Chapter 8
Homecoming
Steena and Paul were sitting on a rock together waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.
"So Diss is a baboon and Shaun is your best friend, right?" Steena said in a teasing manner. Paul grinned.
"Nah, Diss is a good man, but sometimes I just wanna smash his head in." Paul tried to change the subject quickly remembering what himself told himself. "Anyways, we are just your average team. Leadership and brawn goes to one man, skill goes to another, and intelligence reins supreme in another individual. You guess who is who." Steena sat closer to Paul and closed her eyes to think.
"We'll you're stronger than most people," She said softly opening her eyes and leaning on Paul. "You're intelligence is like no one else's," Paul grinned at that last comment. "And I have seen you take leadership in dire emergencies. And you are the most skilled person I have ever seen." Paul spoke softly leaning on Steena.
"Wow, but try again." Steena gave a small laugh and then gave her true answer.
"I think Diss is leader and the brawn, Shaun is the intelligence, and you are the skill." Paul stared at her blankly before leaning on her again.
"Wow, dead on the nail." Steena smiled. The two leaned on each other for another five minutes when the boat came visible on the ocean sea. Paul quickly grew away from Steena as he stood up.
As the boat approached the island Diss stood at the bow getting off silently. Paul took that as a very bad sign as Diss only walked forward into Mt. Pyre. Looking at Shaun he merely shrugged as he walked over. Obviously Shaun didn't know why Diss was angry either. But Diss being angry was a bad thing. When that happened people got hurt, very badly.
Fargo got off muttering about crazy clowns followed by Glenn and Lynx. They all followed Diss through Mt. Pyre as he spread the lava for them. Lynx looked at Diss concerned as he pushed on angrily. Diss seemed oblivious to their concern as he moved on deeper going through flawlessly and making sure no one was hurt by the lava.
Finally they reached the fort and Diss was still pissed as he entered the vast structure. Finally Paul spoke up.
"Diss why the hell are you so pissed?"
"Not now Paul I'm angry now and I don't want that to fade," Diss snapped.
Shaun looked at Diss concerned. He merely shrugged them off heading deeper into the fort when Steena spoke up.
"Place the tear here and the entire Fort will unlock itself for us." She said solemnly.
Lynx placed the tear in the spot she indicated and watched as the entire fort shook, but from Diss' impatience or from its own source was unknown. Finally the shaking was done as Diss walked farther in. Reaching the Grand Dais a pillar was raised a door in it. Standing in front of that door was Serge grinning.
"Its about time you guys showed up, I was worried you had died." Serge said.
"You would have loved that wouldn't you Serge?" Diss snapped. He stretched his hand in front of him. Instantly a strip of fire extended from both sides slowly as he focused his anger. The strip slowly went out revealing his Dragon Staff, but it seemed more sinister than any time Shaun or Paul had seen it as Diss dropped into a fighting stance.
"He's mine guys. he and I have a very old score to settle," Diss commanded.
Serge drew his scythe as he waited for the attack. Diss didn't keep him waiting long as he attacked viciously at Serge's head. Serge blocked and they went at it. Every time they were close quarters Diss kicked or punched Serge away. Every time they spread out Serge would launch balls of dark energy at Diss only angering him more as he sprinted forward faster than most could. The match seemed even when something unexpected happened, Diss slashed through Serge's scythe snapping it in two like matchwood.
Diss tossed aside his staff as he grabbed Serge by the front of his shirt. Paul looked at Shaun who nodded, Diss was venting in a good way, but they might have to pull him off before he killed Serge. Paul watched as Diss held him up in front of him and began yelling,
"STRIKE THREE BUDDY, YOU'RE OUT!" With that he threw Serge in front of him hard. As Serge slid across the floor Diss picked him up and slammed him hard into the wall. Paul and Shaun cringed, Diss was vindictive when armed, but unarmed he got down right nasty. Diss continued the onslaught as Paul watched him perform feats he thought only wrestlers could do. Diss picked up Serge tossing him up then grabbed him in midair slamming him hard into the ground.
"Oh my.I haven't seen that in years, he's going old school," Paul said out loud. Everyone looked at Paul confusedly. "Kinda reminds me of the Old days when we fought each other just for fun and sometimes for our lives."
"You do this for fun?" Steena asked incredulously.
"Oh yeah, but trust me Diss is playing with Serge. If he wanted to he could finish off-" Shaun stopped as he watched Diss kick Serge on the ground. "Never mind he just got warmed up."
Diss began pummeling Serge before he backed off, anger radiating form him. Lynx walked up to Diss and said something. Diss gestured his hand to Serge as if encouraging Lynx to go ahead as Diss backed off wiping the sweat from his brow. Lynx grinned evilly.
"I've been waiting to do this for so long," Lynx sad as he grinned picking up Serge and tossing him out in front of him. "Every wonder what it feels like to be attacked by a bunch of feral cats?"
Serge stammered, "No you wouldn't I mean I'm not really that bad of a guy you wouldn't do that please don't I mean common."
Diss said five words coldly, "I'll see you in hell."
Lynx grinned as he stretched his arm forth. Paul held Lynx's hand. "Allow me." Paul said sinisterly. He walked up to Serge and picked him up gently dusting him off. He let Serge support himself as Paul stretched out his hand. "No hard feelings?" Serge stared at Paul blankly. "Tough." Paul said spearing Serge before he was ready. He kept punching Serge as he was mounted on top of him.
"YOU NEARLY HAD ME KILL MY FRIEND, YOU USED ME, AND WORST OF ALL, YOU USED MY FRIENDS." Serge just glared at Paul. Paul was about to punch him when he stopped. He picked up Serge and walked into a room.
"This is not going to be pretty." Paul said laughing evilly as he vanished from sight.
"MY GOD!" Steena said looking at the blood everywhere. "YOU GUYS ARE ANIMALS!" Shaun took pride in his reply.
"What, you expecting chickens?" They heard screaming from the room as they waited when Serge flew back into the room. Paul was surging with electricity as he walked out slowly with a look of pure hate on his face. Serge's clothes were ripped, torn, bloodied and dirty, as Paul picked him up not from the collar but the neck he slammed Serge onto the ground as Paul looked at Shaun and Diss.
"Now you pay." Lynx said holding his hand forth. Countless Shadow Cats appeared behind Lynx as he lowered his hand.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Serge screamed. He was cut, scraped and beaten into oblivion as the Shadow Cats flew at him. Lynx walked up to him taking out a handkerchief.
"Wipe yourself, you got blood on your face." Diss ran up to Serge and grabbed him by the head.
"HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW? WISH YOU NEVER SCREWED WITH US DID YOU?" Diss screamed. Paul walked up to Diss.
"He's unconscious." Paul said evilly.
"THAT'S NO EXCUSE!" Diss yelled loudly. Steena pushed Diss off Serge and stood in front of him.
"It's over!" Steena said loudly. "Stop the violence!" Steena said.
"It's rule one of my world." Diss said as he pushed Steena aside. He was shocked to see Serge gone.
"Wow." Serge said high above them. "Now I am very glad I sent that shadow before me. Bye." Serge said disappearing.
"Man." Lynx said snapping his finger. Steena looked at Paul carefully. Paul spoke walking into the elevator.
"I like you." Steena looked at Paul and blushed.
"That was very satisfying." Diss said slowly and coldly. Shaun entered the elevator with the rest of the group as they made their way to the teleporter. Steena looked at Diss, he seemed to be calmer. The elevator slowly rose as he stood facing the wall. She ventured a conversation.
"Why did you guys do that?" She asked him quietly.
"Rule one: You screw with the group you die," Diss said matter of factly.
"That's a pretty barbaric rule to use." Steena said softly.
"That's our life, we have to be on alert 24-7 in fear of what someone might do to us. There is no government there is no police, no one to regulate behavior and tell us what to do. All we have is pure anarchy, survival of the fittest. I didn't survive this long by showing mercy to people that tried to have me killed," Diss said angrily.
"There you go again, hiding in the past to justify your actions. But I also know there was an ulterior motive. Wasn't there." Steena asked softly.
Diss nodded, "Last night my Fiancée made contact with me for the first time in a month. If it wasn't for Serge I might have made it home faster, now I'm stuck tracking him down to find a true way out of here."
"So your ego has ballooned even more, and now your acting as the law here, just like you did in your own world."
Diss spun and retorted angrily, "I never said that. I'm just trying to get home in one piece there's nothing wrong about trying to help others on the way."
Steena grinned, "Yes you definitely have an Ego, and you hide it better than most. The funny part is how your eyes light up every time someone mentions something about your ego. You get puffed out like a peacock really."
They reached the top. "This conversation is over." Diss muttered as he went through to the teleporter. Paul followed behind, as did Shaun. Shortly they teleported up to where the ritual room was. Paul looked around in awe.
"Again!" Paul said as he climbed back aboard, before Diss could say anything he went back down.
Diss sighed as he muttered, "He's really getting on my nerves."
"And so are you!" Came an unfamiliar voice.
Diss spun on his heals to see the older looking Girl from Paul's locket. He stood there in shock a second before responding.
"Excuse me?" Diss asked.
"You heard me; you've been annoying me for some time now. Now you need to shape up or you and I are going to have words," She spat. Shaun watched in disbelief.
"Excuse me. who leads this group? Last time I check I did. So excuse me if I discipline my men for acting stupid like Paul does," Diss retorted.
"Well then, I guess we'll have those words right now." The girl said.
"Where do you get off-" Diss said angrily before he got cut off.
"And where do you get off leading. No one put you in charge. You took charge. And excuse me if I say so, but you are easily the worst leader I've ever seen. My little sister could lead better than you and she's only six," The girl started.
"Exc-"Diss was cut off again.
"I'm the one talking. I talk you listen. And listen well; because of you this man is slowly going insane. You drove him over the edge and you keep driving him like there is no tomorrow. You need to lay off of him. You are steadily killing him and if you don't stop I'll hurt you! You are nothing but a bully who gets what he wants through big words and stupid tricks. You think what you did back there makes you tough? You beat up a seventeen-year- old boy. Big whoop. My mother could do better. You need to set your priorities straight before you get us all killed," She said stopping a second.
Diss pointed behind him as Paul came up, "He has been doing that on his own."
She tried to cut him off but Diss was ready this time, "No shut up its my turn to talk and your turn to listen. I never wanted leadership. I took it because no one else took the job. The group was struggling until I told them what to do. I showed them leadership and they gladly took it. The burden went on my shoulders on top of the burden of being a host and YOU KNEW THAT! Now you want to yell at me for doing what I had to do last time we were faced with a problem like this? Fine, but yell at me for a valid reason not this stupidity you call a reason!"
The older girl stood there taking the tirade before she spoke clearly and distinctly, "Fine, if that's what you say you're doing, and I can't prove you otherwise fine. Just remember when he kills you it is your fault!" With that she left. Lynx looked at Diss concerned but Diss merely looked out at the sky over the fort. Steena turned to Lynx,
"Serge you'll have to go in there alone. Keep your mind focused on the truth and you'll be fine," Steena said solemnly. Lynx nodded entering the room.
Diss leaned against the wall sighing, "Another wait, I feel like its 'Hurry up and wait! Hurry up and wait!'"
Steena looked at him and laughed. Diss merely shrugged before closing his eyes. He saw Christy clearly behind them waiting for his return.
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After a few hours Serge came walking out. Diss looked at him curiously before speaking slowly.
"Is it really you or is it Lynx?" Diss said slowly.
"Its me," Serge said slowly.
Diss smiled reaching out his hand. Serge shook it earnestly before Diss spoke again.
"We're back in business, watch out Lynx you're going to die." Diss said proudly bringing Serge forward hugging him before releasing.
Serge grinned as he looked around. He was back in his old body and on top of that he had everything he needed to fight Lynx now. The others looked around him smiling as they watched him.
"Good, you followed the truth and made it back safely. Now your old friends will join you with your vision of truth," Steena said softly. "Even the result of the Dragon Tear breaking wasn't totally unexpected."
Everyone nodded smiling. Diss was almost home. He could feel it in his bones. And the thought of returning to Christy fueled him as he helped the others through the caverns of Mt. Pyre. Slowly they saw the S.S. Invincible reach where they were and drop boats to come fetch them. Diss smiled, this plan was coming together nicely.
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They all were aboard the S.S. Invincible standing on the deck when Diss call for attention.
"Attention everybody, I have a little speech to say," He stopped as he saw Christy's ghost on the deck behind the group. He smiled to the ghost before continuing. "We have a big test ahead of us. I wont pretend to gloss over it and say this task will be easy as pie. Instead I will say this. We are stepping into the Unknown tomorrow. We have two targets, Kid and Lynx. Lynx is obviously controlling Kid, so I have the task set before me of freeing her from Lynx's grasp. I will do this alone, since I know she won't kill me. You guys have the much harder task of getting to where Lynx will obviously be holed up. Both tasks will be difficult, and we do not know a thing about the place we will go. From what I was told the Dead Sea is no more. All that remains is the Sea of Eden that was originally there. Sleep well rest up. No one should be up later than two hours after I finish. That includes you Paul!" Everyone looked at Paul before Diss went on, "Now for our words of inspiration from our resident Psycho."
Everyone chuckled as Paul rose up to where Diss was speaking, "Lets go on another fun filled, action packed adventure. YIPPE SKIPPEE!"
Everyone cheered then laughed as Diss finished heading down to the deck. As he finished he saw Christy blow a kiss to him and disappear. He wished he could have spent more time with her but he knew she could only do so much. She had given him the courage to say what needed to be said, and for that he thanked her silently.
He started to go below decks when he stopped hearing his name being called. He looked around as the deck cleared, the people going to bed. He still heard someone calling his name as he stepped into the middle of the deck. Slowly a silhouette of Serge descended clapping in a mocking effort.
"Brilliant speech, I must say, definitely one of your better speeches, now for my little warning to you. You are out of your league; you don't even know what you are going to do from here. You are on my turf now and from here I up the Ante. You will never free Kid from what I have done to her," Evil Serge said darkly.
"I've had enough of your tormenting him!" Christy's clear voice rang out.
The Evil Serge turned to see Christy's ghost next to Diss, Diss had thought it had gone, but she had stayed for some reason. He frowned as he attempted to squash her flat. He was surprised to see that he couldn't. All he could do was make her stronger somehow. She seemed to drain him mentally to the point he touched down on deck. He looked around in fear.
"You have tortured my fiancée through his past, me, and his friends. I could forgive you for the first, but the latter two make it personal," she spat. She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and put one of her daggers to his throat. The evil Serge went wild eyed as he realized she had nullified his control over himself.
He looked up at her immensely scared before he stammered, "What are you?"
"I'm a mother and wife to the man you picked a fight with. And now I get my rule one." She said slowly. Diss grinned as she began pummeling evil Serge. He had the word of pain redefined as she imprinted in his mind feelings of being on fire or in acid before she would stop to look down still drawing strength from evil Serge. As she reapplied the torture evil Serge faded and disappeared. She looked to Diss for an explanation.
"He can make himself appear and disappear, he also creates mock ups of himself that he loves to call his shadows," He said drawing her close to him. She hugged him tightly whispering, "I can't stay the whole night, but up till your curfew I'll stay so we can talk," She whispered.
"How's the baby?" Diss asked quietly.
Christy smiled placing his hand on her stomach, "Happy to know his father is safe and doing fine."
"His?" Diss asked quietly.
She smiled kissing him before whispering against his lips, "Congratulations daddy, it's a boy."
He kissed her back slowly smiling she cupped his face kissing him deeply before she jumped up wrapping her legs around him.
"Christy we cant do that.. You're pregnant." Diss whispered softly.
"I know silly.I just want to be with you right now. This is as far as I'll take it, I promise," She said innocently.
"That's my girl," he smiled as he kissed her leaning back against the railing of the boat before sitting on the deck.
She pulled back from the kiss leaning his forehead against hers so their noses almost touched. She whispered softly to him, "Diss, I love you so much."
"Christy, I love you just as much." Diss said before she put her finger to his lips.
"Diss no more talk, let's just be here together while we can," She whispered.
He nodded silently kissing her deeply. They continued to kiss each other until finally she pulled back. Diss looked at her questioningly.
"It's time, now hurry back so we can do this again, I don't think I can project myself again. This is my last night with you here." She said softly.
He looked at her quietly before kissing her deeply; she returned the kiss until she faded away. He slowly went below decks lying on his bed and slept deeply finally at peace.
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Diss woke up to the call to arms. Everyone was scrambling their equipment jumping on deck. As they finally made it Fargo was dropping supplies on the deck, getting it out of the boats. Slowly the crew finished the job as two boats were prepared for a quick journey into the Sea of Eden. Fargo turned to Diss and called him over. Diss did so and received a hearty slap on the back nearly causing him to fall onto the deck face first.
"Matey, I've got ta hand it to ya; you definitely got what it takes to get through this. Now we just 'ave ta get through this and yer homeward bound!" Fargo said smiling as he laughed.
Diss grinned hearing that statement added to Christy's was as uplifting as he had hoped. He turned and saw Serge walk up to him smiling. As the six gathered together they looked around.
"Alright guys, this is it. No turning back now. Everybody goes in, everybody gets out," Diss said.
They all nodded as they climbed aboard boats always staying close to each other conversations between the boats were frequent as they talked about what they would do when it was all over. Reaching the sea they saw that it was totally empty.
Steena and Paul were sitting on a rock together waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.
"So Diss is a baboon and Shaun is your best friend, right?" Steena said in a teasing manner. Paul grinned.
"Nah, Diss is a good man, but sometimes I just wanna smash his head in." Paul tried to change the subject quickly remembering what himself told himself. "Anyways, we are just your average team. Leadership and brawn goes to one man, skill goes to another, and intelligence reins supreme in another individual. You guess who is who." Steena sat closer to Paul and closed her eyes to think.
"We'll you're stronger than most people," She said softly opening her eyes and leaning on Paul. "You're intelligence is like no one else's," Paul grinned at that last comment. "And I have seen you take leadership in dire emergencies. And you are the most skilled person I have ever seen." Paul spoke softly leaning on Steena.
"Wow, but try again." Steena gave a small laugh and then gave her true answer.
"I think Diss is leader and the brawn, Shaun is the intelligence, and you are the skill." Paul stared at her blankly before leaning on her again.
"Wow, dead on the nail." Steena smiled. The two leaned on each other for another five minutes when the boat came visible on the ocean sea. Paul quickly grew away from Steena as he stood up.
As the boat approached the island Diss stood at the bow getting off silently. Paul took that as a very bad sign as Diss only walked forward into Mt. Pyre. Looking at Shaun he merely shrugged as he walked over. Obviously Shaun didn't know why Diss was angry either. But Diss being angry was a bad thing. When that happened people got hurt, very badly.
Fargo got off muttering about crazy clowns followed by Glenn and Lynx. They all followed Diss through Mt. Pyre as he spread the lava for them. Lynx looked at Diss concerned as he pushed on angrily. Diss seemed oblivious to their concern as he moved on deeper going through flawlessly and making sure no one was hurt by the lava.
Finally they reached the fort and Diss was still pissed as he entered the vast structure. Finally Paul spoke up.
"Diss why the hell are you so pissed?"
"Not now Paul I'm angry now and I don't want that to fade," Diss snapped.
Shaun looked at Diss concerned. He merely shrugged them off heading deeper into the fort when Steena spoke up.
"Place the tear here and the entire Fort will unlock itself for us." She said solemnly.
Lynx placed the tear in the spot she indicated and watched as the entire fort shook, but from Diss' impatience or from its own source was unknown. Finally the shaking was done as Diss walked farther in. Reaching the Grand Dais a pillar was raised a door in it. Standing in front of that door was Serge grinning.
"Its about time you guys showed up, I was worried you had died." Serge said.
"You would have loved that wouldn't you Serge?" Diss snapped. He stretched his hand in front of him. Instantly a strip of fire extended from both sides slowly as he focused his anger. The strip slowly went out revealing his Dragon Staff, but it seemed more sinister than any time Shaun or Paul had seen it as Diss dropped into a fighting stance.
"He's mine guys. he and I have a very old score to settle," Diss commanded.
Serge drew his scythe as he waited for the attack. Diss didn't keep him waiting long as he attacked viciously at Serge's head. Serge blocked and they went at it. Every time they were close quarters Diss kicked or punched Serge away. Every time they spread out Serge would launch balls of dark energy at Diss only angering him more as he sprinted forward faster than most could. The match seemed even when something unexpected happened, Diss slashed through Serge's scythe snapping it in two like matchwood.
Diss tossed aside his staff as he grabbed Serge by the front of his shirt. Paul looked at Shaun who nodded, Diss was venting in a good way, but they might have to pull him off before he killed Serge. Paul watched as Diss held him up in front of him and began yelling,
"STRIKE THREE BUDDY, YOU'RE OUT!" With that he threw Serge in front of him hard. As Serge slid across the floor Diss picked him up and slammed him hard into the wall. Paul and Shaun cringed, Diss was vindictive when armed, but unarmed he got down right nasty. Diss continued the onslaught as Paul watched him perform feats he thought only wrestlers could do. Diss picked up Serge tossing him up then grabbed him in midair slamming him hard into the ground.
"Oh my.I haven't seen that in years, he's going old school," Paul said out loud. Everyone looked at Paul confusedly. "Kinda reminds me of the Old days when we fought each other just for fun and sometimes for our lives."
"You do this for fun?" Steena asked incredulously.
"Oh yeah, but trust me Diss is playing with Serge. If he wanted to he could finish off-" Shaun stopped as he watched Diss kick Serge on the ground. "Never mind he just got warmed up."
Diss began pummeling Serge before he backed off, anger radiating form him. Lynx walked up to Diss and said something. Diss gestured his hand to Serge as if encouraging Lynx to go ahead as Diss backed off wiping the sweat from his brow. Lynx grinned evilly.
"I've been waiting to do this for so long," Lynx sad as he grinned picking up Serge and tossing him out in front of him. "Every wonder what it feels like to be attacked by a bunch of feral cats?"
Serge stammered, "No you wouldn't I mean I'm not really that bad of a guy you wouldn't do that please don't I mean common."
Diss said five words coldly, "I'll see you in hell."
Lynx grinned as he stretched his arm forth. Paul held Lynx's hand. "Allow me." Paul said sinisterly. He walked up to Serge and picked him up gently dusting him off. He let Serge support himself as Paul stretched out his hand. "No hard feelings?" Serge stared at Paul blankly. "Tough." Paul said spearing Serge before he was ready. He kept punching Serge as he was mounted on top of him.
"YOU NEARLY HAD ME KILL MY FRIEND, YOU USED ME, AND WORST OF ALL, YOU USED MY FRIENDS." Serge just glared at Paul. Paul was about to punch him when he stopped. He picked up Serge and walked into a room.
"This is not going to be pretty." Paul said laughing evilly as he vanished from sight.
"MY GOD!" Steena said looking at the blood everywhere. "YOU GUYS ARE ANIMALS!" Shaun took pride in his reply.
"What, you expecting chickens?" They heard screaming from the room as they waited when Serge flew back into the room. Paul was surging with electricity as he walked out slowly with a look of pure hate on his face. Serge's clothes were ripped, torn, bloodied and dirty, as Paul picked him up not from the collar but the neck he slammed Serge onto the ground as Paul looked at Shaun and Diss.
"Now you pay." Lynx said holding his hand forth. Countless Shadow Cats appeared behind Lynx as he lowered his hand.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Serge screamed. He was cut, scraped and beaten into oblivion as the Shadow Cats flew at him. Lynx walked up to him taking out a handkerchief.
"Wipe yourself, you got blood on your face." Diss ran up to Serge and grabbed him by the head.
"HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW? WISH YOU NEVER SCREWED WITH US DID YOU?" Diss screamed. Paul walked up to Diss.
"He's unconscious." Paul said evilly.
"THAT'S NO EXCUSE!" Diss yelled loudly. Steena pushed Diss off Serge and stood in front of him.
"It's over!" Steena said loudly. "Stop the violence!" Steena said.
"It's rule one of my world." Diss said as he pushed Steena aside. He was shocked to see Serge gone.
"Wow." Serge said high above them. "Now I am very glad I sent that shadow before me. Bye." Serge said disappearing.
"Man." Lynx said snapping his finger. Steena looked at Paul carefully. Paul spoke walking into the elevator.
"I like you." Steena looked at Paul and blushed.
"That was very satisfying." Diss said slowly and coldly. Shaun entered the elevator with the rest of the group as they made their way to the teleporter. Steena looked at Diss, he seemed to be calmer. The elevator slowly rose as he stood facing the wall. She ventured a conversation.
"Why did you guys do that?" She asked him quietly.
"Rule one: You screw with the group you die," Diss said matter of factly.
"That's a pretty barbaric rule to use." Steena said softly.
"That's our life, we have to be on alert 24-7 in fear of what someone might do to us. There is no government there is no police, no one to regulate behavior and tell us what to do. All we have is pure anarchy, survival of the fittest. I didn't survive this long by showing mercy to people that tried to have me killed," Diss said angrily.
"There you go again, hiding in the past to justify your actions. But I also know there was an ulterior motive. Wasn't there." Steena asked softly.
Diss nodded, "Last night my Fiancée made contact with me for the first time in a month. If it wasn't for Serge I might have made it home faster, now I'm stuck tracking him down to find a true way out of here."
"So your ego has ballooned even more, and now your acting as the law here, just like you did in your own world."
Diss spun and retorted angrily, "I never said that. I'm just trying to get home in one piece there's nothing wrong about trying to help others on the way."
Steena grinned, "Yes you definitely have an Ego, and you hide it better than most. The funny part is how your eyes light up every time someone mentions something about your ego. You get puffed out like a peacock really."
They reached the top. "This conversation is over." Diss muttered as he went through to the teleporter. Paul followed behind, as did Shaun. Shortly they teleported up to where the ritual room was. Paul looked around in awe.
"Again!" Paul said as he climbed back aboard, before Diss could say anything he went back down.
Diss sighed as he muttered, "He's really getting on my nerves."
"And so are you!" Came an unfamiliar voice.
Diss spun on his heals to see the older looking Girl from Paul's locket. He stood there in shock a second before responding.
"Excuse me?" Diss asked.
"You heard me; you've been annoying me for some time now. Now you need to shape up or you and I are going to have words," She spat. Shaun watched in disbelief.
"Excuse me. who leads this group? Last time I check I did. So excuse me if I discipline my men for acting stupid like Paul does," Diss retorted.
"Well then, I guess we'll have those words right now." The girl said.
"Where do you get off-" Diss said angrily before he got cut off.
"And where do you get off leading. No one put you in charge. You took charge. And excuse me if I say so, but you are easily the worst leader I've ever seen. My little sister could lead better than you and she's only six," The girl started.
"Exc-"Diss was cut off again.
"I'm the one talking. I talk you listen. And listen well; because of you this man is slowly going insane. You drove him over the edge and you keep driving him like there is no tomorrow. You need to lay off of him. You are steadily killing him and if you don't stop I'll hurt you! You are nothing but a bully who gets what he wants through big words and stupid tricks. You think what you did back there makes you tough? You beat up a seventeen-year- old boy. Big whoop. My mother could do better. You need to set your priorities straight before you get us all killed," She said stopping a second.
Diss pointed behind him as Paul came up, "He has been doing that on his own."
She tried to cut him off but Diss was ready this time, "No shut up its my turn to talk and your turn to listen. I never wanted leadership. I took it because no one else took the job. The group was struggling until I told them what to do. I showed them leadership and they gladly took it. The burden went on my shoulders on top of the burden of being a host and YOU KNEW THAT! Now you want to yell at me for doing what I had to do last time we were faced with a problem like this? Fine, but yell at me for a valid reason not this stupidity you call a reason!"
The older girl stood there taking the tirade before she spoke clearly and distinctly, "Fine, if that's what you say you're doing, and I can't prove you otherwise fine. Just remember when he kills you it is your fault!" With that she left. Lynx looked at Diss concerned but Diss merely looked out at the sky over the fort. Steena turned to Lynx,
"Serge you'll have to go in there alone. Keep your mind focused on the truth and you'll be fine," Steena said solemnly. Lynx nodded entering the room.
Diss leaned against the wall sighing, "Another wait, I feel like its 'Hurry up and wait! Hurry up and wait!'"
Steena looked at him and laughed. Diss merely shrugged before closing his eyes. He saw Christy clearly behind them waiting for his return.
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After a few hours Serge came walking out. Diss looked at him curiously before speaking slowly.
"Is it really you or is it Lynx?" Diss said slowly.
"Its me," Serge said slowly.
Diss smiled reaching out his hand. Serge shook it earnestly before Diss spoke again.
"We're back in business, watch out Lynx you're going to die." Diss said proudly bringing Serge forward hugging him before releasing.
Serge grinned as he looked around. He was back in his old body and on top of that he had everything he needed to fight Lynx now. The others looked around him smiling as they watched him.
"Good, you followed the truth and made it back safely. Now your old friends will join you with your vision of truth," Steena said softly. "Even the result of the Dragon Tear breaking wasn't totally unexpected."
Everyone nodded smiling. Diss was almost home. He could feel it in his bones. And the thought of returning to Christy fueled him as he helped the others through the caverns of Mt. Pyre. Slowly they saw the S.S. Invincible reach where they were and drop boats to come fetch them. Diss smiled, this plan was coming together nicely.
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They all were aboard the S.S. Invincible standing on the deck when Diss call for attention.
"Attention everybody, I have a little speech to say," He stopped as he saw Christy's ghost on the deck behind the group. He smiled to the ghost before continuing. "We have a big test ahead of us. I wont pretend to gloss over it and say this task will be easy as pie. Instead I will say this. We are stepping into the Unknown tomorrow. We have two targets, Kid and Lynx. Lynx is obviously controlling Kid, so I have the task set before me of freeing her from Lynx's grasp. I will do this alone, since I know she won't kill me. You guys have the much harder task of getting to where Lynx will obviously be holed up. Both tasks will be difficult, and we do not know a thing about the place we will go. From what I was told the Dead Sea is no more. All that remains is the Sea of Eden that was originally there. Sleep well rest up. No one should be up later than two hours after I finish. That includes you Paul!" Everyone looked at Paul before Diss went on, "Now for our words of inspiration from our resident Psycho."
Everyone chuckled as Paul rose up to where Diss was speaking, "Lets go on another fun filled, action packed adventure. YIPPE SKIPPEE!"
Everyone cheered then laughed as Diss finished heading down to the deck. As he finished he saw Christy blow a kiss to him and disappear. He wished he could have spent more time with her but he knew she could only do so much. She had given him the courage to say what needed to be said, and for that he thanked her silently.
He started to go below decks when he stopped hearing his name being called. He looked around as the deck cleared, the people going to bed. He still heard someone calling his name as he stepped into the middle of the deck. Slowly a silhouette of Serge descended clapping in a mocking effort.
"Brilliant speech, I must say, definitely one of your better speeches, now for my little warning to you. You are out of your league; you don't even know what you are going to do from here. You are on my turf now and from here I up the Ante. You will never free Kid from what I have done to her," Evil Serge said darkly.
"I've had enough of your tormenting him!" Christy's clear voice rang out.
The Evil Serge turned to see Christy's ghost next to Diss, Diss had thought it had gone, but she had stayed for some reason. He frowned as he attempted to squash her flat. He was surprised to see that he couldn't. All he could do was make her stronger somehow. She seemed to drain him mentally to the point he touched down on deck. He looked around in fear.
"You have tortured my fiancée through his past, me, and his friends. I could forgive you for the first, but the latter two make it personal," she spat. She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and put one of her daggers to his throat. The evil Serge went wild eyed as he realized she had nullified his control over himself.
He looked up at her immensely scared before he stammered, "What are you?"
"I'm a mother and wife to the man you picked a fight with. And now I get my rule one." She said slowly. Diss grinned as she began pummeling evil Serge. He had the word of pain redefined as she imprinted in his mind feelings of being on fire or in acid before she would stop to look down still drawing strength from evil Serge. As she reapplied the torture evil Serge faded and disappeared. She looked to Diss for an explanation.
"He can make himself appear and disappear, he also creates mock ups of himself that he loves to call his shadows," He said drawing her close to him. She hugged him tightly whispering, "I can't stay the whole night, but up till your curfew I'll stay so we can talk," She whispered.
"How's the baby?" Diss asked quietly.
Christy smiled placing his hand on her stomach, "Happy to know his father is safe and doing fine."
"His?" Diss asked quietly.
She smiled kissing him before whispering against his lips, "Congratulations daddy, it's a boy."
He kissed her back slowly smiling she cupped his face kissing him deeply before she jumped up wrapping her legs around him.
"Christy we cant do that.. You're pregnant." Diss whispered softly.
"I know silly.I just want to be with you right now. This is as far as I'll take it, I promise," She said innocently.
"That's my girl," he smiled as he kissed her leaning back against the railing of the boat before sitting on the deck.
She pulled back from the kiss leaning his forehead against hers so their noses almost touched. She whispered softly to him, "Diss, I love you so much."
"Christy, I love you just as much." Diss said before she put her finger to his lips.
"Diss no more talk, let's just be here together while we can," She whispered.
He nodded silently kissing her deeply. They continued to kiss each other until finally she pulled back. Diss looked at her questioningly.
"It's time, now hurry back so we can do this again, I don't think I can project myself again. This is my last night with you here." She said softly.
He looked at her quietly before kissing her deeply; she returned the kiss until she faded away. He slowly went below decks lying on his bed and slept deeply finally at peace.
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Diss woke up to the call to arms. Everyone was scrambling their equipment jumping on deck. As they finally made it Fargo was dropping supplies on the deck, getting it out of the boats. Slowly the crew finished the job as two boats were prepared for a quick journey into the Sea of Eden. Fargo turned to Diss and called him over. Diss did so and received a hearty slap on the back nearly causing him to fall onto the deck face first.
"Matey, I've got ta hand it to ya; you definitely got what it takes to get through this. Now we just 'ave ta get through this and yer homeward bound!" Fargo said smiling as he laughed.
Diss grinned hearing that statement added to Christy's was as uplifting as he had hoped. He turned and saw Serge walk up to him smiling. As the six gathered together they looked around.
"Alright guys, this is it. No turning back now. Everybody goes in, everybody gets out," Diss said.
They all nodded as they climbed aboard boats always staying close to each other conversations between the boats were frequent as they talked about what they would do when it was all over. Reaching the sea they saw that it was totally empty.