Welcome!
This chapter has spoilers for: Kingdom Hearts, Star Wars, Birdy the Mighty, Spooky' house of jumpscares, X-Men, Pet Shop of Horrors, Team Fortress 2, Sonic X, Cast away, Bofuri, Familiar of Zero, Artemis Fowl series, Emperor's New Groove
Disclaimer: I only own my stuff
Chapter 27: Judgement Day
Star Wars universe
Outer Rim Territories
Tatooine
Somewhere in the sand sea
"three moons?" Spooky wondered as the night fell and they were forced to start a fire in an indent in the nearby canyon wall. "That's not the weirdest thing about a planet we've visited." Zane reminded her. Shmi looked at the two with questions burning in her mind. "If you are wondering why we were near that death pit, it's complicated." Zane said. "Experimental travel method that is too unpredictable to be labeled as useful unless you have crazy luck." Spooky states. "It didn't even get us to the planet we were aiming for." Zane laughed at this and said, "Got a vision of the planet Ilum and used that travel method, hoping worlds and dealing with the craziness each one had to offer. Too bad I didn't end up near Jedi outpost."
"My son left to become a jedi ten years ago." Shmi said with a proud smile. "I heard of him, Anakin Skywalker, a rising star among the jedi order." Zane said honestly. "never met him but word travels fast if you have ears in the right places." Shmi's smile was even brighter than the moons and stars at this news. "We've got five more days of travel if the weather isn't too bad. It will be two weeks for bad weather." Zane calculated. "The good news I that we have plenty of water and food to last that time if we play it smart." Shmi looked at Zane and said, "You've had quite the life, a fulfilling one but not without troubles." Zane smiled and looked at the moons. "I don't know the full story but what few years I've known him, chaos nips at his heels ready to play." Spooky said amused.
"Why do you haunt him?" Shmi asked Spooky. "I guess it's for one last adventure before I pass on. It's be fun so far." Spooky said with shrug. "Is there anyone that live with you?" Spooky asked. Shmi explained that she lived on the Lars family moisture farm with her husband, Cliegg Lars, and her stepson Owen. "Zane's got a wife, two daughters, a son in law, and whole bunch of relative. I can't name them all, but his family is an exceptionally large Clan." Spooky said animatedly. "And he will make it back to them alive." Shmi stated with a knowing smile. "He looks like that kind of person to me." Zane smirked, "I can't tell if that a minor talent with the Force or a Mother's Intension at work." He joked. "Could be both. Or something unknown." Zane added mysteriously.
Three weeks later
Star Wars universe
Outer Rim Territories
Tatooine
Mos Espa
"That was an annoyingly long sandstorm." Zane said as they got to town. Shmi and Zane shook mounds of sand out of the tan cloaks they used to travel through the sandstorms at a much slower pace. "it was the 'big one' that comes around at least once a year here." Shmi said. "A super sandstorm that lasts for sometimes months as it crosses the planet. It has a local name that I don't remember. (this isn't cannon as far as I know, but I need something to delay them)"
"Mother?" a brownish blonde man, who looked about 20, ran up to her and hugged her tightly. "I was going to look for you after I heard you were kidnapped." Shmi smiled and hugged him back. "It's alright. I was saved before they got to their camp." She looked Zane's way as she pointed him out. "He saved me and helped me back to town, even if the storms didn't help the timing." The brown-haired young woman with him rushed over and was filled in. "This is Padmé." Anakin said, introducing her to Zane. "It's nice to meet two of the more interesting people in the galaxy. I'm Zane Laskaris. Have you become a Jedi Knight yet?" Zane asked.
"Not yet." Anakin admitted. "But I'm sure after a few more missions they will consider it." He had a guarded stance, but he was grateful sounding. "Is there any interesting news in the republic?" Zane asked. In a hushed whisper, Padmé said "Supreme Chancellor Palpatine was assassinated a few weeks ago. That much in known even out in the outer rim, but the identity of the killer is unknown." Zane grimaced. "that will shake things up." Zane mused. "Do you know if Watto is still alive?" Anakin laughed. "That Toydarian (a race of flying being with short trunk noses and resistance to mind tricks) loves cash and gambling. It wouldn't surprise me if he defied death to do those things." Anakin stated. "You get her home while I get these parts to Watto." Zane said.
An hour later
Star Wars universe
Outer Rim Territories
Tatooine
Mos Espa
Watto's junkshop
"You drive a hard bargain." Watto said, adjusting his cap. "Instead of cash, how about a trade? You keep the droid, but I take the part in exchange for a X4 Gunship? It's bit of fixer upper but it easily worth 80,000 credits in its current state." Zane knew he wasn't saying something. "Then what's wrong with it? The parts are in almost perfect condition." Zane asked. "There is a slight issue of the navigation system being 'troublesome'. But it's nothing you can't handle. This my final offer." Watto said. "Deal." Zane said. "I needed a ship anyways. Come on Jerry." The repair droid, now named after Jerry the mouse (This kid of Droid is sometimes called a mouse droid) whistled and followed Zane out the back to where the ship was.
A few days later
Star Wars universe
Outer Rim Territories
Geonosis
"This is a stupid idea." B6 the personality of the Navi-system stated. "You are droid brain that was to independent to be quiet when it was layered with other droid brains to make the ship to safely travel through space." Zane stated annoyed. "I'm the one that is going to be walking around with the bug beings that call this planet home. Even Jerry is going to be safer than me. Want to reevaluate your statement, B6?" B6's crisp British voice then said, "You are totally insane, and your plans reflect this. Better?" Zane smiled and snarked, "Thank you for noticing, B6. Is the cloaking system working?" B6 ran system checks before replying, "there is some issues, but you can fix them when you get back from this death trap of a plan." said issues were delays in some of the systems that required replacing parts but this rescue mission came first.
Five minutes later
Star Wars universe
Outer Rim Territories
Geonosis
Petranaki arena
Zane hid in the shadows of the paths that lead out to the main area. This was like the Colosseum. 'Gladiators' were pitted against monsters of various kinds. Like the Acklay, a bus sized six legged reptile with spikes on the end of each leg, the Reek, a large elephant sized beast with three horns frame it's face (one on the forehead and one on each side of the jaw), the Nexu, tiger like beast with a wide mouth full of teeth, and they even had a Canyon krayt dragon in some of the cages. The first three listed beasts were released into the Arena where Anakin, Padmé, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin's jedi master were to fight for their live, chained stone pillars without weapons.
He gave them a minute or two and were impressed how quickly they got out of the chains. He stepped in when the Canyon krayt dragon was released. He grabbed bundle of heavy chains of a hook on the wall. They were thick but strong enough to hold smaller sized beasts. It wasn't the best weapon, but he needed to keep his personal weapons hidden for now.
A minute later
"What in blazes is going on?" Obi-Wan said as Zane came out of the tunnels and was whipping the heavy chain around with great skill and ferocity. "I'd say that we got a little back up Master." Anakin said as he tangled the legs of the Acklay with the chains they had been shackled with. "He's fighting a Canyon krayt dragon with a laugh of chain." Obi-Wan said exasperated. "That sounds like something you would do." Anakin took the jab at his recklessness in stride. "Can you sense it?" He asked his Jedi Master (teacher). "You'd have to be the worst force user in the world not to sense the sheer power he exudes." Obi-Wan said kicking a guard that came at him with a staff topped with two cracking prongs. He grabbed the weapon and gabbed it into the mouth of the Reek. The beast roared in pain and fled into the tunnels.
Up above in the VIP booth, Count Dooku, white haired mand with a beard, looked down at the chaos. "This was not what I had in mind but without Darth Sidious, his play is crumbling before his dead eyes." Count Dooku said as the Jedi Order reinforcements arrived with a Clone Army. "Very well, it's time for my plan to be put in action. The Rule of Two (One Sith Master and one Sith student) is useless if the Sith are to outlast the Jedi." He orders for the army of Droids to attack.
An hour later
Star Wars universe
Outer Rim Territories
Geonosis
Petranaki arena
Zane was siding on the corpse of the Canyon krayt dragon that he killed with just a chain. "This was not how things are expected to go, right?" Zane asked Mace Windu, a bald black human member of the Jedi High Council, who was frowning at him. "while your aid was welcome, I request that you come to the Jedi temple on Coruscant at the earliest convenience to answer some questions we have about your ghost friend." He said this as Zane realized that they had found his ship and had met Spooky. "You didn't do anything to my ship, did you?" Zane asked. "We relocated it to the temporary base we are setting up. Even as a 'B6' called us a lot of things that I will not repeat." Mace Windu stated. "I apologize about the navigation computer personality. Got the ship form a dealer for a good price quite recently." Zane said.
What looked like liquefied something leaked out of the corpses mouth. "The scales are tough, but I was hitting hard enough to scramble his insides." Zane explained. "Something has to give when a lot of force, lower case, hits something else." He made sure to point that little detail out because he was talking to a Force User. "I see. You killed it without piecing the scales." Mace Windu used the force to open the beast mouth and was shocked to find a few softball sized pearls. "Three pearls of that size? That can net you quite a prize." He said as Zane jumped down and grabbed the pearls, not caring about the gore. They were normally in the gizzard of the beast and the dark crimson pearls could easily sell of 1 million credits a pop. The pearls Zane was holding were a sinister bloody crimson color.
"Nice spoils of victory." Zane said, cleaning the pearls with a rag. "looks like you have fans among the locals." Mace Windu comments noting that some of the bug-like beings that called this planet home watching from the upper stands had stayed even as the battle had gone on just to see him loot the corpse. "I beat this beast in an 'entertaining' way. They love a good fight at the arena more than they enjoy seeing the beasts winning." Zane pointed out as he put the pearls in a sack and started dragging the corpse with him. "No way am I letting this corpse go to waste." He told Mace Windu, who watched with a complex expression on his face, trying to puzzle out what he just invited to the Jedi Temple.
A few months later
Star Wars universe
Coruscant
Jedi Temple
Library
Zane enter the room where Yoda, a short bat eared green skinned Jedi Master, was teaching younglings (children picked because they have talent for the Force) of many races. He was using the holograms to teach about the planets and stars. "I apologize but I uncovered something you must see." Zane said. "IT's safe for the younglings to see." He added. The holograms changed to show a web of runes made up of even smaller runes. "The metal orb I asked to study is covered in an extremely complex matrix of runes." Zane said in lecture mode. "With the right rune combination, you can get just about any effect."
Yoda nodded as he leaned on his walking stick. "Personal experience, you have." Yoda stated. "Right. I forgot to introduce myself." Zane realized, dusting off his red cloak and bowed a little. "I am Zane Laskaris. I was asked to instigate an artifact the Jedi Order has been tasked to get to the bottom of." They greet bow in response and Zane got back to explaining what the orb does. "It's a karma judgment matrix. This rune matrix that judges the target on why they did what they did and how they acted." Yoda arched a brow. "A Prison, you called it." Zane smirked. "The Prisoner has the key. The only way for a someone to get out of this 'prison' is to come to terms with things. An evil unapologetic entity, that refuses to give up on their ideas being right even as facts say otherwise, will never escape." Zane explained. "That's why this kind of prison is one I reserve for the nastiest of evil beings."
"Our gratitude, you have. Some more, teach the Younglings." Yoda stated, naming the price for letting Zane tag along for the trip to get their kyber crystals. So, Zane taught the younglings some trapping skills, including construction or deconstruction of said traps. Yoda was quietly laughing to himself at how Zane got out of the trap Yoda put him in. "Maybe later I can fight one you Jedi Masters? It won't be too hard for one to free up a moment of your time." Zane asked as the youngling tried to figure out how to break down a holographic trap safely.
A female Togruta (orange skinned race with striped montrals (horn like sensory organs) and head tails in place of 'normal hair') entered and bowed, "Master Yoda, is the visitor busy?" she asked, then blushed when she realized Zane was in the room. "Padawan Ahsoka Tano, this is." Yoda tells Zane. "Who is your master?" Zane asked her. "Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, sir. I wish to spar with you." She requested. "And why is that?" Zane asked. "Master thinks highly of your skill in battle and I want to see for myself." She said honestly. "I'll give you a handicap. I will fight you without a weapon and I will blindfold myself. You can use your lightsaber as much as you want. You can even have your Master team up against me." Zane said.
"Is that wise?" A Youngling asked. "Lightsabers can cut through metal and the risks are much higher if you don't have a weapon to defend yourself." Zane smiled and said. "I've faced greater foes than her. Among them was a being called 'The Legendary Trainer of Heroes', shame most of his students died before old age got them."
The next day
Star Wars universe
Coruscant
Jedi Temple
Medical bay
"What did we learn you two?" Obi-Wan asked Anakin and Ahsoka, who were wincing from the blows they got. "That Zane hits harder than most humans." Anakin said as he got his mechanical hand replaced. "You lost your hand to a punch." Obi-Wan stated, "Then he paid to have them replace it with a better modal because he didn't mean to break you hand." Ahsoka looked at the ground in shame. He had dragged him into the fight because she wanted to prove herself. "Don't worry about it Snips. I was going to challenge him at some point." Anakin told her using his nickname for her. "He's had a lifetime to dedicate to mastering his style of combat. He even mastered how to see without seeing." Anakin mused, twinging as his nerves were connected to the fake limb.
"He was listening two our every movement." Obi-Wan commented. "I had hoped you got better when you were knighted but it seems you are a reckless as ever." He sighed. "Where is Zane?" Anakin asked. "He's going to Ilum with Master Yoda. They are bending the rules and letting him find the crystal that have been calling out to him."
A day later
Star Wars universe
Ilum
Crystal Caverns
"There you are. Now how to get to you?" Zane mused as he stood in the freezing cave in this red robes. Before him was the thorny hill of crystals. His Crystal just sung its song patiently. Zane couldn't find any other way than just powering through the pain as the crystals sliced into his skin during the climb up. "Old Friend, we met at last." Zane said cradling the kyber crystal with hands painted red and bleeding. "You won't want to be in just any hilt." Zane said smirking as he rested on the pedestal life surface at the top of the hill. "How many centuries have you waited, Old Friend?" Zane asked the crystal. He had the feeling the answer was 'Long enough'. "If I didn't come prepared, I would have liked like a lost a fight with a tornado of blades." He said with a laugh.
A week later
Star Wars universe
In Space
The Negotiator
Ship Bridge
Zane finished constructing his light saber on board Obi-Wan's flagship Star Destoryer. The hilt was more like a normal sword and, when the blade was ignited, the short sword length leaf shaped double-edged plasma blade hummed in a low dangerous purr. At its core, the plasma blade was burning white, but it faded to blood red then finished with an edge of blackest night. "That is a very unorthodox blade." Obi-Wan stated. "The Greeks called this type of weapon a xiphos. A secondary battlefield weapon paired with the dory or javelin." Zane explained going through some motions with his new weapon. "The Greeks?" The clone CC-2224, nicknamed 'Cody', asked.
"the place my family hails from if you look far enough back. It's been an extremely long time so I don't know if you can find any information on Greece and it's cities today." Zane explained. "I know quite a bit if you ask the right questions." Zane smirked as Obi-Wan groaned. "I hate when you are cryptic. I prefer Master Yoda's roundabout way of answering." Zane had a retort for that. "There is no such thing as free lunch." Cody nodded wisely. "weird wording but I get the meaning well enough. Have you heard the news of General Grievous taking part in the war?" He asked. "The Cyborg that takes the weapons of his foes as trophies after he beats them?" Zane asked. "I know of him from some of the bars and taverns I visited. Word is he's impressed with my skills in the arena. I'm a bit of a legend already from that fight alone." Zane deactivated the lightsaber and put it into his robes. "You 'dethroned' the best fighter of that place." Obi-Wen explained. "that beast you slain was the undefeated beast of their ghastly arena the past 30 years. With your total victory, you are called Pit King Zane. A Barbaric title in my opinion."
"30 years of feasting on her foes?" Zane mused. "That is quite a winning streak." He smirks, "Nothing like a good fight to get my blood burning." A clone trooper on the communications reported, "The Hutts have been assassinated simultaneously. All of them, down to the last second." Zane arched a brow as Obi-Wen was shell shocked. "The Sith are acting faster than I predicted." Zane stated. "What are you talking about?" Obi-Wen asked. "I was approached by a bounty hunter about any 'surprises' that Jabba the Hutt had in his palace. Paid me a lot for any scrap of information I had, like how when protected the giant slug is and whined is the best time for something to 'go wrong'." Obi-Wen stared at him blankly. "You aided in the assassination of one of the Hutts for credits?" He deadpan was quite well at expressing his mood. "HE didn't say that he was working with the Sith, but a lot of groups have been itching to take the Hutts out but lacked leadership to make something like this happen." Zane stated.
"One moment." Zane said as he got a video call. He forwarded the request to the ship computer and the clone let the video call appear on screen. "Greeting Jedi Obi-Wen, Pit King Zane." A bald human said. "How was your hunt?" Zane said, he turns to Obi-Wen and adds, this was the bounty hunter that approached me a few days ago. He calls himself Pre Vizsla." Pre Vizsla smirked and held up a lightsaber. "With your help the Mandalorians now control the Hutt assets." Zane noted the black blade of the lightsaber Pre Vizsla had activated. "Congratulations on becoming Mand'alor (the leader of the Mandalorians). As you can see, the Darksaber inspired me." Zane showed off his lightsaber. "You didn't call me just to show off your rise in rank or the hunt you just did." Zane stated.
Pre Vizsla got serious and deactivated the Darksaber. "We don't see eye to eye with the Jedi Order, but I must warn them of something troubling. Documents that theorize the way to make a Bioweapon were among the seized assets. Among the names of the participating members was a Darth Sidous." Zane took the moment to point out, "He's dead and I've seen proof. What other names were listed?" Pre Vizsla just said, "I have a tentative name, Dr. Nuvo Vindi, but until we investigate, it could be nothing but a reference to his work in Virology." Zane nodded and stated, "I await the information you will uncover." The call ended.
"I will inform the Jedi Order at once." Obi-Wen said before moving to a more private communication area of the ship. "Can you bring me any information on this Dr. Nuvo Vindi you have?" Zane asked one of the clones. "Right away."
A few months later
Star Wars universe
Naboo
eastern swamp lands
"What's the verdict?" Zane asked. He was standing near the entrance of a bunker laboratory in the middle of a swamp. That just screamed there was something to hide. "He was planning to revive the Blue Shadow Virus." Anakin stated, "We came just in time to stop him from getting that far." Clone Troopers were taking a long necked, tall, and thin gray skinned alien in bonds away. "I was going to perfect the Blue Shadow Virus!" He ranted before being up in the ship to be locked up for his crimes. "And he wanted to make it deadlier. Likely wanted to make it airborne as well as waterborne." Zane guessed. "Leave the clean up to me. I will document everything before I burn the viruses out of existence" Zane jumped down into the bunker and got to work.
Five months later
Star Wars Universe
Third moon of Vassek
Grievous's fortress
"you've kept me waiting for quite some time, Pit King." The echoey coughing voice of General Grievous said as Zane avoided traps and sensers that littered the lair he found himself trapped in. "It is rare for someone such as yourself reaches my lair without any tracker to let you know where this was." He monologed. Zane grinned as he got closer to the room that four-armed cyborg was waiting. He had passed rooms full of trophies. Grievous had artwork, or hologram, of what or who the trophy was taken from near each one.
He entered the circular room with a ring of light high above them. "you look like death warmed over." Zane commented, lightsaber ready as they waited for the other to make the first move. Grievous laughed and sounded like he hacked up a lung at the same time. "You will be a crown jewel in my collection. You dispatched my pet without me even noticing." He states as he wielded 4 lightsabers, stolen form jedi for sure, at once. The cyborg swung first. "I heard you lost a few arms last week when you failed to get the Darksaber." Zane quipped as he deflected strikes. "Darth Maul got in my way." Grievous spat as his anger started to get to him. Mentally Zane filed that information away as he cut off a finger from one of the arms. "knew that being bisected wouldn't stop someone like Maul." Zane commented.
The duel lasted five minutes but it felt like eternity for Jedi Master Kit Fisto, who was forced to watch the fight via a screen in his cell, and Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb, who has come to find his former master and got to the room just as the duel started. Grievous had called on his droid guards but Nahdar Vebb had stopped them from inferring with the duel. Everyone watching froze when they hear a wet gargling and the crackling of flames. Zane had grabbed the flash bang grenade a droid had lobed at him and punched it into Grievous' organs. As far as the two jedi could tell, the grenade had somehow ignited the organs when it went off. Zane whispered in Grievous ear, "I would take your heart but it's charcoal, at this point. You are a good hunter, but I was a better one." The flames had consumed all the organic parts of the cyborg as Zane pulled his fist out of the hole in the chest armor.
Zane walked over to the Mon Calamari Jedi Knight, whose eyes were wider than normal (that were large as it was.), as he surveyed the damage. "Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb, are you injured?" Zane asked. "No, but I believe my former master may still be alive." He stated. "You felt it in the force, right?" Zane paused then asked, "Greenish skin, big total black eyes, and a head full of tendrils?" Nahdar Vebb, nodded at the description of the Nautolan jedi. "saw a cell with him suspended in some magnetism field pulling his limbs as far apart as they can go without killing him." Zane kicked the cut of droids out of the way to get at a control panel and hacked the systems to disable all the traps. "Can't deactivate it from here but the traps are dealt with." Zane said.
As they traveled to where the cell was, Zane answered a few questions, "I've been searching for Grievous for a year now. Before I even got my lightsaber, I knew he needed to be stopped." Nahdar Vebb gave him a look. "I know how he thinks because I have a collection of my own, not the same as his but the mentality is close enough to understand him." Zane said. "I knew I needed to make myself 'interesting' enough for him to want to hunt me. Hence why I fought in the arena. Well it was partial for my love for a good fight." A panel on the wall project a hologram of Count Dooku. "A good duel, Pit King Zane." He stated as Nahdar Vebb brandished his lightsaber. "No need for that. I wasn't needing him for my plans anymore at this point and you saved me the trouble of dealing with him."
"And you made sure there wasn't any information you wanted to keep out of the hands of the Jedi Order on his computers." Zane finished for the Sith Lord. "You are sharper than the Jedi." Count Dooku stated amused. "Any other bits of insight that you wish to share before I let the republic 'capture' this base?" He asked Zane. "You had factions take over the crime empires to make it easier to hide in the outer rim if the need arises. I'm not sure what your end game is but the number of active Sith has jumped to over a thousand. The Jedi are still plentiful, so you are trying to balance the scales for your goals." Zane theorized. "Spot on. The Sith used to have many more members but they were wiped out in a war with the Jedi." Count Dooku stated before ending the transmission.
"I'm going to let you Jedi deal with this war. I have faith you will find a solution that the galaxy will enjoy." Zane stated as he opened the cell door and released the Jedi Master. "I got enough excitement and have places to be." He explained without explaining.
A week later
Birdy the Mighty Universe
Earth
Japan
"so relaxing." Zane said as lounged about at a resort in this universe's japan. He was lucky enough to find this resort. Spooky was on the chair next to his wearing shades. "While you were running around hunting that cyborg and picking fights with just about anyone that seemed to think they had a chance, I was have interesting conversion with 'Force Ghosts' Jedi and Sith." Spooky commented. "Learn anything interesting?" Zane asked, sipping a cocktail from a pineapple cup. "that going to war with someone because they used a different side of the Force is foolish." Spooky stated, "It didn't start out like that but enough bad apples and the 'true' Sith mastery is lost for the style that Sith Lord who got head shot to take hold for the longest time."
Zane snorted at this. Leave it to people on a power trip to poison the truth of a risky power to the point everyone calls it 'Pure Evil'. Sure, the Dark Side of the Force is like a drug, but the Jedi were not saints by a long shot. Can you say indoctrination at a young age? If you can then you get what the Jedi do to the force sensitives they scouted. Not total evil but forcing someone to think they want to be unfeeling monks is not fair to the children or their families the leave behind.
"You look tough." A man said, presenting a card to Zane. "I'm looking for someone like you for a movie I'm filming. If you can't voice lines, I can always use a silent role actor." He explained quickly. "What?" Spooky asked, pulling her shades down a little. "You can even bring your Yokai friend too." He turns to spooky and asks, 'You are his friend, right? I don't want to be cursed for misspeaking." Zane explained to Spooky that as a 'Yūrei' (dead spirit), she fell under the umbrella term of 'Yokai', supernatural beings that japan was known for. "Makes sense. It's a good thing I'm haunting you, Zane. I've learned quite a bit." Spooky said. "You don't mind working with a Pop Ideal/Model? I've got the famous Shion Arita doing photoshoots and other gigs and I hope to have good chemistry for the movie between all the actors." The Director asked/told them. "Send me a time and place for the addition and have a rough contract on hand for me to read." Zane said writing some information a napkin and handing it over.
"Not a problem, I like a guy with a good head for business. I will email you in the next few days." The Director said, running off after some surfer, another prospective acter or extra most likely. "He wasn't afraid of me, nor was the resort staff." Spooky stated with a questioning tone. "Would you want to get on a Yokai's bad side needlessly?" Zane asked, "they are hoping that you will feel generous and leave things uncursed." Zane looked at the card and arched a brow. "Akihabara, anime capital of the world." He read off the card. "The place where you can find electronics for days and even more manga and anime merch. It's a ward of Tokyo and very crowded." Zane explained.
"What about this modal he was talking about?" spooky asked, "I hope she isn't a snob or anything like that." Zane took out a Japanese style smoking pipe and whispers to it. A smoky gray and black furred Pipe Fox exited the pipe and yawns. "I've got a job for you." Zane said softly. The Pipe Fox listened intently as she twined around his fingers like a cat. "be on the lookout for anyone that can help me find a 'Shion Arita'. When you find them stick close and don't let yourself be found unless you have to defend yourself. May your hunt be fruitful, little spy master." The Pipe Fox nods and vanishes without a trace. "She is the eldest of my Pipe Fox network. I have her for when stealth is paramount. That and I can sense that there are a lot of people at are not native to this earth living in the city. Something is going on that is putting me on edge."
Spooky pointed out that they were here to stop a genocidal entity. Zane stashed the pipe away safely and said, "It's not revealing it's presence if it's even on the planet currently. What I'm sensing is a malice of someone with a darkened heart. They are hiding well but something is going to happen, any day now."
A few days later
Birdy the Mighty Universe
Earth, Japan, Tokyo
Cloaked Spaceship
Zane frowned as he glared are the pink and red-haired girl who seemed to be high school aged at least. With her was a blue haired 'human' in a suit with a cold expression on his fake face. "Birdy, do not engage the intruder." The 'human' said, he dropped fake appearance. His true form was a floating squid robot. "I got it, Tuto, don't want to break our way off this back-water planet." The girl, Birdy said as Zane looked at her. "You have good form, but you don't think before you act. You punched Tsutomu Senkawa and destroyed at least a third of his body." Zane said in a tone that was full of disappointment. "By this 'Space Federation Police' you are a part of, you killed someone from a 'level six population planet'. I'm not sure what kind of scale that is but you all but murdered him because of your recklessness." Zane's words cut deep as Birdy's appearance changed to a dark haired human high schooler. "She is letting me borrow her body."
"That nice and all, Tsutomu, but I'm not going to let her get off scot off." Zane said. "I will be keeping an eye on her." Birdy takes back control in a flash of green light. "Investigator Birdy Cephon, stand down." A green hologram of a bug alien in robes said. "You are her boss, right?" Zane asked. "That is correct, I am the Officer in charge of the special investigation unit Birdy is a part of. Call me Megius." Zane nodded and introduced himself. "You that guy that I have to be in that movie with." Birdy yelled pointing at him once she heard his name. "Good, you can keep a close eye on him just as he is going be doing." Megius said without any room for an argument from her. "You aren't from this planet, are you?" He asked Zane.
"No, I'm on a mission to deal with something that is very likely on the planetary distress levels of danger." Zane said, "My mission is a 'destroy for good' one and not a capture like Birdy in on. The thing is hiding too well to track down, and she is to sloppy to leave unattended."
A few days later
Birdy the Mighty Universe
Earth, Japan, Tokyo
Movie set
They were on a feudal Japan movie set was this constantly hungry alien started firing a blaster at Birdy, who turned out to be the pop ideal. 'Shion Arita', was her undercover alas, she changed her attire to be more 'normal' for earth and her hair was brown. The alien was a high bounty criminal who was a leech, stealing bodies and the memories of said body. Birdy dealt with him easily enough, but that might have been because his current body was at its limit. Zane had to clean up puddles of melt flesh, proving this fact.
A week later
Birdy's spaceship
On route to Oriotera
Not three days later did the parasite, wearing his boss' body, attacked the school Tsutomu attended. Tudo almost died if Zane hadn't made the parasite explode covering the drained school pool with goop. They were currently traveling to Birdy's home planet and Space Federation Police HQ because the request for the reconstruction of Tsutomu's body was approved. It would be a few days at most, and they were covering up their absence adequately for that time period.
"We could have interrogated him for information on the Ryunka, whatever that is, and why it's important." Birdy complained as they entered warp speed. "Tudo would have died if I didn't splat the creepy." Zane pointed out for the fifth time in the last week. "Besides, he didn't know what it was either. they were just the hired thieves who lost what they worked so hard to steal." Tudo, in his real form, floated as Spooky looked him over. "How did you repair him so well?" Birdy asked. "Your squid buddy isn't the weirdest thing Zane had to fix." Spooky giggled. "You should hear some of the crazy things I've seen." Zane shoot her a look, "Do that and I will share some of your skeletons, Spooky." Zane stated. Spooky mimed zipping her mouth.
A few hours later
Oriotera
Zane was floating in a tank being 'searched' while squid beings like Tudo commented on how much of a nutcase he was. "Mental state is unlike anything detected. Deep scanning of memories required." One of them said, then things went pear shaped. Alarms sounded and Zane was transferred a different scanning pod because of what a pale dog like alien, Weegie, called 'Mind Fusion Risk Parameters' were in an unknown state.
Three hours later
Oriotera
"Finally. Being in that machine was annoying." Zane said as he was given a robe to wear and was escorted to a light platform to meet with Birdy and Megius. Zane laughed as Birdy's Guidance Director, Skeletsu, a cyborg lizard headed alien, greeted her with a spar. Somehow one thing leads to another and Skeletsu requested to see how tough Zane was. This was postponed for a court case.
Court room
"State your name and why have you interfered with this investigation." The 'Deity' (seemed to be the leader) questioned. "Zane Laskaris. I was tasked to destroy an at least Genocidal threat and offered to help get this Ryunka back." Zane stated. "The Ryunka is strong enough to wipe out the population of a planet." The 'Deity' stated as she forced Zane to witness the last time it was used. Instead of being filled with fear, as she hoped, Zane grinned. "Well, it looks like my pray and the Ryunka is one and the same. Too bad the job is an extermination, or I would offer to capture it." He turns to the smuggler that was on trial. "I'll judge with criminal as a sign of good faith." He creates a contract and states, "By signing this you agree to never speak of the Ryunka or commit a crime unless it is for the safety of the universe. Break the terms of the Contract and a fate worse than death awaits you." The criminal begged to sign it even as he was thrown in solitary confinement for 5 years by the 'Deity' after he signed.
The next day
Oriotera
Above the city
"Terrorist dropping a satellite on the city, lovely." Zane comment as the space object fell from orbit. "Is it ok if I take out the trash?" He asked Skeletsu, who looked bewildered how he was going to stop it, as he piloted the spacecraft Zane was standing on. "I'll take that as a yes. Have the calculations, Daemon?" in a flash of data Daemon (Mantled Mode) shot off the space patrol ship and made a b-line for the space junk. "Leave it to Zane. He will smash that thing to dust. Not even a building sized meteor can stop him!" Spooky cheered. That was an earth-shattering boom as the old satellite explodes midair. Many mini explosions turned the remaining chunks to dust. "Told you he could do it." Spooky said proudly.
Three weeks later
X-man universe
Xavier's School
"What just happened?" Spooky asked as she looked at the change of scenery. "You missed it, but Queen Titania felt it was 'fun' to throw us to another universe after we called it a night." Zane said as he hung from an oak tree. "We completed her quest and killed the Ryunka and finished that movie." Spooky though back to the evening prior. "You went to sleep, your Pipe Fox friend coiled around your hand, bristling with unease and then I smelled greenery and an amused giggled, then I blacked out." Spooky commented, "The fact it knocked me out is weird. I'm a ghost for Death's sake.!" She threw he hands up annoyed. "Alright, Bub, start talking." A gruff looking Canadian man with wild black hair and six metal claws come out of his knuckles said at the base of the tree.
"You smell like metal, cigars, and beer." Zane commented. "This metal smelled familiar." Zane pondered. "Adamantium! If you have that and the six claws, then you are Wolverine! And this doesn't help me pinpoint where we got dropped. The salty air smells like the north east coast." Zane stated, trying to piece together where he was. "You're in Bayville, New York." A dark-skinned woman with white hair stated. "You smell like ozone, reminds me of my daughter." Zane complimented. "You are Storm, right?" Wolverine snarled a question that helped clear up what happened to Zane's group. "Which one of you got the bright idea to 'magically' age the oak sapling I planted yesterday? This tree looks to be at least five hundred years old."
"One moment." Zane said as the Fae Queen's voice echoed in his head. "I meant for you to make it all the way home, but it seems something more powerful than I interrupted me. I hope you had a soft landing in the tree I provided. Have fun until I contact you again." Spooky almost laughed as the stealthy Pipe Fox was snarling at Wolverine, fur bristled and floating in front of Zane. "Logan, perhaps we should let him get out of the tree and handle it without resorting to bloodshed." Storm said, using Wolverine's real name and a tone of voice that promised she would use her weather powers if she had to.
"I'm going to grab a beer." Wolverine grumbled, retracking his claws and storming off in a huff. "He's as much as a grouch with a heart of gold as I expected." Zane said, calming down the Pipe Fox, who returned to her pipe. "Sorry about the crash landing. I was on a return trip, but something interrupted us." Zane explained. Storm arched a brow, prompting him to explain the tree ageing overnight. "The ever fair and beautiful, Lady Titania, Queen of the Fae, has a vested interesting in my life. Me dying because of falling from a great height would deprive her of entertainment." Zane stated as he untangled himself from the tree's limbs. A pair of American Robins land on a branch of the tree and asked themselves, if this was the perfect place to build a nest.
"This tree is big and strong." Zane said softly to the birds who nodded in thanks before going forging for twigs and such. Zane dusted himself off and climbed down with a silent grace. "animals have much to say to those that can 'connect' with them on the right level." Zane explained, "I'd love to tell you the secrets I've heard from the animals, but it would take lifetimes for you to understand." Zane apologized. Storm smiled and said, "I have enough to handle with humans, so I'll pass on your animal wisdom. Professor Xavier will be interested in meeting you." She points to the Mansion to the east and added, "just ask anyone you meet at the door and they will lead you to his office."
A few minutes later
A blonde teen who looked to be related to Storm, who's real name was Ororo Munroe (Zane tended to call them by their code names), riding a skateboard almost hit him. "LOOK OUT!" HE yelled as Zane felt someone grab him and teleport him out of the way in a blue suffer cloud effect. "Are you ok?" A blue skinned teen, with dark blue hair and a spade tipped tail, asked Zane as he dusted him off with hands that only had three fingers on them. "I could have handled it but thank you for the save." Zane said, "You could be a true ninja if not for the sulfur cloud effect." Zane commented. "As history dictates, 'Real Ninja wear blue'. If you don't believe me, visit japan."
"I'm Spooky, and the one you almost hit is Zane Laskaris." Spooky said. "Call me Spyke." the skateboarder said, "And he's Kurt, but you might know him as Nightcrawler." The blue teen bashfully smiled. "So, are you dead or is your mutant power being a 'ghost'?" Kurt asked. "No X-Gene for ether of us." Zane said, "she's been dead for years, maybe decades at this point." Spooky wasn't going to give out her death day age (How long you've been dead, aka a ghost version of birthdays). "I'm not sure if that is cool or disturbing." Spyke commented. Out of nowhere Zane snatched the skateboard from him and daftly pulled out a small tool to tighten a wheel. "There. You had a loose wheel, screwing up your steering." Zane said, putting the tool away and returning the board.
"Man, you are fast. I didn't even see you take the board from him." Kurt said impressed. "Can you lead me to Professor X's office? I am expected." Zane asked. "Sure, I teleport you if you don't mind. I shouldn't but it's faster and Professor X won't mind too much if I bend the rules." Kurt says slyly.
A minute later
"Thank you, Kurt. You may leave." A bald man in a motorized wheelchair said from by the window of the office. Kurt left out the door and Zane sat down in the cozy armchair facing the desk. "you gave me quite the shock when you appeared 5000 feet over my school today. Even more worrying was the flare of power I felt just moments before. Why is the Phoenix Force interested in you?" Professor X asked. "Another cosmic force is watching me. Lovely." Zane sighed. The Phoenix Force is the cosmic entity that represented all things that are yet born in the Marvel comics. Safe to say it has vast power, but it requires a good host to be at its most powerful.
"If this universe is the same as the one, I think it I then I've got interesting news for you." Zane said, the Professor arched a brow as Zane explained the existence of Celestials, immensely powerful beings that visited earth at one point in the past and 'created' the X-Gene. "If say they had a hand in the mutants appearing but not the whole credit. Why is that?" Professor X asked. "One of them might have created the proto-gene that lead to the X-Gene, but I believe good old evolution refined it to what you know it as today." Zane theorized. "A sound hypothesis. I have noticed that not all Mutants are equal with the gift they manifest. I believe that one of my students called it the 'Power Lottery' more than once." They chuckle lightly at the analogy. "Who's the lucky host to the giant bird?" Zane asked. "I suspect a young lady named Jean Grey. Her Telekinetic and Telepathic gifts are strong enough to mark her as an Omega rank on the Mutant Power Scale. She hasn't shown any signs of being the current host but." He trailed off and didn't finish the statement.
"There is one way to check, but It's not going to be fun." Zane warned, "Let me into her mind and the bird will make itself known, if it wants to be found, that is." Professor X, in a stern voice, said, "That will be shelved for later. Too much risk involved for everyone. There is still the matter of, how can I trust someone insane as you into someone else's mind?" Zane wasn't fazed by this comment. "It makes reading my mind quite a task." Zane fired back. "Sifting through the complete life information on billions of humans is not something most people want to do." Professor X comments dryly.
A few days later
X-man Universe
Mississippi
"You don't need to panic." Zane told a teen, with somewhat pale skin and white streaked brown hair. She was afraid and grabbed his wrist out of fear. Zane felt her power firsthand, a draining skin to skin contact power. Zane and the girl blackout as a woman with blue skin and red hair walks up to them as the down pour continued. "You made my job easier." She told Zane as she took the girl with her, avoiding skin contact. "Tell Charles, Mystique sends her regards." Zane just groaned with a raging headache of epic proportions. "Zane, are you ok?" Jean Grey, a young red-haired woman, about 15 to 17 years old, as she checked his vitals. "That southern belle has a knockout touch." He slurred as his brain rebooted.
"Jean, did you find Rouge or Zane?" Scout, a brown-haired teen around Jean's age, wearing a red visor over his eyes, asked as he ran, almost sliding on the mud. "he's ok but Rouge's power did something to him. I can't tell what." Jean said. "Great. This is the last thing we need." He grumbled.
A week day
X-man universe
Xavier's School
Library
"How's the head?" Kitty Pryde, a young teen with her brown hair in a ponytail, asked as she passed through the wall into the library. "Like I was punched through a mountain, again." Zane said, "I can only imagine the headache Rouge is suffering and what she 'took' with her power." She plopped her backpack down and took out a notebook. "Could you help me with my English assignment? We need to do an essay on a Greek Myth." She asked. "Seeing as you have Greek heritage, I was hoping to pick you brain." She looked at him hopefully. "I know all the legends." Zane stated, "the question is, what type of legend do you want to work on?" Kitty was stumped. "Pizza sounds so good right now." Kurt says as he poofs into the room, standing on a bookshelf. "How Athena got Athens it is." Zane said.
"What does the goddess of wisdom have to do with pizza?" Kurt asked. "She gave the people of Athens an olive bush." Zane stated then began to regal them in the legend of Poseidon and Athena trying to bribe a city into worshipping them.
Elsewhere
Bayville
Brotherhood hideout
"Is she ok?" a short clamp skinned teen named toad asked as Rouge only left her room when needed. The brown-haired teen, named Lance, looked up from the book of Greek legends he was reading. "It's best to leave her alone. She grabbed someone named Zane and her power snagged a doozy of catch." Toad looked at the door handles that had been crushed and molded with a dainty hand imprint. "Super Strength?" He asked. "That and some voice that is telling her she needs to make an offering to the 'Hearth' before she is cursed for stealing a 'blessing'. I'm looking through this book because Mystique pulled some strings and made it homework."
Toad laughs. "She's the principal of our high school, If she wants to make the school help her find answers to help Rouge then she will." The door opened and a teen that looked as large as a sumo with a blonde mohawk thumped in. "You must be Blob." Lance said. "You can almost pull off my seismic powers with your stomping." Lance joked. Blob laughed with pride. "And you must be Toad and Avalanche." He said pointing to Toad then to Lance. "got any snacks?" Lance made Toad show Blob to the kitchen as Rouge yelled "Will you shut up! I don't know what 'Blessing' you are talking about!" Followed by a house shuddering slam. Dust rained down on Lance, who just shook the book clean and begrudgingly read returned to reading.
A few weeks later
X-man universe
Xavier's School
Zane was sitting in the shade of one of the trees on the grounds of the mutant school, taking a nap. He stirred when he heard someone angrily stomping his way. He was a little surprised when he locked eyes with Rogue who was lifting him one handed by his neck. "Make the damn voice stop ordering me." She demanded. Scoot ran up yelling, "This isn't how we do things. You decided to join us to get help." Rogue's glare made him pause, giving Zane time to ask a question. "What did this voice say that you took from me?" Rogue yelled in frustration and dropped him. "It keeps talking about a blessing or something. Just make it stop!" She was pleading at this point. Her emotions were all over the place.
"Well, you're lucky to be alive. The last person to steal her blessing was cursed never to feel safe or have a 'home'." Zane stated. "Imagine feeling freezing and unwanted no matter how hot the area is. That is the fate for those that try to steal Hestia's blessing to the Laskaris Clan." Scott's mouth was moving but no words were coming out as he tried to prosses what was just said. "How do you stop it? I can't control what my power does." Rogue said. "Simple, plead your case to the one that gave the blessing. She will be fair in her judgement." Zane said. "Where am I going to find an 'offering of toil and love'?" Rogue questioned. "Oh that? It's just a fancy way of saying something you grew or created without help. I recommend you grow a plant for your offering. They grow fast enough. Here's some money to spend on it." He hands her a twenty-dollar bill.
Storm walked up and guided Rogue away saying, "I'll take her shopping for gardening supplies." Scott's brain finally rebooted. "what are you talking about? The Greek gods are just stories, like magic isn't real." Zane stood up and said, "Maybe it's time for a lesson on being open minded." The world twisted around them as Zane held up a glowing chain. When Jean got to the tree ten minutes later, she found a silver disk the size of a car floating. "Scott?" she called and saw Zane and Scott in the reflective surface of the disk.
Elsewhere
The Goblin Market
"Welcome to The Goblin Market." Zane said guiding Scott through a market populated by supernatural beings. "The place where anything can be exchanged for anything, as long as you can barter for it." Scott was silent. "No, it's not as bad as that one poem. If I have a 'key' to the market, I can get to any version of the market if one exists in said universe." Zane explains, saving Scott from being tricked by a Fae merchant. "Market Rule 1: 'Do not point, use your whole hand to gesture'. Rule two: 'everything has a price, but nothing has visible price tag'. Rule Three: 'Thieves suffer punishments that will include anything and everything but Death.' Those are the rules you need to remember until you are safely back home." Zane stressed.
"Why are we here?" Scott asked, "To teach you a lesson." Zane said, "and to meet an informant from one of the other 'Goblin Markets'. Not all beings have enough power to move between markets or are too powerful to come in 'person'." Zane traced a path through the market as Scott had trouble doing the same. "Like how the president would stand out in a crowd?" Scott asked, "Close enough. Some beings are too powerful, lesser beings tend to 'lose control of their actions' if they get too near." Zane said, stopping at large tent that had a sign but not anything Scott could describe right.
Inside the tent was dark with cages and crates that housed creatures hidden in shadow. "Don't get to close to the cages, not all of them are 'tame'." Zane warned slapping a 'vine' that snaked its way out of a crate. The crate rattled and an annoyed hiss came from it as the 'vine retreated. "We must not leave the Count waiting." Zane warned. The walked the path to a 'room' with chairs, a table and a feminine man pouring tea into three fine china cups. He wear Chinese robes with the five sacred animals (North, East, West, South, and Center) on it, His hair was a purplish black cut jaw length, his eyes, one yellow and one purple, had interest in them, and his almost claw like nails stood out to Scott.
The light source I the 'room' was glowing plants on stands. "Count D, it's is a pleasure to meet you. I'm not sure which one you are because you look so much alike." Zane said carefully as he bowed a little. "sit and have some tea first." Count D stated and they did so. "Count D runs a pet shop with 'strict rules' that depend each of his stock. His family seems to have an uncanny doppelganger effect with how they look across the generations." Zane explained. "What kind of pet does he have?" Scott asked. "A little bit of this and that. All of them have rules that must be followed, or I cannot be held responsible for what happens." Count D explains. "We can look for the ideal pet for you after I get was Zane came for." He sets a letter and slides it over to Zane, who takes it. Zane scanned the contents and placed a pouch on the table and slides it over to Count D, who picks it up and looks in it.
"Now to find you what you need." Count D tells Scott who tried to say he wasn't looking for anything, but no words left his mouth. "You fear that your 'eye blasts' will harm any pet you get." Count D commented before leaving to bring a bird cage back to the 'room'. The bird I the cage was fiery colored and 'appeared' to be a tropical bird. "The rule you must follow are simple. One: 'Only Cage the bird when traveling.' Two: 'Make sure someone talks to the bird and does what it requests at least one a day' And Three: 'do not get the bird wet'." Count D stated as Scott tried to figure out how he knew about his power. "Give me an ash bath." The Bird requested in a melodic voice. "He hasn't paid yet, my dear." Count D said amused. The bird ruffled her feather annoyed. "What is the price you are starting with?" Scott asked.
"your spare sunglasses will do." Count D stated, "I guess that's a fair price." He takes out his backup sunglasses, made of a special quartz that blocked his concussive eye beams, and Count D took it with a delicate motion. "He wants them for the value you have for them not the money value." Zane said as they finished their tea and Scott picked up the birdcage. "Remember the rules." Count D stated as they left.
An Hour later
X-man universe
Xavier's School
"You bought a bird?" Jean asked as she watched Scott set of a perch with a wide bowl in his room. "I couldn't refuse even if I wanted, it's like she chose me to buy her and Count D knew it." Scott said as he finished. "Give me an ash bath." The bird reminded him as he opened the door of her cage. "Any special requests?" He asked. "Cider bark please." The bird requested. "Alright. One cider bark ash bath coming right up." Scott says bringing the bird with him to the nearest fireplace.
Five minutes later
"You need a name, or do you already have one?" Scott said as he watched the bird coat herself in ash without dulling her bright colors. "Vermillion." The Bird said. "Cool bird. Where did you get her?" Spyke asked. "You wouldn't believe me." Scott said. "I can hardly believe it myself." Spyke then asked, "does she want a snack? What does she even eat?" Vermillion had glint in her highly intelligent eyes as she said, "Chilis" Spyke looked at Scott and said, Auntie O does have some in the garden. I think it's tai peppers." Spyke left and Rogue, who had gone to the kitchen to get water jumped in fright. "why is there a Firebird here?" Scott was confused. "She looks nothing like the drawings of firebirds." He said. "She does. You just can't see pass her disguise. Zane's memories showed me what a firebird looks like and that is firebird, or I've gone insane." Rogue fired back. Scott groaned, "Why did Zane take me to the Goblin Market?" Vermillion laughed at his question.
A week later
X-man universe
Somewhere in Tibet
"There. you won't be getting out any time soon." Zane taunted as he made the resting place of Apocalypse, a mutant from over 5000 years ago, even harder to open with every seal he could think of adding. Not only was the place seal up tight but the idea it existed was sealed. Not even Apocalypse's telepathic voice could escape it. Zane felt a wave of approval from the Phoenix Force, wherever it was hiding. "You pissed off the Phoenix Force." Zane explained to Apocalypse who must be grinding his teeth in rage if he could move. "When I finally got a message of the bird, it was only one word, 'Apocalypse'. So, I did the smart thing and asked around. Now I can leave. Enjoy your eternal prison."
A month Later
Team Fortress Universe
Red Team base
"Note to self: The Phoenix Force can be crafty." Zane said as he sat chained to a metal chair with a light glaring into his eyes. The door to the interrogation room opened and a French man in a sharp looking suit, wearing a mask that covered all but his mouth and eyes, walked in and sat down in the other chair. Zane knew there was eight other people watching from the other side of the 'mirror'. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." The man said showing off a switch blade. "I had no intentions of coming here. The coordinates were altered by some being that I might have annoyed a little." Zane stated.
"How would that drop you in this area?" The man asked, "Were you not using the device properly?" Zane heard a snicker from one of the unseen watchers, sounded like a Boston accent. "I was crossing time and space using a tech that works best when you hope that you don't get killed from the mid-air fall." Zane said annoyed. "I knew something went wrong when I traveled 'sideways' instead of 'forward' as I had planned." He could feel the confusion from seven people. "Can you tell me a name I can use? I've been calling you French Dude in my head."
"Call me 'Spy'." Spy said. "You were found with an interesting item." He throws a photo of a Zane's battle axe embedded I the ground next to imprint of Zane on to the table. He lights a cigarette and comments, "No one can lift it, or touch it for that matter. It gets hot enough to leave burns. Care to explain why you have a magical weapon of that magnitude?" Spy said, blowing a few smoke rings. "It's just how I make the jumps. Chaos Energy is present in the 'gaps' and the weapon has energy like that. It was a gift so it's keyed to me." Zane says. Spy threw a photo of Spooky onto the table and waited for an answer. "Right, the young ghost That is haunting me." Zane said. "She's doing 'Community Service Hours' by tagging a long with me until stated otherwise."
Spy nodded, stating, "Are willing to overlook this incident? Our Employer wouldn't not like you suing them." Zane stood up as the chains came undone. "You don't need to worry at all." Zane said walking out of the room as Spy sat there shocked for that Zane got out of the chains so quickly. He passed by a short, when compared to everyone else, Boston man with a bat and drinking a radioactive energy drink. "That can't be healthy." Zane comments. A German man in white coat commented, "It's a wonder how Scout is surviving. I am Called Medic. Sniper seems to have gone to perch somewhere to watch you."
"Heavy weapons guy." A large bald Russian says as he slams a hand on to Zane's back in greeting. "The crazy one is Soldier." Medic points out said mercenary who was messing with a rocket launcher. "The black Irish drunken with an eye patch is Demo-Man." Medic points out a man drinking whiskey as he tinkered with a bomb. (Do not try that at home) "I'm Engineer. I fix problems." A man in a hard hat, wearing black googles and holding an oversized wrench, said as he carried a box of parts. Everyone tensed up as a person in wearing a gasmask walked up to Zane. "I'm going to go out on a limb. You are called Pyro." Zane said. Pyro nodded. "Is there anything you wanted to tell me?" Zane asked. Pyro presented a fire axe with head made of obsidian and a jagged burning lava edge to it. "Thank you for the gift?" Zane said taking the axe as Pyro almost skipped away.
"We have no idea what they are, but they are totally insane and a pyromaniac." Medic said quietly, "That weapon is called Sharpened Volcano Fragment." He adds. "I would stay longer but I have places to be." They watch him leave. "is anyone going to tell him about the possible dangers of that axe?" Scout wondered, "Because it freaks me out."
A day later
Sonic X Universe
Mobius
Angel Island
Alter of the Master Emerald
"I am not complaining." Zane said to Spooky as he just basked in the sunlight. The human sized perfectly cut gem glinted in the sunlight a few feet away from them. "What went wrong this time?" Spooky asked. "See that big gem? That is the Master Emerald, a special kind of Chaos Emerald. I think you can figure out what happened." Zane said. "Right, Chaos Energy mishap." There was a growl and stomping as this universe's version of Knuckles the Echidna, looking even more red than normal, looked ready to punch Zane's face in without asking questions. "hey Knuckles. I mostly met a different version of you but it's nice to see you again." Zane said.
Knuckles' anger was forgotten as he was totally confused. "You met another me?" He asked. "Yes. I was crossing dimensions using this weapon." Zane showed him his weapon. "Chaos Energy? It's close to the energy of the Chaos Emeralds but different enough that you'd have to look at it more than once to see the differences." He mused. Zane put the weapon away and Knuckles tapped his foot in thought. "If it helps, I have no desire to steal the giant rock you guard." Zane added. Knuckles relaxed. "Fine you can stay. What's your names?" Zane introduced himself and Spooky. "Can I go have a look around?" Spooky asked Zane, who gave the OK.
"What are you thinking? Using Chaos Energy has many risks." Knuckles asked. "It's the safest and quickest method to jump dimensions. My return trip plan was derailed by outside forces and I have to get back home my own way." Zane said, "Had to seal up someone dangerous before they even let me start to figure out how to get back." Knuckles smirked, "And something tells me the same outside forces screwed with you as you left." Zane opened an eye and looked at him. "Your instincts are good." He comments. "I landed somewhere and was put in chains. Escaped in about five minutes and they didn't try to stop me after I told them the truth. Got an axe that has a lava edge as a parting gift. Burns whatever it cuts." Zane checked the device that read how far in the past he was. "100 years in the past? Time can be so finicky."
Else where
Sonic X Universe
Mobius
Dr. Eggman's base
Control room
"Doctor. A Chaos energy spike was detected with a 43.67% match to the Chaos Emeralds." A silver short and wide robot with a 'u' on his chest stated. "It faded before we could pinpoint where it was." A tall and thin gold robot with a symbol that looked like a Tetris piece on its chest added. The rotund and mustached scientist waved them off saying, "Bocoe, Decoe, focus on finding the Chaos Emeralds. Whet picked up must be an object imbued with Chaos Energy. It happens from time to time." His goggle covered eyes was focused on the screen showing the assembly of his E-Series robots. Using birds as a power source was risky because the 'free will' it caused I the robots, but it was worth it, if they defeated Sonic.
The machine he stood near had a fist sized red Chaos Emerald in one of seven slots. "Blasted bird escaped before I could put it in E-123 Omega." He grumbled and ordered said robot to be put in the storage warehouse nicknamed the 'Scrapyard'. All the scraped and discarded parts went there until he had a need for them. Over ten years of stuff was piled up in there, but he knew it was still useful down the road.
A week later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
An uncharted island in the Pacific
"That was one hell of a out of control Chaos Control." Zane said. "Spooky? Where are you? Where am I?" Zane asked looking around. Eggman had collected the seven chaos emeralds then a white light had swallowed his base and the surrounding area after Sonic had broken in to stop Eggman. Near him was giant warehouse labeled 'Scrapyard' but Spooky was nowhere in range of his Stand's ability, he tried. There was no living person, or land for that matter, for thousands of miles. "Operation: WILSON is a go." Zane said 'rolling up his sleeves' and pulling up the warehouse doors. Wilson was the name of the volleyball with a blood painted face in the movie Cast Away. This was simply, use whatever he had on hand to make his own buddy to talk to as he planned his way back to 'humanity' or whatever said world had.
Zane laughed as he found the motherlode of robotic parts. The Jewel of the lot easily was a robot with the Omega symbol on its shoulder. It had a stocky body and large clawed hands. The main colors were red and black with some yellow and steel gray. "You will live my new friend." Zane said as he opened Omega up.
Elsewhere
Sonic X Universe
Earth
Filmdom City Studios
Dressing room
Lindsey Thorndyke was an actress with a simple beauty but like many humans she was susceptible to fainting out of fright. She fell to the dressing room floor mid brushing her orange hair as Spooky looked around confused. "I hope Death isn't mad that I lost Zane." She said.
Fifteen minutes later
"You, poor dear. You can stay with me until this Zane find you again." Lindsey told Spooky. She had recovered from her fainting spell ten minutes ago and had taken a shine to Spooky. It didn't take long for Spooky to give a vague description of her issue. "I guess that's ok. Will you family mind have a ghost crashing at your home?" Lindsey laughs it off saying, "The Thorndyke Mansion is so big there's always space for guests sleeping over."
A few days later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
Station Square
Thorndyke Mansion
"And that's why I'm here." Spooky explained to Sonic, Tails, Cream the Rabbit, Cheese the Chao (a flying light blue creature), and the human members of the household. Chris, the 12-year-old orange haired son of the actress, was worried as was Chuck, his 55-year-old gray haired grandfather who knew a thing or two about science. "You were caught in the same thing that brought Sonic and his friend here too? That worries me." Mister Tanaka, the black-haired butler, said as he pushed up his glasses. "What about the fact she died so young?" Ella, the darker skinned plump maid, said as she wept tears. "It's fine. I've been dead for a long time. I'm more worried about this ruining my probationary community service." Spooky said.
"Spooky, what did you do to make that happen?" Chris asked. Sonic was munching on a chili dogs, longing on the big couch. "There was the small matter of forming a ghost army from the freshly dead. And releasing hellish entities from their testing chambers to get back at the people that trapped my soul in a doll then a mansion." Spooky said bashfully. "Those are serious matters." Mister Tanaka stated. "I'm sure she has learned she made bad life choices." Cream said, defending Spooky. Cheese nodded his head in agreement making a 'chao' sound instead of words. "You act like you know me. But I've never met you or this 'Zane' before." Sonic said. "They are from a different universe." Tails said matter-of-factly.
"I picked up a Chaos Energy spike over a week ago that was not from the Chaos Emeralds. Paired with what Spooky told us, that is the most logical conclusion I can think of." Chuck looked interested. "A little farfetched but chaos doesn't make sense." Chuck said with a shrug. "We need to find the Chaos Emeralds and recreate the 'Chaos Control' to get back to Mobius." Spooky said. "where do we even begin looking?" Chuck asked, scratching his head as a special report on an 'energized gem' halting construction downtown played. Sonic was gone before the reporter finished the statement, only to return to say, "Where in town is the construction happening?" Spooky laughs.
A few weeks later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
Station Square Elementary
"Now for a special lesson Kids." E-51 Intelligente, a robot that looked like it was wearing a cap and gown as it wheeled about the classroom. "In your opinion, what is the greatest tool mankind has?" The robot asked. Helen, a young blonde-haired girl, raised her hand. "Yes Helen?" Intelligente asked. "Is it brain power?" she answered unsure. "Good answer. Mankind used brains to complement their brawn or to make up for a handicap." The robot indicated how she was wheelchair-bound. "When brute force fails, you can always fall back on using your brain."
"Well said." Eggman said as he floated in on his hover craft. "It's nice that you aren't completely failing your mission." Eggman said annoyed. A mechanical crow flew by and recorded what was going on before flying to get Sonic. Sadly, the robot teacher was forced to fight Sonic was destroyed in the end.
A few months later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
An uncharted island in the Pacific
Zane looked up from the crow spy bots he was making when he heard footsteps on sand. "Anyone here?" a woman in a special forces uniform asked as she held her gun slack but ready to use. "This is Eggman's 'Scrapyard'. You won't much here." Rouge the Bat railed off as she saw how it looked. Bird spy bots were on perches and Omega was stomping toward them with claws morphed into machine gun barrels. "Someone's been busy." The agent said as she aimed her gun at Omega. "Place the weapon on the floor or I will swiss cheese you." Omega ordered. "Topaz, I think need to do what he says." Rouge said, using the Agent's name instead of a nickname, mainly because Omega was warming up his guns.
"Omega! What did I say about when someone finally found us?" Zane said as he stormed over. "I forgot." Omega stated. "Forgot? That's a lie so bad a deaf and blind person could tell." Zane said as Omega morphed the guns back to claws. "I'm sorry about Omega. He's personality developed not how I planned." Zane apologizes. "How long have you been alone?" Rouge asked relaxed. "at least three months." Zane said. Topaz marched up to him and said, "a young girl is looking for you." Zane sighed in relief. "I was worried about Spooky, but then I started making stuff and I lost track of time for the most part." Zane turns to a control panel and activated a 'Migration Protocol'. "There. the warehouse will follow us to wherever we are headed." Zane said as he and Omega left the warehouse. Topaz and Rouge exchange looks and follow him out.
The warehouse 'broke apart' and an army of insect and animals themed robots stood in its place. "Alright! Syrup formation." Zane ordered. The insectoid robots 'combined' into a giant turtle and the animal robots entered the shell of the beast. "Follow Omega until we reach Spooky's location and you find a good place to set up shop."
A week later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
Lakeside Castle
Zane looked at the castle that was being used as a movie set and knew it was dangerous. "Spooky, be ready for combat." Spooky rubbed his hands together at this statement. Night was falling soon, and the stone hourglass and pedestal just screamed a 'seal' to him. He sat by the pedestal and waited for the 'festivities' to start.
the next morning
"Zane ghost hands took Sonic and my mom!" Chris said with him was Amy Rose. "I see. I've been waiting for the main event, but it seems they are a little shy when not under moonlight." Zane said dodging Amy's Piko Piko Hammer, which slammed into the pedestal with enough force to make it move. "It's nice to see you have the strength to properly use such a weapon." Zane said, getting an angry glare from Amy. Zane just walked down the uncovered stairs. "Don't mind him. He's just a little annoyed at being 'stood up' after he challenged this ghost to a fight with their boss." Spooky said. "did it look like a round ghost with big rainbow eyes and a big mouth?" Chris asked as he carried the stone hourglass as they followed Zane.
Five minutes later
Zane didn't comment as 'sonic' told Amy to put the Talisman with the crescent moon side up. Predictably she fell for the trick and a giant ghost, flacked by the small ghosts appeared, all of them laughing. "Would you grace us with the names of our foes?" Zane asked. In sonic's voice King Boom Boo introduced himself. He had tiny eyes and a rainbow tongue with thin clawed arms. The small ghosts, Booms, rushed Zane but one swing of Spooky in Scythe form drove them back. "You can do better." Zane taunted as the Booms came together to form a Boom Boo, a bigger version of the Booms.
"Hey! How about a bet? Winner takes all." Zane yelled. Sonic who had escaped with the ghosts' portal look at him in shock. "Me and Spooky vs you and you minions. The prize, your hostages and the rest of the humans." The ghost laughed and let the hostage go, for now. The camara guy who still had his camara started recording sense Amy got tricked. The Boom Boo was cleaved with practiced ease and the smirk Zane had was driving King Boom Boo up the wall. "You get the people out of the way!" Zane yelled at Sonic who nodded as Zane used all parts of the room as a surface to spring from as he sliced at the giant ghost's body.
"This is no time to hold back, Zane." Spooky said in one of the brief moments of rest. "Soul Resonance!" They declare as a hazy flame engulfed them. "Soul Purge Scorcher!" Zane sped past King Boom Boo with a screaming hot scythe blade. The ghost burst into flames as a glowing line appeared on its body. Zane twirls her weapon form and tosses her up as she returns to ghost form. "Extermination complete." Zane states as the ghost burned away completely. "This will be gold!" The Camara guy said, as he checked the play back.
A month later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
Station Square
Thorndyke Mansion
"They're making a movie around the footage they got from your fight." Chuck said as he leaned on Omega. Zane, who was checking Omega's systems in the garden, said, "That's fine. I don't mind if they make a franchise from ten minutes of footage, as long as the right people are credited." He closes Omega's arm casing and says, "You're good to go with the laser cannon test." Chuck backed up as Omega's hands shifted to cannons and energy collected in the barrels. The target, a cheap vase, was blasted to kingdom come. "Results are superb." Omega reports. "Eggman is in for a bad time with fire power like that." Chuck said. "I'm going to be leaving that to Sonic and his friends. Something tells me I need to save for something bigger." Zane said worried about dreams he had been having. Dreams of the Angel Island in the past and other that were of a black hedgehog that looked like sonic.
"Anything I can help you with?" Chuck asked, "Not unless you know about Knuckles' tribe and the Master Emerald." Seeing the blank look, Zane explained what it was.
A week later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
Station Square
By the docks
"Have you seen froggy?" Big the Cat, a purple cat from sonic's world, asked as he sat down next to where Zane was fishing. "Sorry big guy, I've only seen fish for the past six hours." Zane said. Big looked a little down as a water creature with yellow green eyes with a brain and arm 'bones' in its transparent blue body slunk by. "That might be trouble." Zane commented. Sonic and Eggman had somehow broken the Master Emerald after another Chaos Control brought Angel Island to this Earth. It paused, looked at Zane then shook its head as if he wasn't what it was looking for. "Not Froggy." Big the Cat commented. "Salt or fresh water?" Zane asked. Big the Cat scratched his head. "Where did you find 'Froggy' in the first place?" Zane clarified. "A clear lake." Big the Cat answered. "Fresh water then. 'Froggy' must have run off to a fresh water source. Frogs need to keep moist to live." Zane said. Big the Cat beamed and gave Zane a fishing pole. "Good pole. I have extras." Before lumbering off to find Froggy.
"Ok, another fishing pole." Zane mused testing the gifted pole. It was much more durable than it looked. Eggman floated by in his single rider craft. "What are you doing here?" He demanded. "Fishing. Do keep your voice down, you'll scare the fish." Zane said. "Odd, you have chaos energy on you but not the Chaos Emeralds. Never mind." Eggman left and Zane just leaned back, watching the fishing rod intently.
Two weeks later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
Station Square
"Get those a plan while I am holding Perfect Chaos in place!" Zane yelled as the sound of watery roaring and rattling chains was heard in the main square of the partially flooded city. "Swift Dreamer: Impossible Bindings can only hold him for so long." Zane grunted as he held glowing chains as thin as a hair but more than strong enough to hold the rampaging god Chaos, who looked like a Dragon made of water. "Just hang on a little longer." Sonic said giving Tikal, a member of Knuckles' tribe, a thumbs up. "Chaos can't be stopped. I had to seal it away many years ago along with my spirit. The negativity is just to powerful." She said, "Screw that notion! I am using impossible chains to hold that juiced up water figure." Zane said as he drank ethers to restore his magic pool as it was being drained.
Sonic's friends and even Eggman brought the drained Chaos Emeralds and filled them with hope, breathing life back into them. "See, Chaos isn't just negativity. It can bring positive energy." Zane said as Super Sonic flow off and blasted Perfect Chaos back to its short form with only a brain floating in its body. Zane wasn't sure what happened next because he passed out spewing out blood from his mouth and nose.
A few weeks later
Sonic X Universe
In orbit around Earth
Space Colony ARK
Medical bay
"Rise and shine, Zane." Eggman said looming over Zane. "Seeing as I can't hack the robots you 'took' from me, that means you can creak the firewalls on this space station that GUN tried to hide." Zane looked at the IV and machines reading his vitals. "You've been out of commotion for 16 days. Microfractures across your whole skeletal system, all major organs were run ragged and you lost enough blood to kill a human 5 times. Yet you survived long enough for Chris to beg me to help you." Eggman monologed. "I moved you to this space station after I found it with Shadow's help." Zane's mind was laser focused now. "Maria Robotnik. She was killed as she was sending a black with red highlights hedgehog in a pod." Eggman's brow was furrowed. "And how do you know about my dead cousin?" He all but demanded. "Demigod dreams reveal the past, present, and future in varying leaves of clarity." Zane said.
"What else did it show you?" Shadow the Hedgehog as he strode in with purpose. "Something about you being the 'Perfect cure' to illnesses but not death." Zane said swinging his legs to the floor. "Professor Gerald Robotnik called you something, but it wasn't Panacea." Zane mused as Eggman turned off the medical equipment. "I am the Ultimate Lifeform, remember that." Shadow said crossly. "Don't use the Eclipse Cannon." Zane ordered Eggman. "Your Grandfather left a doomsday trap as revenge from the grave. The dream was vague but a space object hitting the Earth like the Dinosaur extinction event is a good enough warning." Eggman glared and said, "Then fix it. I can't rule the world if it's an ice age that lasts decades."
A week later
Sonic X Universe
In orbit around Earth
Space Colony ARK
Control room
"What did you do?" Zane demanded shaking Bokkun, a cat sized black robot with a big 'M' on his belt, as the Eclipse Cannon fired past the moon. "Eggman said to fire at the moon after you were done fixing the issue." Bokkun cried. "I still haven't decrypting and dismantling the doomsday program!" Zane yelled furiously. He dropped the bot and angerly tried to stop what was started. "Go Sonic and his friends to bring the remaining Chaos Emerald and the Master Emerald or this place with wipe outs the USA off the map!" Bokkin fled in tears as Chris ran in. Shadow had taken him with Chaos Control. "What's going on? Why was the laser fired?" He asked. "No time to talk. Eggman's grandfather left a revenge doomsday program because GUN killed his granddaughter. The most encrypted data I've encountered on this planet. I need to crack the code key yesterday."
An hour later
Sonic X Universe
Earth
Station Square
Thorndyke Mansion
Sonic, his friends, the Thorndyke household, Agent Topaz and Sam Speed, Chris' uncle, were watching as Zane explained the crises. "The Space Colony ARK will be dropping from obit in 24 hours. I am doing what I can, but the Chaos Emeralds need to be stopped first." Zane said as the tv Bokkun set up flickered. "This is the predicted impact outcome." They were speechless as half the earth was in the blast range. "And it's all Bokkun fault for starting Eggman's latest scheme early and couldn't even hit the broad side of the moon, which was the target." Zane said as Bokkun started to sweat in fear from the glares his way. "How can we stop it?" Tails asked. They waited for the interference passed, Zane explained a 'controlled' Chaos Control would fulfill the program's parameters and the Master Emerald would be key to 'controlling' said outcome.
"I don't like this plan one bit." Knuckles said annoyed. "It's that or risk someone dying to teleport it back to orbit. Falling to earth after Sonic or Shadow's 'super forms' turn out has a chance of killing them." Zane said as Chris passed him a book. "Zane, this might have more information on the code key you need." Chris said. "I'm unharmed, Mom, Dad." Chris waved. "You beat me to space." Sam Speed commented, trying to lighten the mood. "just meet up with Shadow and bring the stuff." Zane said. The tv exploded, giving Bokkun time to escape the angry parents.
Sixteen hours later
Sonic X Universe
In orbit around Earth
Space Colony ARK
Power room
"You are not winning!" Zane yelled as he slammed the prototype lifeform, Bio-Lizard, an oversized red lizard with cybernetic parts on its body, down. "You and your creator will not kill the planet or its people." Zane yelled as he bludgeoned it bare handed. Spooky was floating over by the Master Emerald as the seventh Chaos Emerald was being inserted by Knuckles. "It's ready when you are. I hope you survive wherever you end up." He yells as Zane runs over Spooky with the living failsafe of Gerald Robotnik whipped around with an angry roar. "Chaos Control!" Zane yelled with one hand on the Master Emerald and his other hand holding on the tail tip of the Bio-Lizard. The Emerald glowed and a blinding flash of light took Zane, Spooky, and the Bio-Lizard elsewhere, saving the world. "Crazy fool." Shadow commented with smirk as he air-skated over.
"Knowing he'd be leaving this universe with that stunt, he did it anyways." Sonic added as he ran in throwing a flash drive up into the air and catching it. "He said to give this to you." Sonic toss Shadow the flash drive. Shadow smiles softly, knowing it was all the information Zane could find about Shadow's past.
Elsewhere
Unknown amount of time
In transit
The Bio-Lizard and Zane in Daemon (cloaked mode) clashed a the 'Chaos Control was derailed and destabilized. At the exact same time that Zane had enacted the plan, Bio-Lizard tried to use Chaos Control at the same time. This canceled both destinations and they were stuck on a trip to a mystery destination. Zane not wanting the beast to be an issue started to fight it. It attacked him and that how we reached this point. They slashed, clawed and blasted each other with energy or flames as the currents around them warped and twisted.
"We need to get out of here!" Spooky yelled as Bio-Lizard seemed to being pulled apart by the current, painfully too. Zane grabbed her and dove into the first 'exit' available as the Bio-Lizard was killed in the most painful way possible.
Five minutes later
Familiar of Zero Universe
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristania (The capital)
Zane slammed into an abandoned blacksmithing shop roof. He kept traveling until he hit the basement, going through three floors. "You alive?" Spooky asked. Zane winced as he looked at the patches of missing skin on his arms. "That was too close. Any longer and I would be missing more than a little skin." Zane said. Only to gasp at the state of the forge. It was in disrepair with cobwebs and dust clogged the heart of it. "This will not stand." Zane declared and started to clean the place up. Spooky watched in confusion as Zane cleaned, repaired and restored the building. She spots the time keeping device and it said that they had 98 years before present day back home. "Money!" Zane declared holding up a chest hidden in a wall. "Let's see, gold crowns (gold coins with shield on one side and a crown on the other)? This must be a medieval age world."
A few days later
Familiar of Zero Universe
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristania (The capital)
Zane had found the right people and bought the deed of the shop. "Welcome to the Fallen Star Forge. We are currently working on getting merchandise, but I am more than happy to write up a custom order." Zane said in customer service mode. The short tubby man with a thin mustache looked at him with contempt. The local langue was a dialect of French and this man was as snotty as the French stereotype. "I am the Royal Levy collector, Chelenne. Seeing as you are new to the area, I will be easy on you." He said nastily as he requested a silverware and dinning set fit to be used by royalty and enough of them for all the guests at a royal ball, in a week. "If there is as much as one thing out of place, I will take your shop. Don't disappoint me." Chelenne said, turning to leave. "May I have the name of the recipient of this gift?" Zane asked. "Who do you think? Her royal highness, Princess Henrietta de Tristain." Chelenne snapped.
ten days later
Familiar of Zero Universe
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristain Royal Castle
Chelenne was mentally grinding his teeth as he presented the dinning set, packaged in a crate with a star in falling to earth branded on it. "A sample of the new blacksmith as you requested. He even gave you a discount as a first-time customer." He said as Agnès Chevalier de Milan, the blonde-haired Captain of the Royal Musketeers inspected the crate and used the provided crowbar to open it. "It's safe, Princess." Agnès stated, the plum haired Princess, who was 10 years old yet very mature for her age, walked over and lifted dinner plate from the crate. It was made of silver, gold and other metals, displaying a landscape that was picturesque, but she could place where it was based on.
"500 of each part of the dinning set along with a list of other things to order if we are satisfied with these." Agnès said reading the crate manifest, a list of what is being stored or delivered, on a scroll. "There's are almost too beautiful to eat off of." Princess Henrietta said, flipping the plate over to look at the maker's mark. "Runes?" She asked, looking at the ring of runes that were hidden from sight. Agnès looked at the manifest and found the answer, "Anti poison array to prevent tarnishing or assassination attempts even if it's just bad cooking." Princess Henrietta laughed a little that last part. "Agnès deliver the rest of the payment to the shop."
Chelenne started to sweat, "I believe I forget to ask if a down payment was required." He said worried. "He waved it just this once." Agnès stated, "it's right here in the manifest." Chelenne sighed. He bowed and left in a hurry. Agnès picked up a plate and looked at the scene it depicted. A lone warrior standing with a spear in hand amid a field of fallen enemies. His feathered cape fluttering in the wind. It was a grim and somber scene. "The blacksmith has range of talent when comes to the scenes he can create." Agnès commented. Princess Henrietta looked at the plate and wondered how the blacksmith could create a scene like that and have it so lifelike. The tip of the spear had tiny rubies set to look like blood dripping off it. "I think we need to investigate who this blacksmith is." Princess Henrietta suggested, "But to it subtlety, he hasn't committed a crime."
Five years later
Familiar of Zero Universe
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristania
Fallen Star Forge
Zane had become quite well known and had put a couple sleazy weapon salesmen out of business. Their stocks were taken by as collateral for their debts. "a package?" Zane asked Spooky. "That royal guard dropped it off this morning, you were too engrossed in whatever you were making to notice more than telling her to leave it on the counter." Spooky commented amused. She had to remain out of sight because of the Church of Briar's rules. They were quite strict when it came to what was 'Blasphemous'. This included: Questioning their 'facts' about Brimir, a mage from 6,000 years ago, being a god. Anything about Elves other than what they want you to believe. Necromancy. The existence of other gods. And most of all, daring to claim to be a Void Mage without enough proof for them to 'allow' you to 'be' one.
"Smells like magic and metal." Zane commented as he unwrapped the long rectangle box. There was a short letter that was included simply stated that the Royal Family 'claimed' this sword but could make heads or tails of it. They sent it to Zane because he 'knew' weapons better than anyone else. With a flourish he opened the sword case. Resting velvet was a totally rusted single edged sword with an odd hilt. Zane froze as he felt a soul in the sword that was SNORING in the case. "Spooky, close up the shop." Zane said carefully. He waited for her to close and lock the windows and doors. Privacy runes flared to life, preventing anyone from spying on the shop.
"Wake up." Zane ordered. The sword snorted and 'woke up'. "Who are you?" the sword asked, the extra piece of metal on the hilt acting like lower jaw. "Why do you have a soul?" Zane questioned. "What? You aren't going to ask my name first? What is my name?" the sword said, "Oh right! I'm Derfflinger, a Legendary Sword." Zane wasn't too impressed just yet. "I have seen legendary weapons. Unless you have some special ability, you are just a sword a famous person used." Spooky commented, looking of Zane's shoulder. "I can do something, but I don't remember, I am 6,000 years old after all." Spooky had a snark for that. "Ok, fossil. When your brain isn't full of rust you can show me your tricks."
"Spooky, Leave the 'youngster' alone. He can't help that he's not as lucky as Fae weapons." Zane said. "Who are you calling young?" Derfflinger asked heatedly. "Chill out. Fae weapons have been around much longer than you have, and they don't rust." Spooky quipped. Derfflinger laughed tinnily. "Just wait till I find a Partner." Derfflinger paused and asked, "you are going to sell me, right?" Zane nodded, "I will find the right wielder for you at some point." Zane said confidently.
A few days later
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristania
Fallen Star Forge
Zane was leaning out of the second-floor window when a Manticore landing in front of the shop. A pink haired woman with a strict demeaner dismounted. "Do you make Sword Wands?" She inquired with a steely command at him. Sword Wands were swords that acted like items to channel magic as well as being a sword. "I can for the right price. We can talk more in the shop." Zane said loud enough for her to hear. It took Zane a minute to get down to the shop floor. Zane leaned on the counter as she placed a rapier that looked like a pretzel. "what did you do to this?" Zane asked, cringing at the state of the weapon. "You don't know who I am?" She asked. "Lady, I have been selling weapons, tools, and even nails in this shop for the past five years. I haven't had much time to listen to gossip. I'm behind in orders as it is." Zane grumbled the last bit.
"I am Karin Désirée de La Vallière, Captain of the Manticore Knights. My runic Name is the Heavy Wind." She declared. Zane straitened up. "The Royal Air unit. That would explain the poor stated of this weapon. You are known for being unable to hold back." Zane said as he started to right up her order. "I can give you a stock sword wand for now, but you will have to wait a month for your custom order. The shipments of ore are 'missing' as far as the merchants are concerned." Zane grumbled. Karin's eyes flashed as her expression became 'steel'. "Did they give a reason?" she questioned. Zane pulls out a rapier sword wand and a map. He points to a forested area. "They said they had to take a detour through here and that's where it happened. I checked out but someone erased any trace of anything that happened there with the four elements of magic." Zane told her.
The FIVE elements of this world were: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and lastly, Void. As the church was nasty about possible Void Mages, Zane only said four elements. Karin memorized the location and grabbed the weapon, dropping a heavy bag of gold before storming of and flying away. "I think she overpaid." Zane commented, bringing out a scale and weight with numbers on them. "500 Crowns over and that's including the payment for the weapon she took." Zane said as he double checked the math a few times. Maybe if she will deal with the issue, unlike the snobbish prick 'nobles' he had tried to talk to about the 'missing' carts of supplies. In this world if you had magic you were a Noble. If you were kicked out or 'disgraced' you were a Fallen Noble. Commoners were those without magic and most Nobles treated them like trash at best.
May Hestia protect the commoners that fall prey to the 'Nobles' with much nastier and vile intentions for them. Zane shuddered, remembering a Count Mott that had requested chains for 'prisoners in the Royal Castle'. He had tipped the Royal Family about what he believed it was going to be used for, but they said they would be on the lookout for anything amiss because he was a 'trusted royal messenger'. Zane was so angry at this response that he had to clear his head before he messed up an order. That was the other issue, Nobles could get away with things, but not everything, and Commoners were railroaded all the time.
He looks up as a green haired woman and a dark-haired maid in her teens enter the shop. "Good morning, Ms. Longueville. What job has Old Osmond have for me?" Zane asked. The maid stepped forward and curtsied. "I am Siesta, a maid employed at the magic academy. The job was for the kitchen staff a few months ago. Ms. Longueville is just escorting me." She said in a sweet gentle voice. "Oh, that job. I forgot he said to wait until this week. Conveniently after void day for the second years who did the Summer Summoning Ritual. Second year students need to summon a familiar then on Void day 'bond' with said creature instead of going to classes.
"He said he'd pay you in person after the Head chef inspects the knives." Ms. Longueville said pushing her glasses up annoyed. "He sent his mouse to spy up your skit again as he told you this." Zane guessed. The anger radiating off her was all he needed to know. "Let me close up the shop before we head to the school." Zane said.
An hour later
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristain Academy of Magic
In one of the hallways
Zane grumbled about the headmaster being stringy and dragging things out. The Head Chef was running errands and wouldn't be back until at least five pm at the earliest. That was three hours away and this whole thing stunk of a ploy to learn more clues to who Zane was by order of the Royal family. A mature looking first year student bumped into him. She had reddish flowing hair and darker skin tone that put her as someone born of the Empire of Germania, a neighboring country. "Oh my. You look like someone every lady would want a piece of." She says looking him up and down. A more conservatively dressed blue haired girl reading book, carrying a wooden staff topped with a shepherd's crook, walked around the corner and stated, "Wedding Band." As her glasses flashed in the light from the window.
"Oh. Good eye, Tabitha." The teen said before introducing herself, "Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst but my runic name is 'The Ardent'. Pleased to meet you." Zane arched a brow. "I'm Zane Laskaris." He said, with a polite bow. "The famous blacksmith?" Kirche guessed. "everyone wants to know who you really are." She said in a roundabout way. "My past will remain a mystery. If you want to order something, then we can talk business." Zane said flatly. An unseen explosion rattled the paintings on the wall. "Another backfired spell from Louise. At this rate she will have zero spells working for her." Kirche commented like it was common for this to happen. Louise de La Vallière, one of Karin's daughters and had almost every spell, save a few utility spells, backfire in spectacular fashion aka an explosion.
"First her mother comes in with her sword wand twisted on itself from her overpowered wind spells and now I'm stuck here until the headmaster pays me for the knife sets." Zane grumbled. "Issues?" Tabitha questioned, marking her place in the book and closing it. "Supplies have been going missing and the only one that seems to care is Karin the Heavy Wind." Zane explained what he knew about the group that was stealing things. "They have mages to attack or cover their tracks in the four elements and seem to have plan for what they steal. Food and drink supplies haven't been touched."
"Vendetta." Tabitha proposed. Kirche looked at her and thought about it. "That would mean they connections with someone you ran out of business. Bad luck for you if that's true." Kirche said as Zane just looked out the window, reflecting on anyone it could be. "Could be him? I mean I did refuse to make a 'showpiece weapon' that would just collect dust on some mantel." He mused out loud. "Maybe if you give us some information we can help." Kirche said fishing for information. "Just someone that wanted a flashy weapon that would never be used as weapon. Made of gold with jewels and the works included. A waste of weapon at best." Zane said. "And at worst?" Kirche asked. "A disgraceful way to attack me." Zane said. "Plates are better for decorative purposes." The rest of the wait was uneventful.
A few weeks later
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristania
Fallen Star Forge
"They were working for someone but refused to tell us who." Karin states as she enters the shop. Outside was a dozen wagons of 'missing' supplies Zane had been wondering if he'd ever get. "You hunted them down and captured them, alive, I hope. Then interrogated them before getting the stuff to where it belongs?" Zane asked. "It is the duty of the Manticore Knight to deal with any threat to the kingdom." She says with pride. "See you when your order is ready in few weeks." Zane said as guards brought in the supplies. "Just to warn you, I will be going on a trip in a month or two and won't be back for at least half a year. I need to acquire some hard-to-find things that require 'skill' most merchants don't have."
Eight months later
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristania
Fallen Star Forge
Zane had just gotten back from acquiring items that 'Freely given', like a 'tear of the Water Spirit' and a 'gift' from a Rhyme Dragon. "Derf, did anyone come by the shop?" Zane asked the living sword. "just that maid to dust the place once a week." Derf said as Zane ran a finger over the counter. "I might just buy her contract." Zane mused. Every surface was clean and rust free. "They're here!" Derf said with glee. "Hello. Are you back?" Louise de La Vallière asked as she knocked on the door of the shop. The door swung open, let her in. She had her mother's pink hair and with her was a Japanese teenager?
"Did you get 'Isekai'ed?" Zane asked the black-haired teen, wearing a blue hoody and black jeans. He even had modern sneakers on. "Where did you hear that term?" He questioned. "Oh. I'm Saito." He bowed to make up for his etiquette blunder. "Zane Laskaris, Master Blacksmith and traveler of worlds. Before you ask, my way of traveling here was quite deadly. Ripped the other creature that traveled with me to dust and I had no control over where I ended up." Zane warned. Louise looked at Zane in disbelief. "The Royal Family already figured out that information sometime in the last three years, so we can move on to why you are here." Zane said leaning on the counter.
"I require a sword for my," Louise started before Zane cut in, "familiar. I can see the runes on his left hand. You summoned him and branded him with said runes in the last week." Zane explained his logic. He takes Derfflinger from off the wall and sets him on the counter. Zane had gotten most the rust off, but it was over five thousand years of rust. "Because this weapon chose you, I'll sell it for 100 gold crowns." Zane stated the starting price. Five minutes of haggling between Zane and Louise brough t the price down to 75 gold crowns and weekly combat lessons for Saito, 'so he isn't completely useless' for the cost of five gold crowns a month. Saito looked white as a sheet as money changed hands. He grabbed the sword and sheath and strapped it to his back as Louise dragged him away as his dread froze him in place.
Not ten minutes later, the flirty Kirche and reserved Tabitha dismounted a blue dragon, looked to be on the young side. Zane went to greet them, but the Dragon pushed her head at his chest and purred an affectionate greeting as Zane scratched her chin. "Long time no see little one. I think it's been three months since I requested what I did from you." Zane said as the dragon let the humans enter the shop. The dragon waited at the door as Zane returned to behind the counter.
"You know Sylphid?" Kirche asked. "Had to get a 'Scale as light as the wind' from her months ago." Zane said. "Freely given?" Tabitha asked. "Oh. One of those type of items." Kirche said. "What else did you hunt down?" Zane showed them a jar with a glowing flame hovering in it. "a 'Heart of Salamander' freely given in a jar made of its place of origin." Zane explained. "Metaphor." Tabitha said quickly. Kirche sighed in relief. "I was almost afraid you cut open a fire salamander like my familiar, Flame." She said before leaning forward. "Now why did Louise come here?" she asked fishing for answers.
"She bought a sword for her familiar and I will be teaching him once a week so he a skill to fall back on in combat." Zane said. "The sword picked him so if you plan to impress him, you will need to rethink that angle." Kirche pouts a little as she looks around the shop. Her eyes fall on a shelf rings, bracelets, and other worn jewelry. "How much for a set of armbands?" She asks. "Depends on the protection you want to add to them." Zane said getting a scroll and writing tool out. "How much for a protection that will get him to safety?" She asked. "An anti-Death Runic array? It's on the pricier end and it's hard to tell when it activates. I recommend an all-round protection to take the edge off damage from projectiles, elements, the works basically." Zane said, sketching out ideas. "Which do you like?" He said showing them the sketched armbands.
Kirche looked at them and turned to Tabitha, "What do you think he will like?" She asks. Tabitha looks at them and pointed to one with a large flat stone and it was labeled 'Silver/Gold blend'. "Good Choice. Including the price of the runes and the Peridot in each armband, we are looking at 500 gold crowns." Zane stated. "How does this 'Anti-Death' thing work?" Kirche asked. "If the wearer faces death without fail, they will be teleported away to somewhere safe. I'm talking 'total destruction of the body' Death. It won't activate if you get stabbed or burned a little bit." Zane explained. "It can be called a 'Miracle that defies all logic'." He then stated the hidden conditions to the 'miracle'. "Once you agree to this, you will not remember about the rune array. No one save for me will remember its existence until it activates and can only be used on a person once."
"Reasonable." Tabitha stated. Greater the magic, greater the cost. "How do you know about this rune array?" Kirche asked as she sets the requested payment on the counter. "From one that knows the ins and outs of Life and Death quite well. It's not necromancy but can be confused for that." Zane said carefully. It was a something he got from Death and was perfectly legal with the laws of life and death. He did say that you could only give it to someone else. The Princess had ordered a ring with this runic array for someone unspecified, likely a secret lover.
A week later
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristain Academy of Magic
Courtyard
"Take a five-minute break." Zane said as he shook his head at how poor Saito's combat skills were. His runes granted him total information about weapons and the skills to use them when the runes were active. "is he going to be ok?" Siesta, the maid, asked as Saito lay sprawled on the grass, gasping for breath. "the Armbands prevent any real damage but he's feeling the pain of the blows. It's going to really sting when I get to the sword training." Zane said kicking a case open to show a wooden sword with an aura of danger to it and next to it was a normal wooden sword. "His runes don't seem to activate with training weapons so he will need to learn quickly or feel pain." Saito shivered and muttered about a 'tiger sword' with dread. It's not the Tora Shinai." Zane corrected him. "But it's just as 'Cursed' as Taiga's weapon of choice, if not more."
"Why me!" Saito bemoaned his fate. "Stop your belly aching. You will thank me when you dodge, and defect strikes like an expert." Zane said. Zane stiffened as Count Mott arrived, eyeing servants with a greedy lustful gaze hidden just barely. "Siesta, if he buys your or any other maids' contract, contact me immediately." Zane told her. "You do not want to be 'under his care'." Zane put one a false smile as Count Mott came over. "You are teaching? I didn't know you knew how to fight?" His voice has an oily condescending side to it that Zane detected easily, no matter how 'pleasant' Count Mott tried to make it. "He needs some training to meet the standard of the noble he's working for." Zane said in half truths. "A bodyguard? Doesn't look like much but this school is 'safe enough' for someone like him to protect just about anyone well enough to keep the job." Count Mott said snidely before leaving to meet with the Headmaster. "nasty scumbag masquerading as man." Zane said, keeping it clean because what he really wanted to say was much worse.
A few days later
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristain Academy of Magic
Near the gate
It was the dead of night as Zane waited by the gate of the school with only the light of the twin moons. Karin arrived by horse to be less noticeable. "The evidence that maid helped collect was enough to put the former Count Mott on the chopping block. The execution will be in three days at noon." She whispered. "Don't breathe a word until his head has left his neck." She ordered and left. "Come out." Zane said aiming his staff at a shadow. "Don't bother lying, you were watching since I got here an hour ago." Zane said as Ms. Longueville, wearing a heavy hooded cloak, walked into the moonlight. "I had to know Mott's fate personally." Ms. Longueville said in a half truth. "And your other boss wants to know as well." She fingered her wand, but Zane continued talking, "It's not hard to notice the trips you take to talk to a middleman. I'm guessing they have leverage over you, family likely, because of the money you send to someone."
Ms. Longueville looked ready to attack him. "Given the smile you have when you read some letters, I hit the nail on the head, even if I don't know any of details." Ms. Longueville relaxed and said, "I have a sister that I send money. She lives in Albion, near a small town called Westwood." Zane nodded in understanding. "Will they use this information to stop the execution?" Zane asked. "Unlikely, Mott is far from loved by anyone. More likely, he was in the way of 'claiming the holy land'." She commented doing air quotes. "You work for a zealot? That's a pain." Zane symptomized with her at least a little. There were people that believed that the Elf nation was on 'holy ground' and 'stolen' from the humans by the elves. "I will try to keep you out of trouble." Ms. Longueville said as the earth 'swallowed' her. "An earth mage. Oddly fitting given her green hair." Zane said as the ground looked untouched.
A few months later
Kingdom of Tristain
Tristania
Fallen Star Forge
Zane had purposefully avoided the incidents with a theft from the school vault and other events that Saito seemed get in the middle of. Zane was sharpening a sword when a blonde man with a hole in him landed with a bloody splat. "No way in Tartarus am I let you haunt my shop." Zane said setting the sword down and start to keep the man from dying. There was a letter in the jacket of the man. Zane smelled the perfume on them. "Love letter from the princess?" Zane mused as he looked at the sender's name. "You must be the lucky receiver of the Anti-Death array." According to the letter, he was Prince Wales Tudor, the princess's distant cousin, and lover. An interesting change from the cannon timeline but at least it wasn't inbreeding anymore. "You are not going to be able to move with a freshly heal lung, well not without help." Zane told the barely aware prince. "I can't say the state of your kingdom at the moment, but life isn't fair." He shapes flames into a bird and implanted a message only the princess would be able to hear with a jeweled seashell he had made her a few years back.
A year later
Kingdom of Tristain
Zane looked at the 'ancient dragon', a beast with three yellow eyes and cloaked in Darkness. "I'm not letting you kill anymore, monster." Zane declared as stood before the beast, clad in his armor and Pale Nail (spear) at the ready. One clear strike was all he needed. To do that he let himself be eaten and started to rip up all the important organs.
With the Princess (now Queen of Tristain)
Henrietta was gripping the railing of the floating ship, white knuckled, as the beast roared in absolute pain, the enslaved dragon army stopped attacking. "He will win. Trust me." Wales tells her, even as he was just as worried. "It's better than using the other plan." He was referring to using someone at a mana battery to the point of death to kill the Beast with a Void spell, all other magics did nothing to it. They looked up as a Fighter jet came from a portal and started bombing the beast from the outside. "Saito came back?" Henrietta asked shocked.
Five minutes later
Zane pushed the jaws open as he pushed his body to keep moving. The beast was a lot tough than he had slashed and impaled the heart took a chuck out of his stamina to do so. After dealing with all that acid and blood, he just wanted a hot bath to clean up. As soon as he saw the crowd waiting for them, he stated, "This corpse in mine." They started to laugh and cheer. He had found out about this beast year ago and had been planning for crazy plan. HE would be making the jump after Saito's wedding.
Later
Home universe
The People Earth (World Based on Artemis Fowl)
Somewhere in what would be Ireland
"Right universe, wrong time." Zane said as he looked at device. 10,110 years from the present day. They on 'an earth' but it was ten thousand years in the past and the only creature that seemed to be around was a full bearded centaur, drunk off some booze in an equal parts rocks and grassy clearing, looked like somewhere in Ireland. "I am going to put myself into a time locked coffin, a box where time stops, if your booze addled mind is too far in the bottle at this moment." Zane said as he used flames to melt and shape stone around the clearing into a rune covered coffin. The centaur blinked and spoke in drunk voice, "Wouldn't it be cool if you could freeze time over an area? I could drink without being yelled at for drinking in the morning."
Zane and Spooky traded looks and just shrugged. "Spooky, I need you make sure no one tampers with this coffin. You might get bored, so be creative with job." Zane told her as he worked. Spooky gave him grin as she rubbed her hand together evilly. He pitied the fools she got creative with. "Quick question mud man." The centaur asked, "wouldn't be safer to hide your time box in a tomb or something?" Zane ignored the insensitive term for humanity and pulled a barrel out of his storage space. "This is a failed attempt at making endless water. All it does is make fifty barrels of whatever liquid you pour into the runic hole. It's all yours if you keep my 'time box' safe and put up with Spooky's antics." Zane said as the centaur agreed, hugging the large barrel. "Best bribe ever." He pauses then corrects, "maybe not as good as an instant tail gate party kit." Leave it to centaurs to invent that concept on multiple worlds. "Good luck, Party Pony." Zane said getting in the finished 'time box'. "Wait! Can I have a name before you close the lid. You might be the first human to know about the Party Ponies." The centaur asked. "Zane Laskaris, I might see you when I 'wake up', or maybe not." Zane said, dawning his keyblade armor and laying down, as the lid closed and sealed.
10,000 years later
The People Earth
Lower Elements (The fae, aka the People's, underground realm)
Haven LEP HQ
Captain Holly Shorts, a female elf and the first female to get into the LEP (police force) Reconnaissance unit, dreaded why she was being called to Commander Root's office. "Captain Shorts." Commander Root, and Elf that had the nickname Beetroot because of his rageful red face all the time, says as he looked at Holly's record. "Do you know why I called you in to my office?" He asked this without looking up, puffing on a fungus cigar. "I am not sure, sir." Holly said, carefully schooling her annoyance. "Good, if you knew than someone screwed up." Root said with a smirk. "You will be doing the 'Tomb shift' for the week. Do not try to complain. It is required that all LEP members do this or they will be let go on the spot." He ordered.
"What does this task entail?" Holly asked, totally lost. Was this a hidden test no one talked about? "No one is to know about this task until it is their time, so don't go blabbing this like a drunken mud man." Root ordered. "you know where to go for the gear and information." Root said, ending the conversation.
Five minutes later
Holly had found Foaly the centaur, the tech expert, wearing his tin foil hat and watching sitcoms off human satellite tv. "Commander Root has giving me 'Tomb shift' for a week." Holly said. "What! You're going to that place? I told him that vanishing tomb is not safe." Foaly said in shock. "What even is the task? He didn't tell me anything." Holly asked. Foaly taps away and brings up human websites and new articles. "the mud men have more information about the 'vanishing tomb', given their ability to blunder into it shifting location more than we do in in the last 10,000 years. The first major appearance of it was when it appeared and knocked a meteor off course and halved the fatalities when Atlantis was struck by it."
Holly knew about that tragedy. The second major Fae city had been wrecked around 9,000 years ago. It was rebuilt but a lot of lives were lost. "To sum up ten thousand years of information, this tomb appears and disappears like a dream. It's made of what looks like a red sandstone and the LEP recon has been trying to find out what it is and why it's the way it is." Foaly explained. "Tomb Shift is down in two steps. First, track it down and get inside. According to the mud men, you have to knock three times and be polite. Once you are inside the second phase starts, investigating the tomb interior. It only stays in one place if the guest is still inside and only one can enter at a time." Holly realized what kind of job this was. A bottom of the barrel expected to fail job. It grated on her nerves like no tomorrow. Once again, she is being judged because she is a 'test member'. She would prove her worth even if she is female. She grabbed a set of Hummingbird Z7 synthetic wings.
three days later
The People Earth
Somewhere over Ireland
Inside the tomb
Holly had found the tomb in three days and had been let in. Good thing too because it was 'raining cats and dogs' as the mud men said. "Another lost soul drawn to the fleeting, yet eternal spark known as hope." A robed figure said as he made his rounds, reliving the torches that were put out by the wind as Holly entered. "You may hang your wings on the coat rack in the next room if you wish." He continued to say as Holly was left shocked that he saw through her shielding (More of vibrating so fast via magic they are unseen to most creatures.). "You will find that your magic will not hide you from anyone that 'lives' here. Please do not break any of the rules." He says disappearing into hidden passage in a wall.
"I hope you got all that." Holly says out loud, hoping the helmet cam and mic picked up what just happened. "Loud and clear." Foaly answered from the comms. "can't get a fix on where you are after entering so all I can provide is more support and the maps the mud men have. They are unbelievably bad maps at best, full of blank spaces." Holly looked at the 'rules' over the threshold.
1: sign the contract to enter
2: break the terms at your own risk
3: you are a guest and will pay for anything broken
4: you have an hour after the meal bell rings or you miss out
5: no slurs allowed
6: Spooky is the boss of the place
She goes to the stone podium and reads the 'contract', little more than a thin scroll with the words, 'I, (blank line), agree to the rules and enjoy the hospitality that is offered. Breaking this agreement will result in being expelled from the premises.'. It was fair so she signed with her name and rank. The way deeper opened as she did.
An hour later
She had placed through hallways with statues, painted ones, of humans, animals, and even Fae. There were rooms but they and this place didn't make sense. It was far too big to fit in the building she entered. When she finally reached a dining room, she was shocked to find a meal being set up and it was all her favorites. "Oh, you're early. I expected you to take another ten minutes." A servant said as she directed staff members to fix the table. "They can't be alive." Foaly whispered over the com. "They don't show up on inferred or anything." Mustering the courage, Holly asked, "Are you real? Is anything here real?" The server, who like everyone else had their face hidden laughed. "the master and his ghostly friend are real." Holly could hear the conviction in the answer.
"But what about you? Don't you have a name? a face?" Holly pressed. "We are but the sandy forms that drift from the mind of the master. Born from the memories of all the people he carries, too many to count but remembered no matter how small." Holly wasn't sure what to say as a ghost floated through a wall. "There you are. I'm Spooky and you have a job to do." Spooky said. "The dreamer has slept for long enough. You have three days to find and waken him. 10,000 years is long enough waiting." Holly felt the order, so much for leaving if things get too dangerous. The wording was easy enough to work around but how she was going to do it was up in the air right now. "if you want, I can help you navigate this place. You don't have the luxury of being a ghost." Spooky said with a sad smile.
A day later
Holly stood in the 'burial chamber' of the strange tomb she was trapped in. "All I have to do is want him to wake up and agree to bearing the 'burden' of what comes of waking him?" Holly asked Spooky. "I don't remember the exact wording the coven of warlocks gave but there was something about a mas release of energy that will not 'harm' anything. But why sound we listen to the word of 500 demon warlocks from 10,000 years ago, who listened to a drunken centaur, and made this 'tomb' with some weird fae magic." Spooky said as Holly heard Foaly spit out his drink in shock in her headset.
36 hours later
Commander Root and Foaly had started arguing what was the best course of action as Holly explored and waited. She had 12 hours left before the time limit was reached and was currently in was seemed to be library. "It seems that your choice is being taken from you." A winged being with a scythe said, browsing the volumes just as she was. "I hope you make the right choice because she will be departing in 12 hours with or without getting to say goodbye to her dear friend." Holly finally got the full reason for Spooky giving that time limit. She guessed this was some spirit of death, real or dreamed was unknown, and he had delivered Spooky this news recently. "I am Death, not your version of Death but all the same I process souls of all races." Death said.
"why did you give her the extra time?" Holly asked, she couldn't see Death's face under the shadow of the skull hood, but his voice was just enough to give some hints. "He has been of great help to me. He would waste a favor on something as trivial as this in a heartbeat." Holly heard amusement in his voice. "So, I should just make my own choice without being told what I should do?" Holly asked. Death didn't turn her way as he commented, "It's the only way to wake him. I made sure to 'edit' the rune array at some point in the last 100 years. You'll thank me later."
A few hours later
Holly took a breath and pushed the stone lid open, even as the com was going crazy. She saw the sleeping knight reach up and grip lip of the coffin. "In the wise words of Robin Williams, '10,000 Years Will Give You Such a Crick in the Neck'." Zane said doing the acter's voice as he quoted the line. Spooky just laughed. Holly let them talk as she asked what she just caused. "You unleashed a plus of magic some powerful that what was extinct and endangered is thriving and the damage the mud men have don't to be reduced by 90%, at least." Foaly said as the sound of his keyboard was heard loudly. "We will have a word when you get back, Captain Short." That was all Commander Root said. "that went better than expected." Foaly commented, "I half expected him to roast you to ash with his angry bellow alone."
She looked over at Zane and Spooky, just in time to see them hugging as Death stepped into view. Something was stopping her for over hearing but Spooky left with Death. "Can you imagine waiting 10,000 years just to have to say goodbye?" Holly wondered. "The place hasn't vanished so there might be a slim chance it's going to stick around after the 'dreamer' has woken up. Maybe this fellow can explain my ancestor's 'magic keg' he called his prized possession." She heard Zane sigh as he looked at a device. "110 years early. Workable but unplanned." He hears a bell ring and says, "Food will help me plan for the next steps."
A five years later
The People Earth
Dublin Ireland
Zane had found himself wandering this earth and wondering why he felt like he couldn't leave yet. It was a gut instinct that he was needed. He had run in with the People more than once and it was mostly positive as he had 'fixed' the earth somewhat. They even went as far as to never call him a 'mud man' and said he was an honorary member of the People in the eyes of their government. Given the anti LEP protects going on, it was to appease the civilians. He looked at the manor before him. 5-meter-high walls and screamed money. He debated if he should come closer as a vehicle drove up the road behind him and a large man stepped out.
"May I ask why you are coming to Fowl Manor?" He asked briskly. "Just wandering. My feet seem to want me to visit this amazing place. You said the Fowl family lives here? That name sounds drenched in history, all most as much as my clan." Zane commented. "Zane Laskaris, it's would be an honor to arrange a meeting with one of the Fowls." Zane said with a polite bow. "I am carrying weapons on my person but no guns." Zane said honestly as he removed over a dozen blades weapons, a spool of wire, a lighter, and lastly a dozen flares from his person and laid them out slowly on the ground before stepping back few feet.
"This seems to be a little bit more than a few weapons." The man said. A pale teen boy, around 12 years old at most (likely 11 years old), stepped out of the vehicle and looked at the weapons laid out. "Butler, these blades are too high quality to be machine made." The boy said as he took in all the information that was presented. "Yes, Artemis. Hand forged and handles custom made for his hands." Butler said standing just ahead of the teen. "Not my best work, but they have not failed me yet." Zane said with pride. "You said you wanted to meet the Fowl Family, right?" the boy said, "Are you willing look for some hard-to-find information?" He asked with gleam in his eyes.
"how about we get to somewhere safer. Some groups can be overly jumpy." Zane said as he put his weapons back where he had taken them.
Ten minutes later
Inside Fowl Manor
"The Russian Mafia has a lot of members but here the information about the members I know. Chances are, your father is alive and going to be ransomed when he's in better health, a long dip is artic water is unpleasant on the flesh for humans." Zane said pulling six CDs out of his clothing and set it on the table next to the signed contract. "I will come back in a few months when I have proof of life or proof of his death, let's hope it's the former." Zane stated. "a few years ago, I had the pleasure of being kidnapped by them. They shuffled me around like hideout so often it's almost impossible to know where you are." Butler nods that this sound strategy. "But would they do the same for someone important as this one?" He asked as Artemis was deep in thought. "I was just a stranger that stumbled upon a deal. They left me out in the tundra after a year of shuffling between hideouts." Zane said. He flashes a nasty grin. "And my memory is better than theirs." He shows them a map with hideouts marked on it.
"Perfect. Here is half the payment we agreed on. Upon delivery of the rest of the information, you will get the rest." Artemis says handing over a briefcase of 50k in small bank notes. "It is for family you needed this information. Of course, I would lower the price. Lady Hestia would be cross with me otherwise." Zane departs from the mansion only pausing to greet the painted gaze of a member of the Fowl Family that had died 500 years ago. Never met them personally but Zane knew all the guests that stayed at the 'Vanishing Tomb'. Its true name could be translated to 'the Wishing House', a place to recover before leaving.
Eight months later
Inside Fowl Manor
"Is everything alright?" Zane asked as he stepped through the hole that had been the front door of the manor. "Everything is fine, a meteor strike hit the front of the house." Butler said, greeting Zane. Zane looked at the lump of rock sitting in a crater in the front hall. It looked off. The crater was too shallow, and the meteor was had been shaped by tools, but not human tools. A cover story that the Fae used to cover up something, Zane would find out what the cover up was for later.
"Who's this well-traveled man?" a woman asked. She looked to be Artemis's mother. "Hello ma'am. I am Zane Laskaris, a surveyor that your son hired to get to bottom of the 'wave' that happened almost six years ago. He called it a side project." Zane said kissing her hand lightly as proper etiquette dictated. "And how much did you spend on this 'project'?" She asked her son who was looking more his age (12 years old now) for once. "100k in small bank notes." Zane answered as he left momentarily to bring in a box of paper and digital records he had collected. "As you can see, it was worth it. I noted every species that refaced in the past decade and the strange reversal of pollution that happened as well." Zane said.
"I guess he's off the hook." She spoke. "I am Angeline Fowl. Why don't you come inside, it is Christmas?" She urged him to enter.
Five minute later
Zane was drinking a spiced rum as he decided to break the news. "Ma'am, I don't won't to give you false hope, but I found proof that your husband is alive but still missing after his ship was bombed. The Fowls and Butler looked at him shocked. Butler's teenage sister, Juliet, flipped her blonde hair and asked, "What do you mean you found proof. They didn't find a body and it's been a year?" Butler shot her a look. "I was in the area and found boots prints and drag marks preserved by ice. There was blood that I had tested, and it was match to the public records. I'm not sure who found find in the wreck, but they recovered him before he died. I suspect he is alive and in a coma as a 'john doe' in some hospital."
Zane was almost caught off guard as Angeline smiled a watery smile. "Thank you so much for trying to find him even if it wasn't needed." Zane just said, "I am a follower of Lady Hestia. Family matters are our bread and butter." Juliet snorted, "and what does that have to do with anything?" Butler frowned. "The Children of the Hearth are an organization run mainly by the Laskaris Clan. They claim that the Goddess Hestia charged them with this sacred duty to serve her and her ideals. They are more elusive than the legendary 'Vanishing Tomb' the Fowl Family once found long ago. I didn't realize who Artemis hired at first, but they do as they are hired to do unless it's against their principles."
"well said, I brought this as a peace offering given the nature of the information I shared." He gives Butler a small box. Butler checks of any dangers then lets the Fowls take it. Angeline lifted a bronze recreation of the family coat of arms. The hyper lifelike details were beyond anything thing they have seen. "It's almost like it was made by a fairy." Juliet said amazed. "I worked hard on getting the feathers perfect." Zane said with pride and the crest was put on the mantle. "I'm sure Holly would prefer gold, but bronze looks better with a family crest." Zane said as Artemis hid his shock. Gotcha! Artemis was the one to steal from the LEP and Mulch Diggums, the dwarf that he had 'not seen' earlier, had been telling the truth. "Holly? You mean Holly Shorts?" Juliet asked "That Captain that came by? I really don't like her. Snarky and picky about the greens I got her."
"That's the Captain Shorts I met. Her name is a little on the nose, but she's got the gut and talent to get cases finished. I hope the police force is treating her well." Zane said. "I am sure she's a little hot water, but she made hard choices in small time frames." Artemis said, not mentioning anything thing about the People.
A few weeks later
New Groove World
Unknown jungle
Waterfall
Zane looked at the drop that was below him. He had been asked to investigate this world by the Fae Queen's orders via the ring and a portal took him here post haste, dropping him on a large tree jutting out from a waterfall cliff. It was a long way down to the pooling water below. "good job tree." Zane told the tree that dared to grow near the top of the skyscraper high falls. The falls were quite wide, and the sound must carry for miles. On one hand if he did this right Lady Titania would take him to the world that the Lantern needed to be at when the 'Time was right', but that meant he had to get the 'hair of a talking cat that learned the tongue of woodland rodents '. An 'impossible' quest to make him work for answers.
A red squirrel ran down the trunk to Zane and presented an acorn squeaking in squirrel "Let's be friends." Zane took the nut and said, "Sure. I'm Zane, and what's your name?" the squirrel beamed and shook the finger Zane offered saying, "Bucky." And with that, the first step to the quest was completed.
Author's note: 2020 was a crazy year. Let's hope it gets better. See you next chapter.
