Ranger24: New chapter, took a while to come up with idea's then come around to it. Been busy with the whole issue of the wedding thing.

Chapter 9: Shadow's hunt.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. (Doesn't mean I don't pwn!)

Brute home world, The Shadow Syndicate, 0920 hours day 3

TSS had to admit this was one of his least glamorous missions. He was packed into a cargo crate on a Phantom drop ship on the brute home world. The Brutes had long now been building a portal to try and get to the ark by having used the studies of the prophets to create it.

Still he knew this was the only real way. He'd gotten a tip that the anti Syn had set up shop on the ark. The only other way through was by the portal on earth, which could only be used if a Forunner dreadnaught like the one at Sanctum.

He shifted his weight as the phantom suddenly rose into the air. He knew this was were he'd finally get to have some fun.

Reach, Kobol City hospital, 0921 hours day 3

The authors sat outside the room where the doctor's had placed Ranger and none of them had slept a wink. Each and every one of them were friends with Ranger. Ranger wasn't exactly the most popular author due to his attitude and recent head butting with Darth Ben Valor. But still Ranger was there friend and he was in trouble.

Finally after what seemed like hours the door opened and out stepped an exhausted doctor who wiped some sweat from his forehead. DM and the rest immediately stood up. The doctor pulled out a whiskey flask and took a quick draught.

"Your friend will live." He said answering their unasked question.

"He had a high fever and won't awaken but it has gone down slightly. The thing is it's like he's trapped in one hell of a nightmare." He continued.

"Can we see him?" DM asked.

The doctor nodded.

"It won't do much good, he's still out of it."

Without any more words the authors rushed inside. There, on the bed, hooked up to all of the usual hospital stuff, was Ranger. To say he was sleeping peacefully was a downright lie. Every few seconds he'd shudder or mutter something in his sleep. His weapons, cloak, and gear were on a table in the corner.

They stared at him silently as he jerked violently to his right, for his own safety his arms and legs had been strapped down. Nobody spoke for about a minute. Then Iron Mantis broke the silence.

"What do we do now?"

"I don't know." DM replied.

"This is just awful." Alter said. "We can't do anything to help him and we need his help really badly now."

"Maybe," Said Juliet suddenly.

Then she walked to Ranger's side and placed her thumbs on his temples.

"What are you doing?" Airnaruto asked.

"Seeing if anyone is home." Juliet said before closing her eyes.

Ranger's mind, Juliet Gamer, 0925 hours day 3

Juliet opened her eyes in a dark corridor. She rarely did mind walking but this was serious. Ranger's mind was like tall tower with winding stair case that ran along the walls. She was currently on the bottom floor. It wasn't a cold place but it wasn't exactly vivid. But strangest were the signs of some struggle along the tower.

She mounted the steps and began to make her way up. The doors weren't open and but they had signs over them stating what they were for. She passed by memory and others making her way all of the way to the top. There at the highest landing a door was open and on it was the symbol of the curse mark of Shadows.

She stepped through and could hear fighting inside. Within the room was pitch black, darker than anything she had ever seen! She took a step back suddenly as someone was thrown across the floor. He was wearing a silver grey cloak and he rose to his feet wielding a knife. Juliet then realized this was Ranger's internal self.

But the she felt a sudden dread fall upon. She turned to face the direction from which Ranger had been thrown and saw a great brooding shadow. It had great wings and was human like in form. Then before she could do anything Ranger was aware of her.

"RUN!" He shouted and Juliet was suddenly blasted out of Ranger's mind.

Reach, Kobol City hospital, 925 hours day 3

Juliet stumbled back. Airnaruto grabbed her by the arm to steady her.

"What happened?" DM asked alarmed.

"I'm not sure." Juliet admitted. She then told them all she had seen.

"What the heck does it all mean?" DM muttered after she had finished.

"Sempia, I think it means that we need to stop Shade right now." Hikari said.

"What do you mean?" TLsouldude asked.

"Ranger was facing his curse marked self, that must mean the Shade is awakening his own curse mark right now." Hikari replied. "The two curse marks are connected. When one gains strength the other does as well but not the same degree."

"Are you saying Ranger's curse mark is only partly leveling up?" Dimensiondude asked. Hikari nodded.

"Then we have to go now." DM said his mind now made up. "Shade will be vulnerable while the cursemark is leveling up. Now is the time to strike."

The Ark, Brute Phantom, 0930 hours day 3.

TSS kicked out the door of his crate pumping a shell into the sawed of shotgun he had gotten at gun stop. The squad of Brutes onboard were startled to see him and he quickly blasted down two before the others opened fire! They stuck him so full of spiker rounds that a porcupine might wince.

"You know that kind of hurts." TSS said startling the brutes several of whom backed away as he yanked out the burning spikes.

"But it takes a lot more to kill me gorilla boys!" TSS shouted pulling up his MP5 in his right hand and tossing the sawed off shot gun into his left!

Then before they could fight back he opened fire! The first shot gun shell blew apart two brutes armor and the stream of bullets straight to the face finished them off! TSS emptied his MP5 before tossing the empty weapon aside and pumping fresh rounds into his shot gun. The brutes charged him but he blasted them apart, one after another, with resounding booms.

He gunned down all but one and that brute charged him with a spiker rifle. He pulled the trigger and the brute recoiled but no shot gun shell was shot. TSS glanced at his weapon; it was empty. He made a feeble grin to the brute who roared raising his spiker rifle. Then TSS whacked the brute in the face with the butt of his shot gun. Then he swept out his crowbar and jabbed it right through the brute's jugular. Dark red blood dripped down the blade as TSS yanked down on his end snapping the brute's neck.

He sighed and then wiped the bloody crowbar clean. He then retrieved and reloaded his fallen weapons. Then he went into the cock pit and easily killed the terrified grunt who was driving before he set the ship on auto pilot. Then he pushed all of the bodies aft and onto the gravity ring.

Then he returned to the cockpit and took command of the ship.

"Hang on Uchiha boy." He muttered. "Help is on the way.

Ranger24: Next time the fight for the sword begins as the Anti Syndicate fights to drive the brutes off the Ark.

Also keep your eyes on my Deviant art page where I'll soon have some new stuff on Shade, the war ect. Read and review