Future Tense, Part II
Blood, Love, and Tragedy
--------------------------
I don't own gargoyles, don't sue me, you're not gonna get
much, you've heard it all before.
Welcome to part II of my current project. I would have
gotten this out sooner, but I had a BIIIG writer's block for
the longest time.

OUT OF MY HEAD: If I hear ONE more stupid query about the
"Titanic" amount of awards "Titanic" won, I swear, I am
going to rip somebody's head off!

---------------------------

"Previously on Gargoyles..."

{Future Tense, Part II: The Breakaway}
Brooklyn: GOLIATH ABANDONED US!!!

Matt: I'm out of a job.

[Xanatos attacking Lexington]

---------------------------

2036 AD

"Goliath is back."
I turn my comunicator on. "What, my love?"
"Goliath is back. Matt just told me." Brooklyn's voice
sounds so cold, yet excited at the same time. Excited at
finally getting revenge.
"Is he sure it's him?" I ask, turning around, heading
back to the base.
"Actually, he says he looks exactly the same."
"After forty years? Is that possible?" I am surprised.
"I don't know. But I've waited for this too long,
Demona."
"That I know," I say.
"Just come back to the labyrinth, okay?"
"I'm on my way."
I spread my wings farther apart to speed up. I don't
want Brooklyn to get into a fight with Goliath. He might get
hurt, or get so enraged that he could end up killing Goliath.
I can't let either of those happen.
Brooklyn.
Thailog.
Goliath.
All had once held my love, but Brooklyn handled it
best. After years of hating me, he loved me. And I love him.
And I can't let anything happen to
him.
How Brooklyn managed to forgive me, I shall never
know. But I do know how we first came to the clan. A
struggle I shall never forget...

* * *

2005 AD

"Night Angel?" Thailog quickly ran into the Nightstone
Unlimited building, one of the last buildings that was still
completely intact in Manhattan.
"Yes, my love?" Demona looked up from her desk.
"I just spotted several steel clan robots heading
towards here."
Demona stood up quickly. "What?!" she said.
"We have to get out of here," Thailog said. "Now!"
Demona nodded in agreement. "Come on!" She gestured
to the back. "We'll get the-"
She was cut off as the far wall came crashing in.
Three steel clan robots walked in, and many others were
watching from outside.
Demona gasped. Thailog lurched forward and grabbed
her, pulling her towards the exit. She wasn't one to argue.

* * *

Brooklyn looked over the map of Manhattan as Talon
pointed to the severely damaged areas.
"Here, a shelter can be set up," Talon said, pointing to
an area. "We can help get the civilians out of the cold
before winter hits."
Brooklyn agreed. "I think we can set another one up h-"
"Lad! Come outside, quickly!" Hudson's voice bellowed
from the door.
Brooklyn looked at Talon and then raced outside.
Several steel clan robots were chasing two gargoyles
in the distance. One looked to be female, and then other
looked like Goliath, except so much darker...
"Who are they?" Brooklyn wondered.
Broadway squinted. "Demona... and what was the name
of Goliath's clone?"
"Thailog," came a weak voice. Everyone turned and
looked at Lexington.
"Lex, you shouldn't be out here!" Brooklyn said. "Get
back inside!" Brooklyn gestured, and all who were able
followed him off the edge of the clock tower.
Lexington stared after their diminishing forms. His
large eyes narrowed.

* * *

Brooklyn glided directly over the steel clan robot. It
would be a miracle if they hadn't spotted him yet.
The robots were right on the tail of Demona and
Thailog, who were using every manuever possible to dodge
the blasts. But they soon ran out, and Thailog went down.
Demona gasped. She looked back and saw the robot who
had shot him, and who was now aiming at her. Over the
robot's shoulder, she spotted the red-skinned gargoyle.
He pounced on the robot, as quick as lightning. He tore
his talons into the jet pack, and the robot sailed down.
The others quickly caught up. Demona saluted her
thanks to Brooklyn and then went back to avoiding the steel
clan.
A searing pain ripped through her left wing. She cried
out as she fell. She twisted around to see the ground
coming up fast.
Suddenly, the ground began getting farther away.
Something had caught her. And it was metal. Either
Coldstone or -
A steel clan robot?!
"NO!"

* * *

Coldstone turned just in time to see his rookery
sister get captured by one of the robots Xanatos created.
Despite her evil deeds she had done, she was still his
sister. He fired towards her.
Demona was struggling to get loose. And she wasn't
being successful. The robot had a tight grip on her and he
wasn't about to let go.
Coldstone could only watch as the robot sailed off
towards the Eyrie building, faster than he could follow. The
rest of the robots were quick to lauch after them.
Coldstone turned to his young leader. "Should we
follow, Brooklyn?"
Brooklyn narrowed his eyes after the diminishing
forms. "Not all of us. Broadway, Maggie, Talon - you go back
and tend to Thailog. Don't fight him if he gets hostile.
Everyone else, come with me."
He curled his wings and glided after the robots and
Demona.

* * *

Demona growled as the robot placed her in the cage.
Her wing was aching terribly, and the pain came in waves.
She was in no position to fight.
The cage closed and locked with a bang. She could tell
by the faint humming that the bars were electrified.
"XANTOS!!!" she roared. "WHERE ARE YOU, HUMAN?!"
"Right in front of you, my dear." The voice was
mocking, suiting the human's character. Xanatos stepped
out of the shadows in his usual black attire, hands behind
his back.
Demons allowed her eyes to glow a deadly red as her
growl lowered in pitch. "Why have you imprisioned me?"
she demanded.
Xanatos shook his head. "You are the one who betrayed
me. What would that be, your third betrayal? Fourth, if you
included the second time you betrayed Goliath-"
"Cut it, Xanatos."
"All right." His agreement was not sincere. She could
tell that by his smile. "Tell me, how is your daughter
doing?"
Demona snarled. "Don't toy with me, Xanatos. I do not
have a daughter."
"Don't lie to me, Demona. Oh, what was her name..."
Xanatos shook his head, pretending to be thinking hard. He
snapped his fingers. "Angela! That's it."
Demona growled again. "What are you trying to pull?"
she demanded.
"Why, nothing!" Xanatos acted shocked. "I was merely
wondering how she was doing. She is quite lovely, might I
add. She inherited many of her mother's looks-"
"Human, what are you talking about?"
Xanatos sighed. "Must I refresh your memory?" He
nodded to the right wall, where a screen came on. The first
thing that came on was that idiot Detective, Maza. She
appeared to be running from something. Two other humans
were running after her. Goliath was close behind them. And
the last fleeing creature that came on the screen was a
female gargoyle...
Xanatos paused the screen. "There she is!" he stated.
"NOW do you recall?"
"That... that is my daughter?" Demona gasped.
"Yes. Quite lovely, isn't she?"
"I-I met her in Paris!" Demona stuttered. "Where did
she come from?"
"Don't ask me." Xanatos turned off the screen.
"Turn that back on!" Demona snapped.
"You aren't really in a position to tell me what to do,
my dear." Xanatos glanced at the floor Demona was standing
on. "That entire cage is electrified. One false move, and you
are toast."
Demona snarled once more, clenching and unclenching
her fists.
"Now if you will excuse me..." Xanatos turned around to
leave.
"No, we will not excuse you." Demona gasped as
Brooklyn leapt down from the window, followed by Hudson
and Coldstone. Brooklyn landed almost silently, never
removing his eyes from Xanatos. He took a few dangerous
steps towards Xanatos.
Four steel clan robots immediately stepped in his
path. Xanatos used the diversion to run to a back wall.
Pressing a stone, part of the wall slid away. He stepped
inside, leaving the battle to his robots.
A few more robots had each stepped up to Hudson and
Coldstone, keeping them occupied as well.
Demona looked around her cage. If there was some way
she could decharge the bars...
She gasped as Brooklyn threw one of the gargoyle
robots at the cage. The bars began sizzling, lighting up the
room. She stood away and covered her eyes until the
crackling stopped. The robot was still now.
Demona tapped the bar. Feeling no shock, she quickly
bent the bars and leapt out, aiming for one of the steel
clan. Her wing was still aching, but in the centuries she
had lived, she had managed to get over pain in a matter of
minutes.
Out of a corner of her eye, she watched Brooklyn. He
fought ruthlessly, giving the machines no mercy. Of course,
it was stupid to give a machine mercy, but this was so
unlike him...
A shot ripped past her, interrupting her thoughts. She
turned towards where the blast had come from, growling.
"Xanatos..." There he was standing, in his stupid little
"exo-frame." His blaster had the tell-tale smoke of a
recently fired shot.
Brooklyn leapt at him, eyes glowing. Instead of
keeping his hands in a fist like Demona had remembered
him to do, his talones were outstretched, looking ready to
rip into anything that got in his way.
He ran right into Xanatos, and the horrible sound of
metal hitting stone ripped through everyone's ears.
Brooklyn dug his feet into the stone floor as he pushed
Xanatos against the wall. Baring his teeth, Brooklyn
grinned. "It's over, Xanatos."
"I think not," Xanatos said. Bringing his arm up, he
clawed down on Brooklyn's red shoulder. Brooklyn roared
and fell to his knees in pain. Xanatos dragged him back to
his feet by his neck. "Say goodbye to your fearless leader."
Xanatos brought back his fist and hit Brooklyn with a
roundhouse punch, who went flying back and smacked the
opposite wall with a sickening thud. He landed on the
ground, his head rolling back.
Demona's eyes widened. Coldstone grimaced and ran to
Brooklyn's side. "Brooklyn, are you all right?"
Only a wheezing gasp came from Brooklyn.
Coldstone grasped Brooklyn's hand. "You can't die on
us. You have to lead the clan."
Hudson watched the two with his eyes narrowed.
Xanatos was meaning to use this diversion as an escape. If
Brooklyn was going to die, Hudson didn't intend to let him
go alone. Xanatos was going to go right after him, except he
would go to Hell.
Hudson drew his sword and stood menancingly in front
of Xanatos. "Ye've just earned yerself a fight, laddie."
Xanatos laughed. "Is that so? Well, I'll try to make it
quick. I have an important meeting to be at."
"Oh, this will be quick, laddie. A quick ending."
"Brave words, Hudson," Xanatos quirked.
Hudson roared and ran straight at Xanatos. Xanatos
quickly looked around and spotted a metal pole. Hudson's
sword clanged loudly.
Demona didn't know who to help, or to help at all. The
dying Brooklyn; or the fighting Hudson. After a moment, she
ran to Brooklyn and Coldstone.
Xanatos, kicked behind Hudson's knee - the weak spot
- and Hudson's leg buckled. Xanatos then brought his elbow
up and smack Hudson behind the head. Hudson countered
with a sweeping of his leg, tripping Xanatos, who landed
right beside the recently broken-out-of cage.
A smile spread across Xanatos's face as he reached
for the metal pole he had earlier. Hudson came flying at
him again with his sword waving. Xanatos bent the pole
slightly, so that he could stick the pole into the floor of
the cage and the other part to fend Hudson off with. Hudson,
unfortunately, hadn't noticed this move. As soon as
Hudson's sword came in contact with the pole, the current
began surging. Xanatos tried to dive out of the way, but his
foot got caught in one of the bars Demona had bent. Both of
their screams began echoing in Manhattan.

* * *

Broadway looked up from Thailog's still unconsious
body. "Did you guys hear that?" he asked Talon and Maggie.
Maggie and Talon looked at each other and shook their
heads. "Hear what?" Talone asked.
Broadway's eyes narrowed in confusion. "It must have
been my imagination..." he said uncertainly.
But his eyes never left the sky.

* * *

Coldstone shook his head. First his leader, and now his
mentor...
Xanatos's body had been thrown into the shadows by
one of his robots. But Hudson's body lay still. Brooklyn
coughed and sat up, completely ignoring all protest. He
stared at Hudson's body.
"No..." he whispered. ~I've failed again...~ he thought.
Even Demona was shocked. "How..." she began. But her
words went unheeded as Coldstone stumbled over and
picked Hudson up.
"My mentor..." he whispered. He reached over and
closed Hudson's eyes.

* * *

The whole clan was silent. One by one, they all gave
their last goodbyes. All but Thailog, who stood centerly,
looking stoic.
"I had always though he was invincible, and he still
is," Demona said with her eyes closed.
Brooklyn silently agreed as he knelt beside Hudson's
grave. "I'm sorry we couldn't give you a better place to
rest, Hudson," he began softly. "I know you know I wish it
was me instead of you. We swear t-that Xanatos-" He spit
the word out with a quick flash of his eyes -"is going to
pay for this. We'll avenge you, and we will never, ever give
up." He eyes began filling. "And... I... I just want to thank you
for being there for me when Goliath abandoned us. I couldn't
of led this clan without you. And I know you are still with
me - with ALL of us - to guide us." He stopped and stood up.
"Goodbye, leader." He bowed his head in a last moment of
honor, and the others did the same.
As the others climbed up to the clock tower, Brooklyn
stayed one last moment, reading the tombstone they had made for him.

Hudson Wyvern-Manhattan
The Greatest Leader
The Greatest Mentor
The Best Teacher That Ever Lived
912 AD - 2004 AD
Remembered By All

* * *

Brooklyn climbed into the clock tower, looking at his
solemn clan. Even though that Hudson was gone, he still had
to lead. He turned to Demona and Thailog, glaring at
Demona.
"I supposed we SHOULD let you back in for helping me,"
Brooklyn began. "But you two don't have the best of track records."
"We know."
"But... with Hudson gone, we'll need all the help we can
get against Xanatos," Brooklyn decided reluctantly.
Demona was, once again, shocked by Brooklyn.
And so was the rest of the clan. They stared at their
leader. "Brooklyn... maybe you're not thinking clearly," Matt
began.
Brooklyn shook his head. "I've made my decision." He
turned back towards the two. "But I don't want ANY funny
business." He eyed Thailog. "Don't you ever talk?"
Thailog gave a half-hearted smile. "Sometimes."
Brooklyn shook his head and turned away from them. "I
need to have some time alone." He began walking towards
the back room. Demona put her hand out and stopped him,
pulling on his arm gently. Brooklyn looked back at her with
a surprised look on his face.
"I can help you. I have money which can pay for
weapons and supplies." She glanced at Lexington's handicap.
"I may be able to help you, Lexington."
Lex's eyes widened. "How?"
Demona turned towards Coldstone. "Well, it would
take some surgery, but with the right medics, we may able
to fix you, like we did with Coldstone."
Lexington's eyes were wider then ever. "Are you
serious? Can you really do that?"
Demona smiled. "Yes. We owe all of you for what you
did tonight, and I want to repay you."
Brooklyn narrowed his eyes. "I don't like the though of
you or anybody hired by you poking around in Lex's body or
brain."
Demona turned her head back towards Brooklyn. "You
said yourself - no funny business. I'm not planning anything.
I just want to help. I may... dislike humans-" Brooklyn
snorted at this. "-but I don't want to live in a world that
Xanatos is creating. I'll work with humans, tolerate them,
in order to beat him."
Brooklyn eyed her, and then Thailog. "Okay," he said in
his slightly rumbling voice. "When can you do it?"
"Anytime."
Brooklyn looked at his small rookery brother, looking
into his desperate eyes. "How about tommorow night?" Lex
smiled and looked at Demona.
Demona nodded. "Tommorow night, then." She glanced
at Brooklyn's still bleeding shoulder. The three claw marks
that Xanatos had left were deep and dark. "That... that may
leave a scar."
Brooklyn raised his shoulder. "I had almost forgotten
about that..." Claw brought over a gauze wrap and began
cleaning the wound.
Can all of you come to the Nightstone Unlimited
building tommrow?" Demona said. "We can sort everything
out there."
Brooklyn winced as the medicated lotion began
burning. "Yes, we'll be there."

* * *

Demona glanced out the window. Thailog watched her,
then looked at the weapons and armor she had placed in
numerous spots around the room.
"You don't... have something up your sleeve, do you,
Night Angel?" he asked her. "Something you neglected to
mention?"
Demona glared at her love. "No. I'm not planning
anything."
"Demona?" Brooklyn's voice came from the room next
to the one they were in. "Are you in here?"
"We're in here, Brooklyn!" she shouted.
Brooklyn peeked in through the door, Lex hopping off
his back. Everyone's eyes widened as they spied the
weaponary everywhere.
"Human... Matt." Matt looked up nervously as Demona
called his name. "This armor is for you." She pointed at the
grayish-blue armor on the floor.
"Brooklyn, this is yours. It will protect your shoulder
from further injury." She handed him an entire outfit of
clothes. "You can go in there to try them on."
Brooklyn's eyes widened as he accepeted the armor. He
walked into the room Demona had pointed at and came out a
few moments later. The blue plate that went over his
shoudler contrasted with his red skin, but it was perfect.
There was a large metal shield on his chest, and the
loincloth was the same shade blue the plate on his
shoulder. He had two wrist blasters that fit nicely over his
arms, and two muscle wraps on his theighs. Demona smiled.
"It's perfect."
"I'll say." Brooklyn was stunned by the sudden luxery,
but he still wanted to thank Demona and Thailog when he
notcied something. "Don't you two get anything for
yourselves?"
"I already have my own," Thailog pointed out.
Demona growled, and then walked into another room.
She came out in her own armor, which was much like
Brooklyn's. She had two gold plates over her shoulders and
a gold breast shield. Her loincloth was a darker shade of
brown, with the same kind of muscle wraps Brooklyn had.
On her arms were two long blasters that were gold as well.
"Nicely... coordinated," Lexington said dryly.
"I haven't forgotten you," Demona said. "Come here."
Lexington walked over to her, and she led him into the
hallway. She came back nearly fifteen minutes later. "It
won't take long. The medics have everything they need, and
they are very experienced. He'll most likely be done by 2 or
3 o'clock this morning."
"And he'll be all right?" Broadway said.
"Yes. Stop worrying."
"I'll try."

* * *

Lexington stretched his arms. The new mechanical
arm was wonderful - and more powerful then he could ever
imagine. The clan had let him go out gliding on his own... or
rather, they tried to keep up with him but he was just too
fast.
Lexington laughed. He was glad he was finally rid of
them, though temporarily. When Xanatos had hurt him, they
looked at him like someone... different.
Xanatos. Lexington's eyes darkened. That... human had
hurt him. It was his fault that Lex was like this. And Lex
wanted to make him pay - now.
He steered off towards the Eyrie building. Xanatos
was about to get a big surprise.
Lex landed in the courtyard softly. Brooklyn said that
the battle had taken place in the room of the Great Hall... so
Lex decided to look there. It was the best place to start.
Unfortunately, it was hard to see. Lex squinted into
the dark, straining his night vision. Then he laughed. He had
forgotten...
Switching on a light that had been in his mechanical
palm, he lit up the room, spying the cage and the tell-tale
pole. But as he walked closer to the cage, he spotted
something red reflecting the light.
...Xanatos?
His armor. Xanatos still lay where he had landed.
Although he only been dead for slightly more than a night,
his body still stank of a decomposing corpse.
Xanatos was dead.
Lex had to tell to the clan. The war was over, no one
was going to take over the world....
But Lex didn't move. His light still shone on Xanatos's
body.
Slowly, an evil grin spread over Lexington's face.

* * *

2036 AD

Demona landed softly by the labyrinth. Slipping inside,
she shook her head. Lex would never talk about where he
had went that first night gliding again. But the clan
stopped pressuring him to talk.
As she walked down the hallway, her fear for Brooklyn
increased. She couldn't let either of them hurt each other...

To Be Continued....

-------------------------------

COMING SOON!
Future Tense, Part III: The Klung Wars
Klung Robot: Primary Target - Thailog
Something is waiting for Thailog in the shadows...

Future Tense, Part IV: The Ultrapack
Future Tense, Part V: Loving the Enemy

AND!!...

Faith at Heart:
Brooklyn is losing faith, and Alex has an interesting
way of getting it back...

okay, all done!