Launching of Evil

They rushed through the Cradle of the Metal God, looking all over the place for a sign of Maya or the Prophets. All kinds of machines had been activated in the rooms, but only the Prophets knew exactly what each one did. Even still, Virginia could feel the evil radiating through the area, it was enough to make her break down. She was on her knees, holding her head in order to try and get them all out of her. It looked as if she wouldn't be able to go onwards, just when they needed her the most. But just then, Jet picked her up and helped her to get on his back. He looked like he was trying to give her a piggy back ride, making a certain Baskar Priest think. Which was a shocking act within itself. 'He seems to get closer to her every time she's in danger. You'd think he was a rogue the way he acts around us, but a knight the way he acts around her. This kid has some real issues, let me tell you. But they haven't done any of the fun stuff yet.'

Luckily, Jet couldn't hear what was going on in Gallows's perverted mind. Else they'd have another incapacitated member of the team, courtesy of a whack in the head via Airget-lamh. He continued to carry Virginia through the dungeon, letting her rest her weary head on his shoulder, until finally she began to stir. It appeared as if the emanations were starting to let up, and she was going to be just fine. Virginia smiled at her beloved, and whispered a thank you in his ear. Jet blushed, and held her even closer to him. There was no way anything was going to hurt her now, unless they wanted to go through one angry Filgaia Sample.

* * *

"You idiot!" Melody yelled, "What have you done?! Your stupid attempts to revive your mother have ruined so much of our plans. Now I've got to send all the energy in this whole tin can towards making the Deus ex Machina rise. How in the world did that clone of yours wake up, let alone be able to remember you and the rest of the past?" Virginia watched as Melody looked dangerously close to slugging Malik, it would definitely not be a good idea to butt in. She saw them argue with one another in the past, and Elliot's son had warned her against it. They'd just scream at whomever interfered, and cause them some major injuries.

"A little girl came by my lab an hour ago, she said she'd help me revive Mama. But then she went crazy, thought I wasn't Malik, ran around and trashed everything. What went wrong? All I ever wanted was to bring my mother back to life. How come that is such an impossible goal to reach," cried Malik, making Melody roll her eyes. Virginia felt a little bit sorry for him, sympathizing with the loss of her own mother. A thought went through her mind for a moment, bring her own mother back. But then she shook it off. Even though she wanted to do it, it was against the law of the Guardians. Besides, Malik couldn't do it, even with all his scientific processes and advanced technology. Her sorcery had no way of doing things like this one.

Melody told him, quite angrily, "I don't know, maybe because you are a Demon now! How in the world is she supposed to recognize you as her son, you don't even look like your old self. I swear you are the most incompetent man I've ever met. Now let me fix this little mess up so we can launch the Deus ex Machina on schedule." She typed something on the keyboard in the back, a scowl across her devilish face.

Virginia took that time to challenge the two of them. "You are not going to get away with this any longer. Melody, Malik, we are going to fight to decide the future of Filgaia. We're not going to let you get away with turning our home into a world of Demons. By my Wings, I will win." She brought them out again, knowing the Prophets didn't have the power to hit her when she flew up high. And this ceiling was very high.

Melody started off with Eliminate Scanner, grazing Clive's side. Virginia used her Saint spell, now that everyone knew she could use her powers freely. Jet and Clive shot her, while Gallows went to work weakening Malik for when Melody ran out of Vitality. Virginia blocked an attack from Malik with her wings, right before she struck out with another Saint against Melody. Jet and Clive decided their guns had enough power for a Gatling, so they used it on Malik to get the most out of it. Gallows switched over to using his Petrify spell, after Virginia had warned him that Demons might be stronger against Dark Elemental spells.

Soon, Melody went down. Then it was Malik's turn. He began to run scared, using his Status magic to create chaos all over the place. Virginia was confused, having taken her Confusion Ward off to put on Poison Ward, throwing random Saints around the room. Jet took a jump into the air, and grabbed her arm. It was almost as if he was trying to tell her to calm down, and she did. The last Saint she fired was able to hit Malik, knocking him back as well. Neither moved nor woke, the two of them had died in the fight.

* * *

Finally, they came to the final room in the huge enemy complex. But there was no sign anywhere of Maya, Siegfried, Leehalt, or the Teardrop. Virginia worried about Alfred running into the two Demons.

Suddenly, she heard a loud rumbling, and the earth began to move. Something was rising up out of the ground! The girl then thought about what Melody had said about the Deus ex Machina, that must have been it. But it brought out an energy shield, and cloaked itself. Thinking about the fortress, she then also remembered what Melody had done to rise it. Energy was gone, Lombardia could break through to save the team. Virginia called for the Dragon, who flew away, in hot pursuit of the Deus ex Machina, wherever it had gotten to. Along the way, the were forced to fight Wyverns, monster Dragons that Siegfried had released.

"I think I see something up ahead! It appears to be a blurred air mass of some sorts. Lombardia, fire your missiles onto the distorted area of sky. It must be the Deus ex Machina!" exclaimed Virginia as she looked ahead of the team. Lombardia did just that, causing the area to suddenly glow red. A few more missiles caused some sort of explosion. The warriors were now free to go inside, to search out Leehalt and Siegfried. Virginia pulled out her ARMs, worried that there would be trouble in the near future for her team.

Suddenly, somewhere in a dark room, she heard a noise. Thinking it was a monster, she ran at it with her guns out in front. But before she could fire, Virginia got a good look at her "monster". It turned out to only be Maya, who must have had the same idea about going into the fortress as she did. But Maya only wanted the Teardrop, not to help save the world. Still, Virginia asked her, "Do you want any help, Maya? We can get through this together, to stop the Demons. You wanted your little duel over the Teardrop, I'll be glad to fight you after this is all over." She smiled at her rival, the one that could melt a heart of stone.

Maya waved her hand in an "I don't care" gesture. "Actually, I don't really want the Teardrop. I know of a bigger gem now, one more beautiful than every other one ever made. But I do want to get revenge for what those jerks did to me. Lead on girl, we're going to kick some Demon hide before the day is through."

They walked through the Deus ex Machina, until they saw a password shutter. Maya realized that they needed someone to man mission control back in the computer room they'd just passed. Since she did have the ability to emulate anyone she chose, she decided that her team would be the best choice. So after getting situated and ready to help out, Maya let Virginia and the others go onwards, to face the enemy.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Word…

Yes, the main part of this darn dungeon is two chapters. That is, one for Leehalt, one for Siegfried. Mainly cuz Leehalt had a complex scene, and Siegfried had two fights. Ah, the greatness of Jet and Virginia…and stuffing annoying helper Muses in bags when you travel far away…

I felt so sorry for Malik in this section. He finally got his wish, only to have it completely backfire and he suffered an emotional breakdown.