Chapter 24: The Master's Folly

A shadow had been cast upon the town of Sunder. Over the horizon, lay a sight so inexplicable and unexpected that those who beheld it questioned their own perceptive facualties. Thick black clouds had blotted out the suns, relieving the town and its surrounding region from their brilliant radiance. The puffy atmospheric phenomenon appeared taller than the greatest structures the Terrans could muster. Within its dark folds, there were periodic flashes of light, blue-tinged crackles which coursed through the storm clouds in an instant.

Sunder was now a ghost of its former self. No longer did rugged souls trot across its streets. All vendors were absent to sell their wares, and no beggars looked to the more fortunate to survive the day. Trinkets that were left behind stood still, as not even the wind would visit the hollow village.

Under the shelter of the monolithic tower, Reitoko stood guard at the entrance. For once, he shivered as cool air brushed against his skin, a rarity on the planet of Sanctuary. Looking off into the distance, he could observe a trail of humanity moving away from the town. They were but small dots against a vast landscape.

Exhaling and letting his shoulders fall, Reitoko closed his eyes. Despite the meditative measure, his heart beat ever faster. Slowly but surely, his lids crawled down his eyeballs, allowing him full visibility of the world once more. He was alone no longer.

Directly in front of him, just two steps below him upon the entrance to the compound, stood the confident form of his former student. Her eyes were alight with volatile fire, and her smile was wide, showing an unnatural amount of teeth.

Mura's suit jacket was now not so neatly pressed. The material was now ragged and wrinkled. The front buttons were undone, leaving her black bowtie hanging from her neck in a crooked fashion, much like that of a dead crow. But alas, such an appearance was only a formality.

Reitoko betrayed no surprise at Mura's sudden appearance. He stared into her eyes, his cool red orbs clashing with her fiery purple ones. Flashes of electricity, and the thunder that followed only seemed to grow louder and more intense.

"It's been so long, my former master." Mura finally said, expressing utmost joy, like a child receiving a gift, "And what's this, you're not running away? How uncharacteristic of you. And from what I've seen, you're actually going to be honoring our agreement."

Mura's eyes briefly flashed around, before locking back on to Reitoko.

"This ends today Mura." Reitoko firmly declared, clenching a fist, "It was I who made you this way. And it will be I who bears the burden of killing you."

His wayward pupil turned, presenting her back to the Arcosian. Reitoko narrowed his eyes upon the rear of Mura's head, pondering what demented thoughts lay beneath the mane of crimson hair.

"Ha! Killing me!" she spat haughtily. She threw her arms to the side, as if the entirety of her body could not contain her emotions. "Honestly, are you so sure of your victory? Remember what happened last time? Do you think I've remained stagnant?"

At the rhetorical questions, Reitoko could only bow his head.

"But don't worry, this time will be different."

There was the sound of thunder, as Mura whirled around, lashing her foot out. Reitoko was struck square in the chest, splintering the doors to the compound as he flew back.

The Arcosian would not fly long. He skidded across the glossed wood-paneled floor. Before he crashed through the opposite wall, he managed to come to a stop, his elbow providing the proper friction.

Mura, meanwhile, did not pursue her former master. Instead, she walked casually in. Articles of clothing were thrown to the side, as she shed her jacket, loosened her bowtie, and unbuttoned her shirt. Soon, all she wore were her ruffled black pants, and a simple white tank top. The rigors of her conflict-filled life were made bare.

"This time, you're not walking away," she asserted, as she continued to approach Reitoko, "Your final destination will be a coffin!"

Mura's walk then became a sprint. She became a blur as she dashed towards her former master's fallen form. The Arcosian managed to recover quickly, leaping up towards the charging woman. Their clash shook the compound. Ringing noises filled the air, as every windchime waved. Several windows cracked and shattered from the sheer power their clash generated.

The last remaining Blackjack went on the offensive. Her arms became blurs, disappearing from the inquisitive sight of the naked eye. But, Reitoko's eyes were not normal, and he managed to counter the blows with open palm blocks. He could feel his arms vibrating with each punch Mura threw. Still, not one fist or foot made it past Reitoko's defense.

Mura swiped forward, but instead of blocking, Reitoko fell back, feeling the whiff of air as the blow flew past his face. The Arcosian sensed an opening, and went on the offensive, launching a punch of his own, directed at Mura's stomach.

The woman was quick on the defensive, as Reitoko's fist was caught by her hand. Smiling, Mura struck back, her own fist powering down with enough force to send Reitoko into the mantle of the planet. Reitoko remained ready, however, and managed to counter with his forearm. As he felt the blow land, he felt his feet sink into the splintered wood, and he heard a crack that could not have been made by the thunderstorm outside.

Master and student were locked together, eye-to-eye and fist to fist. Neither seemed to possess the advantage in their struggle. The concentration of ki was thick in the air. Splinters of wood rose under the sheer power of the two combatants.

"If we're honest, you're no match for me at this point." Mura said, in-between grunts, "You know it, I know it."

"Why did you agree? " she continued, "To prevent me from killing off your friends? What do you think I'm going to do once I'm done with you?"

Realization flashed across Reitoko's face, before he became enraged. Letting out a high pitched yell, the Arcosian forced the woman back. Mura had to adjust her feet to maintain balance. Reitoko then released his right hand from Mura's grasp, then launched a curving hook towards his enemy's temple.

Mura managed to avoid the brunt of the blow. Still, a red mark streaking down her cheek indicated Reitoko's effort's weren't fruitless.

Both had broken off from one another, now standing around five meters apart. A drop of fresh blood from Mura's newly opened wound trickled down her face, coming to rest just above her lips. Mura smiled, and she licked the offending droplet, savoring the taste of her own mortal liquid on her tongue.

In an instant, Mura appeared right in front of Reitoko once more. She stepped forward, intending to start another offense. But, the tail of the Arcosian unsettled her foot, throwing off her balance, leaving her vulnerable.

Mura repositioned her feet, and sent a few quick jabs Reitoko's way. But, the Arcosian had gone airborne, leaving nothing but empty space affected.

Reitoko rolled forward, suspended in the air and spinning like a wheel. Mura took to the air as well, heading straight for the Arcosian. But, before she could accomplish anything, his tail had lashed out, smacking her in the face.

Mura was sent to the ground, shattering the wooden finish. Neat panels transformed into chunks of debris in a messy clutter, burying Reitoko's former student.

The Arcosian stopped his rotation. He hovered in the air, glaring down at the destruction he had wrought.

"You should know Mura," he taunted, "You're not the only one who's gotten stronger these past years! "

...

The struggles of Reitoko and Mura were but a distant event for the crowd of civilians laboring away from their town. Hushed desperate whispers of confusion scurried among them.

Among tired souls, were other tired souls. Phonium stood out, a Namekian against a human canvas. His feet dragged along the sand, but there was nothing for him to carry, but the burden of leadership. A bowed head allowed him to only watch the ground. In a clutched fist, he held the data drive Reitoko had handed to him. Yet, his eyes had not yet gazed upon one byte of the content.

Further back, a wheeled vehicle groaned as the massive bulk of the Iceni was towed along. Percy trotted alongside it with Victor. The captain tried driving away several of the smaller children who expressed curiosity at the freighter. Victor, meanwhile, tried to calm him down, while attempting to ward off some of the attentions of the adolescent female members of the refugees.

Meanwhile, Oriko had her fill of the young ones as well. Specifically, three of them had decided to use her for transportation. One boy and one girl, each with gleeful squeals sat on the woman's broad armored shoulders, while the third one straddled her neck. Oriko was also surrounded by their parents, each expressing disdain at their children for their transportation choice.

Ovosh walked alone. No one talked to her. No one sought her assistance. She would periodically look back to the town. There was an emptiness inside her, and an anxiousness she felt every time she would look back. Her hands clenched into fists. Too long have they went unused. The fire within her had smoldered for too long.

Phonium was the nearest to her. Only a few refugees separated them. She decided to inch her way, nimbly navigating through the rugged people. Some expressed discontent at Ovosh pushing them aside, but the former Imperial ignored them.

She managed to catch up to the Namekian, who was still intently staring at the ground. Taking one last look back at the town, she made her concern vocal.

"He can't win alone."

Phonium, sighed, raising his head, before turning it to face Ovosh. Her face, as always, remained stoic, her previous life never fully shed. But, the Namekian could see something else, a hunger that lingered underneath the facade.

But, Ovosh wasn't alone in her worries. "Reitoko was quite aware of that when he issued his orders," he explained, feeling no satisfaction himself. His fist slowly tightened around the data stick, "But I'll honor his memory."

"Ain't going to be much more memory when Mura comes for us."

The Namekian almost jumped from hearing the low guttural growl of Percy behind him. The captain was no longer fending off the young ones from his ship. A crowd had gathered around the Iceni. Its rusted outer hull was introduced to the touch of numerous young hands.

Phonium noted this, raising an eyebrow, "Aren't you supposed to be tending to your ship?"

"Shut up," Percy snapped back, scrunching his face at his new leader, "I was the next in line for the boss spot you green asshole."

His eyes rolled up so far, he wouldn't have been surprised if he had spotted his own brain. " Now's not the time captain," he brushed off, before asking, "How are you so certain Mura will come for us? Her only obsession at this point is Reitoko."

"Crazy women always go the extra mile when it comes to people they're obsessed with," Percy said, jamming his hands into the pockets of his blue jacket, "Believe me."

The captain took the chance to cast an aside glance towards Ovosh's direction. Smiling mischievously, he winked at the girl, who could only shrug her shoulders in response.

"And," he continued, focusing back on Phonium, "The broad has an investment in our little Golden Warrior here, so who's to say she doesn't swing by us to get a protege? "

A low rumbling sound then cut in. Mechanical churning could be heard, and the sound of roaring engines could not be mistaken. The blocky monolith of the Neo Terran Front hovercraft descended from the heavens, the column of thunderclouds obscuring its entrance. As the shadow of the ship grew, the lost and dreary expressions of the civilians began to brighten up. In contrast, the few captured sentient animals began to quake with fear.

The low commanding voice of Koth rang from the ship's speakers, "If she comes, we'll be ready."

Several ki-enhanced NTF soldiers exited the craft, air dancing their way down. The unmistakable blonde hair of Helena could be spotted among them. Their black military uniforms wove in the air as they touched down.

Helena was carrying another by the arms. When they reached the ground, Helena took care to gently place the man down, a peculiar sight in retrospect, as he was a head taller than her. Phonium suppressed a snicker, as he recognized the man as he came into focus; none other than Admiral Koth.

Koth began striding towards the Namekian, his gait long and powerful. Gray eyes were filled to the brim with intensity, as usual. Thin lips pressed to form a sinister smile, although it could have just been easily a scowl.

"Really need to make sure my radar's always up so you assholes don't catch us by surprise." Percy commented.

"Or you can be a real captain, and use your eyes," Koth sneered at the mercenary. Percy glanced to the side, mumbling banalities that no party could comprehend, before he sulked away back to the Iceni.

Phonium glared straight at the Admrial, "And what are you doing here?"

"Checking to see if the Arcosian made good on his promise." Koth said, in an icy tone, "Despite his alien heritage, he did alright. Besides, I wouldn't trust the protection of my people to you denizens, even if you were all Terran."

"What do you mean by, 'despite his alien heritage'?" Phonium growled, his fists beginning to tighten.

"You know exactly what I mean." Koth asserted, pointing directly at Phonium with a black-gloved finger, "Try to keep up as best as you can, lest you get stuck in your green slime, Namekian. The desert is not an optimal habitat for slugs."

It had only been a day since Koth had been seen on the battlefield. Only one day, since the threads of an alliance could form. But, old habits will linger long before they die.

...

Sawdust settled onto the floor, coating it most delicately. Jagged spires of cluttered wood created towers dedicated to ruin and destruction. Concrete and drywall could be seen in the gigantic crater that now sat in the center of the room.

Reitoko stood near the edge of the rubble. His arms were folded. Red eyes pierced the pile of debris, nearly threatening to burn it.

The Arcosian closed his eyes and sighed, "Mura, come out now. I know that wasn't enough to even scratch you."

The pile of wood erupted. Debris and dust flew everywhere, pieces of the tattered floor even striking Reitoko. The former leader of Z bushed off the crumbs, only to see the form of Mura floating confidently in the center.

Small chunks of the floor had found themselves in her brilliant red hair. As she floated to the other side of the crater, she shook her head, sending her hair into a crimson conflagration, while shaking off the pieces.

"It appears you aren't as much of a buffoon as I took you for." she noted, landing on what little space of intact floor there was left.

Mura had taken a position near the entrance. Large windows with light-tan colored shades provided a limited view to the outside world. Her frame, trained and exercised from the day Reitoko found her, formed a threatening shadow, as a flash of lightning briefly illuminated the windows behind her.

Reitoko shook his head "I trained you ever since you were a little girl, what makes you think I would for-"

He felt a searing heat upon his left cheek. His eyes flared to the side, and for but a moment, he glimpsed down a magenta stream of light that formed the business end of a death beam.

The attack flew through the backside of the compound with little fanfare, leaving but a small hole in the wall. When it finally settled into the dunes in the distance, did it explode, detonating into a volatile dome that spelt the massive scale destruction of whatever and whomever was unfortunate enough to be present in the epicenter.

"You trained me in that as well," Mura giggled, before she lowered a smoking finger. "though you seem surprised. This is only the beginning. What is it you Arcosian's say? 'This isn't even my final form'? "

Reitoko's ears could still hear the rumble of her previous attack. But now was not the time to focus on that. He crouched down, his hands open, and his fingers curled. The Arcosioan's chalk-white tail wove in the air, but the muscles were tense as he readied every fiber in his body for the true battle.

He had trained her all too well. With one foot in front of the other, and her pale arms spread out, Mura was the mirror image of an Arcosian preparing to unleash their reserves. What power Mura had gained in the time she had betrayed Z now became apparent. Her ki was similar to the storm that roared overhead. Reitoko could swear the frequency of lightning and thunder grew along with his former student's power.

Her amythest eyes lifted up, looking upon Reitoko as a shark would look at a small fish. "I think we're done with these monkey-shines, aren't we?" she asked in a low, threatening tone.

In an instant, Mura vanished. At the same time she vanished, she had maneuvered behind Reitoko. But, she did not strike, instead, only smirking at the Arcosian's shocked expressing as he whipped around.

Reitoko's tail lashed out, as he leaned forward to strike with his arms. Mura was quick on the defense, even moving her limbs to deflect Reitoko's attacks before he had even made a move. The Arcosian maintained his three-pronged assault, yet to no avail, as Mura's arms blurred as she intercepted his offense.

Mura responded with a flurry of kicks, giving the illusion that she was spawning multiple legs. Reitoko quickly retreated, air dancing to the middle of the room, hovering directly above the crater. His pupil gave him no respite, shadowing the Arcosian, switching her assault from kicks to punches. The Arcosian's muscles strained to keep up. His eyes widened and his teeth clenched as each successive strike grew closer to breaking his defense.

And broken his defense was. Mura had veered just below Reitoko, ducking below a desperate swipe of his, and her black-shoed foot found itself buried into his stomach. Phlegm was ejected as Reitoko was sent through the ceiling. The antique material shattered on impact, leaving a jagged hole of twisted beams and cracked drywall.

It was not enough to slow his momentum. Reitoko continued his destructive ascension, crashing through several levels. Finally, he spread out his arms, ceasing all movement. Breathing heavily, and looking down, Reitoko could only guess he had burst through no less than five levels before he had come to a complete stop.

He could still perceive Mura through the jagged window of several destroyed floors. Reitoko's arms were still crossed in front of him, and they remained that way for the pain from Mura's kick was still fresh. Yet, Mura did not pursue him. Expecting her to express malicious joy at her clear advantage, he was surprised to see her begin to grimace in discouragement.

"This is disappointing," she expressed, letting out a loud sigh, "With all these years to mull upon what I've done, why do I only see pity in your eyes?"

Reitoko said nothing, remaining as still as a statue.

"Don't you fear me?" Mura provoked, her voice continuing to rise in volume, "Don't you hate me?"

Her arms flared to the side, balled into fists. Reitoko could feel the air get hotter, but that was not the only reason he was perspiring.

Mura's fists were enveloped in flames. The fiery energy was a far deeper shade of red than her hair. Z's compound had now been illuminated with an ominous crimson glow. Her teeth appeared to shine, and the fire in her eyes shined ever brighter. But now, even as she appeared to have the advantage, she still did not smile.

Instead, she charged upward. Throughout the battle, she had expressed nothing but sadistic glee. Now, she was red with rage. She reached Reitoko instantaneously, as her flight displaced loose chunks of wood that hung from the holes the Arcosian had made. A flaming fist struck forward with the same ferocity she had displayed earlier. Still, the Reitoko was still able to counter her attack with a fist of his own.

An eye twitched as he drew his fist away, attempting to fall back. The pale white skin upon his fingers was now a dark red. The Arcosian then flailed his hand with the snap of his wrist, attempting to throw the burning pain off.

There was neither pain, nor sympathy in Mura's eyes, only the vicious glimmer of opportunity. After watching her former teacher process the nature of her last attack, she pressed her advantage with an even greater intensity. A barrage of flaming fists, forming a wall of red-hot strikes, pummeled the crossed forearms of the Arcosian. Each blow, after meeting its mark left a patch of darkened, burned skin. Despite the growing pain, Reitoko persisted in his defense, for it was the only action he could muster. And, with every strike, Mura's fury became further aroused.

"I'm not some little whelp to sympathize with!" she shouted as Reitoko continued to be pummeled, "I'm a monster! So fight me like one!"

It was almost a sure fact that some of Reitoko's nerves would have been damaged at this point. However, the Arcosian could still sense Mura's efforts amplifying. His persistent defense had been gradually worn down. In a short order, it became a feat of legendary proportions to even raise his arms. A fiery fist shot past Reitoko's listless limbs and struck him square in the face. A shrill grunt had been spat out of his mouth, and the Arcosian was sent sprawling to the side. He was stopped by thrusting his legs and arms outward, ceasing all momentum. A window of the compound assisted in this, and for its efforts, the glass shattered. Pieces fell and broke on the floor, lining the polished wood with deadly fragments.

Mura exhaled upon observing Reitoko slump to the ground. Her smile did not return, for now, all that remained of her expression was rage and spite. She hovered towards her former master, until she tread upon solid ground. Her black shoes splintered any glass debris that had the misfortune of being in her path, until her shadow eclipsed her master's downed form.

Before Reitoko, she knelt down. One foot landed with impunity, directly in front of his face. From the Arcosian's position, it was hard to look directly at Mura. His head shook as it turned from its face-down position, his neck straining. When his sight finally met her piercing glare, his eyes widened, and began to quiver.

"Now do you realize the gap between us?" Mura declared. She was almost whispering, yet she spat out every syllable with great disdain, "What do you have to say?"

Closing his eyes, and exhaling, the Arcosian said, "I'm sorry."

It was Mura's turn to be shocked. Her pupils seemed to shrink, as she exclaimed, "What?"

"You are a monster, but that's my doing," Reitoko continued, his voice now weak and shrill, "You are correct. I was so concerned with obtaining another warrior, I never concerned myself with you. The blood on your hands also stains mine."

In an instant, Mura's face contorted into such an expression of fury, she risked disfiguring her face. Reitoko was grabbed by the neck and hoisted from the ground. The Arcosian gasped and wheezed, for his throat had been restricted by Mura's vice grip. He was brought within spitting distance of of his student's face, eye-to-eye with his tormenter.

"What a load of crap." Mura growled, "Surely you don't believe that?"

Reitoko could now only wheeze in response. He had not struggled when Mura foisted him up, and neither did he at the present moment. But, there was a tension in his muscles, for the Arcosian's fighting will was an ever persistent flame.

"Well I don't!" Mura continued, now almost beginning to shout, "This desire was in me from the very start! My actions are my own, and once I kill you, I'll be free from your pathetic little shadow!"

In an instant, as a match in a dry field, or a spark in an oil slick, the flame became an inferno and Reitoko roared to life. His eyes, once glazed and lifeless, were now focused and clear. The limbs that hung listlessly to his side were now tense and ready. To the woman who antagonized him so, he yelled to her face, "Then so be it!"

The purple dome of Reitoko's head made hard contact with Mura's cheek. She let out a sharp gasp, feeling her jaw relocate to a position it was not designed to go, and her grip on the Arcosian's neck immediately slackened. Thus, Reitoko was easily able to tear away and land upon his two feet. He wasted no time following up. Leaning back, Reitoko's tri-clawed feet shot up. His student had left herself open, and she had no defense as the Arcosian's kick met its mark.

Mura was struck in the jaw. Her head arched back from the sheer force applied. Even with all the monstrous power at her disposal, her body could not compensate, and she was tossed through the ceiling. As Reitoko had experienced before, her unpredictable journey sent her crashing through multiple levels of the compound. But, her flight would not stop, until the black tiled, oriental-styled roof shattered.

Into the dark sky, the red-haired woman flew. The flash of lightning outlined her flailing silhouette.

The Arcosian closely followed her trail. Ki was pouring out of him, forming a clear visible pale-blue aura around his body. Even his muscles appeared to struggle to contain such power, as they swelled and shook.

Mura's ascent had slowed. But, as soon as she was able to get her bearings, she felt the force of both of Reitoko's fists bury themselves in her stomach. Air had been forced out of her lungs, and as she flew up even further. Not a word of protest or mocking escaped her, only a pained wheeze and a spray of blood.

Reitoko maintained his assault, carrying his opponent through the thunderclouds by the force of his fists alone. Mighty bolts of lightning struck them both, but neither combatant was affected by nature's ire. Soon, they had cleared the storm. The evening suns, once concealed by the thick black clouds, were now their only observer. The sky had been caught ablaze with the colors of red, orange and blue, the pallate of evening. In short order, the end of the day was at hand, as it was for the combatants

Finally, Mura's upward momentum ceased. Her attempt to air dance was immediately caught short, for Reitoko was now shadowing her falling form from behind. Pale, swollen arms wrapped around her body, securing both her own arms and torso. His legs trapped Mura's own, and she winced as Reitoko's nails managed to dig into her flesh.

Master and student were now as one, and as one, they began to fall. They were foils of one another, as Mura continued squirming and writhing. Reitoko, on the other hand, was serene. As they passed through the thunderstorm once more, through torrents of ice and rain and through cracks of lightning followed by drums of thunder, he simply closed his eyes, and awaited the inevitable.

Indeed, there was one inevitable outcome brought forth, and it was not what the Arcosian anticipated. A sharp searing pain shot through his arms. Mura's fiery ki had been activated once more, and their incendiary touch burned through the firm grip of Reitoko. The agony was too much for him to bear, and his grip on Mura loosened.

Her first action was to drive the back of her skull into Reitoko's face. The Arcosian grunted as he clutched his face, with one hand, attempting to shake away the bruising pain and starry vision.

Still, he continued to try retaining the advantage. His white tail had slithered from behind. As the cloud cover became thick, and the electric battleground crackled with abundance, Mura's neck had found itself ensnared by Reitoko's fifth limb.

Tightening the noose, and securing his grip on her, Reitoko moved in to reassert dominance.

A sharp pain then seared through his tail. Reitoko's bloodcurdling scream echoed through the clouds, and the dunes that lay below. As his tail curled around Mura's face, she did not hesitate to resort to the last logical, bloody solution. Her pearly whites had sunk into the pale flesh of the appendage. Bright red liquid squirted out, dribbling down the woman's chin. As Reitoko's howls became louder, her jaw simply clamped down further.

His tail unraveled, and Mura was free. Her newfound freedom was not put to waste. Immediately, she grabbed Reitoko by the neck, and shoved him down, now ensuring that once they had reached the ground, he would touchdown first. Her embrace was tight, like that of a long-lost relative ensuring a sadistic reunion.

They reached the same spot where they started. The building collapsed from the sheer force of the two falling warriors, as they plunged straight through the roof.

Once the ground was reached, there was a sound of thunder. Z's compound disappeared into a dust cloud of sand and wood, and the impact of Reitoko and Mura striking the ground dwarfed the heavenly drums that had beat with wild abandon.

...

There was a sound of thunder. Yet, the puffy, imposing monoliths of culumonimbus were not the source. The effects of such were felt by the fleeing diaspora of the Neo-Terran citizenry. Hurried and desperate shouts could be heard among them, as many began to rush to their cargo trucks to steady the loads.

Percy had decided to hang back with the Iceni, having swatted away the curious young ones. He began desperately shoving his hands against the rusted exterior, in a vain attempt to steady the ship which had begun quacking uncontrollably as the shockwaves of the climax of the distant battle had reached them. The ship, despite his efforts, did stop trembling, but Percy's discover of Oriko's titanic frame leaning against the freighter did dampen his pride.

The citizens and the Iceni were far from Phonium's mind when he felt the trembling. He had come to a full stop, and turned fully around. His eyes widened at the growing dust cloud that now obscured the distant town. In addition, he sensed something more pressing.

"Reitoko's ki is fading," he stated.

The Neo-Terran admiral who was now accompanying the troubled Namekian had also come to a stop, as did his lieutenant. Both Koth's steel gray eyes, and Helena's bright blue ones had focused in on the Namekian. But, as Helena huffed before turning away, Koth remained transfixed.

It took longer than Phonium's liking to notice the Admiral glaring at him. But, instead of a harsh, discriminating stare, he found something different. Koth's gaze had softened up, though even tender attentions from Koth would still appear threatening to others. Despite the dry desert winds, his eyes had appeared moist. The admiral then folded his arms, as he declared:

"Very well Namekian, you are released of your duty."

"What?" expressed Phonium, the concession catching him completely off-guard.

"I have no more use for you, do as you wish." Koth dismissed, waving his hands and turning away.

Still, Phonium shook his head, "I can't, I ... I have to honor Reitoko's last orders. It's at the very least what I owe him."

Koth sighed, closing his eyes. "Very well, let me make this very simple for you."

From the holster on his waste, he drew a pistol. Such a puny projectile weapon would not even leave a rash on Phonium's skin. The Admiral's insignificant threat was immediately bolstered, as Helena immediately joined his side the instant his weapon was pulled out. Her crisp white gloves had been pulled off, only to be discarded in the sand. The golden gleam of her cybernetic hands were only outshined by her sadistic smile.

"If you don't leave us in the next five minutes," Koth threatened, a small grin forming on his face, "My men and I will make you."

The Namekian had frozen solid, not moving a limb. But, this was only for a moment. A small smile began to form on his face as well.

"I wouldn't want to risk violence with you," Phonium conceded, "I guess you leave me no choice."

Out from the rear, where no one was looking, Percy had appeared. He was breathing heavily. A weapon was in his hand, yet not trained upon anyone. Desperate eyes veered from Koth slowly lowering his weapon, to the smiling Namekian. Phonium expressed little surprise upon Percy's approach.

"Wait, what's happening?" he demanded, putting his arms on his legs, and making sure to keep his weapon pointed at the ground, "Did I miss something?"

"Koth is kicking us out." Phonium explained, "Prepare the Iceni, we're going back to Sunder."

The captain, master of reading between the lines, grinned as well, though his was far wider. "Give me a while, but don't wait for me. Remember boss man, I'm the support."

Koth and Helena retracted their weapons. The pistol was holstered, and shut with a snap. Helena bent down and retried her white gloves, now caked with a thin layer of sand. She began to grumble as she attempted to pat them clean, and restore their previous immaculate state.

Inhaling, Phonium then bellowed out into the crowd. Half of the crowd stopped, multiple eyes inspecting the new commotion.

"Z! On me! We're heading back!" he announced, waving his arms, "We're defeating Mura here and now!"

While Koth had retracted his weapon, his acid tongue still remained ready to strike. "If you fail Namekian, take heart in that the very least, you would slow her down enough for us to finish her off."

Making the admiral's point, metal joints creaked and cracked, as Helena meshed them together. She had forgotten the course, rough, irritating particles that infested her gloves.

Throughout the huddled masses, Z members began to rush back to Phonium. Ovosh was the nearest, and reached the Namekian first, giving him an approving nod. There was a thud, as Oriko touched down, no longer attending to the Iceni. The remaining fighting force of Z wasted no words. Blue auras flared up around each, before a mass of sand and dust were kicked up.

The blue energy trails streaked towards the sky, a stark contrast to against the storm that hung over Sunder.

Percy began making his way to the Iceni, breaking into a sprint. He allowed himself of an approving nod, as he saw Victor join him, having placed down several toddlers who had turned him into a living playground. But Percy's energized mood subsided, when the two figures of Victor's parents, stood at the base of the Iceni's entrance.

Mr. Smitter had his arms folded, and glared with parental intensity. His wife, however, appeared more vulnerable. As Percy and Victor came to a halt, directly across from the Smitters, a pleading look entered Mrs. Smitter's eyes.

Despite his stern visiage, the voice of Mr. Smitter was full of worry. "You're not going with Percy are you? Against Mura?"

"Dad," the boy desperately exclaimed, "I'm the ship's mechanic! What's the problem here?"

Victor's proximity had been immediately violated by none other than his mother. She leaned slightly forward, and placed a hand on her son's shoulder. "Mura isn't anything like you've faced," she pleaded, "We heard what she did to those villagers! Their children! No parent would ever wish that!"

Percy folded his arms. His eyelids had moved downwards. In one of the most nonchalant tones he could have ever mustered, he asked, "Is there a problem here?"

Mr. Smitter's face became red, and he pointed at the captain. "Victor's not coming with you! Besides, I know enough of mechanics to help you."

"Sorry pops," Percy apologized, flaring his arms to the side, "You're good, but you're not your son. And you're wasting our time. Every second you spend here with your bleeding heart, is a second less Reitoko has to live, and by extension, us."

The elder engineer sputtered. A problem solver by trade, something had finally stumped him.

"I'm not dying," Victor stated, "Not today."

The golden eyes of the boy, which had played host to either embarrassment, or fear, were now filled with rock-solid determination. With such an attitude, he could have simply bowled over his parents on the way to the Iceni.

There was a collective sigh from the Smitters. They moved to the side, allowing Victor and Percy a clear pathway to the freighter.

The boy gave an approving smile to his parents, which was not returned. Nothing but worry had stricken them. Soon, the warm, worn interior of the ship was the only thing greeting his sight.

"Okay, let's not get too cocky boy." Percy reminded, wagging a finger. The captain then rushed off to the cockpit, while Victor hastily made his way to the engine room.

...

The dust had begun to settle. In the haze, several jagged pieces of wood, concrete and metal were piled up. The clutter was gathered upon the outside in a catastrophic circumference leaving within it a circular clearing. There was nothing but sand within the cavern of the crater, save for a few small chips of wood along with it.

Mura stood at the edge of the clearing. Her head was thrust back, staring at the sky. Her eyes were illuminated by flashes of lightning.

After being transfixed by the storm, a small chuckle escaped through her mouth. Mura's attire had been stained brown in various areas. No longer was her tank-top undershirt pure white, nor her pants stark black.

She finally lowered her head, and peered down directly at the center of the crater. Slow, heavy steps carried the woman towards it. Her breathing was deep, as she felt every sensation of the still winds and electrified sky.

Mura came to a stop in the center. She bent down. On one knee, she threw aside piles of sand. Her eyes glowed once she found what she was looking for.

Reitoko's face peered out from the small hole she had dug. It's chalky white complexion was a stark contrast to the grainy brown of the sand. He was still conscious, but his eyes were squeezed shut. A sputter and a wheeze escaped his mouth upon being exposed to the storm-charged air once more.

Mura's arm shot down, nearly burying itself in the ground. There was an explosion of dust, as the Arcosian's limp body was yanked out, as one would uproot a weed.

Her hand had clutched around Reitoko's face, pinching his cheeks. The agony he experienced had been etched upon him. His closed eyes quivered, as if the mere act of opening them would end his life.

Bringing his face close to her's Mura whispered, almost lovingly, "There is no greater satisfaction ..."

As her voice trailed off, the Arcosian was tossed to the side. His limps flailed uselessly, as he rolled about in the powdery sand, before coming to a stop. Mura's voice grew triumphant, as she continued.

"...Than beating the master, isn't that right, dear Reitoko? I wonder what it was like for you?"

Pained grunts, and weak, short breaths were the only responses Mura received.

She sighed, before something caught her eye. Mura walked over to Reitoko's fallen form, and knelt down once more. Forcing Reitoko to face her once more with but a finger to his chin, a fierce grin now stretched across her face.

"Cheer up," Mura said, "It's not as if you're going alone. You have company."

Mura's fingers wrapped around Reitoko's cheek, and forcefully coerced his head to the side. There were odd jitters the Arcosian made as he resisted her efforts. The skin around his eyes was stretched, compelling them to remain open. Soon, he was forced to behold the near-edge of the crater. Once he saw what Mura had wanted him to see, his eyes no longer required her influence to stay open.

Hovering over the debris, three figures floated defiantly, tensed and ready for battle. The Arcosian's vision was blurry, but he did not require keen vision to know who they were.

"No!" he shouted.

Phonium, Ovosh and Oriko hovered over the pile of debris, into the sand-filled center of the crater. Phonium's teeth were clenched as tightly as his fists. Oriko gave Mura a steely glare. Her armored hands were already upon the hilt of her blade. Ovosh, meanwhile, had her eyes affixed on the Arcosian, before darting back to Mura.

Mura had now completely disengaged from taunting Reitoko, and now stood in front of his fallen form. Her head tilted to the side, then to the other, creating several popping sounds. Her arms rotated around, as she grew visibly excited.

Reitoko raised a shaking arm, pleading, "Phonium, I ordered you..."

"You've given up your position of leader, Reitoko," Phonium shot back, not even taking care to look at the Arcosian, "I will not have Z cowering from this wretch, chased until the end of our days."

Mura chuckled at this, and briefly turned to view Reitoko over her shoulder. "My dear, former, Master, you must stop projecting. Not everyone wants to run away from their problems."

Her eyes to the front, her subject of interest completely changed. Her bloodlust had been reignited, and every single one of her words dripped with it. "That being said, if it's a good death you want, I'll be happy to oblige!"

Mura's arms flared to the side, as red flames consumed her.