A/N: YES! Finally! It's here! Enjoy Chapter 11!

Chapter 11: The Final Judgment

"Judge?" Cole asked, bewildered, as he and the women stood before the entity's throne. "How did we…"

"Destroying the Abomination interrupted his control over his territory," the Judge explained. "It allowed me to transport you back where you are safe." He looked at Kuo, "…so we can conclude the matter at hand."

The trio looked at each other unsure of what was going to happen next. They killed the Abomination, sure, but Kuo failed her Forgiveness test. They weren't sure if defeating that monster was enough or even had any real effect on the Judge's decision at all. Things didn't work so easily here.

"Lucy Kuo… you have been weighed and you have been measured."

Kuo let her eyes fall toward the ground in a defeated manner. Cole's heart was starting to ache for her. And, despite herself, Nix was even starting to feel bad for her one time rival.

"As when you stood before me prior, you are permitted to speak. Have you anything to say in your own defense?"

Lucy nodded. "Yes." She paused… considered everything that had happened. She closed her eyes for a few seconds to come to terms with everything. "I failed my trial… I know that. I couldn't see past my own faults… I couldn't…" She shook her head, "I failed. That's all there is to it." She looked at the Judge. "I don't deserve any special treatment." She looked at her rescuers. "But they do." She looked back at the Judge. "Whatever you have in place for me… I am ready. But please… let them go back or go to Paradise… they earned it… again."

The Judge nodded. "I see. Well, then…"

Nix stepped forward, with her hand raised. "Wait, hold 'em up."

"Yes?"

"I got somethin' ta say, here."

Everyone looked at her in surprise. And extreme curiosity.

Cole, however, feared the worse. "Nix…" he warned.

"Relax, MacGrath. I know what I'm doin'." She addressed the Judge, "Ya know I ain't the bitch's…" she paused. To everyone's astonishment even her own, she corrected herself, "Kuo's biggest fan… but… she should, at least, get the chance to make it all right. And, I mean, alive."

"Really?" the Judge asked, astounded. Of course, everyone was, including Nix.

The fire Conduit sighed and nodded, "Yeah."

He sat back. "Please. Present your case."

She sighed again, a little harsher this time. She hated having to go into details. "A'ight, look: I get it. When people get scared? Then it's really possible to get into things that you wouldn't do." She motioned toward Kuo, "She got scared. Hell, we all got scared."

"But you joined Cole?"

"And she joined da Beast. Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah. We covered dat part. Whateva. But here's the point… she panicked… but she didn't stop us. All dat power she got. I mean, she ain't me but… she coulda fought harder. She musta held back somewhere. Now, maybe it's 'cause she's all hot for Cole or maybe she just knew she was wrong from jump, doesn't matter. She still held back."

The Judge nodded, understandingly.

"She made a mistake. Let her go back down to live, ya know? Maybe she can get it right. Hell, we all just want a second chance. If I made good wit' one… she sure can."

Kuo looked at the red haired women. She was overwhelmed. She nodded. "Thanks, Nix."

Nix nodded at her.

"Interesting viewpoint, Nix," the Judge said. "Thank you for your words." He looked at MacGrath. "And you, Cole?"

Cole smiled. "Ha. I…don't think I'm the best person to ask."

The Judge knew why Cole would say that. "Your biased opinion is still an opinion. And, biased or not, the truth it could still contain."

MacGrath took a few seconds to think, let everything sink in. He looked Kuo. He stared at her for a long time. "I love you."

Kuo's heart went a flutter as she held back tears. She was positive she could never get sick of hearing that.

Cole looked at the Judge. "I love her. I want her to come back. With me. To Earth. To live. To have a life." He stepped forward. "And she should get another chance. You can't say people scared don't do things they don't mean. Even make wrong choices. Yeah, she was wrong. But she deserves the chance to get it right. Everything else she did… she deserves to live again…" He paused for a moment. His voice came out, was quiet yet desperate plea, "Please…"

The Judge sat back. "Powerful words, Cole. Thank you for them." He glanced behind him, as if hearing someone whispering. He looked back at the trio. "Pardon me for just a moment." He vanished in a wisp of light.

The trio looked at each other unsure.

"Ya think that worked?" Nix asked.

"Whether it did or didn't…" Kuo said. She smiled. "Thank you… both of you…" She stared at Cole.

He stared right back. "No problem…"

Nix looked at Kuo and Cole and saw that they were still moving awkwardly. "Oh, geez! Will you two at least hold hands?! God! We're dead already! Man up!"

They both laughed. Cole did indeed take hold of Lucy's hand. "Whatever happens next…" he said. "I don't regret a thing…"

She smiled and gripped his hand tighter.

After a few moments, the Judge returned. "All evidence is considered and my final judgment will stand."

Kuo nodded.

"Lucy Kuo… you did indeed join the Beast, John White, in partially aiding him in his execution of his diabolical plan and you failed your test of Forgiveness. However… you did encourage Cole MacGrath to save the human race, ending the Plague. All evidence considered… weighed and measured you have been. Final Judgment is upon you. Have you any final words before my verdict is rendered?"

"Yes," Kuo nodded. "Whatever judgment you give me… I'll accept, no questions asked. Just…" She looked at her rescuers. "Let them go back. They can always make a difference in the world. Maybe not the whole world… but they saved me… they can save someone else… help someone else… just… let them go back…"

The Judge nodded, "Passionate words. A kind sentiment, Lucy Kuo. Thank you."

She nodded.

"But… wouldn't like to see them make that difference firsthand?"

They all perked up. Cole smiled.

"What…" Kuo said in disbelief.

The Judge smiled. "Forgiving one's self is never easy. That was not the test. You'll have to do that on your own. The trick… was to see how earnest your spirit… your heart… truly was. When you willingly offered to sacrifice yourself to the Abomination to save Cole and Nix, you proved you are not the same person who aided the Beast. That person was not truly you. It was you cloaked in fear. And in the presence of a beast much greater than the one on Earth, for friendship and love, you have defeated that fear. Therefore… you've earned your right to a second chance."

"I can go back…" Kuo said in disbelief. She sank to her knees. Cole kneeled next to her. She looked up at him and they embraced.

"What about that crap John was shovelin'?" Nix asked.

"John White is a swindler, almost as grand as the Great Deceiver himself. John spoke half-truths, cloaked in lies. He wanted nothing more than to have Kuo suffer along with him. The adage 'misery loves company' applies here, I believe."

"And how." That reminded Nix. "Where is he, anyway?"

"Sent back to Torment. Where he belongs." The Judge chuckled. "Don't worry. His appearance was purely based on his need to win in any way. He's become quite pathetic."

"So… he's not getting out?" Cole asked.

"Not. Ever."

That was good news.

"And the Oracle?" Cole asked.

The Judge shrugged, "She merely acted as she is supposed to. She had nothing to neither gain nor lose in this event. To put it simply: she went with her… programming. She did not wish any of you harm but she had to perform the task assigned to her."

Cole chuckled, "I guess she did at that…"

"Now, then, as you for you, very brave warriors…" the Judge looked at Cole and Nix. "Paradise or return to life?"

"If she goes back," Cole motioned to Kuo, "I go back."

"And I better go back, too, ya know?" Nix said. "They're all lovey dovey… somebody might kill 'em. I gotta watch their backs."

The Judge smiled. "Very well." His eyes glowed a bright white. "Request to return to life… granted. Go in peace, my friends. I look forward to seeing you all again."

"Not too soon," Nix said.

He smiled. "We shall see. What's soon to me… may not be soon to you. Or could it?"

Nix narrowed her eyes. "I hate him…"

The Judge chuckled. "When you are revived, you will find your powers still available, if only weaker."

"No problem with that," Cole shook his head.

"Cole… Zeke Dunbar has taken your body on a boat, away from New Marais. Nix, you will be revived in the area where you performed your final attack on the Beast. And Lucy, you will be revived in a morgue in the city."

"Thanks for the heads up," Nix nodded.

"You've been through enough. It's the least I can do."

She shrugged. "Still… I think we… kinda owe ya…"

"Very much so," Kuo agreed.

"Thanks, Judge…" Cole said. "…For everything."

The Judge smiled. "It is not often I see people like you. Willing to put so much on the line for friends… despite what they have done. It gives me hope for your entire race. Most have forgotten along the way." He scoffed, "Maybe all they needed… was an example."

Cole smiled. "Thanks."

The ground beneath the trio turned into a bright light.

"Farewell to you all! Until we meet again…" The Judge said.

A rush of wind was felt followed the light engulfing them all.

Earth

Zeke Dunbar sat on the boat as the storm clouds gathered overhead. He pulled out just far enough to where he could barely see New Marais in the distance. He sat on the steps of the boat that led up to the bridge, drinking a beer and looking at the coffin that contained his best friend.

The past couple of days had been hard. Losing Cole hurt the most but Zeke realized that he even missed Kuo and Nix. He was kind of hoping this storm would take him out and end his misery. What did he have to look forward to, anyway?

A crash of thunder echoed through the sky overhead. Followed by another.

Followed by a bolt of lightning striking right next to the boat.

Zeke jumped and hid underneath the stairs at the sudden weather phenomena.

Another bolt of lightning struck on the other side.

Zeke looked up to see the clouds growing brightly, like it was powering up for something. Out from the greyed sky, a single, powerful, continuous bolt of lightning hit the boat.

But… not the boat. The coffin.

The lightning strike lasted for a solid minute and destroyed the stone coffin, shattering it to pieces.

Zeke looked up after the lightning dissipated and saw the most unexpected thing:

Cole's body was moving.

Zeke couldn't believe his eyes. Cole… was standing up. Alive…

Cole MacGrath is alive.

"I'm… am I…" Cole said, befuddled as he looked at his hands. He had his tattoos back. He felt his face. The scars were there. "Am I really…"

Zeke cautiously approached as he wasn't sure if he was seeing things. "Brother?" he asked.

Cole looked at his best friend and smiled. "Zeke…" He let out a few breaths, "Zeke, it's you!" He rushed to him and gripped the shorter man's shoulders, "It's really you!" He paused and looked up at the cloudy, grey sky. "I'm back…" He laughed. "I'm BACK!" He laughed harder in relief. He looked back at Zeke and shook him, "I'M BACK, MAN!"

Zeke's mouth was wide enough to toss a grapefruit in. "Yeah, I can see that! What the HELL HAPPENED?!"

"Tell ya later. But, for now, how far are we from New Marais?"

"You wanna go back?"

Cole smiled brighter. "Oh, yeah."

"Why?"

"You'll see." He looked at the direction of the city. "Turn us around, man. Turn us around."

A half hour later, the boat approached the dock of New Marais. While Zeke stared in utter disbelief at what he saw on the pier, Cole couldn't help but smile from ear to ear: Lucy with Nix standing behind her. Both of them smiling.

"Holy shit…" Zeke breathed out.

Once the boat was close enough, Lucy dashed and jumped into Cole's arms, holding on to him for all the life, and love, she had in him, with him doing the same in return. Kuo was crying harder than she ever had in her life. Nix jumped on the boat and watched the scene with her arms folded… and an approving smile on her face.

"Thank you…" Lucy whispered into Cole's ear. "Thank you, thank you…"

"Anytime…" he whispered back.

They looked at each other and finally shared a moment they both longed for: the kiss. It was slow at first; but it didn't take long to get over the initial hesitation and let all the passion neither of them had had a chance to let free go. Lucy hated to admit, but it was every bit as romantic as any story she had ever heard. And, even harder to admit, she was loving every second of it. So was Cole. After the kiss, they just stood holding each other.

Nix chuckled at the couple. She saw Zeke standing, slack jawed, and patted the portly man on the shoulder. "Whaddup, man?" she greeted.

Zeke looked at them all, extremely perplexed by these events. "Okay… WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!"

Nix tried to figure the quickest way to explain this. "Short version? I think we met an angel. Like… an angel of death or somethin'. Gave us life number two. Like a game, ya know?"

That would've been impossible to believe for Zeke… if he wasn't best friends with a guy who could summon lightning from the sky. "Wow. Damn…" Now, he was just happy to have friends back.

"Yeah…" Nix looked at the city, the place she called home. She stared at it for a long time… then let out an exhale. A resigned exhale. "We best get ta gettin'. Too many folks gonna ask too many questions if we stay here."

Cole and Lucy looked up from their embrace and stared at her. "I thought you liked New Marais?" Cole asked.

"Love it." She then whispered, "It's home…" She sighed, looked back at the other, and spoke in a normal tone, "But… time here is done." She smirked, "After all…" She laughed it off as best she could. "We died saints, man! Can't go out better den dat! 'Sides… it's time to see what else is out dere… see the world! I mean… right?"

Lucy nodded, "Right."

"Take us outta here, Zeke," Cole requested.

"You got it brother," Zeke smiled. He headed back to the bridge, turned the engine on and turned the boat around.

Nix sat on top of one of the tool boxes, leaning back. Cole and Lucy sat against the wall of the deck, Lucy leaning her head on his shoulder and Cole leaning his head on top of hers. They both noticed that Nix was staring at the city as the boat drifted away from it. More than she probably was ever going to admit, Nix was really going to miss her home.

"Hey, Nix!" Kuo said.

"Hmm?" Nix asked.

"Thank you."

Nix clicked her tongue. And smirked.

"Where to now, brother?" Zeke asked from the bridge.

Nix looked over at him as well, curious to his answer.

Cole smiled as he took hold of Lucy's hand, lightly squeezing it. "Wherever, man…" He kissed the top of Lucy's head, causing her to smile. "Wherever…"

Zeke nodded, "Aye-aye!"

The boat turned away from New Marais and headed out into uncharted waters, where a new future was awaiting them all.

A/N: Thanks, everyone for all of your reviews and your favorites and your follows! Thank you all so much! It means the world to me!

T2 Angel

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Next: Epilogue

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Come back for the wrap up and the thank you at the end!