'm not
just standing around and blowing up another few badguys
while the others are suffering like that!"
"They're not even from our time. Why do we have to save
them?"
"They may not be from our time, but they're our friends.
I'm not letting them keep on like that." With that, Entropy
shifts into a massive, green-lightning laced black tiger,
its eyes glowing yellow. "I'll return when I've freed
them." With that, he runs off, down to the dungeon. Upon
arriving, several Vile guards arrive, rushing at him with
swords drawn. "Perfect little lightning rods, aren't they?"
Entropy says. Suddenly, he fires a four-way blast of
lightning at the guards, shocking each into steaming piles
of goo. Entropy is at the cell door immediately, and
smashes the control plate with a massive paw. He shifts
back to his normal form as he enters, then shifts his hand
into a ultra-sharp blade and begins to work at their bonds.
"Can't you keep your mouth shut?" UA says, slapping
Time Master. "Looks like I'm gonna have to improvise my
plan. UA punches Time Master, knocking him out. He lets
him fall gently against a tree. "Just stay there for a
while." He then 'ports.
Inside, Entropy begins to feverishly work at freeing
the prisoners, just as a Vile sneaks up behind him. UA
'ports and kicks it into a wall. Entropy looks up.
"YOU!?"
"You know, we're gonna have to work on getting to know
each other better. Besides, it'll go much faster if I do...
this!" He points his hands and 'ports away Eme's bonds.
Realizing she's free, she lets out a growl and jumps on UA.
She tries to use her long nails to gouge out his eyes, but
he keeps hold of her wrists, trying not to hurt her.
"HEY!"
"She thinks you're the other one!" Entropy says,
pulling her off. UA gives her a nerve jab that knocks her
out.
"No matter what dimension this is, everyone has a similar
way of saying 'Thank You'." He 'ports away the rest of
their bonds before 'porting them. "Happy?"
"Quite."
"Now, let's see about those rebels."
As the two of them teleport into the middle of the battle,
Entropy's sword is out in a flash, and he is quickly cutting
down Vile defenders. "By the way, UA..." Entropy says,
gutting another Vile. "Just where did you put them?"
"I can probably...tell you when we have...a less urgent
matter to deal with!" UA gets out, struggling to fight off
rebels and Vile alike.
"Fighting room? No sooner said than done." Entropy says,
suddenly shifting into the most powerful thing he can think
of.
Vile and rebel alike are crushed and shoved backwards as
Entropy takes his largest form yet. He is a gigantic
dragon now, and not just any dragon. This one is called
Leviathan. A circle of clear space is formed, and the
battle rages outside Entropy's scaly wall of hide. One claw
swipe brings down fifty or more vile. Another knocks a rebel fighter
out of the sky, but landing safely. "You were saying?"
Entropy booms in his draconian voice.
"Stop seeing if I'm impressed and get back to
business." A retreat is called and the rebels head back
into the woods. "That's our cue." UA says. Entropy shifts
back and grabs Time Master. UA opens a teleportal and
they're gone. UA walks up to the castle turrets as the Vile
return inside.
"Perfect."
DEEP IN THE WOODS
UA and Entropy watch two guards by a make-shift camp.
"So, what's the plan?"
"We get in, find out what we need, get out, and don't
get caught." UA says, just as they feel something on their
backs. They turn to see two guards with spears behind them.
They turn back to the camp. "Or we can go with them."
In minutes, they're brought to a huge chair in the
center of the camp. A man walks out from behind it, and
steps into the light. It's this reality's OTHER UA.
"Speak your business, double, before I finish you off."
"Hold on." Entropy says. "I'm not sure if you remember
me or not, but it's me. Entropy. The two of us are
from...another dimension, for lack of a better term. This
isn't the evil UA. To demonstrate, ask him anything about
yourself only you would know."
"Why should I? I have no reason to trust you."
"You have no reason not to, either. In case you don't
know, we freed the other CFs. He teleported them out of the
Crystal spire himself."
"..." The other good UA thinks for a moment.
A man whispers to UA. He looks at them. "Very well.
Your word is enough. Be ready to attack the palace in the
morning."
"You got it." UA says. They walk off into the woods.
UA talks to Entropy quietly. "That seemed wrong."
"How so?"
"I can't put my finger on it, but I think we got out of
the frying pan..."
"Ready the men. We attack tomorrow."
"Yes sir!" A rebel walks off. UA ponders.
"With those two trusting fools, I'll be able to defeat
Kyle and my other, and rule this reality myself!" He laughs
evily, loving when things fall into place.
"Which reminds me," Entropy says, looking up at the sky.
"Just where did you 'port the other CFs? In the condition
they were in, I doubt it's a good idea to leave them out in
the open for too long. Also, I was hoping we could get some
info on what may have happened to alter this reality from
ours, and they probably know such things."
"Good God, will you quit worrying about them? I wouldn't
put people in that condition in any danger. Besides, I saw
how you kept paying attention to Tala."
"And I saw how you and Eme seem to get along so well."
"Shut up."
"I will when you tell me where you put them."
"What are you talking about? She was going to gouge
out my eyes!"
"I meant in the other reality."
"Please. I can't afford a romantic involvement. My
life is too dangerous. Besides, when this is all over, I
got a home to find. This is it."
"This is what?" Entropy says, looking around and seeing
nothing but trees and a big rock.
"This." UA says, pushing the rock back and revealing a
hole in the ground.
"What th--? How--?"
"I found it in the other reality. It was an ancient
cave so I made a gamble it was here." He jumps down the
hole. Entropy tosses Time Master down and jumps in after
them. They land in a big cave with ancient writings on the
wall and dimly lit by Greek Fire. Inside are the CFs, free
and sleeping. Entopy looks at them all.
"Huh. Now I'm impressed." he whispers.
"Well, we better get some sleep. We gotta be outta
here before they wake up and the war starts."
Entropy looks around, finally taking a seat next to Tala.
"I'll keep guard over them, they're less likely to attack
me. Just lemme know when I'm needed and I'll get there.
And as for the home you need to find, who says you haven't
already?"
"Your point?"
"There's an old saying I learned on a planet I did a job
for once: When love calls, you must answer. Anything else
is impossible. My "home" as for what you would define it
as, is an abandoned pile of wreckage populated by pigmen.
That isn't my home, or I would defend it and live there. My
home is Crystallia. It has people and places I choose to
defend, and I would gladly die protecting the home and
people I love than the rock I was found on, and no one cares
about. Eme loves you. You're the leader of the Crystal
Fighters. Several of us may as well be your brothers. From
what I've heard, superheroes are a dime a dozen on your
world. They aren't here. Are you saying you would abandon
Eme, and Crystallia, and the Crystal Fighters, just to
return to a world that probably doesn't need you in the
first place?" He glances down at Tala. "You see this?" He
points to Eme. "And that? This is what would have happened
had you not shown up. You're the leader, you're most of
what holds us together. And Kyle's usurped all that by
taking your place. But hey, if your world is that important
to you, I understand. I just want to know one thing: Is it
you who decides what planets live or die? And is it you who
decides what wars are won and lost?" UA whips around,
trying to ignore him. "This may not be my homeworld, or
even my home dimension, but I have one hell of an obligation
to fulfill. I have to help my friends, to fight alongside
them against the Vile, and if you just want to go home, to
where you're 'needed' to where you 'belong' don't even try
and tell me it's right."
"I didn't say I want to abandon them. As soon as we
beat these cosmic forces of evil, I have to get home. As
much as Crystalia has become my home, I could never live
there. I have to sleep in my crystal world in order to
avoid that whole powerless fiasco again. The tatto I got
from the same place as my symbiote returns and gives me a
tremendous shock to my system. I can't stay here and hope
to stay alive. I have to get back home. I have a brother
who I haven't seen for fifteen years. I have friends, fam--well,
I'm a little short on the family department. What I'm just
trying to say is that I'll be here to the end...and just
hope it's not mine." UA climbs out of the cave. Entropy
walks over to Time Master who's just waking up, and punches
him out again.
In the morning, the war cry is called.
Entropy, after tying up Timemaster and making sure the other
CFs won't be found, heads up to join the battle. Drawing
his sword as he opens the hatch, he notices some familiar
feet.
"Hey UA. What's go-" He trails off as he looks up,
realizing it's the evil UA, and he has friends. Behind a
sizeable Vile squad, Phyllite also stands, holding a
strange, ornate staff. Entropy is instantly hauled up, a
spear placed to his throat, and his sword is quickly taken
from him.
"Well, if it isn't Entropy. Keeping secrets from me
again?" She says, adding a well-placed barb of hatred in
her words. "Go down there, see if any other rebels are
inside. Take as many hostages as you can. And put
this...traitor with the rest of his brethren in the
dungeon."
"Damn you."
"Ooh, you really know how to treaten an old friend, don't
you?"
"Go to hell."
"You first. Guards, take him back to the castle. I will
deal with him there."
"Lady Phyllite!" says to one of the guards coming up from
the tunnel. "The escaped Crystal Fighters are here!"
"Good, take them back as well. The rebels will be mounting
another of those pathetic offensives soon, we must be ready
to stop and threaten them."
"I shall accompany the prisoners back, Lady Phyllite."
Evil UA says, grinning behind his mask.
UA can't upstage anyone because he's a pre-made
character and has a set personality and skill level.
"'Scuse me, this a private party?" UA says, jumping down
and knocking Phyllite and EUA down.
"What're you doing here?" Entropy asks, picking up his
sword and slashing a Vile
"You were late, so I decided to see what's up." UA
answers, punching a Vile down.
"Great. We gotta save the CFs." Entropy says. They
both kick one Vile.
"I'll handle things up here, you go save the CFs. And
when this is over, you can tell me what's up between you,
Tala and Phylite." Entropy stares at him for a moment, then
jumps down the hole. UA clotheslines a vile and it flips
down.
Down below, Entropy just sees the CFs starting to wake
up. "Where--? Behind me!" He spins and slices three Vile
in half. He begins to be swarmed by them, and then
overwhelmed.
"HELP ME!" Time Master shouts as three Vile carry him
into the shadows and disappear. Entropy begins to go down
with Vile on top of him when suddenly, they begin flying
off. The savage CFs are coming to his aid, riping and
tearing the Vile apart. In minutes, there is nothing left
but Vile bits.
"Thank you." Entropy says to them. He gueses they
understand, but most likely not.
"Hey, E, we got big trouble! Phylite and UA got away!
They're gonna sabotage the offensive attack! Get your buns
in gear and come on!"
“All right, I'm coming!" Entropy yells, quickly following.
Beforehand, however, he turns back to the CFs. "Can you get
yourselves out of here?" Nod from Eme. "The Vile will
expect you being here now, you've got to get somewhere
safe." Another nod. "Good, you guys try and get out of here
alive. If anything goes wrong, press this and I'll get
there as fast as I can. You got me?" Entropy finishes,
handing Eme a small homing device. She takes it, and nods
again. "See ya." With that, he runs off to meet up with
UA.
"Where were you?"
"Had to tell them what to do for a second. Anyway, as
long as we're enroute, I might as well explain. I'm in love
with Tala, and when I was working with Phyllite, long before
I met you guys, we had been dating for a few months."
"WHAT?!"
"Like I said, I was still my mercenary self back then. I
didn't care about the job so long as I got paid. Phyllite
got me hooked up with the Vile, and they paid well, so I
started working for them. Naturally, Phyllite's probably
upset about my dumping her. Which reminds me, have you ever
seen that staff she's carrying?"
"No, I haven't. What is it?"
"I don't know, but this doesn't look good."
~Guess heroes do come in all forms~, UA thinks. They
make it to the clearing only to find the rebels outnumbered
by the Vile.
"Too late!"
"Now what?"
"We split up. You do what you can out here." UA says,
running off.
"What about you?"
"I'm gonna take the castle!" With that, he 'ports.
Entropy surveys the battle.
"Gee, thanks, UA."
THRONE ROOM
UA appears and three Vile take guard by Kyle in the
throne.
"You! How can ya be here when yer out there?"
"Easy. I'm from another dimension. And you, are going
down."
"NO! He must not be defeated!" UA turns to see Time
Master with his watch glowing and golden armor. "You've
been mistaken."
"Huh? Say what?"
"I'll explain..."
Outside, Entropy is once again in his monstrous hydra
form, crushing vile by the clawful in, where else, the
thickest part of the fighting. Nearby, rebels fight like
men posessed to defeat their opressors. Suddenly, he shifts
back to his human form, drawing his sword and raising it
high. A circle of rebels surround him for his protection,
as he chants some strange words....
"kldaahfdkis dipasdisharran aldkjudljah...NULL VORTEX!"
A dome of energy radiates outward, then explodes, each vile
in the battlefield suddenly vanishing, appearing later as
specks of dust upon the wind. The rebels stop for a moment
and look at each other, suprised. Entropy, smiling, points
his sword at the castle gates. "Cry havoc, and let slip the
dogs of war!!" he yells. A resounding cheer comes from the
rebels, and they all quickly send forth their batterring
rams to beseige the castle. Entropy uses his powers to
increase his metabolism, running right up the castle walls,
where he is quick to kill the guards and open the gates. As
the rebels flood in to kill off the remaining defenders,
Entropy rushes toward the citadel.
THE WALL
EUA blocks a rebel strike with a sword. He kicks him
over the wall. He then reaches back and blocks another
strike. He spinds and stabs the rebel. He falls dead.
Hearing a FZZAMP, he turns around.
"I was wondering when you'd show."
"Time to pay for all your misdeeds." GUA says, pointing
at him.
"Oh, give it up. The only wrong doer here is you!"
GUA kicks up a sword and grabs it then makes a motion with
his hand.
"Come on." EUA charges him. GUA blocks his strike and
spins. EUA blocks that attack and counters with a gut kick
with their swords still locked. GUA looks up and smiles at
EUA. "That all you got? You truly are a disappointment."
"Kiss mine." EUA spins and strikes, but GUA blocks it.
EUA gives him an uppercut with the butt of his sword,
knocking him down. GUA sweeps him and he falls on his back.
GUA stands, grabs his collar, morphs his hand into a blade,
and holds it by his neck.
"Sorry, brother. Though we share the same taste in
clothes, you were never a match for me."
"STOP!" UA looks up to see Kyle, flying up above them
with the Time Master. "I've hidden for too long. Now it's
time t'send ya back where y'belong!" He sets up a TK shield
around him. Time Master begins to wind his clock.
"Time to go." A whirlwind starts to pick up in the
area. EUA backs up. Entropy steps out of the Citadel only
to see the whirlwind, and UA caught in the middle.
Entropy rushes over to Timemaster, straining his voice to
keep above the howl of the vortex. "Where does that thing
lead?!"
"Back to your time, I think!"
"Good!" Entropy suddenly pries a small globule of matter
off of himself, shaping it into a blade with a string
attached. "This one's for this world!" He flings the
blade, keeping ahold of the string. As UA, evil UA, and
countless numbers of rebels look on, Kyle stops in
mid-hover. Looking down, the blade protrudes several inches
out of his stomach. A trickle of blood comes down his
mouth. "Damn..."
"ENtropy! No!" Kyle falls with Time Master. Entropy
looks at UA.
"What?"
"We were wrong. They're not our enemies. HE is!" UA
points to GUA.
"Say what?" GUA stands.
"Looks like the jig is up." he smiles. EUA stands up
by the other two and pulls off his mask and wipes his bloody
face with it. UA looks at the scar down one side.
"D-DAVID?"
"Isn't he you, UA?"
"No. He's an alternate version of my brother."
"Right." EUA says. "He has deceived you. I don't know
what the Vile were in your world, but here, they were the
faithful servants of Queen Emerald. Then HE was teleported
here to become a Crystal Fighter and manipulated everyone
before brutally harming the CFs and then trying to take over
the world. Kyle came and interviened and took over the
throne to keep him in check."
"I’ve got a headache." Entropy says.
"Right, and now with Kyle dead, I am free to rule!"
"Nu-uh. That's why I got the Super Avengers to help me
transverse dimensions. To stop you, evil brother!"
I don't believe this, UA thinks. It's just like that
dimension where I fought against Persela* (*See ULTRA
AVENGER #1 of 4--C).
"You don't have the power."
"No, but we do!" UA says. "Entropy, super dive
special!"
"Right!" UA cups his hands, Entropy steps in, and he
flings him up. GUA moves in and punches UA. UA counters
with a cross. They engage in a match of similar moves,
blocks, counters, attacks and so on. It's hard to
distingquish one from the other, until GUA grabs UA's neck
and head butts him. He steps back and holds on to the
castle wall. GUA smiles.
"No one can beat me! I'm the best!"
"No, you're dead." UA points up with a smile. UA
looks up and sees Entropy just before he digs his sword into
him. With a scream, UA collapses, dead. His symbiote
begins to ooze off. UA picks it up and places it in a jar.
He opens a teleportal and sends it in.
"What did you do with it?"
"I sent it back into space where it belongs."
LATER
"...So, you see, in order to protect the CFs, we had to
keep them locked up." Dave explains to the three.
"Will they be alright?" Entropy asks, looking at Tala.
"In time. I'm gonna stay here and make sure of that."
"Well, then, let's blow this pop-stand, right guys?"
UA shakes Dave's hand. "Nice to see you again...even if you
aren't my brother."
"I am. Just, not the one you know." All goodbyes are
exchanged and they leave the tower. Time Master winds up
his watch and they're gone. They appear back at the jet.
"Hope you learned your lesson about time travel
finally." UA says.
"Oh, yes I have. Soon as I get back, I'm gonna destroy
this thing. Oh, and thanks for saving me a dentists fee."
He spits out a tooth they both nocked out.
"Sorry." He pats his back and Time Master is gone.
"Why didn't you go home with him?" Entropy asks.
"My job's not done here. Besides, I don't think I
could if I wanted too. Plus, I'd hate to be around when he
finds out I put a KICK ME sign on his back."
--THE END
NEXT:FOR THE VOLCANO SHATTERING CONCLUSION TO
UA AND ENTROPY’S ADVENTURE, CHECK OUT
CRYSTAL FIGHTERS #18: DISSENTION WITHIN
Places you can float to...
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