Disclaimer: I don't own Shinzo.
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"Shinzo"
"I pity those Enterrans in the lower dungeon." Said one Enterran guard to another as they were on their usual rounds around one of the lower levels of the castle.
"Why? What happened?" Asked the other Enterran.
"You mean you didn't hear?" Asked the other Enterran shocked as his friend shook his head no. "Well, they agreed to submit to King Daku's power. And, you know what that means."
"Ouch!" Exclaimed the other Enterran realizing what his friend meant.
"Exactly!" Exclaimed the other Enterran shaking his head. "I'd hate to be those three right now."
"You got that right!" Exclaimed the other one as they turned the corner and headed down the hallway.
"Do you think they were talking about Mushra, Sago, and Kutal?" Asked Neko dropping down from her hiding spot lying on a pipe hanging from the ceiling.
"Who else would they be talking about?" Asked Masha flying in front of her.
"And, what did they mean by, 'I'd hate to be those three right now?'" Asked Neko knowing she wasn't going to get the right answer.
"I don't know…" Replied Masha. "But, whatever it is, I have a bad feeling about it…"
"So do I." Added Neko. "Hey! Wait a minute! They said, 'those Enterrans in the lower dungeon,' right? Well, we're on the floor right above the lowest level of the castle. So, the Enterrans they were talking about have to be below us. Let's go check it out! I bet you they were talking about Mushra, Sago, and Kutal!"
"All right." Said Masha following Neko as she made her way towards the steps leading downward.
"So, is this what you had in mind when you agreed to submit to King Daku's power?" Asked Mushra giving Sago an annoyed look.
"No… I had expected him to take us to the throne room." Answered Sago honestly. "I didn't expect to get hung from the ceiling by a rope in a dungeon."
"Well, what else did you expect him to do!" Asked Mushra sounding really annoyed as he looked at Kutal. "Is this why you submitted to King Daku's power, too? So, we could just get into the castle?"
"Huh? To get into the castle? Oh, of course, of course!" Exclaimed Kutal breaking out into a nervous sweat.
"So, these are the three Enterrans that want to become King Daku's servants?" Asked a voice below them. Mushra, Sago, and Kutal looked down as the door opened and a weird looking scientist walked into the room and added, "Or, did they just get caught in order to get into our castle? In order to look for their friends, perhaps?"
"You got that right!" Exclaimed Mushra. "Now where's Yakumo and Kiri!"
"What we did with your two human friends is our business." Answered the scientist walking into the room as Mushra noticed he was carrying something under his arm. The scientist noticed Mushra looking at his package and asked, holding it up, "Wondering what's in here?"
"What are those!" Asked Mushra noticing that the glass jar had maggot looking things in it.
"My friends here will make sure that you become devoted servants of the king whether you want to or not." Replied the scientist.
"What do you mean?" Asked Sago as the clasped attaching the rope to the ceiling opened sending the three to the ground.
"My little friends here will crawl into your ears and burrow themselves into your brain taking complete control of you mind and body. You will then be devoted servants of King Daku." Answered the scientist opening the jar and leaning over let the maggots crawl out of the jar.
"This is not what I asked for!" Exclaimed Sago as the three scooted backwards trying to get away from the maggots, who were making a beeline straight for them, but it was kind of hard specifically because they still had a rope tied around their waists.
"We have to make sure that you will not turn on the king." Explained the scientist.
"Can't you find a better way!" Exclaimed Mushra as the maggots got closer to their feet.
"This way insures total devotion." Added the scientist smiling as a couple maggots crawled on Mushra's foot.
"Oh, get them off me! Get them off me!" Exclaimed Mushra flailing his feet in the air trying to knock the maggots off.
"I'm not liking this!" Exclaimed Kutal as a couple started to crawl up his shirt.
"Get off of me!" Exclaimed Sago squirming around trying to knock the maggots off of his cloak.
"Why do you even bother to resist?" Asked the scientists amused by the whole scene. "You know it's only a matter of time before they find your brains… Huh?" The scientist turned around and Mushra gasped a familiar sound was heard and the door and the ground behind the scientist exploded sending him flying forwards. The three Enterrans screamed as the explosions washed over them sending most of the maggots flying off of them.
"Neko!" Asked Mushra desperately, he really hoped it was her. He really didn't want to become mindless.
Mushra sighed in relief when he heard a familiar voice ask, "Yes?"
"Neko, get these things off of us!" Exclaimed Mushra as Neko came walking out of the dust, crossbow in hand, as the remaining maggots got closer to their ears. "They're going to crawl in our ears, eat our brains, and make us mindless servants of King Daku!"
"Um, Mushra? King Daku's already a little late on the mindless thing." Commented Neko looking at him.
"Huh?" Asked Mushra sounding confused.
"Never mind." Replied Neko smiling as her joke went straight over Mushra's head.
"Hey!" Exclaimed Mushra a few seconds later as he finally got what Neko meant as she re-clipped her crossbow on her back with a comical smile.
"Um, Neko? Would you mind getting these things off of us?" Asked Kutal looking at her.
"Oh… Sure!" Relied Neko whipping out something that resembled a large Super Soaker. "Now, don't move!" She added spraying them with something that looked like water.
"Whoa!" Exclaimed Mushra as the maggots shriveled up and fell off of them.
"Neko? How did you do…?" Asked Sago as a scream filled the air. The group looked over to see the scientist running across the room with maggots crawling up his lab coat. He was almost through the door when he ran into something and fell backwards onto the ground.
"It is good to see that you are all safe." Came Hakuba's monotone voice as Neko walked over to the scientist and pointed the odd looking gun at him.
"I know this is going against what I do, but…" Said Neko spraying the scientist and the rest of the maggots with the liquid.
"What did you do that for, Neko!" Exclaimed Mushra as the remaining maggots shriveled up and died.
"I will untie them now." Said Hakuba seemingly not to care that they were about to get into a verbal fight with each other.
"Even if he is a scientist working with King Daku he doesn't deserve to have his brain eaten…" Answered Neko as Hakuba chewed through Kutal's ropes. "No Enterran deserves that."
"Speaking of King Daku…" Interrupted Sago before Mushra had time to respond to Neko's comment. "Did you find Yakumo and Kiri?"
"Uh, guys? I'd hate to burst your bubble, but Kiri's not a real human." Said Neko slowly looking at Sago.
"What!" Exclaimed Kutal looking shocked.
"I always thought there was something odd about her." Said Mushra.
"Well, if she's not a human, then what is she?" Asked Sago as Hakuba chewed through the ropes binding him. "And, how did you find out about her?"
"I heard two Enterrans talking about a Katai, that he was a shape-shifter, and he was ordered by King Daku to trap the last two humans." Replied Neko as Hakuba started on Mushra's binds.
"How?" Asked Kutal.
"By using the form you call Kiri." Replied Neko.
"But, that means Yakumo is…" Said Mushra trailing off at the mental thought of all the trouble Yakumo was in.
"She's in more trouble then you think." Said Neko looking at him. "I, also, overheard them saying that King Daku was going to burn Yakumo at the stake at dawn."
"Dawn?" Asked Sago as Hakuba chewed through Mushra's binds. "But, that's only…"
"A few hours away." Finished Masha, as she was the only one with an internal clock.
"We should quickly find Yakumo, and quickly find the real Yakumo." Said Neko looking at the three Enterrans. "This, Katai, will probably try to take Yakumo's form if King Daku finds out you're free."
"Dawn will be here shortly." Added Masha. "When you find Yakumo, make sure she is the real, human, Yakumo. We don't need to waste time with a fake Enterran Yakumo, got it?"
"Yeah." Answered Sago and Kutal as Mushra stared at Neko as King Daku's words floated into his head about Neko not being a true human.
"Neko…?" Asked Mushra slowly as Neko looked at him, he had to know if King Daku had been right. "King Daku told us something you, a-and I just want to know if he was telling the truth. Is it true that you…?"
"I suggest you save all questions for later." Interrupted Hakuba suddenly. "We should find Yakumo quickly before the sun comes up."
"Yes, I agree with Hakuba." Added Masha as Neko walked over to Mushra. "We should hurry up."
"Don't worry. You can ask me later." Whispered Neko into Mushra's ear as she gave him a catty grin.
"Um, Neko? What exactly was that stuff you sprayed on us?" Asked Sago smelling his sleeve after a weird smell had filled the air.
"Well, you'll want to stay away from an open flame for the next twenty-four hours." Replied Neko turning around to face Sago. "And, some small, stinky woodland creatures might find you attractive for awhile. But, other then that? You don't want to know."
"Neko. Please, concentrate on the task at hand." Said Hakuba looking at Neko, who looked at him.
"Sure." Said Neko walking towards the door as Sago and Kutal gave each other worried looks.
Mushra watched her walk away with a confused look as Masha asked, "Well, you all already know you can't all go after Yakumo, it would be too obvious and easy to spot. So, who's doing what?"
"Mushra and I will find Yakumo." Said Neko taking charge. "Kutal, Sago, you can create a diversion for us. Hakuba, Masha, you two get out of the castle and wait for us at the moat."
"But, Neko…" Said Masha sounding worried flying over to her as shouting was heard coming from down the hallway.
"Masha, there's no time." Said Neko as everybody piled out into the hallway as the shouting got closer. "They obviously know about me rescuing you guys so we have to hurry. You all know what you have to do?"
"What kind of distraction did you want?" Asked Kutal.
"Anything that will distract the guards, right?" Asked Sago looking at Neko.
"Right, now everybody split up!" Exclaimed Neko as the group went their separate ways.
"So, you are the human, Yakumo." Said King Daku walking into the throne room as the caged Yakumo was lowered from the ceiling by a chain.
"And, you must the king Kiri told us about." Said Yakumo bravely looking at King Daku. "Why did you take over Shinzo and the last humans! They deserved something better then this!"
King Daku laughed evilly as Yakumo looked at him confused. "You actually believed this was Shinzo!" He asked sounding pleased. "You are mistaken, my dear. This is not Shinzo. This is my castle."
"What?" Asked Yakumo weakly. "This isn't Shinzo? But, Kiri said…"
"You shouldn't believe everything someone tells you." Interrupted King Daku sounding exasperated. "Oh, I can't wait till you're gone…"
"What do you mean?" Asked Yakumo sounding scared.
"You are to be burned at the stake at dawn for being a horrible human creature." Explained King Daku as his voice sounded happier. "I'm just glad I'll never have to look at your face again."
"But, we've never met before." Said Yakumo confused.
"Yes, we have." Replied King Daku as he proceeded to tell Yakumo about when he and a couple Dark Generals went to kill her when she was in her cryogenic slumber but they were scared off by Dr. Tatsuro's laser defense system. "It was crude, but it managed to scare us off." Finished King Daku as Yakumo was staring at him shocked.
Yakumo shook her head violently bringing herself out of her current train of thought as she said, "My friends will come and rescue me!"
"You mean your three Enterran friends?" Asked King Daku.
"What have you done to them!" Exclaimed Yakumo sounding angry realizing what King Daku was getting at.
"Nothing that your little human friend didn't ruin." Answered King Daku sounding annoyed.
"Neko?" Asked Yakumo sounding happy.
"Yes. But, they won't be around long enough to ruin my plans for you." Said King Daku looking over his shoulder. "Katai!"
"Yes, King Daku?" Asked Kiri walking into the room.
"Kiri?" Exclaimed Yakumo shocked.
"Is everything ready?" Asked King Daku.
"Yes, the destruction of the human, Yakumo, will proceed at dawn." Replied Kiri smiling evilly.
"Kiri!"
"Actually, I wish you'd call me by my real name." Said Kiri started to glow as she changed into a short Enterran. "And, that name is Katai, King Daku's loyal shape-shifter."
"Katai, this human has friends that I'd like you to capture. Three are Enterrans; you may kill them if you want. But, one is another human, do not kill her and bring her back to me." Ordered King Daku to Katai as Yakumo looked at 'Kiri' shocked.
"You want to burn her too!" Asked Yakumo angry looking at the king.
"No." Replied King Daku looking at Yakumo. "She is a powerful fighter and will make a great addition to my forces."
"Neko, Sago, Kutal, and Mushra will never be captured by you!" Exclaimed Yakumo. "And, Neko will never follow your orders!"
"We'll see about that. Katai? Please show our human friend how you intend to capture her friends." Asked King Daku looking at Katai.
Katai laughed and started to glow. Yakumo gasped as Katai changed into her! "How do you look?" Asked the fake Yakumo with a hiss.
"No…" Gasped Yakumo softly.
"This is great!" Exclaimed King Daku suddenly. "I will be known across the land as the king who destroyed one of the two last remaining humans and took the other one as his slave!"
"Oh, I do wish we would have stopped for lunch." Sighed Kutal waving a fan over a grated dish that had fish on the top. "Oh, well, one must make do with what one's got."
"Distraction, huh?" Said Sago walking around some cylinders that were connected to the floor and ceiling. "This will have to do." He added trying to turn a valve that he happened upon, but he couldn't turn it. "Phew! I need to get more exercise." He continued giving up on the whole valve idea, but as he walked away a strange green liquid started pouring out of the faucet next to the valve.
"Yakumo!" Shouted Neko running into the throne room out of breath, she stopped and looked around the room breathing heavily but Yakumo was no where to be seen. She then looked up at a sky light in the ceiling. "Damn it!" Exclaimed Neko noticing how light the sky was getting. Dawn was wasting no time in getting here. "They must have taken her to the main courtyard." Said Neko out loud. "Least I know where she is, I have to quickly find Mushra, Sago, and Kutal and tell them where Yakumo is. And, all before the sun comes up."
Neko turned around and started to walk towards the door when an Enterran's voice sounded from behind her. "Halt! Who are you? Don't you know that no one's allowed in the throne room when the king's not here?"
Neko didn't turn around as another voice sounded. "Besides, which squad are you from? I've never seen that outfit before? Are you a new recruit? Or, did the king send out a request for more help from another kingdom?"
When Neko didn't answer the first voice who spoke commanded, "Answer us! Who are you!"
"No way! She's a human!" Exclaimed the second Enterran who spoke as Neko turned around to face them.
"That's right." Said Neko calmly looking at them.
"That must be Neko! The other human King Daku spoke of!" Exclaimed the first Enterran to the other.
"That's right." Said Neko again reaching behind her back for her crossbow.
"Hold it right there!" Exclaimed the second Enterran as both of them pointed their spears at her. "Keep your hands where we can see them! King Daku has already told us of your reputation!"
"Really?" Asked Neko curling her fingers around the handle of her crossbow. "Okay, fine. If you want to see my hands so badly here they are!" She exclaimed whipping her crossbow out, and before the Enterrans could react she let lose a couple of arrows. She re-clipped her crossbow and grinned as the ground around the Enterrans exploded sending them in the air. "That was too easy." She added walking over and whisking the cards out of the air. She stuffed them into her card pouch and said, walking away, "Now, to find Mushra, Sago, and Kutal."
"Yakumo!" Shouted Mushra running through the upper dungeons staff in hand.
"Mushra!" Called a familiar voice from below.
"Yakumo! Is that you!" Asked Mushra looking down and seeing their human friend locked in a cell.
"Of course it is, Mushra!" Exclaimed 'Yakumo' sounding annoyed. "Please, Mushra, get me out of here!"
"All right." Said Mushra jumping down totally forgetting Neko and Masha's warning about a fake, Enterran Yakumo. "Stand back!" Exclaimed Mushra raising his staff over his head as 'Yakumo' moved to the back of the cell.
"Thanks, Mushra!" Exclaimed 'Yakumo' as Mushra snapped the lock off with his staff and opened the cell door for her.
"Come on, Yakumo!" Exclaimed Mushra grabbing her hand. "King Daku's planning to burn you at the stake at sunrise!"
"What!" Exclaimed 'Yakumo' as Mushra pulled her out of the cell.
"That's right." Said Mushra looking at her. "So, we have to get you out of here before then." He added pulling her down the hallway.
"Wait." Said 'Yakumo' bracing her feet and amazingly bringing Mushra to a full stop. "I think it's this way, the exit, I mean." She added pulling out of Mushra's grasp and pointing the other way.
"Oh, okay." Said Mushra a little shocked as he followed 'Yakumo' down the hallway, he was wondering how she brought him to a full stop…
"Are the preparations complete?" Asked King Daku as an Enterran under his control was tying Yakumo to a stake.
"Yes, the destruction of the human girl with commence when the sun can be seen over the tallest point of the castle." Replied the Enterran who tied Yakumo up.
"Good." Said King Daku as all the Enterrans watching started shouting things like, 'kill the human!' and 'down with the human!' at Yakumo, who let her head drop to her chest.
"Ah, almost done!" Said Kutal, mouth watering, as the fish he was grilling started to smell better and better.
"Hey, what's that!" Exclaimed an Enterran guard to another as they came around the corner and noticed smoke billowing out of the room.
"I don't know! Maybe it's a fire!" Exclaimed the other guard running for the door. "Let's find out." He added opening the door as Kutal came running out of it at full speed.
"Oh, do pardon me!" Exclaimed Kutal as the guards went running after him. "I didn't expect this to become fast food!" He exclaimed running past the cylinders with the green liquid on the floor. The guards screamed as a stray ember from the pot Kutal was holding ignited the green liquid cutting the guards off from Kutal. "Now, how did that happen?" Asked Kutal turning around and staring at the fire.
"Kutal! Are you all right?" Shouted Sago running up to him. Sago looked at the fire and asked, "Whoa, Kutal… Did you do that?"
"No, not that I know of." Answered Kutal truthfully as both of them couldn't take their eyes off of the odd fire.
"Whoa!" Exclaimed Mushra pulling 'Yakumo' back around the corner they just ran around because a couple of Enterran guards were tending to the fire that Kutal and Sago had started. "There's no other way out. Now what?" Asked Mushra as 'Yakumo' raised her arm, which turned into a blade, and she smiled evilly.
"Mushra?" Asked 'Yakumo' with a hiss.
"What are you guys just standing around here for!" Exclaimed Neko sounding annoyed as she ran up to Sago and Kutal, who turned around to look at her.
"Oh, hello, Neko. Did you find Yakumo?" Asked Kutal.
"Yes, she's in the courtyard right now." Replied Neko.
"Why the courtyard?" Asked Sago.
"Hello! They're going to burn her at the stake! You can't burn somebody indoors!" Exclaimed Neko annoyed. "Come on! We have to get going! We don't have much time left! The quickest way to the courtyard is to go out through a throne room window. So, let's go… Um, guys? Didn't I tell you to stay away from an open fire? You could catch… Oh, never mind. Hey, Sago? Your capes on fire." Added Neko pointing to Sago's cape as he looked down at it. Sago screamed as he realized his cape was on fire. Neko and Kutal watched with amused looks as Sago ran down the hallway screaming bloody murder. Neko then turned to Kutal and said, "Unless you want your butt to catch on fire I suggest we get out of here." Kutal shook his head as they started down the hallway which began to shake.
"Now what's that?" Asked Kutal as both of them stopped dead in their tracks. They both screamed and took off down the hallway as the ground behind them exploded. Sago, who had a big burn mark in his cape, quickly joined them and they hurried off to the throne room.
"Mushra?" Asked 'Yakumo' again when Mushra failed to turn around the first time.
"What?" Asked Mushra not bothering to turn around as he was still watching the Enterran guards. "Whoa! Yakumo, get down!" Exclaimed Mushra turning around as the ground in front of the Enterran guards exploded rocking the lower level of the castle. "Huh?" Gasped Mushra as he noticed 'Yakumo's' blade arm as she quickly ran in the other direction. "Hey, get back here!" Exclaimed Mushra chasing after 'Yakumo' as he realized that that had been the Katai that Neko had spoke of.
"What's this!" Asked King Daku as the ground began to shake and all the Enterran onlookers ran away screaming. Yakumo screamed as the ground underneath her cracked open destroying the platform and the stake she was tied to. "Is this the result of the human's power?" Asked King Daku to himself as the ground around Yakumo cracked open and the human screamed as she slid towards the end of the small platform.
"Yakumo!" Screamed Mushra jumping out of the castle as Yakumo caught the end of the platform and pulled herself up onto it and looked at Mushra with large, happy eyes.
"Mushra!" Called a familiar voice from behind him.
He turned around as his eyes widened and he gasped, "No, way! Two Yakumo's!"
"Mushra! Don't listen to her! She's a shape-shifting Enterran working for King Daku!" Exclaimed Yakumo pointing to the other 'Yakumo' sitting by the castle.
"She's lying! She's the imposter working for King Daku!" Exclaimed 'Yakumo' looking at Mushra.
Yakumo then exclaimed louder, "She's the one that…"
"Don't listen to her, Mushra!" Exclaimed 'Yakumo.'
"What…? What's going on! Which one's the real Yakumo!" Exclaimed Mushra looking at the two Yakumo's confused.
"Oh, Mushra. I could tell you which one's the real Yakumo, but this seems like a lot more fun." Said King Daku as a noise behind him caught his attention.
"Oh, I could tell him which one is the real one too, King Daku. But, I'd much rather just kick your ass!" Exclaimed Neko as King Daku looked over his shoulder only to receive a painful smash to the ass by Neko.
Mushra and the two Yakumo's looked over to see King Daku fall, head first, screaming to the ground below while Neko put her leg down smiling. "King Daku!" Exclaimed 'Yakumo' sounding concerned as Mushra looked at her.
"Ha!" Exclaimed Mushra as both Yakumo's looked at him. "The real Yakumo might be kind-hearted but she would never have that much concern for an enemy that tried to kill her! You're the fake one!" The fake 'Yakumo' gave Mushra a dirty look as he jumped over to Yakumo and grabbed her off of the platform just seconds before it cracked and fell into the lava below.
"Mushra!" Yelled the fake 'Yakumo.' "You'll pay for this!"
Mushra looked over as the fake 'Yakumo' leaped at him transforming back into Katai. Yakumo gasped and Mushra pulled out his staff as Katai got closer and closer. "Take this!" Yelled Mushra as he leaped at Katai, and before the Enterran shape-shifter could dodge Mushra smacked him across the chest sending him down into the lava.
"Yakumo! Are you all right!" Asked Neko concerned as she ran to the other human's side and kneeled down.
"Yes, Neko. I'm okay." Replied Yakumo as Mushra looked back at her and smiled.
"Mushra!" Exclaimed King Daku standing up. "You may have beaten Katai, but you'll never beat me!"
Yakumo and Neko screamed hugging each other as King Daku leaped at them as Mushra got into a defensive stance with his staff. The king had closed about half the distance between him and the others when suddenly a metal boomerang came whizzing through the area knocking King Daku back and straight into the lava. "It looks like you could use some help, Mushra." Came an unfamiliar voice from off to the side.
Neko looked over and gasped as Yakumo exclaimed, "Sago! Kutal!"
"That's Sago and Kutal!" Asked Neko shocked as hyper-Sago and hyper-Kutal walked over to them.
"Yes. They hyper-formed." Replied Yakumo as the two hyper Enterrans smiled at her.
"Whoa! I knew you guys were hyper-Enterrans, but I never though you'd look so different." Said Neko looking at them surprised.
"Is it a bad thing?" Asked hyper-Sago looking at her.
"No!" Exclaimed Neko waving her hands around in front of her. "You two look very cool."
The two hyper-Enterrans were about to say something when they heard Katai yell, "Nooooo!"
The group looked over as they heard King Daku say, "You are my servant! So, give me your Encard!"
"Nooooo! King Daku! Please, don't!" Pleaded Katai's voice, he suddenly screamed and everything went quiet again.
"What do you think happened?" Asked hyper-Kutal as Mushra looked at the spot the yelling had come from.
He gasped as King Daku jumped up out of the pit. The two hyper-Enterrans backed up as Mushra ran forward to join the group. "Ha! Let's see you beat me now! Hyper-form!" Exclaimed King Daku hyper-forming with the help of Katai's card into an ugly, cockroach looking thing.
"Hmph! Let's see you beat three hyper-Enterrans! Hyper-Flame!" Exclaimed Mushra hyper-forming as Neko's face turned bright red.
"Well, you can't fight what you can't see!" Exclaimed King Daku becoming invisible.
"What!" Exclaimed hyper-Mushra looking around. "Where did he go!"
"Kutal!" Exclaimed hyper-Sago as hyper-Kutal went flying back after being hit with something they couldn't see.
Hyper-Sago screamed as he went flying back after being hit in the gut by something. Hyper-Mushra was about to move when Neko yelled, "Mushra! Don't move!" Hyper-Mushra looked over confused as Neko aimed her crossbow behind him and fired; he gasped and ducked down after a scream sounded behind him as the arrow hit its target. "After I hit King Daku you only have a small amount of time to get him back before he'll move again!" Exclaimed Neko lowering her crossbow.
"How can you see him?" Asked hyper-Mushra looking at her.
"If the Enterran is strong enough I can sense where they are." Said Neko as she suddenly looked to her right and gasped raising her crossbow.
"Neko!" Yelled hyper-Mushra as Neko's crossbow was knocked out of her hand as she went flying backwards obviously because of King Daku. "Now, I got you!" He added leaping towards the spot Neko had been standing in but all he hit was air. "Huh!"
"What's wrong, Mushra? You look a little flustered." Asked King Daku's voice from the air around them.
"Come on out, you coward!" Exclaimed hyper-Mushra looking around.
"Don't get flustered, Mushra!" Yelled Neko picking herself up off the ground. "He may by invisible but there should be a flaw in the space around him. If you can find that flaw you can defeat him."
"Neko!" Asked hyper-Mushra as Neko looked over and gasped. Hyper-Mushra looked at the spot Neko was looking at when he seen a flash of light in the air. It was King Daku's sword! "Now, I have you!" Exclaimed hyper-Mushra leaping over and stabbing the air in front of Neko, who smiled.
"H-how did you know?" Asked King Daku reappearing as he exploded turning back into the cards of King Daku and Katai.
"Both the cards of King Daku and Katai?" Asked Neko looking at the cards as hyper-Mushra picked them up and the two other hyper-Enterrans and Yakumo walked over to them.
"Yeah…" Replied hyper-Mushra looking at King Daku's card as he remembered something. "Hey, Neko? I wanted to ask you before but I couldn't. King Daku told us something about you and I wanted to know if it was true. Is it true that you're half-Enterran?"
Neko's eyes widened as Yakumo gasped, shocked, "What?"
Neko laughed nervously and said, "Well, King Daku's half right…"
"You're not human?" Asked Yakumo sounding brokenhearted.
"No, no, no!" Exclaimed Neko waving her hands around. "I'm a human! I'm just enhanced with Enterran genes…" The group looked at her confused as she sighed and added, "Did you ever hear of the Human Super-Weapon Program?"
Hyper-Mushra, hyper-Kutal, and Yakumo shook their heads no as hyper-Sago said, "I have…"
"What?" Asked Yakumo.
"I heard it while I was traveling." Replied hyper-Sago looking at Neko. "It was rumored that the humans five hundred years ago started a Human Super-Weapon Program when they realized they were losing the war against the Enterrans. It was rumored that they took special humans and injected them with small amounts of Enterran genes. It would change certain parts of their body, like speed, sight, strength, sense of smell, things like that. But, they would still be human because there would only be a small amount of genes in them. They would fight with the humans against the Enterrans and hopefully they could reclaim the Earth. Now, this is where the rumors differ. Some say that the scientists never created any Human Super-Weapons, that the gene could not be introduced in such small amounts. Some say that all the humans went crazy and had to be killed. And, the last rumor was that one human made it and was successful and that the scientist that created it put it to sleep and it was never heard from again…"
"That last rumor sounds like Neko." Said Yakumo looking at hyper-Sago.
"That is me…"
"Really!" Asked Yakumo sounding happy.
Neko shook her head as hyper-Mushra asked, "Why were you put to sleep? Why didn't you just help the humans win the war?"
"Because my creators knew the human race was doomed and they didn't want me to die. So, they put me to sleep until they knew it was safe for me to wake up."
"You obviously can take care of yourself." Said hyper-Mushra. "So, why did you wake up now?"
"I don't know…" Replied Neko honestly as everybody stared at her. "My creators gave me an objective, but the objective doesn't make sense to me."
"What was it?" Asked Yakumo.
"Sorry, privileged information." Said Neko looking at Yakumo. "I'm not aloud to tell anybody what it is. My creators said it would change the outcome of the world if I told."
"Oh…" Said Yakumo sounding disappointed.
"Sorry." Added Neko looking away.
"It's okay." Said hyper-Mushra. "Now, that that's cleared up. Let's go. King Daku's card will help us in moving forward." He added as Neko looked at him confused.
"A-are you sure you're okay with the whole idea?" Asked Neko, sitting Indian style on her pink, cat-shaped, wheel-less, hover-skateboard, for the thousandth time since they had left King Daku's castle.
"Hey, you saved our butts a few times and you helped us destroy King Daku, so I say your okay." Replied Mushra calmly looking at Neko as they were sitting on the bank of a stream.
"Besides, you seem nice enough." Added Yakumo smiling at her.
"And, you don't feel evil." Said Sago.
"Now, let's go!" Exclaimed Mushra.
"How?" Asked Neko.
"Easy." Replied Hakuba raising the protective glass around Yakumo. "Yakumo, please insert King Daku's card into the slot on my main console."
"You mean like this?" Asked Yakumo inserting the card as a bar on one of Hakuba's screens filled up and the world around them went multi-colored.
"Whoa!" Exclaimed Neko looking around standing up. "What is this place!"
"This is the space time continuum." Answered Hakuba. "We can use this to travel long distances much quicker."
"Hey! How come you don't need to be under a protective covering?" Asked Mushra looking at Neko, who sat back down.
"I am a bit Enterran." Said Neko winking at Mushra with a big smile on her face.
"Where will we end up at?" Asked Sago.
"In a rain forest in the far west of Enterra." Replied Hakuba as they got closer and closer to the light at the end of the tunnel…
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Another one done! Yeah! R&R! Please!
