Chapter 25: The Past
The Tower of the Leptys, near the Water Conduit
The three Leptys shuttles glided into a relatively small (compared to other rooms in the Tower) chamber. It was triangle shaped, about a hundred metres long. The walls were composed of green stone, carved with interesting swirling patterns, evocative of thorned vines. The ceiling was around twenty metres high.
The time travellers had just emerged from an entrance at one corner of the triangle, that stretched mid-way up the wall. Raylina gestured towards a similar entrance at the adjacent corner, and the ships flew at it. The entrance marked the beginning of a long, high-ceilinged passage, the end of which was hundreds of metres distant.
Suddenly, there was an echoing boom behind the three craft. Raylina heard Shadow swear and turned to see a huge, stone door fall into place over the entrance they had come through, booming once more as it touched down.
She narrowed her eyes. Something was up...
That's when the sounds of shouting Hoodlums and marching feet echoed down the long corridor of the other entrance.
Rayden's face went livid with rage. "You led us into a trap!" he yelled at Dark across the shuttles. "I swear, when I..."
"Rayden!" Raylina snapped. "We need to make a defence. We can't afford to be at each other's throats!"
Searching for a defensible position, her eyes fell upon a fan-like flight of stairs at the triangle's third corner, culminating in a square landing. The room contained no other entrances or exits, and that landing seemed like the best place to put up a fight.
They swiftly shot across to the corner, arranging two of the shuttles into a barricade, complete with two turrets, blocking the two open sides of the landing. The other was pushed down the stairs.
Rayden checked his weapons, handing one of his handguns to Shadow. Each of them crouched behind the landed shuttles, and Ly and Raylina took control of the turrets at opposite corners of the landing.
The noise of the Hoodlums grew louder as they rushed down the corridor. The tension grew as the five of them prepared to make a final stand, watching the entrance intently. A bead of sweat trickled down Raylina's face.
Then, the first Hoodlum charged around the corner, followed by an army of them. Raylina and Ly opened fire from the shuttle turrets, and Mr. Dark cast shadow spells against them. Shadow used the Fire Mask to burn several of them where they stood. The Hoodlums opened fire as well as they swept forwards like an unstoppable wave. Ly ducked behind the shuttle as rifle bolts pinged off the wall beside her. Rayden waited until the first of them were within range, then opened fire with Tybalt. But there were many of them, every type of Hoodlum imaginable swarming towards them. Hoodstomers flew high above the rest, dodging and weaving in the air. Two Hecklers bulldozed through the crowd of Hoodmongers around them, firing their toilet cannons up at the defenders. Hoodbooms on stilts lobbed grenades upwards, exploding too close for comfort. Spinneroos waddled forwards, generally useless as they had no form of ranged attack. Grim Keepers formed a wedge at the head of the army, releasing diminutive explosive kamikaze Hoodlums from their skirts as they protected themselves behind their shields. Hoodoos used their sorcerous abilities to protect several Hoodlum Officers in the front line.
A Hoodboom grenade flew in a perfect arc straight over the shuttles. With reflexes that surprised even herself, Raylina caught the grenade and pegged it at the Hoodstormer flying towards them. The grenade exploded, blowing the hovering Lum away. Another Hoodstormer got behind the shuttle barricade, but Raylina grabbed it, ripped its helicopter-pack off, and threw it away.
"There are too many of them!" Rayden yelled as the front line of Hoodlums gained the foot of the stairs. "By Polokus, we must have hit the motherload of Hoodlums! They just keep coming!"
Indeed, more and more Hoodlum soldiers poured from the entrance, reinforcing the already sizeable force crammed into the triangular chamber. It seemed for every Hoodlum the defenders destroyed, another two took its place. Fortunately, the Hoodlums' progress ceased at the base of the stairs. They were unable to push up them as any soldier who stepped onto the stairway was cut down instantly.
But then a Heckler pushed to the front of the crowd, and like a Juggernaught ran straight up the stairs. Mr. Dark tossed a sizeable fireball at it, but it simply shrugged it off, its armour copping some minor superficial burns. Then the huge Hoodlum was at the top of the stairs, smashing straight past the shuttles. One of the shuttles pinned Ly to the wall, and she yelled in pain.
Rayden aimed his assault rifle right at the Heckler's head and pulled the trigger, only to be greeted by an ominous click. Tossing Tybalt aside, he reached for Juliet at his side, but was knocked brutally aside by the Heckler's backhand. Raylina turned her turret around and fired green plasma at the Hoodlum's broad chest, but it glanced off as it brought its fist down on the turret. It crumpled into a sparking lump of metal as Raylina leapt out of the way, on a trajectory which unfortunately carried her down the stairs. She rolled and bounced down the ringed steps, struggling to stop. Mr. Dark swept after her like a dark guardian angel, a sword of flame springing into his left hand. Raylina managed to halt her descent mid-way down the stairs, jumping to her feet as the Hoodlums, free now from the repression of the shuttle turrets, swarmed up the stairs towards her. Mr. Dark caught up with her as she began to toss energy spheres at the onslaught, and they battled side by side against the cloth-bodied enemies.
Shadow prepared to unleash a powerful all-consuming assault against the Heckler, but as he executed it a white-green bubble appeared around the huge Hoodlum, connected to a Hoodoo climbing the stairs. The Heckler grabbed him and threw him far away into the crowd. He curled into a ball and landed amidst the Hoodlums, beginning to wreak havoc.
Ly struggled desperately to push the heavy shuttle away, but its anti-gravity engines had been damaged, giving it the mobility of a stoned elephant. The Heckler was quick to notice her struggles, crouching down to look into her face. She redoubled her efforts, attempting to use telekinesis to assist herself. Then the Heckler swiped the broken shuttle aside and seized Ly around the waist, lifting her into the air. She kicked and punched at the Hoodlum's enormous fist, even using the Air Mask to summon a wind to her aid. But its grip was too tight. The Heckler pinned Ly to the wall at its shoulder level, winding her. It pointed the large shoulder-mounted cannon it possessed directly at her face and, with deliberate slowness, reached for the pull-chain with its other hand.
"Mum! No!" Raylina screamed from the stairs, struggling to climb upwards.
The Heckler wrapped its fist around the pull-chain, and with a sadistic grin on its face, yanked downwards.
That's when a metal object dropped from the ceiling above, smashing through the Heckler's head. The cannon jerked upwards, its energy shot melting the wall centimetres above Ly's head. The object continued straight through the Heckler's neck, and with a sudden blast the Hoodlum's whole body exploded outwards. Ly dropped to the ground, staring in stunned amazement at her saviour.
Standing in the centre of the pieces of a Heckler's shattered armour, optical sensors glowing green, still-smoking palms raised on either side of its body, was Metal Rayman.
As a wave of Hoodlums swept up the stairs, the android unhesitatingly leapt into the fray. Wielding flamethrowers, pulse bullets, an energy sword, and its own hands and feet, it rapidly cleared a path to Raylina and Mr. Dark. A little confused, but desperate enough to accept help from the most unlikely of allies, the two Rays retreated upwards alongside Metal Rayman. Ly and Rayden joined them at the landing, forming an outward-facing circle, while Shadow remained down at the centre of the main Hoodlum force, causing a fair amount of destruction.
Metal Rayman analysed the chamber, attempting to locate plausible escape routes. It knew that if they tried to keep this up much longer they would soon be overwhelmed. The hole in the ceiling was far too high for them to reach now, and the other entrance was crawling with Hoodlums. Metal Rayman turned to the wall behind them.
"What the hell is it doing?" Rayden shouted as he shot an advancing Grim Keeper in the face with Juliet. The robot ignored him as it used a combination of x-ray and sonar to probe the walls for structural weaknesses. It found one, an internal stress fracture left from centuries of several millions of tonnes pressing down upon the Tower, and used its chest-gun to blast a jagged hole straight through the stone. Immediately, the thundering of a torrent of running water reached the ears of the defenders. Beyond the Tower's new renovation was what appeared to be a waterfall, a stream of water contained in an elongated shaft flowing straight past the hole. But there was something different, a surreal quality to the liquid which Raylina couldn't quite put her finger on as she turned to look at it. Then she realised: "The water!" she gasped, her voice swallowed by the combined noise of thundering water and Hoodlum battlecries. "It's falling upwards!"
Metal Rayman pointed at the hole, then at the defenders, cutting down a Hoodstormer with a pulse blast from its hands. "You're kidding!" yelled Raylina incredulously. "We can't go that way!"
"I don't see any other magic trapdoors springing out of the floor!" Rayden yelled back as he drew Doomed Love and sliced a Hoodlum through. The Black Lums had the complete run of the stairs now, and were close to overtaking the landing.
You'll have to use the Water Mask, Ly's voice sounded in her mind. For a moment, Raylina was near panic, then her eyes hardened. "Okay."
"People, we are leaving!" Rayden shouted as Shadow rejoined them. "Whatever you're going to do, do it fast," the black Hedgehog said. Raylina turned to the hole, the others tightening into a ring around her. Taking a breath, she swallowed her fear and dived into the raging stream.
All was chaos. Raylina was buffeted from all sides, the water tossing her and shaking her as some unidentified, ancient engine drove it upwards. Her breath was instantly knocked out of her, unable even to struggle against the sheer force of the billions of hydrogen-oxygen covalent molecules. She was surprised she was alive, let alone conscious.
As she passed the initial shock, she remembered the Water Mask. Dipping into its power, she felt the water flowing around her, felt the energies that were directing it upward. Her lungs burning for air, she embraced the water, both wrestling with it and caressing it with a lover's touch. The water began to obey her commands, separating around her to create a bubble of air for her to breathe and exercising less direct force against her, while still pushing her upwards. As the black discolouration of Mr. Dark shot past her she expanded her thoughts, sensing the others in the water above and below. She manipulated the water to assist them as well, even Metal Rayman.
Travelling upwards at an astonishing rate, the water rapidly reached the peak of its circuit. Raylina directed it to deposit the six of them upon a ledge above the curve of its return to the Tower's base. They were dumped unceremoniously on hard stone, drenched and freezing. Raylina shivered violently as she climbed to her feet, accessing the Water Mask once again to dry herself and the others, forming puddles of still liquid at their feet.
The instant they had recovered, Mr. Dark, Shadow and Rayden spun to Metal Rayman and pointed their respective weapons at the android. "What does it want?" The robot raised its hands in a gesture of surrender or peace, its expressionless eyes pointed straight forward
"What do we do with this?" Shadow asked, pointing Rayden's handgun at Metal Rayman's head.
"Destroy it," Dark said coldly, his blade of flames at the robot's 'throat'. "It's too dangerous to be kept operational."
Unconsciously mirroring Dark's stance, Rayden frowned. "It did save us." Raylina nodded. "We should at least give it a chance. Come on, we could use all the help we can get."
Shadow lowered Romeo with wary suspicion in his eyes. "It seems a number of unlikely alliances have been formed recently," he said, looking at Mr. Dark and Rayden. "One more shouldn't hurt. But if this machine makes one wrong move, I'll blast it back into ones and zeroes."
"We don't know why it's helping us," warned Dark.
"I think that's pretty clear," Rayden answered, lowering Doomed Love. "It wants the Sceptre. So do we. It wants us to help it. Got all that, Darky?"
"Once we've got the Sceptre it'll just double cross us," the sorcerer replied, ignoring the jibe.
"Probably. But I think we can take on one tin-can robot."
"It's not going to be easy to steal a magical sceptre from right under Reflux's nose," Shadow continued. "A single mistake could change the future of this world completely, so maybe the precision of a machine is just what we need."
Dark extinguished his blade, nodding reluctantly. "Okay."
Shadow tossed Romeo back to Rayden. "I owe you some bullets. It's bone dry."
"That makes two of us," Rayden said wryly as he caught the handgun deftly and holstered it, also replacing the empty Juliet. "I'm down to sharp sticks and harsh language."
"Just like the rest of us," Raylina said, eyebrow raised, smiling.
"Yeah, but you're the Chosen One," Rayden replied, grinning playfully. "You're inherently awesome."
Although Dark's wards had by and large protected the from serious injury, each of them had their fair share of cuts and bruises. Dark's cloak was pock-marked with burns and holes, and a scratch on his palm bled through his glove. Rayden had an energy burn on his cheek, and Raylina was covered in bruises from her tumble down the stairs. Shadow seemed to be the only one left unmarked.
As the five of them recovered from their trip, Raylina began to wonder. "Where are we?"
Globox found himself suddenly alone and unguarded. Gazing around, the frog-like creature wondered where all the Hoodlums had gone.
The Hoodlums had captured Globox inside their Headquarters, by using a devilish recreation of a sexually attractive female Glute as bait. Then they had used Globox himself as bait, drawing Rayman into further ambushes. However, their plans had backfired when the Limbless hero laid waste to their delicate machinery. Then they had flown Globox up to the magnificent Tower of the Leptys, leaving him speechless with its sheer intimidating glory. They had formed a garrison not far from the Tower's top, stringing the Glute up by the feet. Then the entire garrison had rushed off suddenly, down a long corridor. If he listened closely, Globox could hear the sounds of battle echoing from that direction. Concentrating, Globox focused his powers of meteorokinesis. The moisture in the air condensed to form a small raincloud above him, static electricity building inside it. A miniature bolt of lightning lanced down from it to strike the rope tying Globox to the ceiling, immediately burning it to ash. He dropped to the ground, landing painfully on his head. He paused to regain his strength. It had been a long time since he had used his powers and he was well out of practise. Climbing to his feet, he looked around at the abandoned camp. His eyes slid past the corridor the Hoodlums had charged down: he had no intention of following them. Then his eyes fell upon a small, two-man aircraft shoved to the side of the camp. "Time to find Andy!" he said cheerfully as he walked towards the Leptys shuttle.
The six time travellers found themselves very near the top floor of the Tower. So close, in fact, that they could faintly hear Reflux's grunting exchanges with Andre floating down to them. They had found their way to a wide balcony, hidden from the flat Tower top by a fold of rock resembling a wave. Safe from Hoodlum attacks, and having plenty of time before they could take the Sceptre without interfering in established events, they took the opportunity to rest while they waited for events to unfold. Mr. Dark sat at the edge of the balcony, gazing down at the sweeping views below. Shadow stood by himself, arms crossed, while Rayden produced a whetstone and began to sharpen Doomed Love. Metal Rayman stood like a silver statue, looking straight forward. Ly drew Raylina into her arms, embracing her cross-species daughter. How are you feeling, Lina? she asked, shortening her name in a familiar fashion. Raylina could feel Ly's sadness across their telepathic link, an emotion mirrored in herself. She hugged her mother close. "It'll be ok, mum."
Metal Rayman did nothing to acknowledge Raylina's presence as she approached. The android stood stock still, perfectly straight, green optical sensors pointed straight forwards.
For a few moments Raylina studied the robot from a few metres away, and then she stepped up to it."My name is Raylina," she said, offering her hand. Metal Rayman tilted its head to look down at it, then looked straight ahead again. Acknowledged," a digitised voice said from Metal Rayman's unmoving mouth. Raylina's brow furrowed, letting her hand fall. This could be harder than she thought.
"Let's sit down," she said as she did so. Metal Rayman did not, and she quickly stood back up, embarrassed. "What's your name?" she asked, cheeks tinged red. The robot looked at her, expressionless. "Clarify?"
"What are you called? Your… title? You must have a name."
"I am called E-279, designated 'Metal Rayman'" it said, voice deadpan. Raylina smiled slightly. "There's a start. Do you know that you're built to look like my father? You're named after him too."
"Acknowledged."
She eyed the metal protrusion at the back of Metal Rayman's head, swept upwards to resemble Rayman's distinctive wave-like hairstyle. "Do you know why?"
The machine was silent for a moment, selecting an appropriate reponse. "A reasonable conclusion would be that it is because my creator considered Rayman his enemy. Elaborate?"
Raylina raised an eyebrow. "Please."
"Citation: Metal Sonic. Built to resemble Ivo Robotnik's perceived enemy, Sonic the Hedgehog. This is a similar case."
Raylina was surprised at this seemingly independent thought. "You figured that out for yourself?"
"Psychology and logic are among my subroutines."
"Okay…tell me this, then. Why are you helping us?"
"It was logical to propagate allies. I have the same objective as you. As already demonstrated, working in co-operation increases efficiency in both parties."
"But we need the Sceptre to defeat Veurtoya. You just want to take it to your master, Eggman…"
"Negative. Ivo Robotnik is no longer my master," the machine stated abruptly. This took Raylina completely by surprise. "Oh-what? Why?"
"His actions are no longer logical. Chance of destruction is increased while serving under him."
This puzzled Raylina. "Then why are you trying to get the Sceptre?"
The robot appeared not to have considered this. After several seconds, it stated simply: "Information missing."
Raylina smiled. "That stumped you, huh? 'Information missing'? You don't even know why you're doing this!"
For a second Metal Rayman stared at the ground. "Correct. The deletion of Ivo Robotnik as primary commander has left higher objectives ambiguous at best. Originally his overarching order was to acquire any asset which could significantly improve his military or economic strength. The Sceptre of the Leptys fit this profile. I no longer follow Ivo Robotnik's commands, but I began this mission while I still did. And leaving unfinished objectives would have an undesirable effect on my programming. However, I no longer need to give the Sceptre to him, if I am able to select a new higher objective."
"As in… if you find something else to work for, you don't have to give the Sceptre to Eggman?"
"Affirmative."
Raylina smiled. "How about the good of the Crossroads of Dreams?"
Rerouting new hierarchy.
Higher objective replaced.
"That is… acceptable."
Mr. Dark looked up in surprise as Raylina sat down beside him. She smiled, and he looked away. "I'm surprised you can tolerate my presence, Chosen One," he said subserviently." "After all, I am the cause of your sudden coming of age." There was a strong tone of self disgust in his voice.
For a few moments, there was silence. Then Raylina asked, "What do you know about this place, Mr. Dark?"
Again, he was surprised at her apparent willingness, even eagerness, to hear what he had to say. But he answered her. "This Tower was built thousands of years ago, as a temple for the Leptys. Two societies at their pinnacle worked together on it, fusing their entire expansive knowledge of architecture, engineering, science, and even magic to culminate in this one great work, a grand tribute to the rogue God. And this is the reason for the odd design of the shuttles down there.
"The Tower of the Leptys was built as the result of a collaboration between the Knaaren and the Rays. At that time, our species was widespread across this continent, and coexisted with the Knaaren in their Desert. The Rays had a great deal of respect for the Knaaren and their culture, and both races were near-equal from a technological standpoint. They learnt much from each other."
Raylina's mind was bursting with questions. "But the Knaaren… they aren't exactly technologically advanced… I'd even call them primitive. How did they achieve something like this?"
"Suffice to say," Dark replied, a bitter edge to his voice. "that both races have declined substantially since that time." His speech grew so soft that Raylina could barely hear it. "And we brought it on ourselves."
Again, there was silence. As Raylina gazed down at the Summit Beyond the Clouds below, she remembered how Rayman had saved her from his dark reflection inside that very mountain. Or how he would save her life, eighteen years in the future. She herself wouldn't even be born for another two.
Raylina let out a sigh. Mr Dark turned to look at her with his yellow, glowing eyes. "You grieve for your father."
Raylina nodded. "Do you think… is it possible… you said Veurtoya would take his time…" she swallowed. "…'digesting' them. Could they maybe still be alive?" Eighteen years in the future.
Again, Mr. Dark was silent for a moment. "I don't pretend to be an expert on the eating habits of the Dark God. But… there are two qualities common to all of the Heroes, in all realities: Luck, and the ability to survive. If anyone could live through the torments of that spirit's whim, it would be your father and the others. Even so, I think it… unlikely."
Raylina nodded, bowing her head. She played with Rayman's kerchief in her hands. It had been in her pocket since he had given it to her. "I was hoping to give this back to him."
Again, Dark looked at her. "I apologise for my bluntness, but… I think, regardless of whether Rayman is alive or dead, the mantle has been passed on to you. The protection of the Crossroads is yours to fulfil. You are the Chosen One now."
A few tears fell from her eyes, as they passed from sadness, to acceptance, to determination. "You're right."
Lifting the red kerchief reverently, the coloured scrap of cloth which had belonged to thousands of Chosen Ones before her, she tied it around the invisible bond which connected her head to her shoulders in place of a neck. And with this symbolic passing of the torch, the duty passed down by the Ancients became hers. Like Dark said, she was the Chosen One.
Raylina smiled. "Damn thing doesn't go with my top."
A sudden wave of regret washed over Mr. Dark. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have to take up this responsibility so young. I am so very sorry about what I have put you through. It… greatly saddens me," he finished lamely, for once lost for words. Raylina could sense he truly meant what he said. He deeply and sincerely regretted everything he had done to this world, not just recently, but throughout his entire long history. He may have done evil things, performed acts of utter depravity, but at this moment her heart went out to him.
"Mr. Dark, I…forgive you."
The sorcerer looked up in near-shock. "What?"
"The gracious thing to do would be to say thank you," Raylina joked, grinning, then her voice returned to a sombre tone. "I forgive you," she said again.
"Thank you," Dark said. Raylina got the distinct impression he was smiling beneath his shadows, not with contempt or malevolence, but with genuine fondness. "It seems the addition of fairy blood has done far more good than harm to our race." He paused. "But I have yet to forgive myself. And I doubt that I ever will. Nonetheless, I am thankful." Then he barked out a laugh. "I certainly appear to have changed my tune," he said. "Not so long ago I would have opposed with my life any 'tainting' of our blood. But it seems I was sorely mistaken."
A new question sprang into Raylina's mind. "Um… Mr. Dark?" Why do you hide your face? Is it… because of that scar?"
For a few moments, Raylina feared he would not answer. But then he did."A number of different reasons. As a feared warlord it certainly created an air of mystery and intimidation. But, initially, yes, it was to cover my scar."
"But…you're a sorcerer. Can't you heal it?"
He shook his head. "My brand of magic is not that of fealing. I can no more seal the cut on my hand or the scar on my face than a fairy can level a city. My magic is largely destructive; theirs, for the most part, is constructive. I can change things, create monsters and soldiers from already-existing genes, but I am unable to regenerate the cells that house those genes."
Raylina nodded. She understood what he was saying: she had received a solid grounding in both magic and science in her childhood from a combination of fairy tutors, Murfy the greenbottle, and Dark himself.
He started talking again. "But… of course I could have obtained the meansto heal it, from fairies or from any other of the myriad of magical creatures that inhabit this planet. I chose not to, I suppose." Mr. Dark, who had confided in no-one but himself for centuries, found himself opening up to this young Ray.
"I saw the scare on my face as an embodiment of my… failures. When I first received it it was from the blade of something I helped to give life to. I didn't want to forget that. It was on that day that I earned my banishment from our people, the day I turned my back on the world." He paused. "It was the day the Flames of the Limbless were unleashed upon this planet."
Puzzled, Raylina waited for him to say more, but he remained silent. It appeared he had no wish to elaborate on these mysterious events. She had learnt much from the fairies and others who taught her, but none had given her even a basic history of the Crossroads of Dreams. That needs to change, Raylina thought. If we cannot remember the mistakes of the past, how can we learn from them?
"I'm sorry. You must be curious about many of the things I have spoken of. Perhaps one day, when this is over, I will explain them in greater depth. But not until Veurtoya is safely bound once again."
For a moment, the Rays were still. Then suddenly, surprisingly, Mr. Dark reached up to his hat and tore it from his head. The shadows around his face disappeared, exposing his scar, as he lit the black, broad-rimmed hat aflame with a spark from his finger. Raylina stared in shock as Dark threw the burning headwear away. The flames rapidly consumed the hat and the small objects which dangled from it, falling down the side of the Tower as it burned.
Dark turned to Raylina, looking her in the eye. "My shame no longer remains hidden," he said by way of explanation, tracing the scar across his pale face with his finger.
Raylina nodded approvingly."I think it's for the best."
Both looked up suddenly as a roar carried down to them, a chillingly distorted Knaaren warcry. Dark's eyes narrowed. "Reflux has invoked the Leptys," he said. "It is time to act."
Raylina sprang to her feet. "Looks like we're up, Mr. Dark."
Climbing to his feet, he replied: "Chosen One… call me Raylex."
Andre had given up patience.
"Reflux! Hurry up and start the frigging thing!"
"Be quiet, worm! You know nothing of the forces which you speak of. This work will not afford the rushing of impatient flies!"
Ignoring this insult, Andre continued. "Come on, you don't even know why it's taking so long! Just invoke the damn Leptys so we can get this over with!"
Reflux shook his head, brandishing his staff. "Fine! I will attempt the invocation. Then perhaps the Leptys will strike you down for your blasphemous impatience!"
Anger pent up in his limbs, Reflux stepped into the centre of the roof with his double-jointed legs. Raising his staff into the air, the Sceptre sphere at its tip glowing like the moon, he began the traditional incantation. Handed down over the millennia among the Knaaren people, the words had remained the same since the Leptys itself gave the Sceptre to the first ancestors of the Desert tribe. "Oh Leptys, Father of the Knaaren people!" To Reflux's surprise, the wind around him picked up instantly. Perhaps the vermin is right. "Give to me, mighty warrior and true servant of yours, the gifts of multiplication and great power, so that my will may be done!"
Great Power was a phrase quite open to interpretation.
As Reflux gazed into the sky, a sudden change came about it. The clouds receded instantly, leaving a clear sky. But as the Knaaren watched, the crisp blue transmutated into a light, dusty brown, the twin suns shining a muddy colour through it. The sky had become the same colour as that of the Desert of the Knaaren.
These theatrics, though unnecessary, gave the Leptys a certain amount of enjoyment. Even gods must have their sport.
As Reflux rejoiced at this show of power from the deiety he had been taught to fear and celebrate his entire life, the Sceptre glowed with blue light, and then suddenly caught aflame. White flames ran up and down Reflux's staff, spreading up his arm and across his body. Yet he remained miraculously unburnt. His eyes widened in wonder as energies flooded through his body, changing him. His already muscular upper body swelled, tearing through his tunic and leaving his waist almost impossibly narrow. His fists grew enormous, and he took on a hunch-backed posture, with his head thrust forward below his shoulders. His skin changed colour, going from the grey-bronze of his species to a mottled grey and yellow. His eyes became beady and turned red, receding into their sockets, and his jaw-bone grew large and chunky, the entire shape of his skull warping into an hourglass shape. With one final roar into the heavens, the white flames left his body via his mouth, leaving him quite a different creature.
As Reflux marvelled at the new body his God had granted him, Andre's deeply infuriating, mocking voice interrupted his reverie. To his utter outrage, at came from within his chest.
"Wow, Reflux! You're so big and strong!"
The Knaaren's anger almost overcame him then, but he wrestled it under control, calming himself with the mantra If the Leptys wills it.
"Yes, Andy,"
"With the energy from your mighty Sceptre, I will be able to reproduce infinitely! Gwah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Reflux shut his eyes, breathing deeply to quell the disgust he felt at having such vermin inside him. If the Leptys wills it.
"Yes, Andy."
"Yes, Andy. Yes, Andy." Andre repeated in a high-pitched, mocking tone. "Can't you say anything else!"
If the Leptys wills it. If it were not for those five words Reflux would have torn his own chest open to crush the Dark Lum within him. A fierce irony pierced his voice as he exhaled. "No, Andy!"
The Leptys had chosen to place Andre within Reflux. This was not for him to question. If the Leptys wills it.
But that didn't mean he had to like it.
Turning his thoughts away from the parasite inside him, the Knaaren began to gasther power through the Sceptre, its sphere glowing like one of the two moons. It was time to get this over with.
But then, with his newly heightened senses, Reflux detected movement behind him. Sparks rising from the Sceptre's tip, Reflux jumped and turned in the air, coming to the ground with a resounding thump as Andre spoke. "I told you I'd serve you Rayman on a platter! Bon apetit! Gwah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Reflux's lip curled, swinging his staff into the air. Finally, it was time for revenge. Finally, his bloodlust would find an outlet. "Thanks, Andy!"
Standing at the edge of the Tower, fists primed, a cocky smile on his face, was Rayman.
