Here it is the pen-ultimate chapter, only one more to go after this and man is it going to be something. Can't believe that I've been working on this for so long and it's almost finished, oh well just means I have to get to work on my other ideas. Also I'd like to thank Subakunomeep and Kara for my first two reviews they were much appreciated and I thank you. Now enough stalling get on with the show, just remember to leave a review.

Chapter 29

Battle of the Soul

"How long has it been since we last talked, brat?"

Black Death questioned Dusk as he effortlessly held the younger reploid by the throat. A gasp was his only answer.

"Oh, I apologize. We can't talk if I have you like this." He dropped Dusk who starts to cough while rubbing his throat.

"There, now how long?" The question comes nonchalantly like nothing had transpired a moment ago.

Dusk stood back up and glared at Black Death. The viral overlord appears just as Dusk remembered him, black armor covered his entire body, his eyes just as dark as his armor showing almost no sign of color. He wore no helmet but a black hood that exposed only his eyes. When he wanted his enemies to see his smile, which brought many of them terror, he would draw up his hood to expose the lower part of his face. It was as if time had gone back a century to when the two were last face to face.

"Ah I see we are still the talkative one, aren't we brat?" The feeling of nostalgia evaporated and Dusk brought himself back to his immediate problem.

"Why are you here?"

"I see you want to cut right to the chase, how very dull."

Dusk stood ready to fight, "I don't really care whether you're entertained or not, you will answer my question!" Dusk lashed out with his fist. B.Death merely caught the punch and held it with barely any effort.

"My your actions don't reflect on your words, do they? Actually trying to fight me in your condition right now is laughable." B.Death whipped the hand he held and Dusk flew to the ground.

"Since you still managed to amuse me I shall grace you with the knowledge you seek." B.Death was taking pleasure in Dusk's expression. "Yes his spirit is right on the verge." He though as he crouched down to look at Dusk eye to eye.

"When I died my spirit sought out a container for which I could inhabit and live on. However there was a problem, if I inhabited a new body I would be detected right away. Do you know why?"

Dusk glared at the dark figure, knowing that he was smiling beneath that hood. "Because you're nothing but a virus."

"Very good brat, you actually did gain a little intelligence since our last meeting." B.Death again mocked Dusk, "Where does a viral entity hide if he does not wish to be discovered?" He waited to see if Dusk would answer, but continued before he could speak. "The only place would be in another viral signature." B.Death cupped Dusk's chin when he finished.

Dusk let out a weak laugh, "You're telling me that I was your hiding place? Don't be ridiculous I was cured of your virus before you died."

B.Death released Dusk and stood up, "Yes it's true you were cured but the viruses remained imprinted in your systems. Cured does not mean cleansed, you have been and always will be tainted."

Now Dusk knew B.Death was smiling, because he was looking down with his eyes glowing brightly.

"In you I could stay and recover for as long as it took. I merely had to keep a low profile until I was strong enough to take control once again."

Dusk slowly rose to his feet, looking winded standing before the intruder of his very soul. "What makes you think you're strong enough to take over while I'm here?"

B.Death was again greatly amused by the empty bravado Dusk was putting on. He walked toward the teetering mercenary and continued with his explanation.

"Dear little brat do you realize how close you've come to dying recently?"

Dusk was taken back not expecting his brushes with death to hold any meaning to this situation.

"Reploids can be repaired over and over again as long as their spark of life, their soul, still exists. But being damaged so much is quite a burden on the soul." B.Death walked past Dusk so that they were standing back to back.

"Of course this burden can be amplified by other problems; such as moral dilemmas."

Dusk looked back at B.Death, thinking back on his fights with Aura, the attacks on Hunter HQ, and watching Aura being almost killed. "Is this why I've been questioning myself?" Dusk thought.

B.Death turned and put his hand on Dusk's shoulder. "I am not without gratitude brat; after all you have kept me nice and safe for a while now." Dusk moved to shake B.Death's grip but couldn't muster the strength. "Before you face complete oblivion I will give you a chance to watch your family go before you." B.Death waved his other hand and a screen materialized in the void before the two of them. On it Night and Dawn were fighting Sageus's soldiers. As he watched events unfold Dusk again fell to his knees; B.Death watched him and smiled behind his hood. The thought delighted him that he actually could talk an opponent to death.

To say that Sageus was displeased with the fact that three mercenaries managed to defeat 100 of his viral soldiers was an understatement.

"Well it's to be expected that they would lose, but I was not expecting a gravity weapon." Sageus set the thought aside. "No matter in the end they were only foot soldiers; meant to do nothing more than thin the herd of my enemies. Although they didn't even do that much."

It's true that the viral soldiers' regenerative abilities lengthened the battle, but they did not even eliminate one of their foes.

"This just means I will have to rethink my strategy when I deploy them in battle."

A final flash of light brought Sageus back from his thoughts and he stared down at Night and Dawn who had just finished the last of his soldiers. The two siblings were panting heavily, obviously drained from the fight.

"At least they managed something useful." Sageus was impressed that, even though they ultimately died, his soldiers still managed to incapacitate Dusk. With only the two exhausted ones left Sageus could finish the entertainment and move on to his conquest.

"I must commend you on an entertaining show. I was impressed by your brother's power, to defeat so many of my soldiers completely was quite a feat." Sageus rose from his seat and began to descend to the floor. "But now I am afraid we must end our little show. I have plans for the world and they can not wait a moment more."

Sageus snapped his fingers and the shield that had been protecting him faded away. As if on queue Night and Dawn both pointed their busters and fired.

"Excellent aim but I'm afraid you were too slow."

The two siblings turned and stood shoulder to shoulder, busters raised next to each other aimed at Sageus who got behind them.

"Pretty quick for an old man." Dawn mockingly commented.

Sageus tipped his hat, "Kind of you to say but as I said before." Sageus disappeared from sight and again reappeared behind them, his own beam saber in his hand. "This show must end."

He drove the point of his saber into the ground and Night and Dawn fell to the ground. Both were on their hands and knees, slash wounds covering their bodies.

"He moved so fast we couldn't even see him." Night's mind was processing what just happened while Dawn coughed next to him. She tried to hide it but the blood stained her hand when she wiped her mouth.

Sageus wasted no time and turned on them; drawing his saber from the ground he took a step toward them. Night dragged himself back to his feet and stepped between Sageus and Dawn. He drew his staff and prepared for the strike. His mind forcing him to focus.

"Watch him damn it! No way can he not be seen."

Sageus began to take another step and Night saw him blur slightly. He brought his staff up and it connected with Sageus's saber. Using the momentum Night parried and moved to slash at Sageus's mid-section. Sageus caught the bladed staff and yanked it up, lifting Night off the ground.

"There are advantages to you weapon, but its disadvantage of not being a beam weapon is fatal." And Sageus made his point by slashing Night across the chest.

Night fell on his back and clutched his chest; the pain from his wounds searing. Sageus tossed Night's staff aside and leisurely walked in between the two siblings.

"I was an incredible feat blocking me; I guess Prof. Wilson really did know what he was doing."

The mocking reference to their father showed on Night and Dawn's faces. Dawn stood up and swung her tonfa at Sageus, who merely side stepped the attack. When her swing missed Dawn pivoted on her right foot and kicked out with her left. Sageus caught the kick with his left hand and held her there. Dawn used the leverage and jumped, bringing her right foot up to smash down on Sageus. Seeing the follow up coming Sageus, still holding Dawn's leg, spun and threw her across the room.

Sent flying Dawn crashed into a wall, a cough expelling the air in her lungs as well as some blood. In a flash of light Solaris unmerged from Dawn, who fell to the floor unconscious.

Sageus sheathed his saber and turned his attention back to Night. He stood over the eldest sibling who was trying to stand again. A swift kick and Night was back on the floor. Sageus pointed his bust at Night readying to fire when he leaned his head to the right, dodging a pointed spear.

"Ah yes there is still you, isn't there traitor."

Aura reeled herself back and brought up her other hand ready to slash Sageus across the chest. But again sSageus disappeared as Aura made her swipe. As she was following through Aura was yanked off the ground by the back of her neck. Sageus tightened his grip while a crackle of energy began to move down his arm. A second later electricity flowed through Sageus's hand into Aura, causing her to scream in pain.

Dusk continued to watch as Aura screamed; helplessness and rage were his emotions.

"Yes such a sad thing to watch family die, but you already know that don't you brat."

As if these scenes weren't enough Dusk had to endure B.Death's comments.

"And this time it's not just family but your little girlfriend as well." B.Death knelt down next to Dusk and whispered in his ear. "Once she's gone I'll send you to keep her company."

B.Death stood up, "True you could save them,"

"Damn he's reading my thoughts again." Dusk bitterly thought.

"but you can't even stand. So what could you do?"

B.Death was enjoying himself, quickly destroying any hope Dusk might have was not only his chance at life it was fun. A scream brought their attention back to the screen. Sageus had stopped the electric current and dropped Aura to the floor. He pointed his buster at her and grinned.

"I have too much time invested in you to simply kill you out right. Let's see if you can survive being infected with my virus." The buster hummed on his arm. "Of course in your current state you might not survive. Oh well such are the risks of power."

Sageus fired and all Dusk could do was yell in frustration as he watched. He continued to watch as the energy left the weapon and stared in disbelief as the shot impacted with a wall.

The image of Sageus's face twisted in anger as it turned toward the cause of his missed shot.

"Why do you wish to anger me by continuing you're useless interference?"

Night knelt on his knees clutching his chest, his staff now lying on the ground next to Sageus.

"It's simply why I won't stop." His voice weak as he spoke. "Once we take on a job we see it through. We put ourselves through hell for our clients and we keep to our word."

Dusk continued to watch as his older brother continued talking.

"We promised to ourselves and those we lost that we would protect what we all fought for in our own way."

Dusk remembered that, the underlining reason he tried so hard. "How could I have forgotten that?"

B.Death waved his hand and dismissed the screen. In his other hand he now held a sword; the blade double edged and just as black as its wielder, with an ornate hilt resembling the Grim Reaper.

"Well enough fun, time to live again." B.Death said as he held the tip of his sword at Dusk's throat.

"What happened to making me watch my family die?"

"Oh I just don't feel like waiting any more."

"No that's not it." Dusk sounded more confident now. "You're afraid of the influence my brother was having on me with his attitude."

Afraid? Not in the least and to prove it."

B.Death thrusted his sword forward, only the results were not what he wanted. Dusk had knocked the thrust aside and looked up at his would be executioner.

"I think I know why you were torturing me like this." Dusk rose to a kneel on one knee. "My soul has to be beyond hope for you to eliminate it. That's why you constantly darkened this space, made me question my determination; and made me watch my family get beaten."

B.Death was shaking with anger, all his planning and patience being undone because Sageus couldn't just kill his enemies out right. Dusk was starting to rise to his feet, no longer felling weak, no longer feeling uncertain. B.Death pointed his sword at Dusk.

"No matter what they will die and you can't save them."

"You can't beat me down anymore."

Dusk began walking toward B.Death, fisted hands glowing and B.Death stepping back.

"I understand the message now. I thought about it for a while and now I get it." Dusk was walking faster now. "In the darkness I will find my true strength."

If his face was visible it would have shown B.Death flinch. He stopped, raised his sword and yelled. "You'll find nothing in the darkness but death!"

He charged Dusk swinging his blade down. Dusk caught it with his left hand and the metal began to glow red from his heated hand.

"You hold no power here any longer." Dusk ripped the sword form B.Death's grasp and grabbed him by the throat with his other hand. Dusk lifted B.Death off the ground, if there was any in the void.

"I have to thank you." Dusk spoke sincerely at his tormentor, "I t took you nearly killing me to show me my true path again." Dusk tightened his grip. "And now I release you from your burden."

"You'll never be rid of me! I will be back!"

B.Death's final yells were silenced as Dusk took his own sword and stabbed him with it. Dusk looked up at the worst enemy he had ever faced and whispered "Goodbye."

Now lifeless, Dusk laid B.Death's body down and stood in silence. He took in his trials up to this point. Everything was clear, "Fight on and keep to our vow, that is what defines the three of us." Dusk thought. He removed the sword form B.Death and as he did the void seemed to crack. When he held the blade free the darkness broke and was replaced by light.

His darkest hour behind him Dusk was ready for the fight with Sageus. The sword in his hand began to break down and looking at B.Death Dusk saw the lifeless body doing the same. The particles that had once been B.Death swirled around Dusk, bonding to him as the past. As the last particle bonded with Dusk a female voice spoke.

"You have gained strength in both mind and body from the darkness."

Dusk looked up in the direction of where the voice was coming from and saw his sister descending toward him.

"Day-nee."

Day stood in front of her little brother, a proud smile on her face. She embraced Dusk who hugged her back saying, "I'm proud of you little brother. You managed to overcome Black Death when most would have surrendered."

Dusk stepped back and looked down. "I only managed because of Night and also you and dad. I could never have done anything without all of your words."

Day lifted Dusk's head up so that they were looking eye to eye. "Any words you used as advice were merely the catalyst. Your own belief is what gave you your strength and don't think otherwise."

She smiled at him again and he smiled back, Day always could make Dusk smile. Feeling even more confident Dusk looked himself over. Day gave a small laugh realizing what he was doing.

"You can't see the changes but they are there Dusk. Having beaten Black Death you have absorbed his core data."

"Does this mean he can come back?" Dusk did not want to go through this again.

Day shook her head and continued, "No his core data holds only an imprint of his viral signature. With that you have in essence become the virus itself."

Dusk looked alarmed at this information, thoughts of what could happen flashed through his mind. Again Day laughed at his expression.

"The signature is merely an imprint don't worry so much."

Breathing easy Dusk only had one question, "So how does this make me stronger?"

"All viruses now are derived from the Black Death Virus; if you have that signature at your core then you are immune to nay virus you come in contact with."

"Then that means that Sageus just lost his biggest advantage."

"Right, now go and finish your work."

Dusk started to fade away, consciousness calling him back. Day smiled and waved, Dusk waved back and a moment later he was gone.

"Give'em hell Harbringer."

Sageus stood over Night, saber in hand, ready to finish his irritation. He looked the wounded merc over and thought he would have made an excellent subject, but his damned pride was too much of a nuisance.

"All your talk and you can't even save yourself." Sageus raised his saber above his head. "Pathetic."

Night was too wounded to even come up with any last words. He prepared to accept defeat, the world seeming to slow down as Sageus swung down. In that slowed world Night could not believe seeing what he did. Mere inches from his face Sageus's beam saber stopped, the weapon falling to the floor deactivating from Sageus's grasp.

The next thing to run through his mind was to tell Dusk he was late, because Dusk was in the air kicking Sageus in the side of the head. His brother landed in front of him as Sageus stumbled backward, holding the side of his face Dusk had just kicked.

"Sorry to keep you waiting old man but I did just annihilate your little army so I was a bit winded." Dusk's mocking added to Sageus's rage, he reached his hand out and black energy shot out, wrapped around his saber and drew it to him.

Dusk let out a little whistle, "That is a cool trick. Know how to pull a rabbit out of a hat."

"Child you do not know the pain I am going to put you through!"

Dusk drew his own beam saber, ignited it and took his battle stance. "Come on and show me then," Dusk grinned, "old man."