Chapter Ten: The Exchange
Jade, Carle, Han, and Sullivan where crawling onto the small shore next to Sullivan's house not being seen at all. They moved in the stealthiest of way. They climbed onto the shore and took a breather.
"Where's Rad?" Han asked Sullivan in a low voice. Sullivan looked around and shrugged, and then Rad came onto the shore all out of breath, gasping for air and making a racket. Sullivan ran over and grabbed Rad and pulled him ashore. He then threw him on the ground and said in his ear "Don't pull this shit on me. This is life or death, got it?" Rad just pushed him away and got up, getting ready.
Jade scouted the area and picked up two soldiers patrolling around Sullivan's property. They seemed to be very similar to the ones in the mansion, only these seemed more… human. They where skinnier and not as buff and had bucket helmets other than the medieval ones in the mansion. She came back and reported it. Sullivan made a plan for Han and Rad, and they did it. Han and Rad then snuck behind each soldier and snapped their necks. It was a perfect move; no one else saw it or heard it. It was silent and swift. They each hide the bodies and gave the signal for the others to come out.
"Ok," Sullivan said while eying the whole area. "Now, Jade, you need to check the square. See if anyone is there and try to map out where the guards are patrolling." Jade nodded and took off, turning into a grey streak as she ran swiftly toward the square. The whole place seemed silent other than the gentle breeze that moved the trees around and the sound of a nearby brook. The pine trees were still and the road seemed so… empty. Jade came running back two minutes later and seemed to be a little worried.
"Ok, I've got it all sorted out." Jade said while running back to Sullivan.
"Ok, what did you see?" Sullivan asked.
"Well," Jade began to explain, not even slowing down to catch her breath "There are a total of twenty soldiers, all armed with guns and blades."
"TEWENTY?" Rad screamed.
"How about a map?" Sullivan asked.
"Well, that's the thing, I couldn't make a map of them, and it would be useless. They are all randomly patrolling the area." Jade said.
"Ok, looks like this isn't going to work out as planned." Sullivan said with a sigh. He seemed pretty pissed off. Then suddenly, a voice from a loud speaker sounded.
"Attention. Han , if you are still hiding, you have twenty minutes to show your self to at the square. Come to the square now or more hostages will die." The voice said. It echoed throughout the town and then grew silent.
"Looks like they still think you were in the town all along." Carle said to Han.
"Ok, we don't have much time left, we HAVE to do something." Han said to the others. "If you ask me, I say we go in and attack. I'll show myself to them alright, and I'll kill them in the process."
"Are you a freak'n moron? If you give yourself up that quick, chances are they are going to kill everyone and burn the village down anyway. We need a plan…" Sullivan said to Han. Han just dug his lance in the ground in frustration. He was so confused about why they wanted him.
The group sat around and thought to themselves about a plan. Then Han snapped his fingers.
"I've got it." He said in a harsh solid way. The crew looked at Han and waited for his answer.
"Ok, first of all, we should consider contacting Chris. He's our inside man and he could help us some how. Sullivan, can you reach him on your phone?" Han said.
"No," Sullivan replied "It was destroyed in that storm before."
"Damn!" Han muttered to himself.
"Wait, maybe we could..." Sullivan was quickly interrupted when he heard a soldier holler.
"I FOUND EM!" The soldier screamed while pointing his scaly arm at Han and his crew.
"Oh damn…" Rad said with a confident voice. He said it in a way that was funny and you could realize that that he wasn't taking it as seriously as expected. Still, he took out his axe while the others took out their own weapons. They were quickly surrounded by about six soldiers. They all pointed their guns at them and snarled.
Han, Sullivan, Carle, Rad, and Jade backed up into each other and froze.
"Um… Sullivan … an escape plan would be good right about NOW…" Rad said in a sarcastic attitude. Sullivan ignored the comment.
"Han…" Sullivan said to Han under his teeth and without moving his head "when I say now, I want you to shoot a beam at a soldier."
"Wow, that's very creative Sullivan." Han said back without moving his mouth.
The soldiers began to walk forward.
"We're cornered!" Carle said in a loud voice.
"Naw, really?!" Rad replied.
The soldiers got closer and closer. Suddenly, Jade leaped into the air and was no longer seen. The guards stood still, looking around. Then, out of no where, a greenish object went running all over the place killing the soldiers. Each guard fell to the ground with a shriek. Blood and flesh flew throughout the air. Han saw that now was a good time to fight, so he went in and started fighting two soldiers. A second later, the others fallowed. When all of the soldiers where down, the greenish figure stopped running. It was no longer a blur, it was Jade. Her fur for some very odd reason was a greenish color. The green faded away and the gray fur came into view. The party just stood there with their eyes open wide and their jaws dropped.
"Is there a problem?" Jade asked.
"Since when could you run that fast and take out that many soldiers?" Han asked her.
"Well," She said "I'll tell you sometime." She put her sword back the holder and walked forward to the square. She stopped, turned, and made an explanation.
"We have no time for plans or sitting round doing nothing. We need to save this village. Now let's go forth and fight." She said with pride. They were all very amazed and walked forward with Jade, except for Sullivan. Sullivan stood there, puzzled, and he was not about to go in there without a plan. He thought it was totally stupid to just waltz in there and expect to win a fight. He continued to think, then stopped and walked forward with his crossbow when he noticed something: He wasn't the boss of this whole thing. It wasn't up to him. Sure, he was probably the smartest one in the crew, but it still wasn't up to him. After all, no one was the boss.
Jade and Han walked side by side up the road to the square. Rad, Carle, and Sullivan were standing behind them. Han and Jade were the strongest when it came to physical combat, so they where the ones who were really leading this fight. They then picked up speed and started running at the square. It wasn't that big or small of a place. It was mostly stone with a fountain in the center. Benches were along the gate and a set of stone steps leading to elevated ground was in view. People were tied up with their arms behind their backs and had their mouths taped up. A few dead bodies of the town's people lay in the middle of the path. They still had their arms tied and looked so helpless. Blood stained the area that they lay in. Puddles and puddles of blood were lying next to the bodies. One of them was a young looking woman around her twenties. She appeared to have been shot in the head and then in the chest. Her eyes were still open and her face was frozen in fear. Another body seemed to be a man. Well… half of a man actually. Entrails were all over the road and blood was all over the place. It was strange, it didn't seem like a blade did this… Next, there was a child lying in the road. It seemed the child was stabbed repeatedly in the chest over and over. Its eyes were closed and its face showed no expression. Next, another woman around her twenties was lying dead in the fountain. It seemed like they drowned her first, and then shot her in the back a few times to make sure she was dead. That was probably the reason for the red water that was coming up from the fountain. It was an eerie place. Still, there were many villagers still alive and held hostage. But the soldiers seemed to have good control over them.
Jade turned into a blur as she ran. It wasn't a green blur; instead, it was still a silver regular looking one. She ran head on into a soldier and split him in half. Han cast a Holy Ray at one soldier. The soldier went flying back and landed in the fountain. He then ducked to avoid gun fire, and then he responded with a Dark Bomb attack. It stunned a few enemies and they where killed off by Jade's swift attacks. Han then lanced an enemy in the eye. He kept lancing random people when he felt a metallic object pushed up against his head. He looked back and saw a soldier with a gun pointed at Han. Right before it pulled the trigger; Carle snuck up behind it and slit its throat. Han smiled back at Carle.
Sullivan froze two enemies and shot a few in the head at once. He was really kicking ass this time. Rad screamed over to Sullivan. Rad raised his axe and nodded. Sullivan nodded back and cast an ice ray at Rad's axe. Rad's axe charged up with power and he went running around, chopping people in half. Once they met his axe, they turned into ice and shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Jade got kicked to the ground, but choked a soldier with her legs and threw herself back up. Jade didn't notice, but behind her, a soldier was about to chop her head off when Han came flying over and lanced the enemy right in the privets. The soldier went stumbling back in pain and Han simply lanced him right through the head. Han yanked the lance out and dueled with a few more.
Carle burned one to ashes and slit a few throats. Rad paralyzed a few while Sullivan froze the rest. The fight was just too easy.
Sullivan in the middle of the square, which was now a battlefield, felt a slap on his shoulder. He slickly turned around and pointed his crossbow at…
"CHRIS?! Where the hell have you been?!" Sullivan said to Chris. Chris stood there with shotguns and grenades. He looked more than ready for this fight.
"I'm fighting with you; it's what I was born to do!" Chris responded. He made a satanic laugh and started shooting soldiers with hate in his eyes. Sullivan shrugged and continued his fights.
A few minutes later when every soldier was dead, a heavy silence filled the air. All the hostages were alive and the town seemed to be free.
"Why was that just too easy?!" Rad shouted.
"Who cares, lets free the hostages." Sullivan began to free everyone one by one. Within a few quick minutes, everyone was free.
"Will somebody please tell me why that was so easy?!" Rad kept asking.
"I want to know the same thing." Jade said in a serious, concerned way. Carle stood there out of breath while hanging around Han's shoulders. Rad was sitting down, taking a rest. Then, suddenly, clapping filled the air. They all paused from what they were doing and looked around the area. Then a shadow figure stood on top of the fountain. It began to form into a tall, plump, evilly dressed man with a long sickle in his hand. He began to laugh and giggle. His eyes were black and his skin was tan. His hair was black with long spiky hair. He wore a cape and black iron armor. He continued laughing over and over, then the sky turned blackish-red and the wind started to pick up.
"Finally," The man said. "I have seen the heroes up close." He smiled and his teeth where jagged. He laughed a few more times and finally, someone spoke up.
"Who the hell are you?!" Han asked.
"Me?" The man responded "I'm your worst nightmare!" Thunder roared in the sky and lighting crashed, landing in the village. "I'm the black that's fills the night sky!" More lightning came down and struck a few homes. Sullivan told all the villagers to run, and they did, forming a huge rushing mob running all over the place trying to find cover. "I'm the pain you feel when you are hurt!" Rain started to pour while the man continued. "I'm the fear that enters your veins! I'm the death you see everyday! I AM..."
"VERN!" Jade screamed with her sword held with two hands and her eyes filled with hate.
"Well Jade, it's been a while." Vern said with an evil smirk. "So what have you been up to since you left my army?" Silence stained the air as everyone stared a Jade.
"Oh, I see," Vern continued "You are helping these fools with trying to 'SaVe tHe wOrLd'." Vern said with a little chuckle. He flung his cap back and it moved with the wind.
Everyone was still looking at Jade, wondering what Vern meant.
"Jade, what does he mean…?" Carle asked.
"Yes… yes, it's true." She said, lowering her blade and looking at the ground.
"That's it; tell them your REAL past and how YOU were my greatest soldier! HAHAHAHAHA!" Vern said with a tremendous laugh.
They all just stared at Jade, looking her in the eyes. Her purple eyes didn't meet theirs; they stared at the ground in misery. She then raised her head without saying a word. It was dead silent. So silent, you could hear a pin drop. Even the fountain stopped working. Jade stared at a dead child who was killed because of the soldiers. She seemed so hurt and frustrated.
"None of that matters…" Jade said in a calm way "none of it does. But you… you are the reason why! It was all YOU!" Jade screamed at Vern.
"Oh really? Jade, that hurts… after everything I gave you." Vern responded to Jade.
"SHUT UP!" She yelled along with a fierce face.
"You know, you are really starting to sound like father." Vern responded in a slid manner.
Jade raised her head in disgust. Vern chuckled a little bit and continued.
"So… go on… tell your helpless friends about your past." Vern ordered. Jade just stood still and a tear came down her face. She saw a flashback and immediately charged after Vern.
"GAAAAAAH!" She screamed as she ran forward at Vern with her sword in her paws. She went to swing when Vern disappeared and reappeared behind Jade. He kicked Jade to the ground and put his sickle up hard against Jade's throat.
"Tell them." He ordered.
She backed up against the fountain and sat up with her back parallel with it. Vern was still sticking the sickle at Jade. Han started at her with confidence and nodded, sort of saying that it was ok for her to talk about her past. Jade sat there with sadness in her eyes. She looked up at Han with pure sadness. Han stared back in a comforting but defensive way. He looked at Vern and raised his lance.
"Let her go." he ordered to Vern.
"… Excuse me…?" He raised his lance higher and didn't move. Vern closed his eyes and sniffed the air.
"Ah… so you are Han. I can tell the sent of your soul." Vern said to Han. He raised his arm and sent Han flying back.
"Not so strong, I see. When Jade tells her tale, you're coming with me. I need you for something." Vern said with an evil smile. Han got up with Rad and Carle's help. He was wondering what he meant.
"So are we going to talk?" Vern said to Jade. Jade was still looking at the ground, seeing flashbacks.
"Everyone, sit tight." She said, raising her chin and closing her eyes. Everyone then saw everything start to blur, then black.
"Whoa…" Rad said.
"Where the hell are we?" Han asked.
"You guys are ok, just relax. You are being telepathically contacted by me." Jade said to them.
"Why? What's going on?" Carle asked.
"I am showing you something you need to see." Jade said.
After Jade's voice faded out, they were all showed a seen a nineteen year old girl working in a small village in a store.
"Hey dad…" the girl said to a middle aged looking man "what time should I close the store for you?"
"Around six would be a good time. I'm going to go home and work in the back." The man said in a happy voice.
"Ok dad, bye, I love you!" The nineteen year old girl said while stacking store items.
"I love you too Jackie, take care of the store for me while I'm gone. See ya!" The man said while walking out the door.
Jackie was pretty tall and had beautiful dark hair and brown eyes. She had shocking white skin and was pretty skinny for a girl like her. Her hair was very long and she seemed to love work as she was working.
"I don't get it, what does this mean?" Carle asked.
"Just keep watching." Jade replied.
Everything then faded out and there was black.
"Um… ok, now what?" Sullivan asked.
"I'm showing you the next memory. Now, pay close attention." Jade said with a calm soothing voice.
Next, they where being shown a place in the middle of the woods. Jackie was there along with a strange Demi-human that resembled a wolf. The wolf was dressed in armor with a green cape and a sword at his side. He had red eyes and bluish gray fur. He seemed to be pretty buff and strong and it was obvious he may have been in the army.
"When are you leaving?" Jackie said with her back turned to the wolfish creature. She had a long sad face and she seemed to be very sad.
"Tomorrow." The wolf said. "I have to get set tonight and get the troops ready for battle. That new commander, Vern, seems to really know what he's doing if he wants us to take over The City of Aegis."
"Vern!? He was a commander back then!?" Rad questioned.
"Yes he was. He had just become one at that time." Jade replied.
"But… how!?" Rad asked.
"Shhhhhh… keep watching." Jade remarked.
"Why does he want you to go? Can't he get someone else?" Jackie asked all stressed out. The wolf creature sighed.
"Look, Jackie, you know I love you."
"Then why don't you just… not go?!"
"Because this place needs me. Jackie, you'll see. Once we take over The City of Aegis from the wrong people, we will build a new city and create many new technologies that could save people's lives. It's a city of high energy, and we need it to accomplish our goal. Vern promised that if we got Aegis, we would be healthier people. We would be able to create new medication and work miracles to make people live much longer." The wolf said with much confidence. One thing that was surprising was this wolfish person had a gentle male's voice, not a fierce one you would expect from a wolf.
"It's bad enough my dad won't let me marry a Demi-human, but it's worse to know that I could lose you." Jackie said while turning around and looking at the wolf.
"Jackie… your father has to understand. Just because I am a Demi-human doesn't mean I don't love you and won't care for you. I will marry you once I get back from this mission. I promise you I will come back alive." The wolf said. "I will tell that to your father when he comes with us tomorrow. Your father's a good man and he likes me very much. Many are the times we have battled side by side."
"He doesn't know I am seeing you." Jackie stated.
"Trust me, he talks about how much he would like it if you were married. He has hinted that to me a few times, I am very sure he will not be disappointed." The wolf said.
"I hope your right." Jackie said. Jackie came forward and hugged the wolf human tightly.
"Wolfus… please… comeback alive." She said to him with a tear rolling down her face. Wolfus patted her on the back and kissed her.
"I will, don't you worry." Wolfus said with confidence and security.
"Wolfus, we must get the soldiers ready, hurry!" a gorilla looking Demi-human said Wolfus.
"I'm coming Gorillaj, tell the others to get ready to hand out the weapons and supply.
"Sure thing." Gorillaj said while walking away.
"I've got to go now, be sure to be there during the sendoff at the dock." Wolfus said turning away from Jackie. Jackie stood there with tears in her eyes as she saw Wolfus walk toward the camp. The memory then began to turn to black.
"I don't get it, why is this important?" Sullivan asked.
"Good things come to those who wait. Now, pay very close attention, this will all make sense in the end." Jade said.
The blackness went away and they saw Jackie waving to her father and her fiancé. She stood there, crying, as she watched them bored the ship. Vern then came out and addressed everyone who was waving people goodbye at the dock.
"When we return, it will be a new world! Everyone will be able to live happier lives! It will all happen after we get ride of the evil Dragoons and destroy their evil plans to rule the world!" Vern said with his pudgy arms up in the air. Jackie looked at him and fell to the ground. She had a horrible stomach ach as it seemed and she got mud all over her dress. She ran forward and leaped into the water as the ship set sail. She swam harder and harder, fighting off the waves. She finally grabbed onto the ship and climbed aboard.
"Is she stupid or something? Wouldn't she be seen?" Carle asked.
"Well… this girl had her reasons. She did want to be with her guy and her dad. She would do anything for them." Jade responded.
"Yeah, I noticed that, but wouldn't she have been caught?" Carle asked.
"Keep paying attention." Jade replied.
Jackie got up off the edge and hid behind a barrel. She looked around and found a regular human soldier sleeping in the corner. She snuck over and took the man's clothing and dressed herself as a soldier on the ship. The uniform was a bit loose for her, but it still worked, nobody noticed her. Finally, she managed to sneak t the lower deck and hide around there for the time being. Then, the memory started to darken and became black once again.
"Wow, she's doing all this for love. That girl's got courage." Han remarked.
"Yes… she sure did." Jade replied.
The blackness went away and Jackie came into view. They were in The City of Aegis and many soldiers have died. This city was huge, with skyscrapers taller than the sky and streets and people all over. Many people had died; even some of the innocent ones had perished. It was a dreaded sight.
Jackie was walking into a room where she had fallowed her father and Wolfus. She had been avoiding fights and kept herself alive all to fallow them, it seemed. She opened up the room's door and it was a big, spacious room with a metallic floor and hard walls. Computers were all over the place. Jackie walked in and found a smear of blood on the floor. She looked around the room, fallowing the trail of blood. She kept walking and found her father laying on the ground facedown. She screamed and found Vern standing right above her father. Jackie's father was holding onto Vern's leg with force. He was still barely alive.
"It was a man, he ran that way!" Vern said while pointing at a nearby door. "I tried to stop him, but he already got your dad!"
Jackie walked forward with her hand to her mouth. She crouched down and tried to speak with her dad.
"Daddy…"
"… Jackie… what are you… doing her…? Run…!" Her father demanded.
"I wanted to look after you and Wolfus…"
"What are you doing… get… away…!" Her dad interrupted.
"Hurry, your father's killer ran off to that room." Vern hollered.
"Jackie… don't… Vern… was… the one… who… k-k-k-k..." Jackie's dad could finish what he was saying. His eyes were still open, but he stopped moving and blood came out of his mouth. Jackie stood there, stunned.
"Daddy…….." She said, still in absolute shock. She immediately broke into tears and Vern came over and let her cry on his shoulder.
"I know where the killer went, go into that room; Wolfus is in there with him." Vern said. Jackie stopped the sobbing and picked up her father's sword and froze, looking at her dead father. She then let out a few more tears and walked forward to the other room. Vern stood there and didn't move, staring at Jackie's father.
Jackie ran into the other room to find Wolfus fighting a fat, green skinned, and elf looking man. She ran forward to Wolfus's side. Wolfus leaped back from an attack while the fat green man stopped fighting and looked at Jackie.
"What are you doing here!?" Wolfus screamed.
"I fallowed you!"
"What?!"
"I saw what this man did to my father, and I'm going to kill him!" She yelled.
"What the hell are you talking about?!" The green man said. "I am Ozzie, the great warrior!"
"I don't care, your still going down!" Jackie screamed out. She ran forward with the sword and attacked. She was hit with a beamed and thrown back. She went to get up but Ozzie had already summoned another attack.
"Get ready for this!" Ozzie screamed. "Ultra Black Beam!!!" Ozzie screamed on the top of his lungs. A blackish beam went flying directly at Jackie.
"NO!!!" Wolfus screamed as he ran forward and jumped in front of the beam, blocking it from Jackie. He fell to the ground and moaned.
"WOLFUS!" Jackie screamed as she ran forward. She was immediately frozen in a force filed. She couldn't move at all, all she could do was stare helplessly at Wolfus, who was laying on the ground and barley still alive.
"I'll cut you a break this time, Wolfus! Instead of killing you…" Ozzie said as he opened a portal and threw Wolfus in it "I'll send you to another dimension!" The portal closed up and Wolfus was gone.
"Holy shit! Who is that guy!?" Han yelled.
"Keep watching." Jade ordered.
Jackie was still frozen in a force field. Ozzie stared at her as he walked forward, laughing out of control.
"You're a good looking thing! I always find it amusing when a human and a Demi-human fall in love! What shall I do with you now…" Ozzie said, thinking about Jackie's fate.
"AHA! I've got it!" He said with a grin. Ozzie put his arms out and a ray hit Jackie with much force. She screamed and her head and back arched back. Her long dark hair shot back. She then fell onto the floor and passed out.
"Now," Ozzie went on, "When you look into the mirror, at least you'll look similar to your lost love! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!" Ozzie said with a laugh. He then entered a portal and disappeared.
Jackie got up and saw everything all blurry. Vern had helped her up as she struggled to gain balance.
"Your ok." Vern said to her.
"Where's Wolfus?" She said all worn out.
"I don't know, but you are in no condition to worry. Look at yourself…" Vern said, leading Jackie to a mirror next to a computer. She looked at it and didn't she herself… only a purpled eyed, grayish blue, big eared fox.
"Oh my god! What's wrong with me?!" She shrieked. "I'm a Demi-human!"
"No, you are just a human fox. Ozzie has those powers." Vern said.
"Oh my God! You're…" Sullivan said
"Hush and keep paying attention."
Jackie was still in shock as she stumbled back into Vern. Vern turned her around with force.
"I can give you revenge." He said with an evil smirk. "I can help you get even with Ozzie and avenge your father and fiancé's deaths." He said in a deep evil tone.
"Wolfus didn't die! He's around here; I just need to find him!" Jackie said with much confidence and sorrow.
"No… my dear… I don't think that's possible." Vern said as he walked in a circle around Jackie, eyeing her. Jackie stood still looking strait ahead.
"Come on!" Vern said with a huge evil smile "Come with me, by my side, and get revenge!" Vern said with an evil holler and a big smile, still circling Jackie. Jackie closed her eyes and put her head down. A tear came down her new doglike face and said "Yes."
Jackie put her sword up in the air and screamed "I WILL AVENGE MY FATHER!" She swung and smashed a computer. "I WILL AVENGE WOLFUS!" She smashed a desk in half. "I'LL AVENGE EVERYTHING!" She screamed, swinging her father's sword all over.
"GOOD!" Vern said with chuckle. "You will be much assistance in my plan."
Jackie stopped her rage and kneeled down and asked what Vern meant, out of breath.
"What do you mean? What's your plan?"
Vern paced through the room very slowly for a few seconds. His pudgy human face had a big smile on it and his eyes were almost smiling. He then stopped… glanced at Jackie… and laughed in the most evil way possible. Jackie just stared back at him with confusion.
"My plan was to… 'Make this world a better place'… correct?" Vern said while still looking at Jackie. Jackie nodded.
"Well…" Vern went on "I'm not going to lie to my new side kick. Unfortunately… my goal was NEVER to make this world a better place."
"Then… why did you… take it over…?" Jackie asked, worried and frightened at the same time. Vern just smiled back.
"Have you heard the story of…Lavos?" Vern asked. Jackie just nodded back. "How about…FATE?" Jackie nodded again.
"Well," Vern added "What would you think if I gave you immortal powers and anything you ever wanted? What if you could live the dream that you always wanted?"
"What are you trying to say?" Jackie asked.
"Well, I want to grow a new Lavos… right here… in this city. This city has all the technology to do that." Vern said Jackie shivered and picked up her sword.
"Now, now, no need to get antsy. Let me finish. Once I create another Lavos, I can drain the powers from the planets core. Once that is being done, I can enter the energy into my soul and veins, making me highly powerful. Once I do this, I… will… be…….. FATE! I shall help you avenge your father's death!" Vern said with a snap of his jaw.
"NO! I will not let you create another Lavos!"
"Relax; this one will… benefit… the human race. Trust me."
"I'm only in this for revenge."
"You shall. All you have to do is come with me."
The dream then began to blacken. The image of Vern and Jackie began to fade away along with it. The whole dream sequence was over and everyone was back to the square where Vern still stood, pointing his sickle at Jade.
"So you have told them everything." Vern said to Jade.
"Yes… all accept the final." Jade replied in a weak manner.
Sullivan got up, still feeling the back of his head. "So you're really Jackie?" He asked.
Jade hesitated and replied. "Yes."
"So what happened after that?" Rad asked.
"She joined me by my side." Vern continued with his eyes still fixed. "We took over many challenges together and fought many battles side by side. She had the ability to dash throughout the battlefield, making a green streak in the air and killing many of her foes. We decided to call her 'Jade' from then on, hence the fact that she ran while making a green streak in the air."
"Then why do you guys hate each other?" Carle asked.
"Well, she didn't like the fact that I was killing people for power. She got mad at me when I criticized her about not killing innocent people, so I did it myself. That's when she left, searching for a way to stop ME." Vern said with a spit and a holler.
"You promised me revenge! That's all I wanted! I wasn't in it for the killing; I was in it because you said you would help me seek my revenge! To this day, I still have not gotten it. I still want to kill my father's killer!" Jade screamed.
"Ha…. Looks like you revenge could have been completes if you killed me." Vern said while turning his back to Jade. There was a long silence.
"What do you mean?" Jade asked. Vern turned around, making his black cape flap in the wind. The rain started to poor harder and the night grew darker. Vern's teeth were showing and his eyes were staring with evil.
"I killed your father." Vern said with a huge satanic grin. He stood there with one arm at his side and the other on his sickle. He laughed with the rolling thunder. Jade threw her head up and fixed her eyes on the laughing evil man. She had flashbacks of her father and she could hear her pulse. She began to breathe heavily and harder after every breath. Vern continued laughing on and on and on.
"All along, it was you?" Jade asked.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! What's wrong? Mad that you were used?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!" Vern replied.
Jade began to radiate green light. She flipped up onto her feet and drew her sword.
"You bastard!" She yelled. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Jade screamed as she charged forward. An emerald green blaze was being trailed by her swift movements. Her sword was raised in the air and her eyes showed much rage and hate.
"Um…" Rad said "I think this would be a god time to…"
"FIGHT!" Han yelled as he charged forward with his lance tucked under his right armpit. Carle didn't think, she just ran along side with Han with a fierce expression shown at Vern.
Vern stopped laughing and jolted when he saw the four sixteen-year- olds and a green beam coming right at him. He actually showed fear on his face. His jaw dropped and it was possible to see the whites of his eyes. He grabbed his sickle and went to jump into the air when he felt a freezing cold beam hit him in the back. He winced in pain for a second and retaliated with a fire beam. It missed Sullivan and hit Rad. Rad screamed and made himself stand back up.
Jade leaped into the air and slashed Vern in the front multiple times.
"YOU COLD BLOODED BASTARD!" Jade screamed. Her voice was so loud, it sounded like a banshee and a wolf screaming at the same time. She kept swinging away until she felt a lighting bolt hit her totally unguarded. She flew back and fell face down on the ground.
Han and Carle ran along side each other. They saw a fireball come flying from Vern and it was suddenly frozen by an ice spell and charged with a green light. Rad and Sullivan pulled that move off well. Sullivan was getting good at diverting attacks and mirroring them. He was starting to consider doing that from now on.
Han set up the charged green ice ball quickly. He was trying to maneuver around it but quickly at the last minute took advantage. The ball was set up into the air and Carle spiked it right at Vern. Vern tried to move, but it just hit him right in the face. Vern got so mad that he summoned a charged-up lighting attack. It hit everyone but Jade and Rad was totally knocked out from the attack. Vern jumped up and sliced Han in the back with his sickle. Han fell forward next to Jade and screamed. Jade was alive and still very pissed.
Carle did a spinning kick toward Vern, but was flipped in the air and kicked to the ground very hard. Sullivan tried to freeze Vern, but Vern dodged every attack and slammed Sullivan with all of his force. Sullivan flew right into a bench, breaking it in half. He was out cold.
Rad summoned a paralyze attack and sent it right at Vern. Vern diverted it right back at Rad. Rad tried to get out of the way, but was hit with the attack and paralyzed. He fell to the ground like a rag doll and his eyes closed.
"Is this all you 'heroes' can do?" Vern said with his sickle over his shoulder.
"VERN!" Jade screamed. She was standing along with Han who was bleeding all over.
"HA! You're still alive! I must have trained a really good soldier." Vern said getting ready to attack. Han and Jade ran forward. Vern shot a black beam at Jade, but Jade jumped it and landed in a tree. Han was still running, and right when he was going to lance Vern, Vern disappeared and reappeared right behind him. He then turned Han around and picked him up single-handedly by the throat. Han kicked his feet in the air, dropped his lance, and struggled to break free. Vern looked him in the eyes.
"My…" Vern said "… What strange red eyes. You are the Chrono Trigger… aren't you?" Vern then threw Han to the ground, put his foot on his chest, and raised his sickle. Han tried to reach for his lance when Vern kicked it out of the way.
"Han, the Chrono Trigger. HA! I've finally got you!" Vern said. Jade was still in the trees. She was getting ready for an attack, but wanted to wait for the perfect moment. She didn't want to kill Han in the process.
"What do you want with me?" Han said.
"Aw, come on, Han. The only way to get into the Holy Land is by using the Chrono Trigger as the key. DON'T play dumb with me!"
"But I…"
"SHHH! Not another word. Don't try to keep me away from the Frozen Flame! You have a choice…" Vern said. But he was interrupted when he saw Jade flying right at him. Vern knocked her out of the air with a Hyper Punch and kicked her to the ground. Han jumped up, grabbed his lance, and got into battle position. Vern quickly picked up Rad, Sullivan, Jade, and Carle and laid them in a row and raised his sickle like an executioner.
"Like I said… you have a choice. Come with me, or your entire friends die." Vern said. Han hesitated and waited for a miracle to happen, but nothing happened. He then tried to think up a way to save his friends, but it was no use. He threw his lance away, took off his blade knuckles, threw them, got on his knees, and put his hand over his head.
"No Han, DON'T!" Carle screamed.
"I have to! It's either you or me!" Han screamed back.
"Very well then." Vern said while appearing behind Han. He took Han by the arm and put a dagger to his throat. He whistled, and a few of the 'reptile' soldiers came over and took Han away.
"HAAAAAAAN!" Carle screamed while charging forward. She ran over to Han and tried to pull him away, but Vern threw her away.
"I'll come back for you! I swear!" Carle screamed out in tears.
"Don't you dare! Stay alive! Forget about me!" Han screamed back. His face was red. Vern the opened a portal and led Han and the soldiers into it. Vern got into it too, and the portal disappeared.
"NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!" Carle screamed, crying totally out of control. She fell to her knees and cried her heart out. Han's lance was lying right next to her. She picked it up, looked at it, and screamed "I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU!" Jade and Sullivan helped Carle, but Rad stood there looking at where the portal use to be. His eyes where bloodshot and the veins in his arms were showing. "Keep yourself alive, where coming for you… brother." He said as he turned around, and headed toward Carle.
Jade, Carle, Han, and Sullivan where crawling onto the small shore next to Sullivan's house not being seen at all. They moved in the stealthiest of way. They climbed onto the shore and took a breather.
"Where's Rad?" Han asked Sullivan in a low voice. Sullivan looked around and shrugged, and then Rad came onto the shore all out of breath, gasping for air and making a racket. Sullivan ran over and grabbed Rad and pulled him ashore. He then threw him on the ground and said in his ear "Don't pull this shit on me. This is life or death, got it?" Rad just pushed him away and got up, getting ready.
Jade scouted the area and picked up two soldiers patrolling around Sullivan's property. They seemed to be very similar to the ones in the mansion, only these seemed more… human. They where skinnier and not as buff and had bucket helmets other than the medieval ones in the mansion. She came back and reported it. Sullivan made a plan for Han and Rad, and they did it. Han and Rad then snuck behind each soldier and snapped their necks. It was a perfect move; no one else saw it or heard it. It was silent and swift. They each hide the bodies and gave the signal for the others to come out.
"Ok," Sullivan said while eying the whole area. "Now, Jade, you need to check the square. See if anyone is there and try to map out where the guards are patrolling." Jade nodded and took off, turning into a grey streak as she ran swiftly toward the square. The whole place seemed silent other than the gentle breeze that moved the trees around and the sound of a nearby brook. The pine trees were still and the road seemed so… empty. Jade came running back two minutes later and seemed to be a little worried.
"Ok, I've got it all sorted out." Jade said while running back to Sullivan.
"Ok, what did you see?" Sullivan asked.
"Well," Jade began to explain, not even slowing down to catch her breath "There are a total of twenty soldiers, all armed with guns and blades."
"TEWENTY?" Rad screamed.
"How about a map?" Sullivan asked.
"Well, that's the thing, I couldn't make a map of them, and it would be useless. They are all randomly patrolling the area." Jade said.
"Ok, looks like this isn't going to work out as planned." Sullivan said with a sigh. He seemed pretty pissed off. Then suddenly, a voice from a loud speaker sounded.
"Attention. Han , if you are still hiding, you have twenty minutes to show your self to at the square. Come to the square now or more hostages will die." The voice said. It echoed throughout the town and then grew silent.
"Looks like they still think you were in the town all along." Carle said to Han.
"Ok, we don't have much time left, we HAVE to do something." Han said to the others. "If you ask me, I say we go in and attack. I'll show myself to them alright, and I'll kill them in the process."
"Are you a freak'n moron? If you give yourself up that quick, chances are they are going to kill everyone and burn the village down anyway. We need a plan…" Sullivan said to Han. Han just dug his lance in the ground in frustration. He was so confused about why they wanted him.
The group sat around and thought to themselves about a plan. Then Han snapped his fingers.
"I've got it." He said in a harsh solid way. The crew looked at Han and waited for his answer.
"Ok, first of all, we should consider contacting Chris. He's our inside man and he could help us some how. Sullivan, can you reach him on your phone?" Han said.
"No," Sullivan replied "It was destroyed in that storm before."
"Damn!" Han muttered to himself.
"Wait, maybe we could..." Sullivan was quickly interrupted when he heard a soldier holler.
"I FOUND EM!" The soldier screamed while pointing his scaly arm at Han and his crew.
"Oh damn…" Rad said with a confident voice. He said it in a way that was funny and you could realize that that he wasn't taking it as seriously as expected. Still, he took out his axe while the others took out their own weapons. They were quickly surrounded by about six soldiers. They all pointed their guns at them and snarled.
Han, Sullivan, Carle, Rad, and Jade backed up into each other and froze.
"Um… Sullivan … an escape plan would be good right about NOW…" Rad said in a sarcastic attitude. Sullivan ignored the comment.
"Han…" Sullivan said to Han under his teeth and without moving his head "when I say now, I want you to shoot a beam at a soldier."
"Wow, that's very creative Sullivan." Han said back without moving his mouth.
The soldiers began to walk forward.
"We're cornered!" Carle said in a loud voice.
"Naw, really?!" Rad replied.
The soldiers got closer and closer. Suddenly, Jade leaped into the air and was no longer seen. The guards stood still, looking around. Then, out of no where, a greenish object went running all over the place killing the soldiers. Each guard fell to the ground with a shriek. Blood and flesh flew throughout the air. Han saw that now was a good time to fight, so he went in and started fighting two soldiers. A second later, the others fallowed. When all of the soldiers where down, the greenish figure stopped running. It was no longer a blur, it was Jade. Her fur for some very odd reason was a greenish color. The green faded away and the gray fur came into view. The party just stood there with their eyes open wide and their jaws dropped.
"Is there a problem?" Jade asked.
"Since when could you run that fast and take out that many soldiers?" Han asked her.
"Well," She said "I'll tell you sometime." She put her sword back the holder and walked forward to the square. She stopped, turned, and made an explanation.
"We have no time for plans or sitting round doing nothing. We need to save this village. Now let's go forth and fight." She said with pride. They were all very amazed and walked forward with Jade, except for Sullivan. Sullivan stood there, puzzled, and he was not about to go in there without a plan. He thought it was totally stupid to just waltz in there and expect to win a fight. He continued to think, then stopped and walked forward with his crossbow when he noticed something: He wasn't the boss of this whole thing. It wasn't up to him. Sure, he was probably the smartest one in the crew, but it still wasn't up to him. After all, no one was the boss.
Jade and Han walked side by side up the road to the square. Rad, Carle, and Sullivan were standing behind them. Han and Jade were the strongest when it came to physical combat, so they where the ones who were really leading this fight. They then picked up speed and started running at the square. It wasn't that big or small of a place. It was mostly stone with a fountain in the center. Benches were along the gate and a set of stone steps leading to elevated ground was in view. People were tied up with their arms behind their backs and had their mouths taped up. A few dead bodies of the town's people lay in the middle of the path. They still had their arms tied and looked so helpless. Blood stained the area that they lay in. Puddles and puddles of blood were lying next to the bodies. One of them was a young looking woman around her twenties. She appeared to have been shot in the head and then in the chest. Her eyes were still open and her face was frozen in fear. Another body seemed to be a man. Well… half of a man actually. Entrails were all over the road and blood was all over the place. It was strange, it didn't seem like a blade did this… Next, there was a child lying in the road. It seemed the child was stabbed repeatedly in the chest over and over. Its eyes were closed and its face showed no expression. Next, another woman around her twenties was lying dead in the fountain. It seemed like they drowned her first, and then shot her in the back a few times to make sure she was dead. That was probably the reason for the red water that was coming up from the fountain. It was an eerie place. Still, there were many villagers still alive and held hostage. But the soldiers seemed to have good control over them.
Jade turned into a blur as she ran. It wasn't a green blur; instead, it was still a silver regular looking one. She ran head on into a soldier and split him in half. Han cast a Holy Ray at one soldier. The soldier went flying back and landed in the fountain. He then ducked to avoid gun fire, and then he responded with a Dark Bomb attack. It stunned a few enemies and they where killed off by Jade's swift attacks. Han then lanced an enemy in the eye. He kept lancing random people when he felt a metallic object pushed up against his head. He looked back and saw a soldier with a gun pointed at Han. Right before it pulled the trigger; Carle snuck up behind it and slit its throat. Han smiled back at Carle.
Sullivan froze two enemies and shot a few in the head at once. He was really kicking ass this time. Rad screamed over to Sullivan. Rad raised his axe and nodded. Sullivan nodded back and cast an ice ray at Rad's axe. Rad's axe charged up with power and he went running around, chopping people in half. Once they met his axe, they turned into ice and shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Jade got kicked to the ground, but choked a soldier with her legs and threw herself back up. Jade didn't notice, but behind her, a soldier was about to chop her head off when Han came flying over and lanced the enemy right in the privets. The soldier went stumbling back in pain and Han simply lanced him right through the head. Han yanked the lance out and dueled with a few more.
Carle burned one to ashes and slit a few throats. Rad paralyzed a few while Sullivan froze the rest. The fight was just too easy.
Sullivan in the middle of the square, which was now a battlefield, felt a slap on his shoulder. He slickly turned around and pointed his crossbow at…
"CHRIS?! Where the hell have you been?!" Sullivan said to Chris. Chris stood there with shotguns and grenades. He looked more than ready for this fight.
"I'm fighting with you; it's what I was born to do!" Chris responded. He made a satanic laugh and started shooting soldiers with hate in his eyes. Sullivan shrugged and continued his fights.
A few minutes later when every soldier was dead, a heavy silence filled the air. All the hostages were alive and the town seemed to be free.
"Why was that just too easy?!" Rad shouted.
"Who cares, lets free the hostages." Sullivan began to free everyone one by one. Within a few quick minutes, everyone was free.
"Will somebody please tell me why that was so easy?!" Rad kept asking.
"I want to know the same thing." Jade said in a serious, concerned way. Carle stood there out of breath while hanging around Han's shoulders. Rad was sitting down, taking a rest. Then, suddenly, clapping filled the air. They all paused from what they were doing and looked around the area. Then a shadow figure stood on top of the fountain. It began to form into a tall, plump, evilly dressed man with a long sickle in his hand. He began to laugh and giggle. His eyes were black and his skin was tan. His hair was black with long spiky hair. He wore a cape and black iron armor. He continued laughing over and over, then the sky turned blackish-red and the wind started to pick up.
"Finally," The man said. "I have seen the heroes up close." He smiled and his teeth where jagged. He laughed a few more times and finally, someone spoke up.
"Who the hell are you?!" Han asked.
"Me?" The man responded "I'm your worst nightmare!" Thunder roared in the sky and lighting crashed, landing in the village. "I'm the black that's fills the night sky!" More lightning came down and struck a few homes. Sullivan told all the villagers to run, and they did, forming a huge rushing mob running all over the place trying to find cover. "I'm the pain you feel when you are hurt!" Rain started to pour while the man continued. "I'm the fear that enters your veins! I'm the death you see everyday! I AM..."
"VERN!" Jade screamed with her sword held with two hands and her eyes filled with hate.
"Well Jade, it's been a while." Vern said with an evil smirk. "So what have you been up to since you left my army?" Silence stained the air as everyone stared a Jade.
"Oh, I see," Vern continued "You are helping these fools with trying to 'SaVe tHe wOrLd'." Vern said with a little chuckle. He flung his cap back and it moved with the wind.
Everyone was still looking at Jade, wondering what Vern meant.
"Jade, what does he mean…?" Carle asked.
"Yes… yes, it's true." She said, lowering her blade and looking at the ground.
"That's it; tell them your REAL past and how YOU were my greatest soldier! HAHAHAHAHA!" Vern said with a tremendous laugh.
They all just stared at Jade, looking her in the eyes. Her purple eyes didn't meet theirs; they stared at the ground in misery. She then raised her head without saying a word. It was dead silent. So silent, you could hear a pin drop. Even the fountain stopped working. Jade stared at a dead child who was killed because of the soldiers. She seemed so hurt and frustrated.
"None of that matters…" Jade said in a calm way "none of it does. But you… you are the reason why! It was all YOU!" Jade screamed at Vern.
"Oh really? Jade, that hurts… after everything I gave you." Vern responded to Jade.
"SHUT UP!" She yelled along with a fierce face.
"You know, you are really starting to sound like father." Vern responded in a slid manner.
Jade raised her head in disgust. Vern chuckled a little bit and continued.
"So… go on… tell your helpless friends about your past." Vern ordered. Jade just stood still and a tear came down her face. She saw a flashback and immediately charged after Vern.
"GAAAAAAH!" She screamed as she ran forward at Vern with her sword in her paws. She went to swing when Vern disappeared and reappeared behind Jade. He kicked Jade to the ground and put his sickle up hard against Jade's throat.
"Tell them." He ordered.
She backed up against the fountain and sat up with her back parallel with it. Vern was still sticking the sickle at Jade. Han started at her with confidence and nodded, sort of saying that it was ok for her to talk about her past. Jade sat there with sadness in her eyes. She looked up at Han with pure sadness. Han stared back in a comforting but defensive way. He looked at Vern and raised his lance.
"Let her go." he ordered to Vern.
"… Excuse me…?" He raised his lance higher and didn't move. Vern closed his eyes and sniffed the air.
"Ah… so you are Han. I can tell the sent of your soul." Vern said to Han. He raised his arm and sent Han flying back.
"Not so strong, I see. When Jade tells her tale, you're coming with me. I need you for something." Vern said with an evil smile. Han got up with Rad and Carle's help. He was wondering what he meant.
"So are we going to talk?" Vern said to Jade. Jade was still looking at the ground, seeing flashbacks.
"Everyone, sit tight." She said, raising her chin and closing her eyes. Everyone then saw everything start to blur, then black.
"Whoa…" Rad said.
"Where the hell are we?" Han asked.
"You guys are ok, just relax. You are being telepathically contacted by me." Jade said to them.
"Why? What's going on?" Carle asked.
"I am showing you something you need to see." Jade said.
After Jade's voice faded out, they were all showed a seen a nineteen year old girl working in a small village in a store.
"Hey dad…" the girl said to a middle aged looking man "what time should I close the store for you?"
"Around six would be a good time. I'm going to go home and work in the back." The man said in a happy voice.
"Ok dad, bye, I love you!" The nineteen year old girl said while stacking store items.
"I love you too Jackie, take care of the store for me while I'm gone. See ya!" The man said while walking out the door.
Jackie was pretty tall and had beautiful dark hair and brown eyes. She had shocking white skin and was pretty skinny for a girl like her. Her hair was very long and she seemed to love work as she was working.
"I don't get it, what does this mean?" Carle asked.
"Just keep watching." Jade replied.
Everything then faded out and there was black.
"Um… ok, now what?" Sullivan asked.
"I'm showing you the next memory. Now, pay close attention." Jade said with a calm soothing voice.
Next, they where being shown a place in the middle of the woods. Jackie was there along with a strange Demi-human that resembled a wolf. The wolf was dressed in armor with a green cape and a sword at his side. He had red eyes and bluish gray fur. He seemed to be pretty buff and strong and it was obvious he may have been in the army.
"When are you leaving?" Jackie said with her back turned to the wolfish creature. She had a long sad face and she seemed to be very sad.
"Tomorrow." The wolf said. "I have to get set tonight and get the troops ready for battle. That new commander, Vern, seems to really know what he's doing if he wants us to take over The City of Aegis."
"Vern!? He was a commander back then!?" Rad questioned.
"Yes he was. He had just become one at that time." Jade replied.
"But… how!?" Rad asked.
"Shhhhhh… keep watching." Jade remarked.
"Why does he want you to go? Can't he get someone else?" Jackie asked all stressed out. The wolf creature sighed.
"Look, Jackie, you know I love you."
"Then why don't you just… not go?!"
"Because this place needs me. Jackie, you'll see. Once we take over The City of Aegis from the wrong people, we will build a new city and create many new technologies that could save people's lives. It's a city of high energy, and we need it to accomplish our goal. Vern promised that if we got Aegis, we would be healthier people. We would be able to create new medication and work miracles to make people live much longer." The wolf said with much confidence. One thing that was surprising was this wolfish person had a gentle male's voice, not a fierce one you would expect from a wolf.
"It's bad enough my dad won't let me marry a Demi-human, but it's worse to know that I could lose you." Jackie said while turning around and looking at the wolf.
"Jackie… your father has to understand. Just because I am a Demi-human doesn't mean I don't love you and won't care for you. I will marry you once I get back from this mission. I promise you I will come back alive." The wolf said. "I will tell that to your father when he comes with us tomorrow. Your father's a good man and he likes me very much. Many are the times we have battled side by side."
"He doesn't know I am seeing you." Jackie stated.
"Trust me, he talks about how much he would like it if you were married. He has hinted that to me a few times, I am very sure he will not be disappointed." The wolf said.
"I hope your right." Jackie said. Jackie came forward and hugged the wolf human tightly.
"Wolfus… please… comeback alive." She said to him with a tear rolling down her face. Wolfus patted her on the back and kissed her.
"I will, don't you worry." Wolfus said with confidence and security.
"Wolfus, we must get the soldiers ready, hurry!" a gorilla looking Demi-human said Wolfus.
"I'm coming Gorillaj, tell the others to get ready to hand out the weapons and supply.
"Sure thing." Gorillaj said while walking away.
"I've got to go now, be sure to be there during the sendoff at the dock." Wolfus said turning away from Jackie. Jackie stood there with tears in her eyes as she saw Wolfus walk toward the camp. The memory then began to turn to black.
"I don't get it, why is this important?" Sullivan asked.
"Good things come to those who wait. Now, pay very close attention, this will all make sense in the end." Jade said.
The blackness went away and they saw Jackie waving to her father and her fiancé. She stood there, crying, as she watched them bored the ship. Vern then came out and addressed everyone who was waving people goodbye at the dock.
"When we return, it will be a new world! Everyone will be able to live happier lives! It will all happen after we get ride of the evil Dragoons and destroy their evil plans to rule the world!" Vern said with his pudgy arms up in the air. Jackie looked at him and fell to the ground. She had a horrible stomach ach as it seemed and she got mud all over her dress. She ran forward and leaped into the water as the ship set sail. She swam harder and harder, fighting off the waves. She finally grabbed onto the ship and climbed aboard.
"Is she stupid or something? Wouldn't she be seen?" Carle asked.
"Well… this girl had her reasons. She did want to be with her guy and her dad. She would do anything for them." Jade responded.
"Yeah, I noticed that, but wouldn't she have been caught?" Carle asked.
"Keep paying attention." Jade replied.
Jackie got up off the edge and hid behind a barrel. She looked around and found a regular human soldier sleeping in the corner. She snuck over and took the man's clothing and dressed herself as a soldier on the ship. The uniform was a bit loose for her, but it still worked, nobody noticed her. Finally, she managed to sneak t the lower deck and hide around there for the time being. Then, the memory started to darken and became black once again.
"Wow, she's doing all this for love. That girl's got courage." Han remarked.
"Yes… she sure did." Jade replied.
The blackness went away and Jackie came into view. They were in The City of Aegis and many soldiers have died. This city was huge, with skyscrapers taller than the sky and streets and people all over. Many people had died; even some of the innocent ones had perished. It was a dreaded sight.
Jackie was walking into a room where she had fallowed her father and Wolfus. She had been avoiding fights and kept herself alive all to fallow them, it seemed. She opened up the room's door and it was a big, spacious room with a metallic floor and hard walls. Computers were all over the place. Jackie walked in and found a smear of blood on the floor. She looked around the room, fallowing the trail of blood. She kept walking and found her father laying on the ground facedown. She screamed and found Vern standing right above her father. Jackie's father was holding onto Vern's leg with force. He was still barely alive.
"It was a man, he ran that way!" Vern said while pointing at a nearby door. "I tried to stop him, but he already got your dad!"
Jackie walked forward with her hand to her mouth. She crouched down and tried to speak with her dad.
"Daddy…"
"… Jackie… what are you… doing her…? Run…!" Her father demanded.
"I wanted to look after you and Wolfus…"
"What are you doing… get… away…!" Her dad interrupted.
"Hurry, your father's killer ran off to that room." Vern hollered.
"Jackie… don't… Vern… was… the one… who… k-k-k-k..." Jackie's dad could finish what he was saying. His eyes were still open, but he stopped moving and blood came out of his mouth. Jackie stood there, stunned.
"Daddy…….." She said, still in absolute shock. She immediately broke into tears and Vern came over and let her cry on his shoulder.
"I know where the killer went, go into that room; Wolfus is in there with him." Vern said. Jackie stopped the sobbing and picked up her father's sword and froze, looking at her dead father. She then let out a few more tears and walked forward to the other room. Vern stood there and didn't move, staring at Jackie's father.
Jackie ran into the other room to find Wolfus fighting a fat, green skinned, and elf looking man. She ran forward to Wolfus's side. Wolfus leaped back from an attack while the fat green man stopped fighting and looked at Jackie.
"What are you doing here!?" Wolfus screamed.
"I fallowed you!"
"What?!"
"I saw what this man did to my father, and I'm going to kill him!" She yelled.
"What the hell are you talking about?!" The green man said. "I am Ozzie, the great warrior!"
"I don't care, your still going down!" Jackie screamed out. She ran forward with the sword and attacked. She was hit with a beamed and thrown back. She went to get up but Ozzie had already summoned another attack.
"Get ready for this!" Ozzie screamed. "Ultra Black Beam!!!" Ozzie screamed on the top of his lungs. A blackish beam went flying directly at Jackie.
"NO!!!" Wolfus screamed as he ran forward and jumped in front of the beam, blocking it from Jackie. He fell to the ground and moaned.
"WOLFUS!" Jackie screamed as she ran forward. She was immediately frozen in a force filed. She couldn't move at all, all she could do was stare helplessly at Wolfus, who was laying on the ground and barley still alive.
"I'll cut you a break this time, Wolfus! Instead of killing you…" Ozzie said as he opened a portal and threw Wolfus in it "I'll send you to another dimension!" The portal closed up and Wolfus was gone.
"Holy shit! Who is that guy!?" Han yelled.
"Keep watching." Jade ordered.
Jackie was still frozen in a force field. Ozzie stared at her as he walked forward, laughing out of control.
"You're a good looking thing! I always find it amusing when a human and a Demi-human fall in love! What shall I do with you now…" Ozzie said, thinking about Jackie's fate.
"AHA! I've got it!" He said with a grin. Ozzie put his arms out and a ray hit Jackie with much force. She screamed and her head and back arched back. Her long dark hair shot back. She then fell onto the floor and passed out.
"Now," Ozzie went on, "When you look into the mirror, at least you'll look similar to your lost love! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!" Ozzie said with a laugh. He then entered a portal and disappeared.
Jackie got up and saw everything all blurry. Vern had helped her up as she struggled to gain balance.
"Your ok." Vern said to her.
"Where's Wolfus?" She said all worn out.
"I don't know, but you are in no condition to worry. Look at yourself…" Vern said, leading Jackie to a mirror next to a computer. She looked at it and didn't she herself… only a purpled eyed, grayish blue, big eared fox.
"Oh my god! What's wrong with me?!" She shrieked. "I'm a Demi-human!"
"No, you are just a human fox. Ozzie has those powers." Vern said.
"Oh my God! You're…" Sullivan said
"Hush and keep paying attention."
Jackie was still in shock as she stumbled back into Vern. Vern turned her around with force.
"I can give you revenge." He said with an evil smirk. "I can help you get even with Ozzie and avenge your father and fiancé's deaths." He said in a deep evil tone.
"Wolfus didn't die! He's around here; I just need to find him!" Jackie said with much confidence and sorrow.
"No… my dear… I don't think that's possible." Vern said as he walked in a circle around Jackie, eyeing her. Jackie stood still looking strait ahead.
"Come on!" Vern said with a huge evil smile "Come with me, by my side, and get revenge!" Vern said with an evil holler and a big smile, still circling Jackie. Jackie closed her eyes and put her head down. A tear came down her new doglike face and said "Yes."
Jackie put her sword up in the air and screamed "I WILL AVENGE MY FATHER!" She swung and smashed a computer. "I WILL AVENGE WOLFUS!" She smashed a desk in half. "I'LL AVENGE EVERYTHING!" She screamed, swinging her father's sword all over.
"GOOD!" Vern said with chuckle. "You will be much assistance in my plan."
Jackie stopped her rage and kneeled down and asked what Vern meant, out of breath.
"What do you mean? What's your plan?"
Vern paced through the room very slowly for a few seconds. His pudgy human face had a big smile on it and his eyes were almost smiling. He then stopped… glanced at Jackie… and laughed in the most evil way possible. Jackie just stared back at him with confusion.
"My plan was to… 'Make this world a better place'… correct?" Vern said while still looking at Jackie. Jackie nodded.
"Well…" Vern went on "I'm not going to lie to my new side kick. Unfortunately… my goal was NEVER to make this world a better place."
"Then… why did you… take it over…?" Jackie asked, worried and frightened at the same time. Vern just smiled back.
"Have you heard the story of…Lavos?" Vern asked. Jackie just nodded back. "How about…FATE?" Jackie nodded again.
"Well," Vern added "What would you think if I gave you immortal powers and anything you ever wanted? What if you could live the dream that you always wanted?"
"What are you trying to say?" Jackie asked.
"Well, I want to grow a new Lavos… right here… in this city. This city has all the technology to do that." Vern said Jackie shivered and picked up her sword.
"Now, now, no need to get antsy. Let me finish. Once I create another Lavos, I can drain the powers from the planets core. Once that is being done, I can enter the energy into my soul and veins, making me highly powerful. Once I do this, I… will… be…….. FATE! I shall help you avenge your father's death!" Vern said with a snap of his jaw.
"NO! I will not let you create another Lavos!"
"Relax; this one will… benefit… the human race. Trust me."
"I'm only in this for revenge."
"You shall. All you have to do is come with me."
The dream then began to blacken. The image of Vern and Jackie began to fade away along with it. The whole dream sequence was over and everyone was back to the square where Vern still stood, pointing his sickle at Jade.
"So you have told them everything." Vern said to Jade.
"Yes… all accept the final." Jade replied in a weak manner.
Sullivan got up, still feeling the back of his head. "So you're really Jackie?" He asked.
Jade hesitated and replied. "Yes."
"So what happened after that?" Rad asked.
"She joined me by my side." Vern continued with his eyes still fixed. "We took over many challenges together and fought many battles side by side. She had the ability to dash throughout the battlefield, making a green streak in the air and killing many of her foes. We decided to call her 'Jade' from then on, hence the fact that she ran while making a green streak in the air."
"Then why do you guys hate each other?" Carle asked.
"Well, she didn't like the fact that I was killing people for power. She got mad at me when I criticized her about not killing innocent people, so I did it myself. That's when she left, searching for a way to stop ME." Vern said with a spit and a holler.
"You promised me revenge! That's all I wanted! I wasn't in it for the killing; I was in it because you said you would help me seek my revenge! To this day, I still have not gotten it. I still want to kill my father's killer!" Jade screamed.
"Ha…. Looks like you revenge could have been completes if you killed me." Vern said while turning his back to Jade. There was a long silence.
"What do you mean?" Jade asked. Vern turned around, making his black cape flap in the wind. The rain started to poor harder and the night grew darker. Vern's teeth were showing and his eyes were staring with evil.
"I killed your father." Vern said with a huge satanic grin. He stood there with one arm at his side and the other on his sickle. He laughed with the rolling thunder. Jade threw her head up and fixed her eyes on the laughing evil man. She had flashbacks of her father and she could hear her pulse. She began to breathe heavily and harder after every breath. Vern continued laughing on and on and on.
"All along, it was you?" Jade asked.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! What's wrong? Mad that you were used?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!" Vern replied.
Jade began to radiate green light. She flipped up onto her feet and drew her sword.
"You bastard!" She yelled. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Jade screamed as she charged forward. An emerald green blaze was being trailed by her swift movements. Her sword was raised in the air and her eyes showed much rage and hate.
"Um…" Rad said "I think this would be a god time to…"
"FIGHT!" Han yelled as he charged forward with his lance tucked under his right armpit. Carle didn't think, she just ran along side with Han with a fierce expression shown at Vern.
Vern stopped laughing and jolted when he saw the four sixteen-year- olds and a green beam coming right at him. He actually showed fear on his face. His jaw dropped and it was possible to see the whites of his eyes. He grabbed his sickle and went to jump into the air when he felt a freezing cold beam hit him in the back. He winced in pain for a second and retaliated with a fire beam. It missed Sullivan and hit Rad. Rad screamed and made himself stand back up.
Jade leaped into the air and slashed Vern in the front multiple times.
"YOU COLD BLOODED BASTARD!" Jade screamed. Her voice was so loud, it sounded like a banshee and a wolf screaming at the same time. She kept swinging away until she felt a lighting bolt hit her totally unguarded. She flew back and fell face down on the ground.
Han and Carle ran along side each other. They saw a fireball come flying from Vern and it was suddenly frozen by an ice spell and charged with a green light. Rad and Sullivan pulled that move off well. Sullivan was getting good at diverting attacks and mirroring them. He was starting to consider doing that from now on.
Han set up the charged green ice ball quickly. He was trying to maneuver around it but quickly at the last minute took advantage. The ball was set up into the air and Carle spiked it right at Vern. Vern tried to move, but it just hit him right in the face. Vern got so mad that he summoned a charged-up lighting attack. It hit everyone but Jade and Rad was totally knocked out from the attack. Vern jumped up and sliced Han in the back with his sickle. Han fell forward next to Jade and screamed. Jade was alive and still very pissed.
Carle did a spinning kick toward Vern, but was flipped in the air and kicked to the ground very hard. Sullivan tried to freeze Vern, but Vern dodged every attack and slammed Sullivan with all of his force. Sullivan flew right into a bench, breaking it in half. He was out cold.
Rad summoned a paralyze attack and sent it right at Vern. Vern diverted it right back at Rad. Rad tried to get out of the way, but was hit with the attack and paralyzed. He fell to the ground like a rag doll and his eyes closed.
"Is this all you 'heroes' can do?" Vern said with his sickle over his shoulder.
"VERN!" Jade screamed. She was standing along with Han who was bleeding all over.
"HA! You're still alive! I must have trained a really good soldier." Vern said getting ready to attack. Han and Jade ran forward. Vern shot a black beam at Jade, but Jade jumped it and landed in a tree. Han was still running, and right when he was going to lance Vern, Vern disappeared and reappeared right behind him. He then turned Han around and picked him up single-handedly by the throat. Han kicked his feet in the air, dropped his lance, and struggled to break free. Vern looked him in the eyes.
"My…" Vern said "… What strange red eyes. You are the Chrono Trigger… aren't you?" Vern then threw Han to the ground, put his foot on his chest, and raised his sickle. Han tried to reach for his lance when Vern kicked it out of the way.
"Han, the Chrono Trigger. HA! I've finally got you!" Vern said. Jade was still in the trees. She was getting ready for an attack, but wanted to wait for the perfect moment. She didn't want to kill Han in the process.
"What do you want with me?" Han said.
"Aw, come on, Han. The only way to get into the Holy Land is by using the Chrono Trigger as the key. DON'T play dumb with me!"
"But I…"
"SHHH! Not another word. Don't try to keep me away from the Frozen Flame! You have a choice…" Vern said. But he was interrupted when he saw Jade flying right at him. Vern knocked her out of the air with a Hyper Punch and kicked her to the ground. Han jumped up, grabbed his lance, and got into battle position. Vern quickly picked up Rad, Sullivan, Jade, and Carle and laid them in a row and raised his sickle like an executioner.
"Like I said… you have a choice. Come with me, or your entire friends die." Vern said. Han hesitated and waited for a miracle to happen, but nothing happened. He then tried to think up a way to save his friends, but it was no use. He threw his lance away, took off his blade knuckles, threw them, got on his knees, and put his hand over his head.
"No Han, DON'T!" Carle screamed.
"I have to! It's either you or me!" Han screamed back.
"Very well then." Vern said while appearing behind Han. He took Han by the arm and put a dagger to his throat. He whistled, and a few of the 'reptile' soldiers came over and took Han away.
"HAAAAAAAN!" Carle screamed while charging forward. She ran over to Han and tried to pull him away, but Vern threw her away.
"I'll come back for you! I swear!" Carle screamed out in tears.
"Don't you dare! Stay alive! Forget about me!" Han screamed back. His face was red. Vern the opened a portal and led Han and the soldiers into it. Vern got into it too, and the portal disappeared.
"NNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!" Carle screamed, crying totally out of control. She fell to her knees and cried her heart out. Han's lance was lying right next to her. She picked it up, looked at it, and screamed "I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU!" Jade and Sullivan helped Carle, but Rad stood there looking at where the portal use to be. His eyes where bloodshot and the veins in his arms were showing. "Keep yourself alive, where coming for you… brother." He said as he turned around, and headed toward Carle.