Everyone rushed back to Crystal Tower as soon as all the captives were found. Healers went straight to work on all the soldiers that were brought in. They were able to do more thanks to having Virxinia with them after her collar had been taken off. She never felt so relieved to finally be able to use her powers again. It was the same for Jivin who decided to stand guard at the front of the tower in case Malus tried anything.
The doctors all collapsed in different parts of the tower from exhaustion… save one. Angie stayed by Derek's side as the Data Healers patched him up, sealing up the cuts and reconstructing his arm. It was all amazing to her but she kept her focus on him, holding his good hand. When they were finished, they left the two alone.
Angie sighed as she ran a hand through Derek's hair, worry in her eyes.
Why did this happen…?
Derek stirred a little before opening his eyes slowly.
"Hm..?"
"Derek?
Derek sat up, rubbing his head.
"W-What happened…? How long have I've been out?"
"Few hours… You were in pretty bad shape but you're all better now."
Derek's eyes widen a little before he looked down at the arm that had gotten busted off, sighing in relief to see it was back. He brought it to his face, moving his fingers.
"Glad I didn't lose it for good… I… I don't think I could live with not being able to do my duties."
Angie held his hand in hers. "I know… But you're okay…" She smiled gently. "You're okay…"
Derek looked to her, smiling a little. "And so are you… Oh Ang." He pulled her into an embrace, holding her close. "I was so worried about you…"
Angie was surprised at his sudden action but slowly brought her arms around him, stroking his back. "Derek…"
"I was afraid I was gonna lose you again… but… I almost lost myself…" Derek closed his eyes, remembering the Virus that had taken over. "It was awful… I… I can't believe I gave in so easily… I'm sorry…"
"Shh…"
"Guess… I'm still weak…"
Angie pulled back a little, giving him a serious look. "Derek Stiles, don't you dare say that."
Derek looked at her, shocked.
Angie's look softened. "Derek… We all have moments of weakness, it's part of being human… But you are in no ways over all weak." She held his hands. "You have more strength than you think you do… You fought against the worst of bio terrorists, you fought diseases head on and you've always done all you can to do what's right… Don't let this drag you down… please… not like last time… I don't want to see you end up like you did when you lost your Healing Touch. I don't think I could handle seeing you like that again."
Derek was silent before he pulled her back into an embrace again. "Okay… I promise."
Angie hugged him back. "Good…"
"Never lose your reason to fight."
Both looked to the door way to see Thane leaning against it, a smile on his face. Derek and Angie felt heat rush to their face.
"H-How long have you been standing there?" Derek asked.
"Just a few seconds… but I caught the last part… I hope you haven't forgotten that advice I gave you."
Derek shook his head. "Well… sort of. Guess I kind of forgot… Angie… just reminded me."
"In her own way." Thane said, chuckling a little. "Glad to see you up."
"Glad to be alive… What brings you here?"
Thane's smile faded as he looked to the other end of the room. "Behind you."
Derek and Angie looked to see Harmony not too far from them on one of the other beds. She had restraints on her and was currently fast asleep.
"I have matters to attend to concerning her."
"Matters…?"
Thane made his way over to Harmony, undoing the restraints and taking her into his arms.
"She's beyond saving in the state she's in… but she longs to be free from this Virus that has taken over her body." Thane's eyes narrowed. "I'm taking her to the Temple of Life."
"May we come along?" Derek asked.
"If you wish."
Derek looked to Angie who gave a nod.
"Lead the way."
"Very well."
Derek got off the bed, little shaky but Angie helped him stand tall as they followed Thane out of the room and to an entrance that lead to the Magma Caverns.
"Where ya going?"
The three looked to the side to see Gabe.
"I thought you were resting." Thane said, raising an eyebrow.
"Was, now, answer my question."
"Heading to the Temple of Life…" Thane looked to Harmony. "She needs her healing…"
"May I come?"
Thane thought over before looking to Derek and Angie.
"He won't cause any trouble." Derek said, chuckling. "Promise."
Gabe shook his head. "Come on I'm not THAT bad."
Thane chuckled. "Alright, he can come."
"Cool, let's get moving."
Thane nodded, heading down in the Magma Caverns with the three doctors right behind him. It was a long walk before they came upon the entrance to the Temple of Life. Gabe, Derek and Angie looked around, taking in all the details of the walls.
Paintings of history… The place is named well… Gabe thought.
He watched as Thane walked up to the altar that was at the end of the room. The back wall was completely gone, giving a view to a never ending ocean with the aurora he had seen so many times shining over it.
Thane knelt down, setting Harmony down on the alter. He looked to the skies.
"Ancestors… please… this young User is in so much pain… please… break these horrible chains of hers… give her a new life…"
Whispers could be heard in the air before a teal colored energy came around Harmony's body, lifting her up from the alter. The black marks on her face faded and her armor faded into robes. A screech was heard and two phoenixes came flying in, embracing her in their wings.
Harmony opened her eyes, the black fading to white and the yellow irises become a more amber color. She had a relieved look in her features as she looked to the two phoenixes and Thane.
"Thank you…" she whispered.
Thane nodded, looking to the phoenixes.
"Treat her well…"
"We will." They answered.
The phoenixes took off with Harmony in their wings, fading from sight. Derek, Angie and Gabe came up beside Thane.
"Did… she just…?" Gabe started.
"Yes… The Virus had done so much damage there was barely anything left in her… The only way she could be free… was to pass on to a different life where the Virus couldn't come back."
Gabe lowered his head in respect.
She did horrible things… but it wasn't her… It was that Virus in her… May the real her rest in peace…
Derek and Angie looked to the skies where Harmony had gone.
"Thane… is this what will happen to us too?" Derek asked.
Thane lowered his head. "It's unfortunately a possibility if you're not careful or if Malus succeeds in his plans."
Gabe clenched his hands into fists. "He basically makes people sick to the point they don't remember who they are anymore just so they can do his bidding… That son of a-"
"I wouldn't be blaming him personally." Thane interjected.
Gabe gave Thane a look. "Oh really? Cause last I checked, you don't like him much either."
"I don't… but it's not the person I'm mad at… It's the Virus." Thane looked Gabe right in the eyes. "He's no different than his soldiers or Harmony, the real him is probably not even the one talking."
"It's fact."
All four of their heads snapped towards the entrance, their eyes going wide as they saw who walked in.
"JOSEPH?!" Gabe exclaimed as he looked his friend over, taking in the details of his new appearance. It wasn't armor like theirs, it was more like robes. More dressed like someone who of authority instead of a warrior.
Joseph gave a nod, looking to Thane.
Thane smiled a little. "I was hoping one day you'd be able to come back… Why now?"
"After hearing what happened with Malus I couldn't stand just sitting and doing nothing…"
"Would've been nice if it was earlier." Gabe said with a bit of irritated look. "What took ya?"
"Try rebuilding a Digitizer without blueprints and then hope it doesn't possibility distort you when you get transferred because you have no time to test it."
Gabe rolled his eyes. "Drama King." He said but was smirking.
Joseph chuckled. "But I'm here now… and we do need to do something about Malus Cordis before anyone else ends up like Harmony."
"How do you figure?" Thane asked. "With all that I've seen he's not going to be easy to fight let alone even try and kill."
Joseph's eyes narrowed. "Killing is not the option I'm going with."
Gabe narrowed his own eyes. "You're nuts then."
"Maybe so… but what Thane said was right. The one who's been calling all the shots isn't Todd, it's the Virus he got from cyc-years ago. The Todd I knew before any of this went down wasn't this insane, Malus Cordis in fact is a completely different person."
Derek shuddered a little. "I think I can atest to Viruses being sentient here since I just had one in me."
Angie reached over squeezing the surgeon's hand. "And it's over…"
"So the one to blame is the Viruses…?" Thane asked.
"Well considering who Todd aligned himself with."
Thane growled. "Terra… So you don't want to kill him? What's the idea you have in mind then?"
"Todd isn't as far gone as Harmony was, there's still a possibility of removing the Virus like you did with Derek. If Malus is out, the whole thing is over since he's the head of everything."
"But that still begs the question of getting past his forces, he'll most likely be working overtime to be sure we can't even touch him."
"Well… maybe… but I don't think so, to be honest, not after what has happened."
"What do you mean?" Derek asked.
"Malus always referred to Harmony as his Crown Jewel… think about that for a moment and then think about what has happened to her now."
Derek narrowed his eyes. "He's totally defenseless."
"Partially, he can handle his own… but there's another part to what made Harmony so special."
"That so?" Gabe asked.
It clicked in Angie's head.
"Crown Jewel… He loved her, didn't he?"
"And she loved him back." Thane chimed in. "It was the reason she always followed his orders. She wanted nothing more than his affections, even if it cost her personality."
Joseph gave a nod. "I don't know much about their relationship but Malus was fond of her… very fond of her."
Derek looked to Angie, gazing at her for a moment before looking to Joseph. "Then… It's possible if he knows she's dead… He might not even want to live…"
"Todd is still in there… If this doesn't wake him up and make him start thinking about what has been going on these past years then nothing will… but if it has, we have a chance of changing everything."
Thane nodded. "We'll plan on that then… It's time this war was put to an end and we got Esanii back. We got Virxinia and Jivin on our side now."
"I heard, but Ark and Serafina will not return till Malus is gone, they still can't risk getting captured."
"Then we'll make that our objective then."
Joseph nodded. "Then let's start making plans."
There was crashing heard from Malus's throne room. He panted as he looked at all the things he had broken.
It can't be true… No… Harmony… She can't…
He let out a scream as he broke another object with his powers, shattering it entirely.
She's dead… I can't sense her presence anymore… She's… She's…
He fell to his knees, holding his head.
WHAT AM I EVEN DOING ANYMORE?!
Have you forgotten the big picture? Who needs her? We got bigger plans. We have a unique system we want to take control of, there's no room for something like her.
But… Harmony… She…
Was only useful to us when she was alive. Sure, one of our best warriors but we'll manage without her. We're the master here, it won't be long before Esanii is under our control.
Malus lowered his head. "I'm… I'm not sure I want that anymore… I… I don't even know why I want it now…"
Everything started passing through his head that had happened over the past years.
"There's no point… I… I only did this at first thinking power would fix everything… to make Joseph pay for all the pain he caused me… but now… looking back… I was stupid… so stupid…"
Pheh. Come now, power means everything here. Don't you want people to look at you and bow in respect?
"Not in this way… This isn't what I wanted… I probably wanted it as some point… but I wasn't thinking… I… I don't want this anymore… I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"
He let out a scream as he held his head, feeling pain.
If that's the case I'll just take full control then because I do want this, I just need your body.
No… STOP!
Malus went limp, his eyes closing for a moment before they reopened, both now black with bright blue irises.
"I should've gotten rid of you cycles ago." he said as he got up, dusting himself off. "Users, all of them are the same, too emotional and not thinking about the tasks at hand."
Malus snapped his fingers, summoning Bethany into the room.
"Bethany." he started. "Prepare the troops."
Bethany looked at him wide eyed. "But sir, a majority of our troops have turned against us, least the ones who were in the Medical Bay, and the ones we still have are recovering from battle I advise against-"
Malus looked at her with eyes that screamed blood lust. "I said… prepare the troops."
Bethany swallowed hard. I… I can't… But… He'll kill me… "Sir… Please have reason-"
Malus growled. "If we don't attack now, they will. Now go before I decide to use you as target practice."
Bethany felt a chill go through her before nodding and running off. What a creep! He's not like he was before…
"Bethany?"
She looked to see Fletcher and Kenneth not too far from where she was, both looked worried.
… No… I'm not sending them to die. She shook her head. "We need to get out of here… He's lost it… Yes he's the ruler but he's also a mad man!"
Fletcher and Kenneth looked at each other nodding. "We know… and I think we've been mad too…" Fletcher said, lowering his head. "We may not have seen what happened… But we know Harmony is dead because of what we've been doing."
"We don't want that happening to use either… or anyone for that matter." Kenneth added. "It just adds more blood to our hands… It was fun having power but now… seeing the price we've paid…"
Bethany nodded lowering her gaze. "I...I can't even remember why I wanted to fight… There was something… Someone… But I can't remember their face… I can't do this anymore…"
"I can't either… I don't remember anything anymore… I don't want to live life like this… It's not worth any of this…"
Kenneth looked around. "Let's go… He might try to kill us for leaving but we can't stay here one minute more."
Bethany nodded. "No more rallying troops, no more killing… We only take out our weapons in self defense… Deal?"
Both nodded. "Deal, let's go."
She nodded narrowing her eyes leading the way, breaking into a run. Let's just hope he won't figure it out.
As they made their way out of the tower, they could feel energy surges.
Fletcher quickly pulled out batons, throwing them to Bethany and Kenneth.
"We need to book it, he's aware!"
They both nodded before jumping in the air, forming light cycles and taking off.
"Our best shot is the tower all those Users are gathered at." Kenneth shouted as they rode away. "Crystal Tower I think is the one."
"Best shot for what?" Fletcher asked.
"Turning things around."
Bethany nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Let's just hope we make it… We're not exactly high on any deity's good list…"
"We have to try." Kenneth looked towards Crystal Tower. "Because at this rate… It's going to be more than just Esanii suffering."
"We'll all be."