-1Chapter 25:
I Cannot Be Forsaken
The red skies of Terra Cyclonia were full of battle. Sky rides darted around filling the dim light with bright flashes of blast crystal fire. Aerrow led the assault. The Buzzards and the Queens at his back. Radarr was at his hip offering to help at a moments notice. Aerrow did his best to stifle his worry. Starling had told him that she wouldn't leave his side no matter what. It had felt like an eternity since he had seen her. Even if she had been shot down, there was a chance she was alright down below. They would have to route the Cyclonians giving him more of an advantage to look for her.
A warm blast rushed past his cheek pulling him free from his rushing mind. His hands instinctively tugging at the handle grips of his ride pulling it hard to the right. Fiara was already to Aerrow's defense, this time determined not to lose to the Cyclonian scum.
Aerrow shot a glance down to the hanger below. The battle seemed to be raging on in the hanger. Finn dodged to the right as an energy blast struck the ground next to him. Quickly he tucked and rolled behind a stack of metal crates. A smile came to his lips as he noticed that Junko had been watching his display.
"Whatcha think of that move buddy, was that sah-weet or what?" Finn dropped down to on knee as he poked his head around the crates to see where the Cyclonians who attacked him were.
"That was pretty good Finn, but I think we're going to need something a little more exciting then gymnastics.
"Oh, and what were you recommending?" Finn aimed his crossbow from around the crates firing an energy shot, slamming into the side of an escaping Cyclonian's ride.
Junko stepped out from behind the crates picked up a near by metal barrel throwing it as hard as he could against the gathering Cyclonian guards. Screams of terror followed the Cyclonians as they scattered. Junko shot a glance to Finn as he rubbed his hands together. Finn stepped out behind the crates next to Junko.
"Well I guess that was alright, but it lacked a lot of finesse bud, sorry." Finn rested his crossbow on his shoulder.
Junko cleared his throat. "You're probably right Finn, but it was still a lot of fun."
Finn nodded slowly and smiled again, his blue eyes finding the next target. "That is a fact bud, let rock and roll."
Junko started to laugh as slammed his knuckles together causing a green glow to surround them. "Sound like a plan."
Side by side they ran towards the next group of Cyclonians who seemed to be up to no good. Junko ducked down picking up a box of power crystals, he shot a glance and a smile to Finn who instantly picked up on the next step of this plan. Junko stopped hard using the inertia to hurl the box of crystals at the group of three Cyclonians working on getting their rides prepped for launch.
"Uh…guys…there's a…" One of the guards looked up to see the box flying towards them.
The other two looked up, the three of them wasted no time in retreating, leaving their rides behind defenseless. Just then Finn dodged hard firing one shot from his crossbow. The shot was clean and struck the box of crystals causing them to rupture and explode. Decimated the trio of rides as well as a nearby pillar and some other crates. A chunk of ceiling fell down on top of the already large mess.
Finn stopped and placed the butt of his crossbow on his hip. "Ka…"
Junko placed his back to Finn's crossing his arms. "…cha!"
"That's what I call…" Finn looked over his shoulder to Junko.
"…uh…Team work! Right?" Junko stepped away looking down at Finn.
"No man, bringing down the house." Finn rolled his eyes and sighed out.
"Oh…right sorry Finn." Junko slapped his palm hard against his forehead.
Finn patted him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it bud, its not as if anyone was watching anyway."
"That's true, next time though. It will be awesome." As Junko threw out his arms a Cyclonian clothes lining himself subduing him instantly.
"Dude that was awesome, how did you know he was there?" Finn chuckled out.
Junko chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well heh, uhm Wallop intuition."
"Rock on! Lets finish clearing the hanger shall we." Finn quickly bumped knuckles with Junko.
"After you Finn." Junko bumped back before putting on a serious face.
Finally Piper had reached the top of the stairs. Pulling her staff from its holster on her back, nimbly her fingers twirled it around bringing up her other hand to grab the other end of it, standing ready to attack. Jamie-Lu lay on the floor with his head rested in Cyclonis' lap. She was gently running her fingers through his hair. Piper's amber eyes glanced down at Jamie-Lu as her heart tensed up. Quickly she lurched forward to be at his side. Cyclonis could hear the footfall approaching as she looked up and saw Piper moving in closer. As gracefully as a snowflake falling Cyclonis unclipped her cloak rolling it up and laying it on the floor. Piper was growing even closer, but Cyclonis did everything in her power to be gentle with her love. She lowered Jamie-Lu's head to her cloak so he would have a pillow. Just as Piper closed the gap between them, Cyclonis launched herself from where she was kneeling. Raining down a heavy crystal blast from her staff, it slammed into the ground inches away from Piper.
"Stay way from him Piper." Cyclonis growled as she stood between her and Jamie-Lu.
"Get away from him Cyclonis!" Piper shouted at the same time as Cyclonis had spoke, shifting back from the blast to regain her balance.
They stared eye to eye for moment before Cyclonis took a few steps to the right, shifting her staff from one hand to the other. "Why should I Piper? He's with me now. It was I who protected him, It was I who took him in and taught him how to control his powers. I filled the empty space in his heart. The space you created."
Piper bit her bottom lip and flinched slightly at the words doing; her best to keep control of her emotions. "What do you mean?"
Cyclonis deep purple eyes gobbled up every last ounce of emotions Piper shed. "You hurt him…terribly. He's a beautiful rose growing in an otherwise dead garden of the Atmos, and you hindered him. You shunned his powers and it left a scar deeper than the one on his chest. I've gaze into a place that few can gaze. I saw him for who he was. He is my prism opposite, but at the same time he's my mirror image. My…love was more than enough to heal the scar you made."
Piper shuttered pushing herself forward, the muscles in her arm swinging her staff heavily, the sound of them colliding filling the room. Cyclonis swept her staff up catching Piper's hard sending sparks from the metal of the staves. Piper wouldn't be undone as she spun to the left catching Cyclonis with a boot to hip. Cyclonis shuffled sideways, bringing her staff up to fire an energy blast.
The warm blast breathed past Piper causing her to fumble back. "It wasn't anything like that! His power scared me, that's all. It would have scare anyone."
Jamie-Lu's was swimming in a shallow sleep. A beautiful and familiar voice whispered into his mind bringing his eyes open painfully. Slowly he shifted against the floor, the pain in his stomach and head making it hard for him to get up. Cyclonis moved quick and deadly like a viper as she locked staves with Piper. There eyes locking for a moment. "Not me, I was never afraid of his power. I loved all of him. You thought him to be a monster, just like his father did. I could see it in his eyes and in his touch. When we shared our pasts. The sonic link is a…magical experience. So beautiful the strong emotions between us are." Cyclonis's cool voice echoed through Piper's brain, before she pushed hard against Piper's staff sending her faltering back.
"Shut up!" Pipers voice cracked, the strength she used to fight against the tide of emotions wavered under the power of Cyclonis' words. "You don't know him, like I know him."
Cyclonis pulled her staff up in a diagonal slash catching Piper hard across her gut. The crystal tearing a slit in her uniform and skin. The small Jamie-Lu action figure slipped free from Piper's uniform pocket and felt to the floor. Piper gripped her stomach, coughing out heavily. The feeling of her breath being stolen, and the feel of warm blood gushing between her fingers sent her down to her knees.
"You are mistaken again. Did he ever let you touch the scar? Did you ever feel the magic pulsing from it? Him as a baby laying in the incubator fighting for life. His tears raining down upon a unforgiving Terra he was forced to call home. His heartbeat when his emotions are piqued. Every heartbeat sends a gentle pulse. Strong enough to be felt through every fiber of my body. Jamie-Lu is beauty that you would never understand." Cyclonis felt warm tears growing in her eyes, every word spoken coming from her heart.
Piper could feel the pain in her heart overshadowing any physical pain she was feeling. Tears traced down her cheeks falling to her lap. The words that Cyclonis spoke couldn't be true. The clank of Piper's weapon hitting the metal floor resonated off the walls mingling with the Cyclonis' heavy breathing. Piper looked up to see the tear filled purple eyes of the Cyclonian Master. Cyclonis wiped the tears from her eyes as she pointed her crystal staff at Piper's chest.
"You will never take him from me. You've lost Piper, the battle and the war. Jamie-Lu will be my Sky Knight and together we will rule all of the Atmos together. The way it should be. I made him a promise that I will keep." Piper lowered her head as Cyclonis touched the end of her staff to Piper's chin, lifting her face to look into her violet eyes once more. "Let his sister go, and let his friends go. But there is one part of that promise I must alter. You're too dangerous to be kept alive Piper, he cares about you too much. You're a threat to our happiness and now you must be extinguished."
Suzy-Lu stepped through the door gripping her chest, feeling the burned flesh throbbing with heated pain brought on by the sweat. Quickly Suzy-Lu hurled on of the Cyclonian's staves that she had picked up. Cyclonis sneered and stepped back bringing her weapon around catching the thrown staff with just the tip of her own sending it down to the floor harmlessly. Junko pushed on through close behind, being followed by Finn who carried his crossbow ready for anything. A small trickle of blood dripping down from a gash in his forehead he must have sustained during the raid.
"Don't give up girl, ya give her hell ya hear me!" Suzy-Lu cheered Piper on.
Cyclonis looked back down at Piper and shook her head. Dark Ace coughed out, doing his best to rotate the stiffness from his neck and shoulders. Before slowly pushed himself from his spot on the floor rubbing the back of his neck trying to regain more control of himself. Cyclonis looked over at Dark Ace the fury in his eyes growing. As he dipped down picking up his sword. The feeling was sinking in now, Cyclonis was horribly outnumbered now. Cyclonis bit down on her bottom lip as she shared a glance to everyone else in the room stopping on Piper. Piper folded her hands around Jamie-Lu's action figure that was now covered in her blood. Her orange eyes playing along it's face as she caressed the spot over his heart with her thumb.
"God…I'm so sorry Jamie." Tears slipped from her eyes. "I love you, I will always love you."
"Get up Piper!" Junko hollered out, he could see the despair washing over her face.
Piper slowly parted her lips singing the song that Jamie had sang for her in Finn's quarters that one day. Her voice cracking on each word, but the melody was unmistakable. Cyclonis cocked her head her mouth slipping open. She had heard those words resonating in Jamie-Lu's heart during the sonic linking. The crystal at the end of her staff starting to glow brightly with her fury. The blast would be quick, and point blank.
"This is for you Jamie…I shall kill your Monster!" Cyclonis hissed out.
"STOP IT!" Jamie shifted to his feet in a rush, he closed his hand around Cyclonis' staff.
The sonic shout filled the hall, and reverberated through the metal of Cycloni's staff causing it to shatter, throwing pieces of metal down onto the floor.
A rumble filtered through the ground like thunder from heaven. Cyclonis' purple, tear-filled eyes shifted up finding the fiery orange and lavender swirl of Jamie-Lu crystalline imbued eyes. That was all she could see as she felt his warm handpads gripping her face. There was a force behind his grip.
Jamie-Lu tore free a chunk of his body suit over his scar, before bringing his hand down to take Cyclonis' before pressing it tightly to the uncovered scar. Piper watched as she hugged her body tightly. Knowing that there was truth behind what Cyclonis' had said hurt her deeply. His lips were pursed tightly as he closed his eyes. His voice singing out the words that Piper had started, while pushing Cyclonis back and then down to her knees. Cyclonis did everything she could to fight the growing burn in her mind. But because of Jamie-Lu's intense training and powerful emotions, the sonic link he was projecting was inescapable. Cyclonis smiled softly as she relaxed, her fingers petting along the stubble fur over the scar, before giving into him.
There they stood facing each other in a familiar looking bedroom. Her eyes scanned his familiar form, but there was something different about him. His face was soft, but bared no smile. There was a look of love in his eyes, but it bore a caution edge of a jaded lover. Cyclonis looked around as she released that she was standing in the bedroom she had when she was a child. Cold and empty. It seemed to mirror the heart she once had. In the bed was her body as she was as a child, next to her was Jamie-Lu as a child. Their hands were intertwined with one another. Smiles traced their faces as they slept and dreamt beautiful dreams. It was the first time there had been life in this memory.
"What is this?" Her young voice echoed through the room.
Jamie-Lu walked up to her. "You created this place in your mind. To go when you want to escape life, just as I did. There was no life here…no light. But now we stand here and gaze upon what we created together."
Cyclonis studied the children laying side by side on the bed. "…together we created a light in my heart? Hope?"
"Yes, don't let your jealousy, hate, and rage fester anymore. When you deceived me it dimmed the light. I've seen what you can be, now all you have to do is be it." Jamie-Lu whispered softly as he caressed slowly along her face.
"I'm sorry Jamie, I never meant to hurt you. You have to understand I'm not very good at this. I've been running from these feelings my whole life." Cyclonis reached up gripping his hand holding it tighter to her cheek.
Even if it was just a vision or a dream, she could still smell him. Cyclonis could still feel the heat radiating from his body. The power in his once teal eyes covered by the swirling torrent of orange and lavender. His gentle hand touched her cool cheek. The same comfort washed through her once again, like warm rain on a summer day.
"I know you never meant to hurt me, and I know you're learning. That why I can forgive you, because I can feel how hard you're trying." Jamie-Lu's breath was warm against her face.
Cyclonis felt a lump tightening in her throat. "Thank you my love, will you be here for me?"
"I will always be with you here…" He caressed his other hand along her chest over her quickened heartbeat. "But our time together is over. I've set you on the path to light, but I can teach you little else."
"But I love you so much." Cyclonis felt the tears slip from her eyes as she stared into his face.
"I know, but to know true love. You have to know sacrifice. It's a lesson I'm still learning." Jamie-Lu touched his forehead to hers.
"But will we ever be that way again?" Cyclonis rubbed her forehead to his.
"I don't know…who can tell what the future holds. We have to grow up alone, before we can grow together." Jamie-Lu whispered softly before wrapping his arms around her, holding her tightly.
Jamie-Lu could hear the quiver in her sigh as the soft hug she offered turned into her clinging to him. "I don't want to be with out you though, how do you make it look so easy?"
Jamie-Lu flinched as she gripped him tighter. "I assure you it wasn't. Thanks to you, my sister, the Storm Hawks, and Piper. I've already started on the path to unlocking who I am. All I needed was a little love and understanding."
"But I don't think I can do it without you." Cyclonis did everything she could to keep control of her emotions.
"You'll be fine without me. You just have to believe in yourself…" Jamie-Lu started to fade.
"No! Don't leave me. I'm nothing without you. You're the only friend I ever had. The only person I've ever loved. I love you Jamie-Lu." Cyclonis heard her own voice echoing in her head.
Jamie-Lu parted his lips to say something as a look of pain tore to the young Blizzarian's face. Suddenly he was snapped away from the vision. Jamie-Lu stumbled back as he felt Dark Ace's firm kick to his ribs. The force had broke the sonic bond that he had with Cyclonis. Cyclonis fell limply to her knees on the floor covering her face with her hands trying her best to hide the tears that were coming. Suzy-Lu pushed forward to attack Dark as she felt Junko grip her bicep roughly. Suzy-Lu looked back at Junko and growled angrily.
"Let me go, he's gonna hurt my bro." Suzy-Lu cried doing everything she could to pull away.
"No we can't get involved with this Suzy, this is his fight. Watch!" Junko whispered gently as he pulled Suzy-Lu's back tightly against his chest resting a strong hand on her stomach.
"Junko's right, Jam's got this." Finn whispered out as he watched the unfolding battle.
Jamie-Lu let out a gentle growl as he belted out his body moving in time with the song that raged in his mind. Piper's voice spurring his attacks. The purple sonic shadow lashed out catching Dark Ace in the chest. The feeling pushing the air from Dark Ace's lungs as if he'd been hit by a tidal wave. It washed over him and around him like a hand lifting him from the ground once again. Jamie-Lu gritted his teeth as he started to ball his fist as if to crush Dark Ace. His body gasped for air and tried to squirm away from the shadow had. but found no freedom. Jamie-Lu's song filled his ear, he stomped his foot hard on the floor feeling the metal bend, the force of his heightened power threw Dark Ace hard to the floor. Dark Ace rolled over on his back choking to breath before shifting away. He held his hand out as if to plead for mercy, but his words were still hushed.
Jamie-Lu took a step further holding out his hand for another attack before he felt two sets of arms wrapping up under his arms pulling him back; and holding him tightly. Suzy-Lu to his left, Piper to his right. The lime green eyes of his beloved sister and the amber eyes of the one he loved locked with his swirling eyes. They could feel his power just by the vibrations his body was putting off. Jamie-Lu could no longer control the song that seeped from his being. He was losing control and knew what he needed to do.
Before any words could be shared Piper started crying letting go of his arm by shifting up wrapping her arms around his neck. Jamie-Lu could feel the rage subside slightly at the touch of her warm embrace.
"Let me go, I'm forsaken!" Jamie-Lu growled out heavily.
Suzy-Lu shook her head. "Ya cannot be forsaken, when ya have so many people who love ya!"
"I'm sorry Jamie, I never meant to make you feel like you were a monster. I was scared of your power, not you." Her tears and voice being muffled by his neck, it was hard to understand what she was saying.
"There's no need to be sorry Piper…" Jamie-Lu could feel her tears seeping into the fur on his neck. "…you're right. I am a monster. You have to leave me now. I'm losing control."
"No! I'm not leaving you." Piper screamed out as she held ever tighter to him.
"She right boyo, I'm not goin' anywhere without ya." Suzy-Lu whispered into his ear.
"But you have to, I will destroy you…I will destroy you all." Jamie-Lu fought to free himself, but his body was weakened by the power of the crystal.
"I don't care! I will endure any pain as long as I can be with you." Piper pulled away keeping her fingers gripping his bodysuit.
"But…I hurt you already. Both physically and emotionally. I love you, but I love Cyclonis too. I don't know what to do. I think it would be better if I just died. Safer for you and for my sister." Jamie-Lu stared into her eyes, for a brief second a sheen of teal escaped the powerful orange glow.
"You love her too?" Piper closed her eyes and swallowed hard. "If I would have been stronger, this would have never happened. I quit on you and I will have to live with the consequences of that. Even if we can't be together as lovers, I still don't want to face another day without you."
"She's right Jamie. I don't want to know that I'm going to have to wake up and you not be there." Junko rested his hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah Jam, we all do things we're not happy about. Plus if you're not here for me to pass on all my skills to, then I'm going to be miserable." Finn lightly punched his bicep.
Suzy-Lu buried her face against his cheek and rubbed it gently. "Bro, if anything' were ta ya, I dunno what I would do. I love ya too much, ya know."
Jamie-Lu relaxed as his sonic aura trapped their emotions helping them flow through him. "You're right, lets get out of here."
Junko turned and started for the door with Finn close behind. Jamie-Lu moved slowly, his body aching from the flow of his power. Piper shifted in front of him to make sure the way down the stairs was clear. As Junko stepped through the door he pressed his back against the wall. Piper moved through the door, followed by Suzy-Lu and then Finn. Jamie-Lu sighed softly as he stopped whipping his hand out, the purple shadow catching several metal beams from the ceiling pulling them down to block the doorway.
"NO!" Suzy-Lu lurched forward pressing her body tightly to the bent and broken beams.
Suzy-Lu shifted so she could see Jamie-Lu's face. There was a sadness in his eyes as he straightened his back doing his best to look stronger than he was. Piper pushed her arm through two of the beams doing her best to reach Jamie-Lu, but there was not use. The deception was already laid. Jamie-Lu never intended on leaving Cyclonian tower alive. Piper closed her eyes as she trembled gently.
"Jamie, what are ya doin'? We havta get outta here!" Suzy-Lu screamed out.
Jamie didn't say anything he just lifted his hand running his soft finger pads along his sister's. Pulling her fingers to his face as he rubbed his cheek along them. Suzy-Lu felt the depth of his nuzzle and closed her eyes already knowing what he was doing accepting it's inevitability.
Cold air blew around her, blew through her. Suzy-Lu was twelve again. Her young body clad in nothing more than a nightgown. One that had belonged to her mother, she always wore. In truth it was the only girly thing she owned. Suzy-Lu remembered this vision. Every inch of Jamie-Lu's bedroom was the same as it always had been. She had only seen it a few hundred times over Jamie-Lu's childhood. She approached the bundle that lay in the bed, it had always been Jamie-Lu laying in a fetal position crying. Suddenly it dawned on her. There were no tears, there was no soft weeping of the unwanted child of Terra Blizzaria. The bundle on the bed was a pile of Absolute Zero plush dolls that she had collected for her little brother. Next to it was his collection of action figures laid out in rows like he did when he wanted to look at them all.
A smirk moved to her young lips as she cocked her head. Next to the pile was a drawing of her and Jamie-Lu together. Once it had been a stick figure drawing, but now it was a beautiful rendering of Suzy-Lu sitting on the floor with Jamie-Lu in her lap cuddling. Tears welled up in her eyes she had always been the one to be there for him no matter what. Suzy-Lu made sure she never showed weakness. Jamie-Lu would cling to her when he desperately needed someone. Suzy-Lu was his island in the middle of a raging storm.
Suzy-Lu looked around the room and smiled softly. Except for her it was completely vacant of life. The room had always been a safe haven for the broken hearted boy she knew. Two warm hands rested on her shoulders. Stronger than they have ever been before. She didn't have to turn to see who it was, she already knew. A lump formed in her throat, a voice screaming for her not to cry echoed through her head.
"So I guess ya won't be needin' these ting anymore eh?" Her voice sounded younger than before showing off her age.
A warm breath moved lightly over her neck. "Of course I will. Dey are a part of me, ya know. I will carry dem always. But now I know yer gonna need dem more than me. Ya walked on eggshells fir all dese years ta be strong fir me. Ya held back every tear. Ya hid away yer doubts, that ya were doin' the right ting fir me."
Jamie-Lu whispered warmly giving into his accent as she loved him to do. Suzy-Lu slowly turned around to look up at him the tears glazing her eyes. Even though Suzy-Lu appeared seven years younger, Jamie-Lu remained the same age. Through her eyes she could see that he was a man now not the boy she had been trying to protect his whole life. It dawned on her now what he meant. The tears came as she pushed forward tucking her arms under his and across his once frail back holding him tightly, burying her face in his chest starting to weep.
His warm words lightly drifted over her sensitive ears. "Ya did right by me my whole life. Ya had a hand in made me a stronger person. I am honored ta have such a wonderful big sister. Suzy-Lu, it was never yer fault what happened ta me dat day. I fell because I couldn't hold on anymore. I never blamed ya, you know that right?" Her strong body convulsed under the power of his words. "The truth is, I died in dat cave. The only ting that brought be back was I wanted ta see ya again. I wanted ta tell ya that I love ya and I'm not goin' anywhere until ya tell me otherwise."
The words echoed through Suzy-Lu's head as she stepped back expecting to still be in Jamie-Lu's bedroom. Instead there she was blocked from her brother by the heavy iron beams.
"Ya havta let me do dis, sis?" Jamie-Lu whispered softly his fingers slipping from hers.
"But, what am I suppose ta do without ya." Suzy-Lu whispered softly.
"I'll always be with ya sis. In our special place. Please get Piper ta safety for me." Jamie-Lu's glowing eyes found Piper's as she fought to push the beams away from the door.
"But…" Suzy-Lu offered up doing her best to argue the point, but the look in Jamie-Lu's face was not backing down, Suzy-Lu punched the metal beam doing her best to hold back the tears.
Every muscle in Jamie-Lu's body was flex as he pulled free from the long black robe. He tightened his hands into fists as he looked over at Finn, Junko, Suzy-Lu, and Piper. They were trying to push through the barracade he created. But the metal mass wouldn't budge in the slightest.
"Finn…Junko, get them out of here now!" His voice rumbled out, his hair standing on end.
"No!" Piper snapped as she lurched forward for him, feeling Finn wrap his arms around her shoulders pulling her back towards the stairs.
Junko was fighting with Suzy-Lu who kept reaching for Jamie-Lu. "No we gotta go back fir him. I can't leave my brother. Let go of me goddess damnit!"
"Are you sure about his Jamie?" Junko asked, his eye already coated with tears.
A look that none of them had seen before crossed Jamie-Lu's face. A boyish smile that was so wide his eyes closed. When he opened them, the glistening teal eyes they all knew were shining back at them. Suzy-Lu lost her balance falling into Junko's arms. The look was even more powerful than the strength of the crystal.
"Yeah. Don't worry about me guys. I'll be alright." His voice echoed softly like a drop of water in an empty cave.
"No! Don't do this Jamie-Lu, please. We need you, I…need you." Piper cried out, she was pulling as hard as she could to get away from Finn.
"We have to leave right now Pipe." Finn said pulling her tightly against him, his blue eyes found Jamie-Lu's as he gave a smile. "Goodbye buddy."
"Never say goodbye, always say see ya later." Jamie-Lu offered a playful wink, doing his best to keep emotions under control.
"…okay, see ya later Jam." Finn whispered feeling the tears welling in his eyes.
Even though Finn didn't believe it, it was all he could say to control his emotion as he slowly pulled Piper down the Stairs. A piece of metal from the ceiling hit the floor next to Jamie-Lu. He knew that if they didn't hurry they would all be crushed by the tower as it disintegrated around them from the rumble of his lingering song.
"I love you Jamie-Lu." Piper shouted out through tear soaked words.
"I love you too Piper." Jamie whispered softly, it was easily swallowed by the echo of his song and the rumbling of the tower.
Junko rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "Hey Jamie-Lu, when you come back. I promise I'll show you how to make my famous Wallop Pounding Cake."
Jamie-Lu gave him a fond smile as he nodded. "I'd love that."
Suzy-Lu slipped down to her knees weakly next to Junko. "I love you Jamie-Lu." Her words were tired, her body had now power left in it.
Junko pulled her to her feet and start for the door.
"I love you too Suzy-Lu. Tell Billy Rex that I want to challenge him to a game of ice skip when I come back." Jamie-Lu had a whimsical tone to his voice.
There was a soft smile on her lips as she looked at him, tears were slipping from her eyes. "Jamie-Lu, I know yer not comin' back. Don't gimme false hope eh. I'm a big girl and I can handle it. I won't ever forget you."
Suzy-Lu followed along with Junko, her eyes never leaving his until they disappeared through the door. The rumbling was all around him. He breathed in deep and closed his eyes as he placed his closed fist into his open palm concentrating on all the power he had inside of him. He would count to one hundred and that would signal the final attack upon Terra Cyclonia.