Cosmic Crisis 3 - A New Enemy
Chapter 24 - Forgotten Kin
Trunks knew that he was in a dark room before he even opened his eyes. He also felt the presence of others. As his eyelids slowly slid back, he heard a voice.
"Trunks, you're awake?"
"Goten!" Trunks cried, snapping his eyes and looking at his friend. "Goten..."
"Yeah, I know. Yours is the same too." The Saiya-jin said. Trunks ran a hand through his hair. It was down to his shoulders. Fortunately, they were both already clothed in bodysuits of Sidra-jin armor.
"How the hell...?" Trunks trailed off.
"I have no idea." Goten replied. His hair was also long, spiking outward past his collarbone.
"Where is Sirius?" Trunks asked.
"Right here." Came a deep voice. Sirius stepped out of the shadows into the dull light emitted from the unknown source, also fitted in a bodysuit. His hair had not grown much at all, but there was something peculiar about him.
"Impossible!" Trunks cried, jumping up.
"It is not impossible at all. We are in our pure forms."
"Then how..."
"Because, Saiya-jin, I am one of you." Sirius said, and unwrapped a brown tail from around his waist. Trunks and Goten also noted that they too had tails.
"B...but you said..." Trunks stammered. "I thought you were Sidra-jin."
"Half, actually." Sirius explained. "I should tell you..."
Sirius was cut off by a blow to his head, causing him to stumble forward and fall to the ground. Trunks and Goten turned to the figure that appeared behind him.
"You!" Goten growled. "You must be..."
"You've heard of me. Yes, I am him." He spoke. He generated a light with his ki and the entire room lit up. Trunks looked around and his face twisted into one of disgust. Reena and Ceres were in one corner, trapped in an invisible confinement. As he looked around the room, Trunks grew angrier. Then, his eyes locked onto a solitary figure and he recoiled in shock.
"Nat...alie..." he said, his eyes widening. She was held against the far wall by a band of light around her neck, and another around her waist. Her hair was down to her waist and her tail dangled in between her legs.
"You fool. She doesn't even know who you are." Hermes sneered. "No memory."
Trunks, enraged, screamed and threw a ki blast at the figure, but it was absorbed into an invisible wall that was surrounding him and the other two.
"Bastard!" Trunks shouted. "How could you take her life in your hands like that!"
Goten reached a hand up and pulled Trunks back by his shoulder.
"It's no use, Trunks." He said.
"Yes, it's no use. Listen to your Saiya-jin partner." Hermes said. "It's really quite fortunate that you five were smart enough to find me. Now I have to decide how to dispose of you."
"You're as cocky as Orion was! You stupid Sidra-jin males and your egos! You think you're invincible!" Trunks snarled.
"Just how would you know of Orion?" Hermes asked. "He never even left Omega. Never got a chance."
Trunks smirked and pointed to a small microchip device rested on his temple.
"I figured someone of your caliber would have figured it out by now." He retorted. "Our memories are preserved. Every last one."
"Maybe I'll let you suffer before I kill you. You know, heighten the experience."
Trunks growled like a furious animal and gritted his teeth. Just then, Sirius sat up and stood next to Trunks, his hands by his side and his chin raised to face Hermes, who was standing a good twenty feet away.
"The two remaining members of the Sidra-jin monarchy...have finally reunited." Hermes continued, talking in a sinister tone.
"Remaining two!?" Trunks cried. "Who else is left?"
"He's standing right next to you, ignorant animal." Hermes smirked.
Trunks turned to Sirius, his mouth agape in shock.
"You..." Trunks trailed off, not able to find words.
"The concealed offspring of the queen. Only three people knew. Aries, Melina, and of course, him." Hermes explained, smiling wickedly in amusement at Trunks and Goten's reactions.
"You are related to her aren't you." Trunks said feebly. Sirius only nodded, keeping his eyes locked onto Hermes.
"Who would have guessed...the brother of the delicate princess Carina." Hermes said, folding his arms and shifting his weight. "It's a shame you both didn't inherit the same...traits. I could use another addition to my growing collection."
"Collection!" Trunks cried.
"Two members and growing. If you five weren't so pitifully weak I would use you as well."
"Who else did you save?" Trunks queried, his voice raising pitch in curiosity as he narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to see the form of Natalie against the wall.
"Extinction." Sirius muttered. "You wouldn't."
"I already did.' Hermes said, toying with the young warriors. "You wouldn't want to see the entire race fall after one minor change in the timeline, now, would you? I took the precautions and preserved one warrior of the highest class..."
Trunks stomach knotted and he literally wanted to double over and wretch. Goten looked at Trunks nervously as Sirius shouted an irrational slur of words at Hermes.
"Oh, does it bother you? After all, I'm only continuing the family." The evil genius spoke.
"You bastard of the lowest class." Sirius spat. "You won't be satisfied until you take everything from her."
"The only thing left to take is her free will. After that is done, you will be only a memory."
Trunks felt the nausea creep into his throat and he struggled to swallow. Hermes' words sent a bullet of fear tearing through his chest.
"Your mother tried to hide you. I have to give her credit, she was smart in making sure nobody knew of the first born. However, not even she could protect you." Hermes said to Sirius, his icy blue eyes reflecting the burning fire that lit up the room.
"She, nor I, will ever submit to you." Sirius hissed.
"One with such a weak heart will be easily manipulated." Hermes said, gesturing to Carina. "All I have to do is threaten someone she loves."
"If Sirius is really Nat...Carina's brother...then why was his identity concealed, and why was he a guardian?" Trunks questioned.
"I might as well offer you the insight before you die." Hermes said, and glanced casually at Sirius again. "This person who stands next to you was the first offspring of the king and queen. He was kept a secret to protect him from terrorists and other threats. To cover for herself, Melina engineered a situation in which the little boy was believed to be missing, later declared dead. After they had the princess two years later, Sirius took the position as one of her future guardians, joining Ceres and Reena."
"But why?" Trunks asked, trying to overcome his initial astonishment.
"Think of it as insurance, Saiya-jin. In the event that something happened to Carina, there would still be royal family members left to continue the pitiful monarchy. However, Carina was born a prodigy, the legendary Shiroi no Tenshi, heightening the threat to her life. Sirius was kept a secret, his heritage only known to two others, both of the royal family themselves. Not even she knows." He continued, and extended his arm in Carina's direction once again.
Goten stole a glance at the two females huddled in the corner. Ceres looked extremely pale and Reena was crying with her hands over her face and her knees pulled to her chest. Rage boiled inside his chest as he saw her tormented figure shuddering all alone in the corner. What had she done to deserve this!?
"HERMES!" Goten shouted, thrusting his finger in the direction of the two girls. "Let them go!"
"I will not." Hermes said commandingly. "They will remain there until their turn has come."
"Nani??" Goten cried. "How could you kill innocent people!"
"It's a talent." Hermes sneered, narrowing his eyes. "As for the three of you...I think it would be fitting if someone else did the honors."
He snapped his fingers and the bands of light around Carina's neck and waist disappeared, and her body fell to the ground.
"She won't kill us, not until she is under your power, and she will never give in to you." Sirius barked.
"Shiroi no Tenshi..." Trunks whispered, looking in the direction of the fallen princess.
"She can only achieve that state at full power." Hermes said to Trunks. "Which is limited, unless I allow it to be so."
"That would kill her." Sirius growled. "Don't you dare."
"Don't you want to see it?" Hermes inquired, his voice mixed with malevolence. "I hear it's quite a sight."
Carina's limp form finally stirred and she slowly forced her head up to look at the people on the opposite side of the room. Her senses were dulled and she squinted, trying to make out faces.
She emitted a low moan as she pushed her torso up, supporting herself with her elbows as the rest of her body lay on its side. Pain racked her body and her form trembled under the pressure.
Trunks' eyes caught the movement of Natalie in the distance. His muscles tensed in anticipation, as his anger continued to rise. Hermes noted the increase in ki and looked at the hybrid Saiya-jin.
"She's awake, is she?" he said, turning his head to face her. She immediately shrunk back in fear.
Sirius turned his head to look at Carina's form as well. As she cowered from Hermes' presence, a low growl was emitted from his throat.
"What did you do to her!" the warrior demanded.
"I didn't do anything." He said.
"If anyone so much as touched her, I'll-"
"You'll what, weak little prince? Hurt me? I doubt it."
"You're the weak one. You can't face us yourself. You get her to do your dirty work." Sirius argued.
"If she's available, why wouldn't I use her?"
Ceres watched on, feeling helpless, and she became angry at herself. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She formed an image of Hermes in her mind and analyzed his build. After a few minutes, she zeroed in on his icy blue eyes.
Suddenly, her eyes shot open, and she locked her ki onto that of Hermes. Her muscles tensed and beads of sweat formed onto her forehead.
Hermes' eyes widened as he lost control of his body. Sirius immediately looked over at Ceres, who had her eyes narrowed as she concentrated.
"Damn..." Hermes said, trying to regain control. His arm rose into the air and he made a fist. Just as he did this, the invisible walls around the two groups of warriors flickered and disappeared in a flash of light. While Ceres struggled to keep her ki locked on, Trunks and Sirius jumped up, rushing over to Carina. Goten raced to Reena, who was wide-eyed in shock.
"Reena!" Goten cried, embracing the purple-haired Sidra-jin.
"Goten don't raise your ki. She will lose her concentration." Reena said, her eyes on Ceres. "She shouldn't have done this..."
"Why not?" Goten whispered harshly. "If she hadn't, we would still be trapped."
"Because, Goten, she will eventually lose it. When Hermes regains control of his body, there is no telling what he will do to her." She replied.
A chill ran up Goten's spine as he looked at Ceres. She was putting her own life on the line to save the others. She was no longer the mischievous, mind-manipulating girl he thought she was. She was sacrificing herself.
"Reena we have to get out of here." Goten said, standing up and grabbing her hand. "If we don't, her attempts will have been in vain."
"Hai." Reena said, standing up slowly, her hair sweeping down her back as she looked over at Carina.
Trunks and Sirius stood over the girl.
"There is no way of telling what she has been through. From the looks of it, she is in pain." Sirius said, his eyes on her.
Carina placed her hands over the back of her head and looked at the ground, whimpering.
"Please don't hurt me." She cried.
"Carina it's me, Sirius." He said, extending his hand to her. Carina looked up with tears in her eyes and her mouth slowly opened.
"Sirius. You have to get away." She said. "Hermes will kill you if he finds you."
"He already knows we're here." Sirius explained. "Don't worry, we're not going to leave without you."
"You came all this way..." she said, looking back at the ground. She felt extreme guilt in her heart. Her friends made it so far, put their lives on the line, and risked everything, just for her. If anything happened to them, she would never be able to forgive herself.
Trunks stood aside, longing to reach out to her, but he knew that she had no memory of him. In fact, he was surprised that she hadn't noticed his presence and recoiled in fright.
Just then, there was a scream, and Trunks looked over at Ceres. She was grasping her head, her body trembling as she struggled to breathe. She had lost it.
Sirius' grip on Carina's arm tightened as his adrenaline rushed through his body, preparing to fight or flee.
Hermes, upon repossessing his mind, snapped his head around and locked onto Ceres.
"So you thought you would be able to control me, you pathetic little bitch?" he snarled, taking slow steps toward her.
Already worn, Ceres lifted her head to see Hermes advancing toward her. She knew that she had nothing left now, because she had wasted he energy too early. But, she had managed to free the others.
Hermes stopped when he was three feet away from Ceres' still shaking form. Goten inched away, his eyes wide, and pulled on Reena to remove her from the scene.
"No!" Reena cried, and tried to jump in front of Ceres, but it was too little too late. In the blinks of an eye, Hermes had Ceres by the neck and he held her two feet off of the ground. "Put her down!" Reena begged, and began to stand.
Goten jerked Reena toward him and grabbed her before she could do anything stupid. He wasn't going to lose more than he had to.
"You will be the first to go." Hermes said, and tightened his grip on Ceres' throat. Ceres placed her trembling hands on his arm and clawed, trying to pry his iron fist off of her.
"Goten!" Reena cried, trying to squeeze out of his grip. However he held steady and kept her from escaping.
The room grew eerily silent and everyone turned to Hermes, who kept Ceres suspended in the air as he slowly choked the life out of her.
Carina's eyes widened as she observed the horrific sight.
"Ceres NO!" she cried, stumbling forward.
Trunks and Sirius grabbed both of Carina's arms to stop her.
"Let me go!" she screamed. "She's going to die!"
Hermes suddenly turned and looked at the struggling girl.
"I will spare her..." he said. "If you give up your soul."
"Carina don't." Sirius snarled. "Don't let him manipulate you."
"I...I can't let her die." Carina whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Ceres looked at Carina, her vision fading as the oxygen faded from her brain. She didn't have the energy or ability to talk.
"Don't listen to him." She thought to herself, knowing however that Carina didn't have the ability to pick up on her thoughts as of yet.
"What is it going to be!" Hermes yelled, thrusting his arm toward Carina with Ceres' body dangling.
Carina stood up completely and looked into Hermes' eyes. Sirius and Trunks stepped in front of her protectively, but she pushed them out of the way and moved forward a few feet.
"Put her down." She spoke sternly.
"Only if you give in." Hermes countered.
Carina stared long and hard into his eyes.
"Fine...you win." She said, her voice quivering she struggled to hold onto her composure and stance.
Hermes laughed evilly and tossed Ceres across the room like a rag doll.
"NO!" Sirius yelled, grabbing Carina's arm and pulling her behind him. "Don't touch her!"
"She agreed. There is nothing you can do." Hermes said, walking toward him.
Sirius started to power up, but his ki stopped responding and hit a brick wall. He tried again, and this time, instead of rising, his ki started draining.
"Don't try to fight me." Hermes said. "I locked onto your ki. If you resist, I will lower it until you are knocked unconscious."
"Leave him alone!" Carina yelled at Hermes. "He is only doing what he is instructed to do!"
"And that is...?" Hermes asked.
"Protect me." She said, and then looked at Sirius. "But he doesn't have to waste his energy anymore, because I don't need saving." She then turned back to Hermes. "So leave him ALONE!"
Hermes face twisted into an amused grimace as her ki rose and a golden aura formed around her.
"You like the rush of energy, do you?" he asked.
"Leave him alone!" she shouted, her ki continuing to rise.
"Of course, your highness." Hermes said, and Sirius dropped to the ground. Carina's tail thrashed behind her, proving the extent of her anger.
"You let them all go, and then you get what you want." She demanded.
"I can't do that." He said, and stepped closer to the three. "You already gave up."
"Iie!" she cried. "Not until they are free!"
Hermes held out his palm and curled his index finger toward him, signaling for Carina to step forward.
"I'm not going to repeat myself!" she snarled.
"You don't have a choice anymore."
Carina cried out in shock as her body slid forward on the smooth floor. Hermes reached out and grasped her neck in his hand.
Sirius stood up and gathered all of his reserve strength and hurled himself toward the towering figure. Before he could make an impact, however, he hit an invisible wall and bounced back.
"Damn you!" he cried, as Trunks stepped up to him.
"Sirius...we need to wait until he is distracted." Trunks whispered. "If we combine attacks it just might work."
Sirius stared at Hermes, his teeth clenched, and growled. He then looked at Reena, who was being held by Goten, and then at Ceres, who was lying in the corner in a heap.
Hermes, behind the shield of the invisible forcefield, held Carina's neck, his arm extended outward. He then placed the two forefingers of his free hand on her forehead and she forced her eyes shut.
"Now don't struggle, and this will be quick." He said, and then forced energy into her.
Carina cried out in pain as her body was paralyzed. She had made a stupid mistake. But if she had allowed Ceres to die, she would have lived in torment. She just hoped that her friends would be able to stop her once she was under the control of Hermes.
Hermes narrowed his eyes as he completed his job. When he had finally finished pouring energy into her forehead, he placed his hands on her temples and pressed down as his fingers emitted a strange black light.
Carina, by now, had been silenced, and the only sign that she was alive were the few tears that escaped her eyes. Her tail was limp, as was the rest of her body, she didn't blink, or even breathe.
Just as Hermes pulled his hands away from her head, he was struck in the back. Losing his grip on Carina, she was thrown backward by the force as Hermes stumbled forward, gasping in anger. He finally gained balance and turned around to see Trunks, Sirius, and Goten, all standing with their palms extended outward with smoke rising off of their fingers. Then pain shot through his back and he realized that they had done major damage to his back.
"I told you...he is relatively weak." Sirius said to Trunks and Goten, keeping his eyes on Hermes. "He just relies on his mind, and the power of others."
"You fools think you can outsmart a mastermind with your ki's!" Hermes said, and began a fit of laughter. "You cannot stop me, for the damage has already been done, and can't be reversed."
Just as he finished, Carina stood up on wobble legs, shaking her head as she regained her senses and coordination. After blinking a few times, she raised her head to look at everyone.
"Carina!" Sirius cried, taking half a step back. Trunks also looked at her and recoiled. Her brown hair was streaked with silver and her green eyes had turned a fierce red.
Chapter 24 - Forgotten Kin
Trunks knew that he was in a dark room before he even opened his eyes. He also felt the presence of others. As his eyelids slowly slid back, he heard a voice.
"Trunks, you're awake?"
"Goten!" Trunks cried, snapping his eyes and looking at his friend. "Goten..."
"Yeah, I know. Yours is the same too." The Saiya-jin said. Trunks ran a hand through his hair. It was down to his shoulders. Fortunately, they were both already clothed in bodysuits of Sidra-jin armor.
"How the hell...?" Trunks trailed off.
"I have no idea." Goten replied. His hair was also long, spiking outward past his collarbone.
"Where is Sirius?" Trunks asked.
"Right here." Came a deep voice. Sirius stepped out of the shadows into the dull light emitted from the unknown source, also fitted in a bodysuit. His hair had not grown much at all, but there was something peculiar about him.
"Impossible!" Trunks cried, jumping up.
"It is not impossible at all. We are in our pure forms."
"Then how..."
"Because, Saiya-jin, I am one of you." Sirius said, and unwrapped a brown tail from around his waist. Trunks and Goten also noted that they too had tails.
"B...but you said..." Trunks stammered. "I thought you were Sidra-jin."
"Half, actually." Sirius explained. "I should tell you..."
Sirius was cut off by a blow to his head, causing him to stumble forward and fall to the ground. Trunks and Goten turned to the figure that appeared behind him.
"You!" Goten growled. "You must be..."
"You've heard of me. Yes, I am him." He spoke. He generated a light with his ki and the entire room lit up. Trunks looked around and his face twisted into one of disgust. Reena and Ceres were in one corner, trapped in an invisible confinement. As he looked around the room, Trunks grew angrier. Then, his eyes locked onto a solitary figure and he recoiled in shock.
"Nat...alie..." he said, his eyes widening. She was held against the far wall by a band of light around her neck, and another around her waist. Her hair was down to her waist and her tail dangled in between her legs.
"You fool. She doesn't even know who you are." Hermes sneered. "No memory."
Trunks, enraged, screamed and threw a ki blast at the figure, but it was absorbed into an invisible wall that was surrounding him and the other two.
"Bastard!" Trunks shouted. "How could you take her life in your hands like that!"
Goten reached a hand up and pulled Trunks back by his shoulder.
"It's no use, Trunks." He said.
"Yes, it's no use. Listen to your Saiya-jin partner." Hermes said. "It's really quite fortunate that you five were smart enough to find me. Now I have to decide how to dispose of you."
"You're as cocky as Orion was! You stupid Sidra-jin males and your egos! You think you're invincible!" Trunks snarled.
"Just how would you know of Orion?" Hermes asked. "He never even left Omega. Never got a chance."
Trunks smirked and pointed to a small microchip device rested on his temple.
"I figured someone of your caliber would have figured it out by now." He retorted. "Our memories are preserved. Every last one."
"Maybe I'll let you suffer before I kill you. You know, heighten the experience."
Trunks growled like a furious animal and gritted his teeth. Just then, Sirius sat up and stood next to Trunks, his hands by his side and his chin raised to face Hermes, who was standing a good twenty feet away.
"The two remaining members of the Sidra-jin monarchy...have finally reunited." Hermes continued, talking in a sinister tone.
"Remaining two!?" Trunks cried. "Who else is left?"
"He's standing right next to you, ignorant animal." Hermes smirked.
Trunks turned to Sirius, his mouth agape in shock.
"You..." Trunks trailed off, not able to find words.
"The concealed offspring of the queen. Only three people knew. Aries, Melina, and of course, him." Hermes explained, smiling wickedly in amusement at Trunks and Goten's reactions.
"You are related to her aren't you." Trunks said feebly. Sirius only nodded, keeping his eyes locked onto Hermes.
"Who would have guessed...the brother of the delicate princess Carina." Hermes said, folding his arms and shifting his weight. "It's a shame you both didn't inherit the same...traits. I could use another addition to my growing collection."
"Collection!" Trunks cried.
"Two members and growing. If you five weren't so pitifully weak I would use you as well."
"Who else did you save?" Trunks queried, his voice raising pitch in curiosity as he narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to see the form of Natalie against the wall.
"Extinction." Sirius muttered. "You wouldn't."
"I already did.' Hermes said, toying with the young warriors. "You wouldn't want to see the entire race fall after one minor change in the timeline, now, would you? I took the precautions and preserved one warrior of the highest class..."
Trunks stomach knotted and he literally wanted to double over and wretch. Goten looked at Trunks nervously as Sirius shouted an irrational slur of words at Hermes.
"Oh, does it bother you? After all, I'm only continuing the family." The evil genius spoke.
"You bastard of the lowest class." Sirius spat. "You won't be satisfied until you take everything from her."
"The only thing left to take is her free will. After that is done, you will be only a memory."
Trunks felt the nausea creep into his throat and he struggled to swallow. Hermes' words sent a bullet of fear tearing through his chest.
"Your mother tried to hide you. I have to give her credit, she was smart in making sure nobody knew of the first born. However, not even she could protect you." Hermes said to Sirius, his icy blue eyes reflecting the burning fire that lit up the room.
"She, nor I, will ever submit to you." Sirius hissed.
"One with such a weak heart will be easily manipulated." Hermes said, gesturing to Carina. "All I have to do is threaten someone she loves."
"If Sirius is really Nat...Carina's brother...then why was his identity concealed, and why was he a guardian?" Trunks questioned.
"I might as well offer you the insight before you die." Hermes said, and glanced casually at Sirius again. "This person who stands next to you was the first offspring of the king and queen. He was kept a secret to protect him from terrorists and other threats. To cover for herself, Melina engineered a situation in which the little boy was believed to be missing, later declared dead. After they had the princess two years later, Sirius took the position as one of her future guardians, joining Ceres and Reena."
"But why?" Trunks asked, trying to overcome his initial astonishment.
"Think of it as insurance, Saiya-jin. In the event that something happened to Carina, there would still be royal family members left to continue the pitiful monarchy. However, Carina was born a prodigy, the legendary Shiroi no Tenshi, heightening the threat to her life. Sirius was kept a secret, his heritage only known to two others, both of the royal family themselves. Not even she knows." He continued, and extended his arm in Carina's direction once again.
Goten stole a glance at the two females huddled in the corner. Ceres looked extremely pale and Reena was crying with her hands over her face and her knees pulled to her chest. Rage boiled inside his chest as he saw her tormented figure shuddering all alone in the corner. What had she done to deserve this!?
"HERMES!" Goten shouted, thrusting his finger in the direction of the two girls. "Let them go!"
"I will not." Hermes said commandingly. "They will remain there until their turn has come."
"Nani??" Goten cried. "How could you kill innocent people!"
"It's a talent." Hermes sneered, narrowing his eyes. "As for the three of you...I think it would be fitting if someone else did the honors."
He snapped his fingers and the bands of light around Carina's neck and waist disappeared, and her body fell to the ground.
"She won't kill us, not until she is under your power, and she will never give in to you." Sirius barked.
"Shiroi no Tenshi..." Trunks whispered, looking in the direction of the fallen princess.
"She can only achieve that state at full power." Hermes said to Trunks. "Which is limited, unless I allow it to be so."
"That would kill her." Sirius growled. "Don't you dare."
"Don't you want to see it?" Hermes inquired, his voice mixed with malevolence. "I hear it's quite a sight."
Carina's limp form finally stirred and she slowly forced her head up to look at the people on the opposite side of the room. Her senses were dulled and she squinted, trying to make out faces.
She emitted a low moan as she pushed her torso up, supporting herself with her elbows as the rest of her body lay on its side. Pain racked her body and her form trembled under the pressure.
Trunks' eyes caught the movement of Natalie in the distance. His muscles tensed in anticipation, as his anger continued to rise. Hermes noted the increase in ki and looked at the hybrid Saiya-jin.
"She's awake, is she?" he said, turning his head to face her. She immediately shrunk back in fear.
Sirius turned his head to look at Carina's form as well. As she cowered from Hermes' presence, a low growl was emitted from his throat.
"What did you do to her!" the warrior demanded.
"I didn't do anything." He said.
"If anyone so much as touched her, I'll-"
"You'll what, weak little prince? Hurt me? I doubt it."
"You're the weak one. You can't face us yourself. You get her to do your dirty work." Sirius argued.
"If she's available, why wouldn't I use her?"
Ceres watched on, feeling helpless, and she became angry at herself. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She formed an image of Hermes in her mind and analyzed his build. After a few minutes, she zeroed in on his icy blue eyes.
Suddenly, her eyes shot open, and she locked her ki onto that of Hermes. Her muscles tensed and beads of sweat formed onto her forehead.
Hermes' eyes widened as he lost control of his body. Sirius immediately looked over at Ceres, who had her eyes narrowed as she concentrated.
"Damn..." Hermes said, trying to regain control. His arm rose into the air and he made a fist. Just as he did this, the invisible walls around the two groups of warriors flickered and disappeared in a flash of light. While Ceres struggled to keep her ki locked on, Trunks and Sirius jumped up, rushing over to Carina. Goten raced to Reena, who was wide-eyed in shock.
"Reena!" Goten cried, embracing the purple-haired Sidra-jin.
"Goten don't raise your ki. She will lose her concentration." Reena said, her eyes on Ceres. "She shouldn't have done this..."
"Why not?" Goten whispered harshly. "If she hadn't, we would still be trapped."
"Because, Goten, she will eventually lose it. When Hermes regains control of his body, there is no telling what he will do to her." She replied.
A chill ran up Goten's spine as he looked at Ceres. She was putting her own life on the line to save the others. She was no longer the mischievous, mind-manipulating girl he thought she was. She was sacrificing herself.
"Reena we have to get out of here." Goten said, standing up and grabbing her hand. "If we don't, her attempts will have been in vain."
"Hai." Reena said, standing up slowly, her hair sweeping down her back as she looked over at Carina.
Trunks and Sirius stood over the girl.
"There is no way of telling what she has been through. From the looks of it, she is in pain." Sirius said, his eyes on her.
Carina placed her hands over the back of her head and looked at the ground, whimpering.
"Please don't hurt me." She cried.
"Carina it's me, Sirius." He said, extending his hand to her. Carina looked up with tears in her eyes and her mouth slowly opened.
"Sirius. You have to get away." She said. "Hermes will kill you if he finds you."
"He already knows we're here." Sirius explained. "Don't worry, we're not going to leave without you."
"You came all this way..." she said, looking back at the ground. She felt extreme guilt in her heart. Her friends made it so far, put their lives on the line, and risked everything, just for her. If anything happened to them, she would never be able to forgive herself.
Trunks stood aside, longing to reach out to her, but he knew that she had no memory of him. In fact, he was surprised that she hadn't noticed his presence and recoiled in fright.
Just then, there was a scream, and Trunks looked over at Ceres. She was grasping her head, her body trembling as she struggled to breathe. She had lost it.
Sirius' grip on Carina's arm tightened as his adrenaline rushed through his body, preparing to fight or flee.
Hermes, upon repossessing his mind, snapped his head around and locked onto Ceres.
"So you thought you would be able to control me, you pathetic little bitch?" he snarled, taking slow steps toward her.
Already worn, Ceres lifted her head to see Hermes advancing toward her. She knew that she had nothing left now, because she had wasted he energy too early. But, she had managed to free the others.
Hermes stopped when he was three feet away from Ceres' still shaking form. Goten inched away, his eyes wide, and pulled on Reena to remove her from the scene.
"No!" Reena cried, and tried to jump in front of Ceres, but it was too little too late. In the blinks of an eye, Hermes had Ceres by the neck and he held her two feet off of the ground. "Put her down!" Reena begged, and began to stand.
Goten jerked Reena toward him and grabbed her before she could do anything stupid. He wasn't going to lose more than he had to.
"You will be the first to go." Hermes said, and tightened his grip on Ceres' throat. Ceres placed her trembling hands on his arm and clawed, trying to pry his iron fist off of her.
"Goten!" Reena cried, trying to squeeze out of his grip. However he held steady and kept her from escaping.
The room grew eerily silent and everyone turned to Hermes, who kept Ceres suspended in the air as he slowly choked the life out of her.
Carina's eyes widened as she observed the horrific sight.
"Ceres NO!" she cried, stumbling forward.
Trunks and Sirius grabbed both of Carina's arms to stop her.
"Let me go!" she screamed. "She's going to die!"
Hermes suddenly turned and looked at the struggling girl.
"I will spare her..." he said. "If you give up your soul."
"Carina don't." Sirius snarled. "Don't let him manipulate you."
"I...I can't let her die." Carina whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Ceres looked at Carina, her vision fading as the oxygen faded from her brain. She didn't have the energy or ability to talk.
"Don't listen to him." She thought to herself, knowing however that Carina didn't have the ability to pick up on her thoughts as of yet.
"What is it going to be!" Hermes yelled, thrusting his arm toward Carina with Ceres' body dangling.
Carina stood up completely and looked into Hermes' eyes. Sirius and Trunks stepped in front of her protectively, but she pushed them out of the way and moved forward a few feet.
"Put her down." She spoke sternly.
"Only if you give in." Hermes countered.
Carina stared long and hard into his eyes.
"Fine...you win." She said, her voice quivering she struggled to hold onto her composure and stance.
Hermes laughed evilly and tossed Ceres across the room like a rag doll.
"NO!" Sirius yelled, grabbing Carina's arm and pulling her behind him. "Don't touch her!"
"She agreed. There is nothing you can do." Hermes said, walking toward him.
Sirius started to power up, but his ki stopped responding and hit a brick wall. He tried again, and this time, instead of rising, his ki started draining.
"Don't try to fight me." Hermes said. "I locked onto your ki. If you resist, I will lower it until you are knocked unconscious."
"Leave him alone!" Carina yelled at Hermes. "He is only doing what he is instructed to do!"
"And that is...?" Hermes asked.
"Protect me." She said, and then looked at Sirius. "But he doesn't have to waste his energy anymore, because I don't need saving." She then turned back to Hermes. "So leave him ALONE!"
Hermes face twisted into an amused grimace as her ki rose and a golden aura formed around her.
"You like the rush of energy, do you?" he asked.
"Leave him alone!" she shouted, her ki continuing to rise.
"Of course, your highness." Hermes said, and Sirius dropped to the ground. Carina's tail thrashed behind her, proving the extent of her anger.
"You let them all go, and then you get what you want." She demanded.
"I can't do that." He said, and stepped closer to the three. "You already gave up."
"Iie!" she cried. "Not until they are free!"
Hermes held out his palm and curled his index finger toward him, signaling for Carina to step forward.
"I'm not going to repeat myself!" she snarled.
"You don't have a choice anymore."
Carina cried out in shock as her body slid forward on the smooth floor. Hermes reached out and grasped her neck in his hand.
Sirius stood up and gathered all of his reserve strength and hurled himself toward the towering figure. Before he could make an impact, however, he hit an invisible wall and bounced back.
"Damn you!" he cried, as Trunks stepped up to him.
"Sirius...we need to wait until he is distracted." Trunks whispered. "If we combine attacks it just might work."
Sirius stared at Hermes, his teeth clenched, and growled. He then looked at Reena, who was being held by Goten, and then at Ceres, who was lying in the corner in a heap.
Hermes, behind the shield of the invisible forcefield, held Carina's neck, his arm extended outward. He then placed the two forefingers of his free hand on her forehead and she forced her eyes shut.
"Now don't struggle, and this will be quick." He said, and then forced energy into her.
Carina cried out in pain as her body was paralyzed. She had made a stupid mistake. But if she had allowed Ceres to die, she would have lived in torment. She just hoped that her friends would be able to stop her once she was under the control of Hermes.
Hermes narrowed his eyes as he completed his job. When he had finally finished pouring energy into her forehead, he placed his hands on her temples and pressed down as his fingers emitted a strange black light.
Carina, by now, had been silenced, and the only sign that she was alive were the few tears that escaped her eyes. Her tail was limp, as was the rest of her body, she didn't blink, or even breathe.
Just as Hermes pulled his hands away from her head, he was struck in the back. Losing his grip on Carina, she was thrown backward by the force as Hermes stumbled forward, gasping in anger. He finally gained balance and turned around to see Trunks, Sirius, and Goten, all standing with their palms extended outward with smoke rising off of their fingers. Then pain shot through his back and he realized that they had done major damage to his back.
"I told you...he is relatively weak." Sirius said to Trunks and Goten, keeping his eyes on Hermes. "He just relies on his mind, and the power of others."
"You fools think you can outsmart a mastermind with your ki's!" Hermes said, and began a fit of laughter. "You cannot stop me, for the damage has already been done, and can't be reversed."
Just as he finished, Carina stood up on wobble legs, shaking her head as she regained her senses and coordination. After blinking a few times, she raised her head to look at everyone.
"Carina!" Sirius cried, taking half a step back. Trunks also looked at her and recoiled. Her brown hair was streaked with silver and her green eyes had turned a fierce red.