Holmcross Project Deep: Final Strategic Move
"Mother, I need you," Rudy said as he ascended multiple sets of stairs. "Mother, you are…my mother. I had no mother. And my father died. But I know that I have a mother within you. So please, be my mother. Because I want to be your child…"
Yes. A mother. That is what he wanted. Someone to love him, someone to care for him. And someone to guide the way. As intelligent as he sounded, Rudy knew deep down that he was very naïve to the world outside of the labs in the Photosphere. Of course, he had memories from the previous Rudy Roughnight that proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that there were many selfish and uncaring things out in the world who would seek to use others as tools for their own benefit. The new Rudy secretly hated it, even though that is all he knew from being with Demons from his birth on. Alhazad was one such being that did that to him.
"'Toy'," Rudy said, as he walked slowly down a narrow corridor to the room where Mother was being held. "'Toy. My personal destroyer. Lifeless tool for murder. You are mine, Rudy'. That is what you said, Alhazad. I remember those nights when you said I would never have my freedom and that you would use me to no end to wreak havoc on the world. You said you would make me kill, and that I would like to kill eventually. Well you know what, Alhazad? I don't like it. I don't like killing people, but I know that as long as I have this thing in my head I'll never be able to stop doing it. And that's why you are dead, you wretched freak of nature."
Rudy stopped cold all of a sudden, a pulse-pounding headache instantly coming on. It felt like he was being hit in the head furiously with a sledgehammer over and over again. Putting both hands on his head, he fell to the ground in pain and tried to massage the pain away.
"Aaaghhh….what…no, not…now. Is it…'overloading' again," Rudy asked himself, stifling his moans of pain between every word. "Must…release some Bio-Prism. It must be…a reaction. From…his memories. I can't…remember the past because…the Darkness Tear…doesn't want me to. Aaaaghh!"
With that, the youth sprung up and ran quickly through the doors at the other end of the hallway, barely giving them enough time to open enough so that he could slip through the opening.
"Mother, I'm coming…I'm coming!"
Rudy ran over to the large glass tube that housed the cocoon and immediately pulled out a small yet sharp pocket knife. He wasted no time whatsoever in slashing his right wrist from one side to the other, causing the previously blue liquid to ooze out quickly in a darkened purplish color. Rudy then balled his left fist up and punched a hole into the capsule, inserting his other bio-soaked hand inside. Almost as if it were acting on reflex, the cocoon sprouted six wiry, elongated suckers that darted onto the darkened hand. These phalanges then began to absorb the Bio-Prism that had been bleeding out from his wrist directly from the slit as Rudy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes…that's it," he moaned. "Take it all from me. I want you to guide me. I will give you my body if you desire so, if it will help you come back to me. Because the only way you will be resurrected is through…my doing. And then," Rudy hissed, his face contorting with maliciousness. "You will lead me to 'the Land of Days Gone Past…"
Just at that instant, the lord knight Zeikfried entered, followed behind by the female knight Harken. The one in front expressed rage when he saw how Rudy had punched a hole inside of the glass tube.
"Filth! You dare to poison our mother?" Zeikfried bellowed, reaching for his spear strapped to his side. "I'll kill you! Wretch!"
The large knight stepped forward, but not before Harken stepped between them and implored for him to stop. "Wait, Lord Zeikfried! It isn't wise to fight here, in front of Mother! The shielding could be damaged even further if you engage battle in this closed of a space!"
"Harken! Are you calling me a fool?! I know now; this man is never to be trusted! He is contaminating Mother's recovery with his own taint from within! So~~"
The crimson fighter looked over at a large monitor hanging above one of the many support machines in the lab. "Look, Lord! Mother's power is increasing!"
Zeikfried took a look at it and indeed saw that the pie gauge on the screen was increasing, albeit very slowly. However, it was evident that there was an effect taking place. "How…how is this possible? It can't be that kid!"
"Yes!" Harken proposed. "Remember Lord, Mother's power had not been on the increase in two months. Yet now before us, her strength is actually gaining!"
The Demon couldn't argue that the gauge was indeed increasing. He had hopes that anything that would help bring his mother back to him would be helpful in her recovery to the living world. However, his overall doubt about this upstart bogged down his mind to no end. Zeikfried felt there was something a little off about him, and that he had some sort of ulterior motive for wanting to bring back the piece of Mother that was chained inside seemingly unbreakable binds.
"…Wait," the leader of the Quarter Knights told the youth. "…Take your hand out of the capsule."
Rudy looked at him for a moment strangely, then did as he was told and removed his bleeding hand from the capsule. The long, thin tentacles that had sprouted from Mother's cocoon retracted back inside slowly, almost as if it were saddened to have lost its food source. Both Harken and her commander examined the display and after a few silent minutes saw that the pie gauge had stopped moving.
"Aha. I'm willing to bet that his organic flow had a positive effect on Mother. The power hasn't moved at all now." The female turned to Zeikfried. "Yes. I'm certain of it. This is how it is; his blood is giving her power."
"…We shall see," was his response to her. "Now, boy…put it back in. Slowly."
Rudy shrugged and placed his right hand back inside. The thing on the inside practically sensed it coming and had already sprouted more suckers--diving directly for the thin gash.
They pulsated with every ingestion; Rudy felt a little uncomfortable with the situation because the thing was taking in more and more with each taste. However, what the lady had suspected was true. His blood was indeed causing Mother's power to grow.
"There is your proof, Lord. To tell the truth, I am a bit surprised that of all things it is his essence that makes her grow strong. This may very well be at our advantage in the coming war to come with the Humans and Guardians." Lady Harken let out a low, seductive laugh at this discovery. "If only Alhazad were here to see this. He'd have a fit, I fear!"
"…" Zeikfried stared at him as he knelt on the floor, weak from too much loss of blood. "Very well. Take it out."
The young man did as he was told--he would've anyway--and yanked his arm out of the tube, causing the tentacles once again to slowly worm back inside of the cocoon. He then got up wobbly-legged, gripping and massaging his right wrist as Harken walked over to speak to him directly.
"I'm proud of you, you know," she said, laughing. You could very well turn the tide of war in our favor."
"No need to butter me up," was his response. "Alhazad told me that my heart was capable of producing infinite amounts of the Bio-Prism as it is. But…I think I may need to rest. I'm nearly drained, and my body feels sluggish and debilitated."
"That's all right, as long as you can make more." She smiled softly, something that Rudy had never seen her do the time he had been in the Photosphere. But afterward, she began to think about Alhazad. Distinctly, why he didn't come back with him. "So, where is that flying rat at anyway? I see you extracted the piece from the statue, so the mission was a success."
"Him?" Rudy asked, already formulating a cheap lie to say to her. "They took him out. A shame, actually. Those cowardly humans ganged up on him and killed him!"
Zeikfried interjected himself, shocked by what he had just stated. "You jest! Alhazad, killed in battle?!"
"Yes," he told him.
"…"
"Well, it's the truth."
"…I…see…"
Rudy turned to Harken and began to inquire about the last statue. "About that, I was wondering if~~"
"Relax, I know where it is. I pinpointed its location in a remote city the humans call Port Timney. I was going to go there right now; the second piece already flew back to this locale and has been installed." She turned around to her commander. "…I mean…if that would be alright with you?"
"Go ahead. The sooner the better."
"…Oh," Harken sighed, grinning. "Well…that's fine. I guess I'll go get the last statue by myself. You just stay here and rest up."
"No," The one with blue hair begged. "I-I mean…I'm all right. My strength remains, and you can destroy the statue. Plus, I would like to see that girl from Saint Centour again."
"Ha-ha-ha! Why, my dear Holmcross!" Harken cackled, turning around to him. "In love?"
"…No." Rudy made his way past the two, moving closer to the exit of the room. As he did he craned his head back and spoke some more. "My only purpose is to discover what happens when all three keys of fate are unlocked. And…she looks familiar to me. I would like to she what powers she has as well." With those words, he was gone.
Zeikfried sighed, and Harken bid him goodbye. "I'll be successful this time, Lord. Rest assured, once our trials are over, we will have the upper hand in the fight to colonize this world with our own peoples. Zeikfried, sir…I'll bring good tidings when I return." Harken left the quarters, leaving the knight alone with only the bubbling of the capsule and the whir of the machinery that kept Mother alive as his only solace. He saw her figure fade into the darkness of the hallway outside, just as the double doors shut, leaving him with no one to talk to. Zeikfried took one final look at the cocoon inside of the capsule, shook his head and left.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dusk swiftly came and went on the windy plains near the now destroyed town of Saint Centour. Refugees from that disaster struggled to live in cramped-down emergency tents on a large hill about a mile outside of that location. The city dwellers found it tough to survive outside the confines of their home. It turns out very few survivors could hunt food, leaving the entire group to fish for food at a tiny lake near where they set up shelter to live.
Also, much emotional scarring had been dealt to the people, especially to the little ones who couldn't understand what had happened. Children wailed throughout the starry night, afflicted with hunger and the images of their loved ones dying before their eyes seared into their young minds forever. They retold images of a flying dragon spitting out fire at their parents, and a white beast hitting others with its tail.
No one was free; everyone paid the price of life, having lost a relative or a friend. A few of the men folk even had complete breakdowns and took their own lives as an answer to the seemingly indomitable problems they faced. Women and young girls who had no children soon found themselves cast in the unavoidable role as 'mother' to all of the orphaned children who had lost their real mothers in Alhazad's and Rudy Roughnight's stealth attack on the city. The entire scene was both saddening and horrific at the same time.
Under a lonesome conifer, away from all of the chaos, Cecilia sat with legs propped up. The night wind had brought the expected chill, forcing her to hold herself to get warm. As she did, the girl looked on not at the people on the hill at a distance, but at the city. As night fell, a mysterious cloud materialized over the ruins, pouring down rain to put of the flames from Moa Gault and the preceding attack. She could only conclude that it was the will of the Guardians, since the cloud appeared over the city only and not anywhere else. Looking at this, and coming to terms with everything that had happened, it was inevitable. Cecilia couldn't hold the tears back. Silently, she put her head in her lap and began to sob.
"How cruel, Moa Gault," she said, sniffling between words. "I thought you we're a Guardian! You are supposed to protect! But…you did the will of the Demons. However, I realize it would be futile to blame you, because you were summoned to do someone's will as I said." Cecilia brought her head up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I desperately want to be strong, yet...yet I can't protect the people. If I can't protect the people, then what do I hope to do? Save the world? Can one little 'Princess' fulfill so grandiose a task?"
"Miss Cecilia, you can do anything if you simply put your mind to it," came a soothing voice from somewhere.
Cecilia jumped in shock, unaware that someone had been listening to her talk to the open air. A tall, slender figure came walking behind from around the tree she was sitting under. Upon close examination of the voice, it wasn't Jack. It was that man Jack had met before he fled the city…that man who had the dead woman in his arms, crying like she had just done right now.
"…I'm sorry. You wouldn't want to listen to the rantings of a pathetic girl such as myself."
"Oh, on the contrary Miss," McDullen kindly said in an attempt to put her at peace. "May I sit down here?"
"Huh? Oh…sure. Here you go."
Cecilia scooted over a little to let him sit next to her under the tree. McDullen sat and made himself comfortable. The man Jack had met when she was knocked out was incredibly kind, considerate and respectful as she learned in the little time she had gotten to know him from when she regained consciousness. And he always had a knack for chivalry. It was right now that Cecilia found those trait's the most comforting.
"…Did you bury that woman already? I'm sorry that she died."
"I'm sorry that Miss Jane is gone too," he calmly said, not showing emotion to that memory.
"Forgive me. I am so heartless sometimes! I said that without even knowing how you felt."
"It's fine Miss, I assure you. Certain trials require certain strengths, and this trial requires hardiness of the soul and endurance of the mind. Dual traits with what I have experience of holding."
"I'm happy for you. Really, I am. But…"
"Miss Cecilia," McDullen said, changing the subject. "You can do much for this world, if only you would give yourself a chance of doing that said good in the first place."
"But look at the people who died today! So many people died today…and I couldn't prevent it!"
"That is true. Many innocents lost their lives on this day. And, as I sincerely regret, there is nothing that could be done to reverse this taint. However, you mustn't place the blame of what happened solely on yourself. Those culprits who hatched this foul scheme continue to spread the evil to other regions in the world! You are not the reason people die, Miss Cecilia. Those who would seek to take advantage of the weaknesses of others, and prey on that weakness to gain what they desire are the ones to blame!"
"…But…"
"Do not be sad. You have friends. These friends will help you in your fight. Even if not physically there to aid you, they wish you the best of fortunes in your battle to restore truth, light and honor to the tainted lands that the Demons have touched with their collective cancerous hands. True, many atrocities cannot be reversed. But by your hand and magic, you can work to prevent other ones from ever occurring! If there is something that works as the ultimate catalyst to bring the hearts and minds of the masses together to help each other through such trying times, that catalyst is death. Yes, Miss…you can work to prevent other deaths. And I have faith in your powers."
"McDullen?" Cecilia asked.
"Yes?"
"How do you deal with pain?"
"…?"
"Well, I mean…how do you deal with personal pain? You know, like if someone close to you dies, how do you cope?"
"…"
When she saw the look on his face, she began to regret ever asking. "Goodness, there I go again. Sorry."
"'Tis all right, I assure you," he said, probably noticing. "Well, if someone close to me passes away, I tackle the pain head-on. Coming to grips with the emptiness, then mourning the loss…finally, I try to acknowledge that they will never come back. Because I know they never will. There are many different ways to deal with that type of tragedy, and that is but merely one."
"I see."
"Why do you ask, if I may inquire?"
"Oh, it's just because I remember that day. I'm sure you've received word of it. It happened around 2 months ago, when my kingdom was destroyed by the Demons. The villagers were taken aback by the wave of monsters that entered into the city, because it happened during the Ruins Fair. Everybody was happy, until the sky fell and the rays of dark energy came rumbling down like bolts of lightning upon the city. Wracked with pain at the sight of innocents dying, I retreated into the castle, where I then saw my father die. It was at that time when my body went completely numb."
The man felt sorry for her. After all, going through these ordeals at such a young age was anything but natural for a Princess. "Cecilia, forgive me. Do not feel compelled to tell me if you are not ready."
"No, McDullen. I have actually gotten over my father's death. This is just a resurgence of that pain at this tragedy. It just seemed so similar to Aldehyde…"
"…Really, Miss?"
"Yes. I'm sorry to take up so much of your time. I'll be fine, really."
"Are you sure? I can stay if you wish."
"Really. I'm all right."
"…I see. Take your time to sort through it all."
McDullen gave her a hug--something that at this time worked wonders on her emotional pain--smiled at her and stood up, walking off into the distance towards the refugee camp. Cecilia remembered how he devoted himself to helping the survivors through their problems after the attack. She also concluded that it was probably to deal with Jane's death. As he said, there were many different ways to cope with loss of loved ones, and this was no exception.
Even Jack Van Burace, who seemed to have no emotional connection with anyone at all, willingly offered his services to the people. In this time of despair, the swordsman played his guitar to raise the spirits of the ones who listened. Cecilia also remembered how he comforted one boy who lost his entire family in the attack by acting as a father figure to him. Hanpan's presence helped boost peoples' spirits as well, bringing along has wacky antics as pleasing visuals to children. Both men and the wind mouse put their all into it, aiding these destitute citizens after catastrophic events changed their lives forever.
But she wondered. Why couldn't she help like they were doing? What was wrong with her?
She remained under the tree, looking on at the group of people on the hill comforting each other, needing some comfort herself.
~~~~~~~~~~
Daybreak had arrived, with the awakening of Jack, Hanpan and McDullen. All three awake to see everyone asleep, with a couple of men down at the lake in the distance fishing for breakfast for the people. McDullen made a gruesome discovery as he came upon a man who had hung himself in a nearby tree.
"Gruesome…horrific," he said.
"Probably done in the middle of the night, when everyone was asleep," Jack offered. "He lost the will to live. I can't bring myself to take him down from there though."
Jack led the way down the hill, where he came upon Cecilia still sitting under the same tree with bags under her eyes. Her face was dirty and she had heavy bags under her eyes, which indicated that she hadn't been asleep all night.
"What the hell? Cecilia? Hey, Cecilia!" Jack sternly said. The girl was practically nodding off as he talked; her head bobbing every which way because she was tired. "Cecilia! Can you hear me?"
"::yawn!:: Jack…? Hey…Jack."
"Cecilia! Don't tell me you haven't been asleep yet! Oh boy…"
"I…know. Yeah, I haven't been asleep for a long time. I only got maybe an hour. I'm not tired….really! ::yawn!::"
Jack shook her head, while McDullen helped her to her feet. "Damnit!"
"Hey," Cecilia said sleepily. "Gurdijeff visited me last night…in my dreams, and he said that he could take us to Port Timney."
"What?" McDullen said. "Gurdijeff? Who is that?"
"He's a Guardian," Jack told him. "Now Cecilia, are you sure you aren't hallucinating from lack of sleep? I mean, I'm not sure about this."
"…Really Jack. He did really visit me. And he said he'll take us whenever we're…ready. Are we ready now?"
"…"
"Seriously Jack. I'm not lying! ::yaaawn!::"
"…Fine, fine. Let's go then."
"All right then," Cecilia managed. "McDullen, will you come too?"
"To Port Timney, Miss? I would be glad to."
"All…right. The both of you, grab my hands. We need to join hands for Gurdijeff's powers to take us all there."
Both men did as they were told, grabbing one of her hands while they took each other's other hand. Hanpan hopped up on Cecilia's shoulder and held on to her so that it would work on her too. A few moments passed in silence before a miniature version of Gurdijeff's ethereal form appeared in the triangle of people, whisking them off to faraway lands in bright globes of light.
~~~~~~~~~~
Light materialized in a foreign city on its neighboring harbor, bringing about three people in its wake. Cecilia, Jack and McDullen checked their surroundings and concluded that they really had made it to Port Timney through the usage of Guardian power.
"Amazing!" McDullen said, shocked. "This really is Port Timney! The ships over yonder, the soothing swell of mother ocean…a feeling such as this I would be hard-pressed to let slip from the mind!"
"I guess it is," Jack said. "I guess we have your Guardian friends to thank, eh Cecilia?"
"Yeah," she responded. "Hmm, I'm not sleepy anymore."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. That light rejuvenated me, from how I feel."
"Great, great. Hey, you know," Jack said, matter-of-factly looking around at his surroundings. "I hate to ruin a perfectly happy moment, buy where in the hell are the citizens of this town at?"
McDullen caught on exactly as he inquired about that. "That is odd. This port town is usually a bustling hub of seafaring activity, promiscuous tramps seeking little more than release and gleeful sailors, not to mention haggling merchants peddling their ill-begotten wares on virtually every street corner. But, as you mentioned, there is simply no sign of life!"
"…Uh, yeah. And it's really quiet too," Hanpan quipped, hopping off Cecilia's shoulder and into Jack's pocket, where he usually took up residence. "But seriously, this is really creepy! And…hey! It looks like someone's hurt over there!"
True, all three saw an unknown figure cloaked in tattered brown robes laying perilously close to the edge of the docks, where a ship with a large statue of a lion sat at its rear. The group approached quickly--yet carefully with minds on edge--to check on the mysterious person who looked to be unconscious. Cecilia backed off, holding her hands to her mouth in anticipation as Jack and McDullen examined this person. The master swordsman kneeled over the robed figure and shook him in an attempt to rouse him from his unconsciousness.
"Hey! Hey Mister!" Jack yelled. "You all right? You aren't bleeding or anything are you?"
"Sir, if you don't mind me saying," McDullen calmly interrupted, halting his progress. "Perhaps we would do well to seek shelter for the injured. This ocean wind cannot be aiding in his recovery…"
"…Yeah. Well, help me pick him up."
"Certainly."
The men were about to pick the person up from the hardwood flooring of the dock, when a mysterious yet cutting female voice resounded from out of the sky.
"Simpletons! You fools simply can't understand the trap you've fallen into, I fear! A-ha-ha-ha!"
The voice shocked all three people, causing them to look around warily for anything to happen now. Gripping the handle of his sheathed sword on reflex, Jack motioned for Cecilia to take guard.
"Who are you?" Jack asked sternly. "Show yourself! Can I rightfully assume that you're the one responsible for the disappearance of the citizens of this city?"
"What if I am, brave man?" the voice responded. Whoever it was hadn't a shred of fear detectable at all in her voice. "If I were to answer 'yes', what would you do to me?"
"Show yourself, woman! And discover the answer to that question!"
"Mmm. Brute force against intellect…that just will not do! Aren't all men stupid, my dear Innocent One?"
"…! W-Who are you?" Cecilia stuttered. "You want this statue? Why are you toying with us like this? Why?"
"Ha-ha-ha! Toying, you say…? An interesting way to put it, 'toying'…but, if that is how you want it, then that is how it shall be! Because, after all that you have done to us, we will never relent in our struggle against the cancerous scourge called 'humanity!"
"Shut up, you wench!" Jack yelled. "Come out and fight, and lose in honor!"
"…" Nothingness ensued after the calm. Jack silently cursed the skies, standing side by side by McDullen, who valiantly got in front of Cecilia to protect her from any harm. The men waited for whoever it was to show herself. Yet none of them had noticed what had been the supposed unconscious figure slowly rising to its feet behind them, shedding the cloth and gripping a small ARM in his left hand. The one with blue hair, as he was called…came to his feet and wickedly grinned, aiming the gun at the back of the girl's head with dead silence. As that happened, a tall red-haired woman in clad black armor emerged from darkness before them, holding a serrated scythe in both hands. That was followed by the sound of an unsheathing sword from the user of the Fast Draw.
"So you are the one!" McDullen stated. "Tell us this instant, woman! To what locale did the people of Port Timney attend?"
"…Idiot. You blabbering idiot!" Harken hissed. "None of you know a thing, do you? They're all dead! Do you hear me, you morons? Dead!"
"How could you…how could you do this?" Jack said, losing emotion is his voice. "They didn't deserve to die! Why couldn't you just leave them out of this? We're the ones you want! Why bring innocent people into this struggle…folks who wish to live their lives in peace?"
"…Heh. Especially you?" the woman retorted harshly. "I think the term you are searching for is 'ignorant bliss', not 'peace'. The masses would much rather live their lives not knowing what problems loom over the horizon for them! And besides, you humans cannot take care of your own Filgaia! So it is in our best interests--not to mention the world's best interests--to snatch this world away from you for ourselves!"
"…You're wrong. You're dead wrong."
"Am I, little man?" she said as she chuckled at him. "Am I wrong? If I am, feel free to prove to me that your path is the true path to follow. That is…if you can fight."
"We'll prove it to you!" Cecilia said. "The both of us, together! Come on, Jack! Let's get her!"
"Yes," he agreed. "Let's."
"Ha…A-ha-ha-ha!" You have got to be kidding me!" Harken said. "Tell you what. I don't like these odds. Maybe you would want to fight one-on-one with me? If you oblige, I'll even spare your life long enough to think that you have a chance of winning against me!"
"No chance," he said, rebuking her offer. "You get no mercy."
"Ah well, I thought I'd at least try. Looks like I may have to call in some help, eh?" Harken grinned from ear to ear, taking a battle stance. "Take a look behind you."
"What?" Jack said.
All three turned around to see that the Holmcross had been there all along, and that he now had a ARM aimed directly at Cecilia. The woman, paralyzed with fright and disbelief at the sight of this person, could not move at all. McDullen gasped, realizing that he recognized him and had seen him before this time.
"O-Out of the question! You are that man from Court Seim! The man who was found washed-up on the outskirts of the city on the beach! You are aligned with the Demons?"
"Well well well," Rudy said in a slick manner. "Mr. McDullen, I presume? Those were some trying times back then, when I had been confined to that bed in that rickety old house. I never got to thank that woman's father quite properly as he nursed me back to health along with the support of the people. And I never got to introduce myself properly to you either."
"You unbending…mischievous, teasing rogue! You have some nerve to do this to the people!" McDullen shot an angry glare at him, continuing to berate him verbally. "You're a lousy cur!
"Yeah yeah, whatever you say. Now listen…" Rudy smugly said, making McDullen even madder. "I think you talk too much. Frankly, you should take my advice and shut up before I decide to murder the whole lot of you."
"…You coward!" Jack yelled. "Is this how you repay us? After how Cecilia and I accepted you? I can't believe this!"
"Harsh words from a never-was, never-will-be swordsman," Rudy sharply countered, tapping the barrel of the gun against his temple. "I guess stupidity takes all kinds, doesn't it? Face it pea-brain, you can't win against the Demons. Give up like a good boy, and let us handle the rest."
"Grrr…you're gonna pay for this. I swear it!"
"Hey, behind you," Harken quickly said, catching the three of them off-guard.
They turned around to meet her trying to charge Jack. He met her attempt by blocking the head of the scythe off with his blade, but his strength could not compare to hers in the least. He was slowly sinking to the ground under her weight and strength, gritting his teeth as she smiled wickedly at him. McDullen grabbed a long wooden oar that had been left laying around on the docks and swung it at Harken, hitting her directly in the top of the head. It sent her faltering backwards in dizziness, causing her scythe to dematerialize at the loss of her mental concentration. Jack regained his strength and charged, along with McDullen flanking him to attack the defenseless attacker. When all of a sudden…
"Hold it right there!" Rudy yelled.
It wasn't his voice that caused them to stop dead in their tracks, but the suppressed screams from Cecilia. Rudy had taken her hostage, gripping her neck with his right bicep while holding the gun to her head. She was desperately struggling to gain freedom from her captive, but to no avail. His strength was simply too much for her.
"What! What in God's name…" McDullen gasped.
"Bastard!" Jack yelled. "You will stoop to new lows every time…!"
"Heh. Say whatever you will! I know my mission. Now…let her through!"
The two of them stood there, looking for an ample opportunity to attack Rudy. There didn't seem to be any time, however, and he just reiterated his commands over and over to let Harken pass. Jack slowly inched toward him with sword in hand, not wanting to make any mistakes in getting Cecilia back from potential harm. McDullen had dropped his oar to the ground in compliance to Rudy's commands. But none of them noticed Harken gaining power once again as she got to her feet once more.
"::cough:: Mc…Dullen…look…" Cecilia managed to say.
"…Miss?
He turned around to see the woman with a glazed-over look in her eyes…a look of madness. With scythe in hand once more, he had no opportunity to avoid her attack. Mercilessly, she swung it and buried its head directly into his chest. With look of horror and pain on his face, and his hands stained crimson with his own essence, McDullen fell over dead by the woman's blow.
"God, no!" Jack screamed. "Aaahhhh!"
"Hmm-hmm-hmm…ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! ::cough cough:: That's…how Fast Draw is done," she said.
"…I hate you! Monster!"
"Rudy, destroy the statue!" Harken commanded. "Shoot it! Now!"
"Yes, Lady. As you command."
Ignoring the pleas of Cecilia, and with Jack filled with rage at Harken, the Holmcross aimed the gun at the lion's head on the statue that sat on the ship and shot, causing it to explode upon impact. Bright yellow essence flowed out of the crevice, along with a darkened chunk of material that immediately flew off into the sky to destinations unknown. Rudy and Harken shielded their eyes, as the light was bane to them. After a few moments, the light died down, leaving silence in its wake.
"No…" Cecilia uttered softly. "No…no, no, no…"
"That is the limitation of human skill," Rudy whispered into her ear. "You knew all of the statues would be destroyed. Now look at you. Now~~"
He had stopped taking. Something caught his eye…the sight of a woman who had been exposed to the light for too long. A red-haired woman who had changed somehow. She lay unconscious on the ground with a long blue ribbon tied into her hair. Jack uncovered his eyes after the blast of light and saw this woman. Who he had saw made his mouth fall open agape in absolute disbelief.
"…No. I-It can't…be her…is it?"
"Uh-oh, this isn't good!" Rudy said aloud. "Time to retreat!"
The man let Cecilia go and ambushed Jack from behind, pushing him off of the docks into the ocean. With one quick swoop, he took the woman into his arms and flew away high into the skies with her.
"Mother, I need you," Rudy said as he ascended multiple sets of stairs. "Mother, you are…my mother. I had no mother. And my father died. But I know that I have a mother within you. So please, be my mother. Because I want to be your child…"
Yes. A mother. That is what he wanted. Someone to love him, someone to care for him. And someone to guide the way. As intelligent as he sounded, Rudy knew deep down that he was very naïve to the world outside of the labs in the Photosphere. Of course, he had memories from the previous Rudy Roughnight that proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that there were many selfish and uncaring things out in the world who would seek to use others as tools for their own benefit. The new Rudy secretly hated it, even though that is all he knew from being with Demons from his birth on. Alhazad was one such being that did that to him.
"'Toy'," Rudy said, as he walked slowly down a narrow corridor to the room where Mother was being held. "'Toy. My personal destroyer. Lifeless tool for murder. You are mine, Rudy'. That is what you said, Alhazad. I remember those nights when you said I would never have my freedom and that you would use me to no end to wreak havoc on the world. You said you would make me kill, and that I would like to kill eventually. Well you know what, Alhazad? I don't like it. I don't like killing people, but I know that as long as I have this thing in my head I'll never be able to stop doing it. And that's why you are dead, you wretched freak of nature."
Rudy stopped cold all of a sudden, a pulse-pounding headache instantly coming on. It felt like he was being hit in the head furiously with a sledgehammer over and over again. Putting both hands on his head, he fell to the ground in pain and tried to massage the pain away.
"Aaaghhh….what…no, not…now. Is it…'overloading' again," Rudy asked himself, stifling his moans of pain between every word. "Must…release some Bio-Prism. It must be…a reaction. From…his memories. I can't…remember the past because…the Darkness Tear…doesn't want me to. Aaaaghh!"
With that, the youth sprung up and ran quickly through the doors at the other end of the hallway, barely giving them enough time to open enough so that he could slip through the opening.
"Mother, I'm coming…I'm coming!"
Rudy ran over to the large glass tube that housed the cocoon and immediately pulled out a small yet sharp pocket knife. He wasted no time whatsoever in slashing his right wrist from one side to the other, causing the previously blue liquid to ooze out quickly in a darkened purplish color. Rudy then balled his left fist up and punched a hole into the capsule, inserting his other bio-soaked hand inside. Almost as if it were acting on reflex, the cocoon sprouted six wiry, elongated suckers that darted onto the darkened hand. These phalanges then began to absorb the Bio-Prism that had been bleeding out from his wrist directly from the slit as Rudy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes…that's it," he moaned. "Take it all from me. I want you to guide me. I will give you my body if you desire so, if it will help you come back to me. Because the only way you will be resurrected is through…my doing. And then," Rudy hissed, his face contorting with maliciousness. "You will lead me to 'the Land of Days Gone Past…"
Just at that instant, the lord knight Zeikfried entered, followed behind by the female knight Harken. The one in front expressed rage when he saw how Rudy had punched a hole inside of the glass tube.
"Filth! You dare to poison our mother?" Zeikfried bellowed, reaching for his spear strapped to his side. "I'll kill you! Wretch!"
The large knight stepped forward, but not before Harken stepped between them and implored for him to stop. "Wait, Lord Zeikfried! It isn't wise to fight here, in front of Mother! The shielding could be damaged even further if you engage battle in this closed of a space!"
"Harken! Are you calling me a fool?! I know now; this man is never to be trusted! He is contaminating Mother's recovery with his own taint from within! So~~"
The crimson fighter looked over at a large monitor hanging above one of the many support machines in the lab. "Look, Lord! Mother's power is increasing!"
Zeikfried took a look at it and indeed saw that the pie gauge on the screen was increasing, albeit very slowly. However, it was evident that there was an effect taking place. "How…how is this possible? It can't be that kid!"
"Yes!" Harken proposed. "Remember Lord, Mother's power had not been on the increase in two months. Yet now before us, her strength is actually gaining!"
The Demon couldn't argue that the gauge was indeed increasing. He had hopes that anything that would help bring his mother back to him would be helpful in her recovery to the living world. However, his overall doubt about this upstart bogged down his mind to no end. Zeikfried felt there was something a little off about him, and that he had some sort of ulterior motive for wanting to bring back the piece of Mother that was chained inside seemingly unbreakable binds.
"…Wait," the leader of the Quarter Knights told the youth. "…Take your hand out of the capsule."
Rudy looked at him for a moment strangely, then did as he was told and removed his bleeding hand from the capsule. The long, thin tentacles that had sprouted from Mother's cocoon retracted back inside slowly, almost as if it were saddened to have lost its food source. Both Harken and her commander examined the display and after a few silent minutes saw that the pie gauge had stopped moving.
"Aha. I'm willing to bet that his organic flow had a positive effect on Mother. The power hasn't moved at all now." The female turned to Zeikfried. "Yes. I'm certain of it. This is how it is; his blood is giving her power."
"…We shall see," was his response to her. "Now, boy…put it back in. Slowly."
Rudy shrugged and placed his right hand back inside. The thing on the inside practically sensed it coming and had already sprouted more suckers--diving directly for the thin gash.
They pulsated with every ingestion; Rudy felt a little uncomfortable with the situation because the thing was taking in more and more with each taste. However, what the lady had suspected was true. His blood was indeed causing Mother's power to grow.
"There is your proof, Lord. To tell the truth, I am a bit surprised that of all things it is his essence that makes her grow strong. This may very well be at our advantage in the coming war to come with the Humans and Guardians." Lady Harken let out a low, seductive laugh at this discovery. "If only Alhazad were here to see this. He'd have a fit, I fear!"
"…" Zeikfried stared at him as he knelt on the floor, weak from too much loss of blood. "Very well. Take it out."
The young man did as he was told--he would've anyway--and yanked his arm out of the tube, causing the tentacles once again to slowly worm back inside of the cocoon. He then got up wobbly-legged, gripping and massaging his right wrist as Harken walked over to speak to him directly.
"I'm proud of you, you know," she said, laughing. You could very well turn the tide of war in our favor."
"No need to butter me up," was his response. "Alhazad told me that my heart was capable of producing infinite amounts of the Bio-Prism as it is. But…I think I may need to rest. I'm nearly drained, and my body feels sluggish and debilitated."
"That's all right, as long as you can make more." She smiled softly, something that Rudy had never seen her do the time he had been in the Photosphere. But afterward, she began to think about Alhazad. Distinctly, why he didn't come back with him. "So, where is that flying rat at anyway? I see you extracted the piece from the statue, so the mission was a success."
"Him?" Rudy asked, already formulating a cheap lie to say to her. "They took him out. A shame, actually. Those cowardly humans ganged up on him and killed him!"
Zeikfried interjected himself, shocked by what he had just stated. "You jest! Alhazad, killed in battle?!"
"Yes," he told him.
"…"
"Well, it's the truth."
"…I…see…"
Rudy turned to Harken and began to inquire about the last statue. "About that, I was wondering if~~"
"Relax, I know where it is. I pinpointed its location in a remote city the humans call Port Timney. I was going to go there right now; the second piece already flew back to this locale and has been installed." She turned around to her commander. "…I mean…if that would be alright with you?"
"Go ahead. The sooner the better."
"…Oh," Harken sighed, grinning. "Well…that's fine. I guess I'll go get the last statue by myself. You just stay here and rest up."
"No," The one with blue hair begged. "I-I mean…I'm all right. My strength remains, and you can destroy the statue. Plus, I would like to see that girl from Saint Centour again."
"Ha-ha-ha! Why, my dear Holmcross!" Harken cackled, turning around to him. "In love?"
"…No." Rudy made his way past the two, moving closer to the exit of the room. As he did he craned his head back and spoke some more. "My only purpose is to discover what happens when all three keys of fate are unlocked. And…she looks familiar to me. I would like to she what powers she has as well." With those words, he was gone.
Zeikfried sighed, and Harken bid him goodbye. "I'll be successful this time, Lord. Rest assured, once our trials are over, we will have the upper hand in the fight to colonize this world with our own peoples. Zeikfried, sir…I'll bring good tidings when I return." Harken left the quarters, leaving the knight alone with only the bubbling of the capsule and the whir of the machinery that kept Mother alive as his only solace. He saw her figure fade into the darkness of the hallway outside, just as the double doors shut, leaving him with no one to talk to. Zeikfried took one final look at the cocoon inside of the capsule, shook his head and left.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dusk swiftly came and went on the windy plains near the now destroyed town of Saint Centour. Refugees from that disaster struggled to live in cramped-down emergency tents on a large hill about a mile outside of that location. The city dwellers found it tough to survive outside the confines of their home. It turns out very few survivors could hunt food, leaving the entire group to fish for food at a tiny lake near where they set up shelter to live.
Also, much emotional scarring had been dealt to the people, especially to the little ones who couldn't understand what had happened. Children wailed throughout the starry night, afflicted with hunger and the images of their loved ones dying before their eyes seared into their young minds forever. They retold images of a flying dragon spitting out fire at their parents, and a white beast hitting others with its tail.
No one was free; everyone paid the price of life, having lost a relative or a friend. A few of the men folk even had complete breakdowns and took their own lives as an answer to the seemingly indomitable problems they faced. Women and young girls who had no children soon found themselves cast in the unavoidable role as 'mother' to all of the orphaned children who had lost their real mothers in Alhazad's and Rudy Roughnight's stealth attack on the city. The entire scene was both saddening and horrific at the same time.
Under a lonesome conifer, away from all of the chaos, Cecilia sat with legs propped up. The night wind had brought the expected chill, forcing her to hold herself to get warm. As she did, the girl looked on not at the people on the hill at a distance, but at the city. As night fell, a mysterious cloud materialized over the ruins, pouring down rain to put of the flames from Moa Gault and the preceding attack. She could only conclude that it was the will of the Guardians, since the cloud appeared over the city only and not anywhere else. Looking at this, and coming to terms with everything that had happened, it was inevitable. Cecilia couldn't hold the tears back. Silently, she put her head in her lap and began to sob.
"How cruel, Moa Gault," she said, sniffling between words. "I thought you we're a Guardian! You are supposed to protect! But…you did the will of the Demons. However, I realize it would be futile to blame you, because you were summoned to do someone's will as I said." Cecilia brought her head up and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I desperately want to be strong, yet...yet I can't protect the people. If I can't protect the people, then what do I hope to do? Save the world? Can one little 'Princess' fulfill so grandiose a task?"
"Miss Cecilia, you can do anything if you simply put your mind to it," came a soothing voice from somewhere.
Cecilia jumped in shock, unaware that someone had been listening to her talk to the open air. A tall, slender figure came walking behind from around the tree she was sitting under. Upon close examination of the voice, it wasn't Jack. It was that man Jack had met before he fled the city…that man who had the dead woman in his arms, crying like she had just done right now.
"…I'm sorry. You wouldn't want to listen to the rantings of a pathetic girl such as myself."
"Oh, on the contrary Miss," McDullen kindly said in an attempt to put her at peace. "May I sit down here?"
"Huh? Oh…sure. Here you go."
Cecilia scooted over a little to let him sit next to her under the tree. McDullen sat and made himself comfortable. The man Jack had met when she was knocked out was incredibly kind, considerate and respectful as she learned in the little time she had gotten to know him from when she regained consciousness. And he always had a knack for chivalry. It was right now that Cecilia found those trait's the most comforting.
"…Did you bury that woman already? I'm sorry that she died."
"I'm sorry that Miss Jane is gone too," he calmly said, not showing emotion to that memory.
"Forgive me. I am so heartless sometimes! I said that without even knowing how you felt."
"It's fine Miss, I assure you. Certain trials require certain strengths, and this trial requires hardiness of the soul and endurance of the mind. Dual traits with what I have experience of holding."
"I'm happy for you. Really, I am. But…"
"Miss Cecilia," McDullen said, changing the subject. "You can do much for this world, if only you would give yourself a chance of doing that said good in the first place."
"But look at the people who died today! So many people died today…and I couldn't prevent it!"
"That is true. Many innocents lost their lives on this day. And, as I sincerely regret, there is nothing that could be done to reverse this taint. However, you mustn't place the blame of what happened solely on yourself. Those culprits who hatched this foul scheme continue to spread the evil to other regions in the world! You are not the reason people die, Miss Cecilia. Those who would seek to take advantage of the weaknesses of others, and prey on that weakness to gain what they desire are the ones to blame!"
"…But…"
"Do not be sad. You have friends. These friends will help you in your fight. Even if not physically there to aid you, they wish you the best of fortunes in your battle to restore truth, light and honor to the tainted lands that the Demons have touched with their collective cancerous hands. True, many atrocities cannot be reversed. But by your hand and magic, you can work to prevent other ones from ever occurring! If there is something that works as the ultimate catalyst to bring the hearts and minds of the masses together to help each other through such trying times, that catalyst is death. Yes, Miss…you can work to prevent other deaths. And I have faith in your powers."
"McDullen?" Cecilia asked.
"Yes?"
"How do you deal with pain?"
"…?"
"Well, I mean…how do you deal with personal pain? You know, like if someone close to you dies, how do you cope?"
"…"
When she saw the look on his face, she began to regret ever asking. "Goodness, there I go again. Sorry."
"'Tis all right, I assure you," he said, probably noticing. "Well, if someone close to me passes away, I tackle the pain head-on. Coming to grips with the emptiness, then mourning the loss…finally, I try to acknowledge that they will never come back. Because I know they never will. There are many different ways to deal with that type of tragedy, and that is but merely one."
"I see."
"Why do you ask, if I may inquire?"
"Oh, it's just because I remember that day. I'm sure you've received word of it. It happened around 2 months ago, when my kingdom was destroyed by the Demons. The villagers were taken aback by the wave of monsters that entered into the city, because it happened during the Ruins Fair. Everybody was happy, until the sky fell and the rays of dark energy came rumbling down like bolts of lightning upon the city. Wracked with pain at the sight of innocents dying, I retreated into the castle, where I then saw my father die. It was at that time when my body went completely numb."
The man felt sorry for her. After all, going through these ordeals at such a young age was anything but natural for a Princess. "Cecilia, forgive me. Do not feel compelled to tell me if you are not ready."
"No, McDullen. I have actually gotten over my father's death. This is just a resurgence of that pain at this tragedy. It just seemed so similar to Aldehyde…"
"…Really, Miss?"
"Yes. I'm sorry to take up so much of your time. I'll be fine, really."
"Are you sure? I can stay if you wish."
"Really. I'm all right."
"…I see. Take your time to sort through it all."
McDullen gave her a hug--something that at this time worked wonders on her emotional pain--smiled at her and stood up, walking off into the distance towards the refugee camp. Cecilia remembered how he devoted himself to helping the survivors through their problems after the attack. She also concluded that it was probably to deal with Jane's death. As he said, there were many different ways to cope with loss of loved ones, and this was no exception.
Even Jack Van Burace, who seemed to have no emotional connection with anyone at all, willingly offered his services to the people. In this time of despair, the swordsman played his guitar to raise the spirits of the ones who listened. Cecilia also remembered how he comforted one boy who lost his entire family in the attack by acting as a father figure to him. Hanpan's presence helped boost peoples' spirits as well, bringing along has wacky antics as pleasing visuals to children. Both men and the wind mouse put their all into it, aiding these destitute citizens after catastrophic events changed their lives forever.
But she wondered. Why couldn't she help like they were doing? What was wrong with her?
She remained under the tree, looking on at the group of people on the hill comforting each other, needing some comfort herself.
~~~~~~~~~~
Daybreak had arrived, with the awakening of Jack, Hanpan and McDullen. All three awake to see everyone asleep, with a couple of men down at the lake in the distance fishing for breakfast for the people. McDullen made a gruesome discovery as he came upon a man who had hung himself in a nearby tree.
"Gruesome…horrific," he said.
"Probably done in the middle of the night, when everyone was asleep," Jack offered. "He lost the will to live. I can't bring myself to take him down from there though."
Jack led the way down the hill, where he came upon Cecilia still sitting under the same tree with bags under her eyes. Her face was dirty and she had heavy bags under her eyes, which indicated that she hadn't been asleep all night.
"What the hell? Cecilia? Hey, Cecilia!" Jack sternly said. The girl was practically nodding off as he talked; her head bobbing every which way because she was tired. "Cecilia! Can you hear me?"
"::yawn!:: Jack…? Hey…Jack."
"Cecilia! Don't tell me you haven't been asleep yet! Oh boy…"
"I…know. Yeah, I haven't been asleep for a long time. I only got maybe an hour. I'm not tired….really! ::yawn!::"
Jack shook her head, while McDullen helped her to her feet. "Damnit!"
"Hey," Cecilia said sleepily. "Gurdijeff visited me last night…in my dreams, and he said that he could take us to Port Timney."
"What?" McDullen said. "Gurdijeff? Who is that?"
"He's a Guardian," Jack told him. "Now Cecilia, are you sure you aren't hallucinating from lack of sleep? I mean, I'm not sure about this."
"…Really Jack. He did really visit me. And he said he'll take us whenever we're…ready. Are we ready now?"
"…"
"Seriously Jack. I'm not lying! ::yaaawn!::"
"…Fine, fine. Let's go then."
"All right then," Cecilia managed. "McDullen, will you come too?"
"To Port Timney, Miss? I would be glad to."
"All…right. The both of you, grab my hands. We need to join hands for Gurdijeff's powers to take us all there."
Both men did as they were told, grabbing one of her hands while they took each other's other hand. Hanpan hopped up on Cecilia's shoulder and held on to her so that it would work on her too. A few moments passed in silence before a miniature version of Gurdijeff's ethereal form appeared in the triangle of people, whisking them off to faraway lands in bright globes of light.
~~~~~~~~~~
Light materialized in a foreign city on its neighboring harbor, bringing about three people in its wake. Cecilia, Jack and McDullen checked their surroundings and concluded that they really had made it to Port Timney through the usage of Guardian power.
"Amazing!" McDullen said, shocked. "This really is Port Timney! The ships over yonder, the soothing swell of mother ocean…a feeling such as this I would be hard-pressed to let slip from the mind!"
"I guess it is," Jack said. "I guess we have your Guardian friends to thank, eh Cecilia?"
"Yeah," she responded. "Hmm, I'm not sleepy anymore."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. That light rejuvenated me, from how I feel."
"Great, great. Hey, you know," Jack said, matter-of-factly looking around at his surroundings. "I hate to ruin a perfectly happy moment, buy where in the hell are the citizens of this town at?"
McDullen caught on exactly as he inquired about that. "That is odd. This port town is usually a bustling hub of seafaring activity, promiscuous tramps seeking little more than release and gleeful sailors, not to mention haggling merchants peddling their ill-begotten wares on virtually every street corner. But, as you mentioned, there is simply no sign of life!"
"…Uh, yeah. And it's really quiet too," Hanpan quipped, hopping off Cecilia's shoulder and into Jack's pocket, where he usually took up residence. "But seriously, this is really creepy! And…hey! It looks like someone's hurt over there!"
True, all three saw an unknown figure cloaked in tattered brown robes laying perilously close to the edge of the docks, where a ship with a large statue of a lion sat at its rear. The group approached quickly--yet carefully with minds on edge--to check on the mysterious person who looked to be unconscious. Cecilia backed off, holding her hands to her mouth in anticipation as Jack and McDullen examined this person. The master swordsman kneeled over the robed figure and shook him in an attempt to rouse him from his unconsciousness.
"Hey! Hey Mister!" Jack yelled. "You all right? You aren't bleeding or anything are you?"
"Sir, if you don't mind me saying," McDullen calmly interrupted, halting his progress. "Perhaps we would do well to seek shelter for the injured. This ocean wind cannot be aiding in his recovery…"
"…Yeah. Well, help me pick him up."
"Certainly."
The men were about to pick the person up from the hardwood flooring of the dock, when a mysterious yet cutting female voice resounded from out of the sky.
"Simpletons! You fools simply can't understand the trap you've fallen into, I fear! A-ha-ha-ha!"
The voice shocked all three people, causing them to look around warily for anything to happen now. Gripping the handle of his sheathed sword on reflex, Jack motioned for Cecilia to take guard.
"Who are you?" Jack asked sternly. "Show yourself! Can I rightfully assume that you're the one responsible for the disappearance of the citizens of this city?"
"What if I am, brave man?" the voice responded. Whoever it was hadn't a shred of fear detectable at all in her voice. "If I were to answer 'yes', what would you do to me?"
"Show yourself, woman! And discover the answer to that question!"
"Mmm. Brute force against intellect…that just will not do! Aren't all men stupid, my dear Innocent One?"
"…! W-Who are you?" Cecilia stuttered. "You want this statue? Why are you toying with us like this? Why?"
"Ha-ha-ha! Toying, you say…? An interesting way to put it, 'toying'…but, if that is how you want it, then that is how it shall be! Because, after all that you have done to us, we will never relent in our struggle against the cancerous scourge called 'humanity!"
"Shut up, you wench!" Jack yelled. "Come out and fight, and lose in honor!"
"…" Nothingness ensued after the calm. Jack silently cursed the skies, standing side by side by McDullen, who valiantly got in front of Cecilia to protect her from any harm. The men waited for whoever it was to show herself. Yet none of them had noticed what had been the supposed unconscious figure slowly rising to its feet behind them, shedding the cloth and gripping a small ARM in his left hand. The one with blue hair, as he was called…came to his feet and wickedly grinned, aiming the gun at the back of the girl's head with dead silence. As that happened, a tall red-haired woman in clad black armor emerged from darkness before them, holding a serrated scythe in both hands. That was followed by the sound of an unsheathing sword from the user of the Fast Draw.
"So you are the one!" McDullen stated. "Tell us this instant, woman! To what locale did the people of Port Timney attend?"
"…Idiot. You blabbering idiot!" Harken hissed. "None of you know a thing, do you? They're all dead! Do you hear me, you morons? Dead!"
"How could you…how could you do this?" Jack said, losing emotion is his voice. "They didn't deserve to die! Why couldn't you just leave them out of this? We're the ones you want! Why bring innocent people into this struggle…folks who wish to live their lives in peace?"
"…Heh. Especially you?" the woman retorted harshly. "I think the term you are searching for is 'ignorant bliss', not 'peace'. The masses would much rather live their lives not knowing what problems loom over the horizon for them! And besides, you humans cannot take care of your own Filgaia! So it is in our best interests--not to mention the world's best interests--to snatch this world away from you for ourselves!"
"…You're wrong. You're dead wrong."
"Am I, little man?" she said as she chuckled at him. "Am I wrong? If I am, feel free to prove to me that your path is the true path to follow. That is…if you can fight."
"We'll prove it to you!" Cecilia said. "The both of us, together! Come on, Jack! Let's get her!"
"Yes," he agreed. "Let's."
"Ha…A-ha-ha-ha!" You have got to be kidding me!" Harken said. "Tell you what. I don't like these odds. Maybe you would want to fight one-on-one with me? If you oblige, I'll even spare your life long enough to think that you have a chance of winning against me!"
"No chance," he said, rebuking her offer. "You get no mercy."
"Ah well, I thought I'd at least try. Looks like I may have to call in some help, eh?" Harken grinned from ear to ear, taking a battle stance. "Take a look behind you."
"What?" Jack said.
All three turned around to see that the Holmcross had been there all along, and that he now had a ARM aimed directly at Cecilia. The woman, paralyzed with fright and disbelief at the sight of this person, could not move at all. McDullen gasped, realizing that he recognized him and had seen him before this time.
"O-Out of the question! You are that man from Court Seim! The man who was found washed-up on the outskirts of the city on the beach! You are aligned with the Demons?"
"Well well well," Rudy said in a slick manner. "Mr. McDullen, I presume? Those were some trying times back then, when I had been confined to that bed in that rickety old house. I never got to thank that woman's father quite properly as he nursed me back to health along with the support of the people. And I never got to introduce myself properly to you either."
"You unbending…mischievous, teasing rogue! You have some nerve to do this to the people!" McDullen shot an angry glare at him, continuing to berate him verbally. "You're a lousy cur!
"Yeah yeah, whatever you say. Now listen…" Rudy smugly said, making McDullen even madder. "I think you talk too much. Frankly, you should take my advice and shut up before I decide to murder the whole lot of you."
"…You coward!" Jack yelled. "Is this how you repay us? After how Cecilia and I accepted you? I can't believe this!"
"Harsh words from a never-was, never-will-be swordsman," Rudy sharply countered, tapping the barrel of the gun against his temple. "I guess stupidity takes all kinds, doesn't it? Face it pea-brain, you can't win against the Demons. Give up like a good boy, and let us handle the rest."
"Grrr…you're gonna pay for this. I swear it!"
"Hey, behind you," Harken quickly said, catching the three of them off-guard.
They turned around to meet her trying to charge Jack. He met her attempt by blocking the head of the scythe off with his blade, but his strength could not compare to hers in the least. He was slowly sinking to the ground under her weight and strength, gritting his teeth as she smiled wickedly at him. McDullen grabbed a long wooden oar that had been left laying around on the docks and swung it at Harken, hitting her directly in the top of the head. It sent her faltering backwards in dizziness, causing her scythe to dematerialize at the loss of her mental concentration. Jack regained his strength and charged, along with McDullen flanking him to attack the defenseless attacker. When all of a sudden…
"Hold it right there!" Rudy yelled.
It wasn't his voice that caused them to stop dead in their tracks, but the suppressed screams from Cecilia. Rudy had taken her hostage, gripping her neck with his right bicep while holding the gun to her head. She was desperately struggling to gain freedom from her captive, but to no avail. His strength was simply too much for her.
"What! What in God's name…" McDullen gasped.
"Bastard!" Jack yelled. "You will stoop to new lows every time…!"
"Heh. Say whatever you will! I know my mission. Now…let her through!"
The two of them stood there, looking for an ample opportunity to attack Rudy. There didn't seem to be any time, however, and he just reiterated his commands over and over to let Harken pass. Jack slowly inched toward him with sword in hand, not wanting to make any mistakes in getting Cecilia back from potential harm. McDullen had dropped his oar to the ground in compliance to Rudy's commands. But none of them noticed Harken gaining power once again as she got to her feet once more.
"::cough:: Mc…Dullen…look…" Cecilia managed to say.
"…Miss?
He turned around to see the woman with a glazed-over look in her eyes…a look of madness. With scythe in hand once more, he had no opportunity to avoid her attack. Mercilessly, she swung it and buried its head directly into his chest. With look of horror and pain on his face, and his hands stained crimson with his own essence, McDullen fell over dead by the woman's blow.
"God, no!" Jack screamed. "Aaahhhh!"
"Hmm-hmm-hmm…ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! ::cough cough:: That's…how Fast Draw is done," she said.
"…I hate you! Monster!"
"Rudy, destroy the statue!" Harken commanded. "Shoot it! Now!"
"Yes, Lady. As you command."
Ignoring the pleas of Cecilia, and with Jack filled with rage at Harken, the Holmcross aimed the gun at the lion's head on the statue that sat on the ship and shot, causing it to explode upon impact. Bright yellow essence flowed out of the crevice, along with a darkened chunk of material that immediately flew off into the sky to destinations unknown. Rudy and Harken shielded their eyes, as the light was bane to them. After a few moments, the light died down, leaving silence in its wake.
"No…" Cecilia uttered softly. "No…no, no, no…"
"That is the limitation of human skill," Rudy whispered into her ear. "You knew all of the statues would be destroyed. Now look at you. Now~~"
He had stopped taking. Something caught his eye…the sight of a woman who had been exposed to the light for too long. A red-haired woman who had changed somehow. She lay unconscious on the ground with a long blue ribbon tied into her hair. Jack uncovered his eyes after the blast of light and saw this woman. Who he had saw made his mouth fall open agape in absolute disbelief.
"…No. I-It can't…be her…is it?"
"Uh-oh, this isn't good!" Rudy said aloud. "Time to retreat!"
The man let Cecilia go and ambushed Jack from behind, pushing him off of the docks into the ocean. With one quick swoop, he took the woman into his arms and flew away high into the skies with her.