Chapter 3
Mutiny
"So, I am a person not from this world." Paul said out loud. "SWEET!" Steena laughed. She was excited that she had A Paul. It wasn't the Paul she loved, but it would do for now.
"Wait! It's all coming back now!" Shaun said happily. "The Aryan's, the storm! EVERYTHING!" Shaun said remembering his entire past. Both Diss' smiled. Paul however remained quiet.
"I think I know what's going on!" He said after a long moment of awkward silence.
"What?" Clone Diss asked.
"This guy created clones of us and we were placed into different areas. Obviously that means Shaun's in an area full of rocks." Everyone stared at Paul.
"How do you know that?" Steena asked.
"My logic!" Paul said smiling. Everyone just laughed as they relaxed.
"The most logical place would ave ta be Gaea's Navel!" Kid said happily.
"So we'll head there." Steena said sternly.
"Right!" Everyone said excitedly.
~*~
"Face it mortal fool." The man said coldly steeping on Dave's head forcing it into the ground. "You can't defeat me." Dave couldn't get up as he tried every trick he could.
"LET HIM GO!" Leah shouted flying from the top of the tree. The man laughed as he blasted a high impact blow to Leah's stomach with his hand. Dave ripped The man's foot off and tried to slam him, but was hit with a dagger's hilt.
"Eh.out numbered." Dave muttered to himself. He managed to lift a rock but to no use did the rock become as The man kicked Dave in the head.
"Try all you want. You will never defeat me." The man began to laugh as he saw Dave try to get up.
"UGABOOGA!" Leah screamed as she jumped onto The man's back clamping him in a sleeper hold.
"Gah!" The man said flailing his arms. He managed to get a grasp of Leah's head and he screamed loudly surging with electricity.
"WHAA!" Leah shouted as she jumped off The man's back. She failed to get up from the shock as she slumped to the ground.
"Now for your doom." The man said coldly as he kicked Dave so hard he fell unconscious.
~*~
"Well, this is it. Shaun.do your thing." Shaun nodded as he gladly did what Steena told him to do. He began to make the rocks bend as he pleased when suddenly Paul stopped him.
"Convenient path dead ahead." He commented pointing to a pre-made path.
"Nice call." Kid said brushing up against Paul's shoulder.
Everyone climbed up the path and the moment they were at the top they saw Shaun. He was on the ground before Lynx, The man and Christy. The man raised his sword high above his head ready to bring the blow that would end Shaun's life. Both Dissingers growled, looking at each other then nodding rushing the scene. Everyone chased after them getting ready to fight by drawing their weapons.
"I'll take left," Diss muttered.
"And I have right," Patrick said as they tackled their targets. Lynx went down under Patrick's weight, and The man fell under Diss'. Both rolled off their targets and simultaneously stretched their hands out. Slowly their hands glowed as strips of fire appeared. The flame expanded and eventually went out both holding dragon staffs. The clone of Shaun knelt beside his counterpart checking on him as Paul and Steena stood between them and the enemy party. Patrick stepped forward.
"Lynx, it ends here. You and me right now!" He said issuing a challenge. Lynx looked at Patrick and grinned.
"If you have a death wish I am more than willing to comply," He said the glare and tone matching the coldest of glaciers. Patrick stepped forward the other Diss put a hand on his shoulder.
"Listen man, you don't have to prove anything. Calm down," He said softly so only Patrick could hear him. He merely shrugged him off.
"Watch and learn. He has something we hold very dear," Patrick mumbled stepping forward. He quickly cracked his knuckles and neck stretching. The others watch dumbfounded as Lynx stepped forward his scythe slung lightly over his left shoulder as if amused at his opponent. Patrick stepped forward toe to toe with Lynx staring right into his eyes. "Ready pussycat?" he said pushing Lynx back. Lynx's only reply was a snarl and a vicious slash of his scythe. Patrick quickly locked up his with Lynx's. The man and Christy backed of as Patrick forced Lynx to back off by counter attacking. The two seemed evenly matched until late in the fight Lynx backed up to Christy. With a sudden maneuver he quickly grabbed her putting the scythe to her throat.
"Lynx what the hell do you think your doing?" Christy yelled outraged by the betrayal.
"Saving my skin," Lynx said grimly. Patrick froze where he was. The other Diss tensed watching to see if Patrick would push on. Slowly a flame erupted from his shoulders sweeping over his body until he seemed completely encased in flame. The heat radiated from him as his anger was being outlet.
"You coward.if you hurt her-" He began.
"What? You'll be broken just like any other man. I give you a simple choice, her life for my freedom. I will give her to you, but you have to let me go," Lynx said cruelly. The man looked at Lynx clearly outraged.
"The ring too," Patrick said his voice coming out a low growl.
"I don't think so, you either get her, or you get nothing but her cold, dead, corpse," Lynx said pressing the scythe against her skin. She let out a yelp of pain as the scythe cut in just deep enough to cause blood the slowly trickle down in a river to her shirt. Patrick gritted his teeth before nodding. Lynx grabbed something on Christy's waist then pulled the scythe back from her throat throwing her down to the ground. Lynx and The man quickly disappeared leaving Christy there clutching her throat. Diss and Patrick quickly ran to her helping her up. She shrugged them off and put a knife to Patrick's throat. He froze as the others watched on in horror.
"Back off now! I don't need nor do I want, your help. If it weren't for you I would be back with them. You ruined that now! Just back off," She hissed pressing it closer to Patrick's throat. He merely stayed where he was not flinching. She growled low, "You don't think I wont kill you? I've killed many people, you'll just be another name on the long list."
"I know, hell I'm on that list twice," Patrick said nonchalantly.
"Wha-" the distraction was all Patrick needed to grab her arm and twist the knife away putting it behind her back and pinning her to the ground. He pressed his weight on her arm keeping her there. A hiss of anger escaped her lips as she realized what happened.
"I'm sorry baby, I didn't want to do this." Patrick said softly regret filling his voice making it waver.
"I'm not your baby! Now let me go before you-" She was unable to finish her sentence as Steena walked up and put her to sleep with a wave of her hand.
"I thought you would have triggered her memory." She said softly.
Diss watched as Patrick slowly got up he extended his hand. The dragon staff flew up to it as if being drawn by an invisible string. The staff caught fire slowly shrinking until it was a glowing point in his hand, and with a flick of his wrist the glowing point vanished. He finally spoke up, "Back when they first tried to kill me. I noticed Lynx had a necklace on. While fighting it came free of his cloak and I got a good look at it. The necklace has Christy's engagement ring on it. If I'm not the trigger then I'd bet all the money in the world that that's her trigger."
"He has what?" Diss spat out in disbelief. Patrick nodded slowly.
"The ring," Patrick sighed letting it come out as if it had dealt him a physical blow. Diss turned to Patrick and began yelling at him chewing him out about how he could have lost the ring. Patrick turned so he was facing Diss and with one punch silenced his counterpart before speaking his voice coming out as if strained, "It wasn't my fault. We were separated before any of us could do anything. On top of that I couldn't remember what significance the ring was until it was too late. I had to fake my death just so that now I can get her back. And if you ever question my judgment again you will be lucky if a broken jaw is all you get."
"Mates cool it!" Kid said quickly stepping between them as Diss tried to go after Patrick. Diss growled at Patrick who merely turned and picked up Christy carrying her out of Gaea's navel. Shaun picked up his unconscious counterpart as a small girl ran up with her axe.
"You-um put-um Dave-um down!" Leah yelled slashing wildly with her axe. Shaun froze in horror as the girl jumped knocking him down. Everyone watched as she clutched the unconscious Shaun.
"Dave.who in the BLUE hell is Dave?" Paul asked. Dave slowly came to as he the first person he saw was himself.
"Huh?" Dave said slowly. "Am I dead?"
"Far from it." Shaun said taking Dave over to a corner. The two began a long conversation as slowly Dave began to remember his past.
~*~
"YOU MORON!" The man said backhanding Lynx. "YOU STUPID WORTHLESS BEING!" Lynx cowered away from the incoming hit.
"I DID WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE!" Lynx retaliated. "Now we have a bigger issue!" The man was about to choke Lynx when he stopped.
"WHAT IN THE BLUE HELL COULD BE WORSE THAN THIS?" The man blared.
"Think! They have one more person to bring back! So far they have no clue where he is! Let's prepare to stop them from achieving it!" The man growled at Lynx before he helped him up.
"When you're right YOU are right." The man grumbled. Together they planned what to do.
~*~
"So tell me Miguel. Why do you enjoy this obvious hell?" The man said quietly under his pillow.
"My friend Wazuki told me to stay put. So far I have honored him by doing so." Miguel replied.
"Oh." The man said quietly. "I wonder what my name is." The man muttered to himself patting his pet squirrel. "Miguel." The man said again.
"Now what?" Miguel replied annoyed.
"Would you protect me with your life?" The man said quietly. Miguel remained quiet for a moment.
"Yes." He replied quietly.
"Hmm." The man said getting up and leaving.
~*~
"Now we have our memories back, but we are missing someone." Steena said quietly. "Where is he?" Patrick sat next to her.
"Do you know where we can find baboon?" Steena shook her head slowly.
"We checked all the areas he would be at. Maybe if we went to Chronopolis." She offered. Pat nodded alerting the other boat. In her time alone she began to sniffle. "Where are you?" she muttered to herself. She looked up to see Catherine looking at the water smiling.
"Hi-ya!" Catherine said happily.
"Please say you have good news." Steena groaned giving Catherine a hug.
"Nope." Catherine replied quickly.
"Alright let's have it."
"Look at the last place you would expect. A place you thought was gone forever." Steena eyed her carefully. Slowly she began to see a pattern.
"You're helping me!" Steena said happily smiling.
"Der!" Catherine said dumbly.
"A place long gone." Steena muttered. "BUT WHAT?"
"Hey, I did more than sis said I could." Catherine replied hugging Steena and leaving.
"PAT! CHANGE COURSE!" Steena ordered loudly.
"Why?" Pat replied.
"Paul's at the Dead Sea!" Pat shook his head.
"That's crazy. We're going to Chronopolis. Besides, maybe we can restore Christy there." Pat muttered. Steena looked at him in disbelief.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO?" Steena shouted. Patrick turned around.
"Rule One!" Pat replied sternly.
"RULES MY ASS!" Steena shouted back.
"What?" Pat said quizzically.
"RULE FREAKIN THREE! GO IN, GO OUT!" Pat looked down and cursed softly to himself.
"No. My decision is final. Christy first, then Paul." Shaun was over hearing the conversation and exploded on Pat picking him up and holding him close to the water.
"YOU SEE THAT WATER! IF YOU WANT TO LIVE YOU WILL CHANGE COURSE!" Shaun said with force. Diss launched Shaun off him and turned about. He held his staff in hand.
"What's wrong with you Shaun?" The clone Shaun stared blankly with Paul next to him.
"YOU'RE SCREWING PAUL OVER AGAIN! YOU ARE CHOOSING SOMEONE ELSE OVER HIM!" Shaun yelled with all his intimidation.
"I KNOW PAUL IS AT THE DEAD SEA! AND I AM NOT LETTING ANYONE STAND IN MY WAY OF RESCUING PAUL!" Steena said stepping next to Shaun.
"This is bull." Pat muttered kicking the boat.
"I see mutiny in the ranks." Christy said loudly. Pat and Diss glared at her.
"My decision remains final.we're going to Chronopolis." Pat said sternly. Steena grabbed her sword and drew it pointing it at Pat. Patrick looked at the sword and glared at Steena. "You have no idea what you are doing bitch." Steena stepped up to Patrick looking him in the eyes.
"I know damn well what I am doing. And unless you turn this boat around the clone Diss will be the only Diss left in this world." Patrick was about to push Steena away when she kicked him in the groin and backhanded him in the face. Pat was about to retaliate when she kicked again. This time Patrick had enough. He regrouped and threw a fireball at her. Steena covered herself for fear of the burn when she heard a small pitiful grunt from Shaun.
"Owie." Shaun said mockingly. Patrick glared at Shaun when he saw clone Diss step next to him.
"I'm with Pat! CHRISTY THEN PAUL!" Clone Shaun stepped with Steena and Shaun.
"HOW COULD YOU NOT SAVE PAUL AFTER ALL THE TIMES HE SAVED YOU!" Steena blared.
"REVERSE THAT! I SAVED HIS ASS MORE THAN HE SAVED MINE!"
"YOU IGNORANT BAFOON!" Both Shaun's yelled.
"STOP YELLING GOD DAMNIT!" Paul yelled next. "STOP THE FREAKING YELLING!" Everyone looked at Paul as he surged all over with electricity. The sound of thunder bellowed in the background. "DISS OVER THERE!" Paul yelled pointing to a corner. "Steena over there." Paul said getting quieter. Slowly he put everyone in a corner. As best he could. "I WANT ALL OF YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE ABOUT TO DO!" Christy looked at Paul quizzically.
"You do know you just gave them all a time out." Paul nodded.
"Yep." Paul said patting his stomach.
~*~
"Well, well." Lynx muttered. "Looks like we have anger in the ranks." The man laughed with sadistic glee as he sighed sitting down.
"Looks like we won't need to worry about them for awhile. They are either going to come to us, or kill themselves. Either way is fine with me." Lynx laughed taking a seat across The man's.
"We will need to fortify a defense at the Dead Sea." Lynx muttered.
"First the highway, then the snow base."
"I'm thinking insane numbers of monsters."
"Or one really big can of whoop ass." The man said happily.
"Oh this gives me this really nasty idea." Lynx said laughing softly. The man eyed him curiously and then got the same general idea. Both began to laugh loudly with sadistic glee as they got up to start their master plan. Before they left a small ding went off.
"Ou, my noodles are ready." The man said.
~*~
"Why are you so stubborn!" Steena yelled.
"I don't know who died and made you the leader of this group!" retorted Patrick.
"I NEVER WAS A PART OF YOUR LITTLE GROUP!" Steena yelled louder in an annoyed tone. Pat just turned around as Paul walked up behind Steena.
"Allow me." Paul said coldly. He walked up to Pat and smacked the back of his head.
"What was that for?" Pat said rubbing his head.
"Do we have Christy?" Paul said sternly.
"Yes." Pat said dumbly.
"Do we have the real Paul?" Pat shook his head.
"Then why don't we get him first?" Pat sighed.
"Cause Christy is more important than him right now." Pat said in a fatherly tone. Paul glared at Patrick and restrained himself. The boat hit the sand of a small island where everyone debarked and sent up camps. As soon as Diss and Pat were done with theirs they set up a fire.
"Explain why we have to go for Christy first?"
"Because she is more important right now. Why don't you try listening Paul?" Diss replied for Pat. Paul gritted his teeth and closed his fists restraining himself. He turned around and saw Shaun walking very quickly up to Diss. He brushed past Paul and tapped Diss on the shoulder. Diss turned around and Shaun swung his fist hard hitting the temple. Diss fell down unconscious. Pat tackled Shaun and held him down.
"What's gotten into you, huh Shaun?" Shaun head-butted Pat in the face and rolled over mounted on top of Pat. He began to violently punch at Pat when Steena pulled him off.
"BY MORNING YOU WON'T FIND ME HERE!" Shaun said shrugging off Steena's hold.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Pat said wiping his mouth.
"I'm taking a boat, and heading to the Dead Sea." Kid walked up to the forming circle. She looked around and saw Paul deep in thought.
"YOU LEAVE SHAUN AND I'LL KICK YOUR ASS SO HARD!" Pat yelled. Paul stepped up.
"I want to challenge for leadership." Paul said quietly. "It was the rule we made when we all felt that the current leader was not acting in the group's best wishes." Pat laughed scornfully.
"Really, without Christy the rule doesn't go into effect."
"I second the motion." The cloned Shaun said. Diss slowly came to. Kid dragged him off to the side. Shaun stepped up. "I third the motion." Pat looked around and realized his only help was with his clone.
"I refuse. You're all just tired from the trip." Pat began to say.
"If I really were to be your Wife or whatever, I would definatly start looking for another husband. I wouldn't want to relate myself with a coward." Christy taunted. Pat glared at her and he shook his hand causing his staff to summon to his hands. Diss stepped up next to Pat.
"This is a challenge of leadership. Technically I am half the leader." Pat nodded.
"Handicapped match, Paul. Do you think you could really win?" Paul nodded cracking his whole body. He stepped into the circle and dropped to a defensive stance.
Diss swung first with a hard slash to the jaw. Paul dodged and grabbed the staff in the mid section and hurled Diss into Shaun who threw him back. Pat brought his staff around Paul's neck chocking him and he leg-sweeped him onto the sand. Paul managed to role back out of the choke and he brought his knee up in a defensive position to hit Diss in the stomach as he charged at him. The blow knocked Diss off balance and he lost his wind.
"Boy, you gonna pay." Pat muttered as he rolled up onto his feet. Paul attempted a roundhouse that Pat ducked and used his staff to trip Paul under his feet. He crashed on his back and Diss and Pat began stomping and hitting Paul all over. Paul rolled over to the clone Shaun and was kicked over and over again.
"Why doesn't Paul use his magic or Shaun elp him?" Kid asked. Shaun replied hesitantly.
"We can't partake in the fight. And no powers are allowed."
Paul was able to roll between Diss and Pat he jumped up kicking both in the back so they were thrown into Clone Shaun, who in return threw them back. Paul dove in for a knee strike and connected with Pat's skull driving it into the sand. Diss grabbed Paul by the back of the shirt and tossed him into a tree. Pat and Diss began to cut and hit Paul until Paul was no longer able to keep up with the pace. He slumped to the ground and began to wheeze hard. Diss and Pat both backed off breathing heavily.
"You lose. I still rule this group." Diss and Pat said at the same time. Paul glared at them.
"With your blessing or not we're going to the Dead Sea." Paul wheezed heavily. Steena ran to his aid.
"You're right. We are going to the dead sea." Pat said. "That fight proved it." Kid sighed.
"You're all bloody freaks."
~*~
Patrick sat on the beach silently. He looked at the stars getting lost in them as he cleared his head. He had just stopped a challenge for leadership. He limply held onto his dragon staff as he stared at it. The staff had hurt his friend. True he had tried to forcefully take leadership, but he had vowed never to hurt a friend intentionally. He could have done the job without the slashes he had given Paul. That much was certain, but he felt an odd sense of joy with each wound inflicted. Like the idea of killing someone gave him a rush. The thought scared him. He wasn't a senseless murderer. He was Patrick Eric Dissinger, and that name did not translate to murderer. He sighed his shoulders dropping as he felt like a part of him was reawakening. Something from before the Aryan invasion that made him who he was today. He felt a presence from behind and gripped his staff tighter.
"I'm not in the mood for another argument," He said ice filling the void he felt in his voice.
"I'm not here to give one," Thomas' voice came clearly. Patrick Jumped up turning to face his teacher.
"Thomas, what are you doing here?" Patrick managed after his shock.
"My pupil seems to be a bit lost, I thought I'd throw him a map," Thomas replied cryptically.
"Please no riddles right now Thomas," Patrick said rubbing his temple. Fire seemed to light in his head causing him pain.
"Your path wont lead you to Chronopolis yet. If you remembered anything from your last adventure, you'd remember that the path to Chronopolis is through the Dead Sea," Thomas replied. He merely crossed his arms waiting for Patrick to try and contradict him.
"I'm a fool aren't I?" Patrick replied softly.
"Only if you keep rushing in like you have been. Just remember what I told you, so far you haven't gotten anyone killed, but you will at the rate your going," Thomas replied fatherly. Patrick sighed nodding. He was going to reply in agreement when Thomas disappeared. It wasn't like when Christy had, it was abrupt, as if he was there one minute gone the next.
"Thomas?" Patrick said to the now empty beach.
"What's up with him?" Kid asked jerking her thumb over at Patrick sitting on the beach watching the stars. A second ago he had looked like he was talking to someone, but no one was there.
"No idea Kid," Diss replied watching his counterpart.
"Whys he stargazing at a time like this?" She asked pressing on.
"Whenever I had felt like the weight of the world was pressing on my shoulders I watched the stars. It never seemed that bad when you consider the universe in relation to it," Diss whispered softly, as if it were some secret. Kid watched Patrick in a new light. The man would shoulder everything he had to get the job done, and if it meant his death he was fine with that, so long as his friends lived.
"Mate, why is he so hung up on his shiela," Kid asked.
"Christy, is special. A long time ago we fell in love with a fellow student who was training with us. The problem was that she died after our brother attacked the facility we were staying at. He killed her and our mentor in the same battle," Diss looked down his throat tightening.
"I'm sorry mate, sounds like everything went ta hell at once," Kid replied.
Diss shook his head, "No, that was just a test. Everything went to hell seven years later. Even now I don't think I'm ready to talk about it." With that said, Diss simply got up walking off to his tent where he laid down. Kid stared at Patrick watching as he finally got up. With a shrug of his shoulders the over shirt he wore as a jacket fell down to his empty hands. In a practiced maneuver he tied the shirt around his waist and kicked the dragon staff up to his open hand. The staff caught fire and slowly shrank. With a flick of his wrist the glowing fireball in his hand disappeared. He slowly turned and walked to his tent.
"Mate, ya ok?" Kid asked him.
"No, I don't know if anything will ever be ok again," Patrick said walking on without a second glance at her. He seemed so much colder now than a few days ago when he had been so full of energy and had a grasp of what was right. Kid felt pity for him, it seemed like the man was always being tested and kept trying to please everyone at the same time.
"Mate?" Kid asked unsure what she had to say.
"What?" Patrick replied spinning to face her a look of extreme irritation on his face.
"I think everything's going to turn out fine now, ya got everything under control," She said before she realized it.
"For all of our sake's I hope so Kid, I really hope so," with that he walked straight to the farthest tent in the camp. He climbed in and collapsed on his roll. That was the last thing she saw but she could hear the silent sobs as Patrick slowly went to sleep.
~*~
Steena sat silently behind Paul trying to wrap a bandage around his waist. Each time she got close Paul pushed her hand away.
"Come on." Steena said soothingly. "It will feel good." Paul shook his head.
"I want a reminder. Of how stupid things can get in this world." Steena sighed.
"If only you knew." Steena whispered. She tried to wrap the bandage around him again, but Paul persisted. Steena grew angry and got up. She focused her energy as she aimed Paul's head between her hands.
"HIYA!" Steena screamed as she whipped her ankle around with harsh velocity that when it hit Paul's head he stayed in place eyes wide out, and then collapsed onto the sand. Serge looked at Steena and then backed away.
"You're more violent than usual." Serge said quickly jogging off to his tent.
"The faster we rescue Paul, the faster I keep my sanity."
~*~
"Interesting, most interesting," The man said softly looking at the screen.
"What could possibly be interesting about this entire situation?" Lynx asked irritated.
"Patrick, he's remembering his past," The man said slowly watching.
"Didn't he do that already?" Lynx asked dumbfounded.
"If you actually took the time to read the file you'll realize that these people have two pasts, before the Aryans and after the Aryans. Patrick has begun to regress back into his Pre-Aryan form. I suggest we up security at the Dead Sea, otherwise it may be too late to take him out," He said matter of factly. Lynx stared at him dumbfounded.
"I thought that was impossible." He muttered softly.
"Only in rare cases can a person regain what the Aryan's took. Fetch me Belthazar now!" He yelled.
"Why could you possibly want that old man?" Lynx muttered turning to do as he was told.
"All in good time my apprentice, all in good time."
Lynx spun on his heels and snarled, "I'm no one's apprentice. I am second to no one and no one can truly beat me! How dare you!"
"You are nothing compared to me Lynx, now if your nice I will let you even be my avatar," The man said slyly.
"I answer to no one but the FATE computer system!" Lynx blared at the man. The man merely laughed at him as if Lynx had said a funny joke.
"My dear, dear Lynx. You really are entertaining. The FATE computer system is nothing compared to me. I am Fate herself. The divine goddess that predetermined everything from the disbelief that you are now feeling to the anger that is starting to surge through your veins. I am larger than you could ever imagine!" Fate said laughing harder and harder.
"You know all? Then how come they have been beating us back at every turn? How do they keep winning against all the odds? Explain this almighty 'goddess'" Lynx said tersely.
"These impudent mortals challenge my authority. They cut the puppet strings a long time ago when they decided to fight me. I can't control them anymore, but I can tell what they will do next. Even more so now, since I reattached my puppet strings to a special lucky puppet. Now fetch me Belthazar otherwise I will have to activate the backup Biological Component of this sad excuse for a computer, since its current one will face death personally," Fate said ice slowly filtering into his voice until Lynx shivered from the gaze he was given. He turned and left wondering what had possessed him to go against Fate, Lynx clearly wasn't powerful enough to take him face to face. Even more Fate had flat out blocked every probe Lynx had made into his mind. It was as if Fate didn't exist.
"If you truly are the Goddess Fate, then we are all in trouble," Lynx muttered as he started his journey to Termina.
~*~
Patrick awoke with a groan clutching his head tightly. He felt like he was hung over and sluggish as he went about waking up. After shrugging on his shirt jacket he got out of the tent. A small fire had been started and a couple of the group members were huddled around it warming themselves from the chilly morning. He merely walked off to the forest as he shook his head. The headache hadn't subsided, and he felt in desperate need of aspirin. Leaning against a tree trunk he rested until it started subsiding. As he took inventory of himself he heard laughter from the campfire.
It cut through him like a knife. He grimaced as his head exploded into a new form of pain. He clutched his head tightly as he made his way back to the group. Something was horribly wrong, and he knew it. He had never felt these headaches before, now they seemed to be a permanent attachment to his life. He remembered distantly seeing the others look at him.
"H-h-h-h-help" He managed before he collapsed. He could hear their voices, their concern for him. Telling him everything was all right. Somebody started grabbing his feet while another grabbed his shoulders carrying him to a tent. The last thing he saw was somebody hunched over him checking him for wounds before he blacked out. Then the nightmares began.
"So, I am a person not from this world." Paul said out loud. "SWEET!" Steena laughed. She was excited that she had A Paul. It wasn't the Paul she loved, but it would do for now.
"Wait! It's all coming back now!" Shaun said happily. "The Aryan's, the storm! EVERYTHING!" Shaun said remembering his entire past. Both Diss' smiled. Paul however remained quiet.
"I think I know what's going on!" He said after a long moment of awkward silence.
"What?" Clone Diss asked.
"This guy created clones of us and we were placed into different areas. Obviously that means Shaun's in an area full of rocks." Everyone stared at Paul.
"How do you know that?" Steena asked.
"My logic!" Paul said smiling. Everyone just laughed as they relaxed.
"The most logical place would ave ta be Gaea's Navel!" Kid said happily.
"So we'll head there." Steena said sternly.
"Right!" Everyone said excitedly.
~*~
"Face it mortal fool." The man said coldly steeping on Dave's head forcing it into the ground. "You can't defeat me." Dave couldn't get up as he tried every trick he could.
"LET HIM GO!" Leah shouted flying from the top of the tree. The man laughed as he blasted a high impact blow to Leah's stomach with his hand. Dave ripped The man's foot off and tried to slam him, but was hit with a dagger's hilt.
"Eh.out numbered." Dave muttered to himself. He managed to lift a rock but to no use did the rock become as The man kicked Dave in the head.
"Try all you want. You will never defeat me." The man began to laugh as he saw Dave try to get up.
"UGABOOGA!" Leah screamed as she jumped onto The man's back clamping him in a sleeper hold.
"Gah!" The man said flailing his arms. He managed to get a grasp of Leah's head and he screamed loudly surging with electricity.
"WHAA!" Leah shouted as she jumped off The man's back. She failed to get up from the shock as she slumped to the ground.
"Now for your doom." The man said coldly as he kicked Dave so hard he fell unconscious.
~*~
"Well, this is it. Shaun.do your thing." Shaun nodded as he gladly did what Steena told him to do. He began to make the rocks bend as he pleased when suddenly Paul stopped him.
"Convenient path dead ahead." He commented pointing to a pre-made path.
"Nice call." Kid said brushing up against Paul's shoulder.
Everyone climbed up the path and the moment they were at the top they saw Shaun. He was on the ground before Lynx, The man and Christy. The man raised his sword high above his head ready to bring the blow that would end Shaun's life. Both Dissingers growled, looking at each other then nodding rushing the scene. Everyone chased after them getting ready to fight by drawing their weapons.
"I'll take left," Diss muttered.
"And I have right," Patrick said as they tackled their targets. Lynx went down under Patrick's weight, and The man fell under Diss'. Both rolled off their targets and simultaneously stretched their hands out. Slowly their hands glowed as strips of fire appeared. The flame expanded and eventually went out both holding dragon staffs. The clone of Shaun knelt beside his counterpart checking on him as Paul and Steena stood between them and the enemy party. Patrick stepped forward.
"Lynx, it ends here. You and me right now!" He said issuing a challenge. Lynx looked at Patrick and grinned.
"If you have a death wish I am more than willing to comply," He said the glare and tone matching the coldest of glaciers. Patrick stepped forward the other Diss put a hand on his shoulder.
"Listen man, you don't have to prove anything. Calm down," He said softly so only Patrick could hear him. He merely shrugged him off.
"Watch and learn. He has something we hold very dear," Patrick mumbled stepping forward. He quickly cracked his knuckles and neck stretching. The others watch dumbfounded as Lynx stepped forward his scythe slung lightly over his left shoulder as if amused at his opponent. Patrick stepped forward toe to toe with Lynx staring right into his eyes. "Ready pussycat?" he said pushing Lynx back. Lynx's only reply was a snarl and a vicious slash of his scythe. Patrick quickly locked up his with Lynx's. The man and Christy backed of as Patrick forced Lynx to back off by counter attacking. The two seemed evenly matched until late in the fight Lynx backed up to Christy. With a sudden maneuver he quickly grabbed her putting the scythe to her throat.
"Lynx what the hell do you think your doing?" Christy yelled outraged by the betrayal.
"Saving my skin," Lynx said grimly. Patrick froze where he was. The other Diss tensed watching to see if Patrick would push on. Slowly a flame erupted from his shoulders sweeping over his body until he seemed completely encased in flame. The heat radiated from him as his anger was being outlet.
"You coward.if you hurt her-" He began.
"What? You'll be broken just like any other man. I give you a simple choice, her life for my freedom. I will give her to you, but you have to let me go," Lynx said cruelly. The man looked at Lynx clearly outraged.
"The ring too," Patrick said his voice coming out a low growl.
"I don't think so, you either get her, or you get nothing but her cold, dead, corpse," Lynx said pressing the scythe against her skin. She let out a yelp of pain as the scythe cut in just deep enough to cause blood the slowly trickle down in a river to her shirt. Patrick gritted his teeth before nodding. Lynx grabbed something on Christy's waist then pulled the scythe back from her throat throwing her down to the ground. Lynx and The man quickly disappeared leaving Christy there clutching her throat. Diss and Patrick quickly ran to her helping her up. She shrugged them off and put a knife to Patrick's throat. He froze as the others watched on in horror.
"Back off now! I don't need nor do I want, your help. If it weren't for you I would be back with them. You ruined that now! Just back off," She hissed pressing it closer to Patrick's throat. He merely stayed where he was not flinching. She growled low, "You don't think I wont kill you? I've killed many people, you'll just be another name on the long list."
"I know, hell I'm on that list twice," Patrick said nonchalantly.
"Wha-" the distraction was all Patrick needed to grab her arm and twist the knife away putting it behind her back and pinning her to the ground. He pressed his weight on her arm keeping her there. A hiss of anger escaped her lips as she realized what happened.
"I'm sorry baby, I didn't want to do this." Patrick said softly regret filling his voice making it waver.
"I'm not your baby! Now let me go before you-" She was unable to finish her sentence as Steena walked up and put her to sleep with a wave of her hand.
"I thought you would have triggered her memory." She said softly.
Diss watched as Patrick slowly got up he extended his hand. The dragon staff flew up to it as if being drawn by an invisible string. The staff caught fire slowly shrinking until it was a glowing point in his hand, and with a flick of his wrist the glowing point vanished. He finally spoke up, "Back when they first tried to kill me. I noticed Lynx had a necklace on. While fighting it came free of his cloak and I got a good look at it. The necklace has Christy's engagement ring on it. If I'm not the trigger then I'd bet all the money in the world that that's her trigger."
"He has what?" Diss spat out in disbelief. Patrick nodded slowly.
"The ring," Patrick sighed letting it come out as if it had dealt him a physical blow. Diss turned to Patrick and began yelling at him chewing him out about how he could have lost the ring. Patrick turned so he was facing Diss and with one punch silenced his counterpart before speaking his voice coming out as if strained, "It wasn't my fault. We were separated before any of us could do anything. On top of that I couldn't remember what significance the ring was until it was too late. I had to fake my death just so that now I can get her back. And if you ever question my judgment again you will be lucky if a broken jaw is all you get."
"Mates cool it!" Kid said quickly stepping between them as Diss tried to go after Patrick. Diss growled at Patrick who merely turned and picked up Christy carrying her out of Gaea's navel. Shaun picked up his unconscious counterpart as a small girl ran up with her axe.
"You-um put-um Dave-um down!" Leah yelled slashing wildly with her axe. Shaun froze in horror as the girl jumped knocking him down. Everyone watched as she clutched the unconscious Shaun.
"Dave.who in the BLUE hell is Dave?" Paul asked. Dave slowly came to as he the first person he saw was himself.
"Huh?" Dave said slowly. "Am I dead?"
"Far from it." Shaun said taking Dave over to a corner. The two began a long conversation as slowly Dave began to remember his past.
~*~
"YOU MORON!" The man said backhanding Lynx. "YOU STUPID WORTHLESS BEING!" Lynx cowered away from the incoming hit.
"I DID WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE!" Lynx retaliated. "Now we have a bigger issue!" The man was about to choke Lynx when he stopped.
"WHAT IN THE BLUE HELL COULD BE WORSE THAN THIS?" The man blared.
"Think! They have one more person to bring back! So far they have no clue where he is! Let's prepare to stop them from achieving it!" The man growled at Lynx before he helped him up.
"When you're right YOU are right." The man grumbled. Together they planned what to do.
~*~
"So tell me Miguel. Why do you enjoy this obvious hell?" The man said quietly under his pillow.
"My friend Wazuki told me to stay put. So far I have honored him by doing so." Miguel replied.
"Oh." The man said quietly. "I wonder what my name is." The man muttered to himself patting his pet squirrel. "Miguel." The man said again.
"Now what?" Miguel replied annoyed.
"Would you protect me with your life?" The man said quietly. Miguel remained quiet for a moment.
"Yes." He replied quietly.
"Hmm." The man said getting up and leaving.
~*~
"Now we have our memories back, but we are missing someone." Steena said quietly. "Where is he?" Patrick sat next to her.
"Do you know where we can find baboon?" Steena shook her head slowly.
"We checked all the areas he would be at. Maybe if we went to Chronopolis." She offered. Pat nodded alerting the other boat. In her time alone she began to sniffle. "Where are you?" she muttered to herself. She looked up to see Catherine looking at the water smiling.
"Hi-ya!" Catherine said happily.
"Please say you have good news." Steena groaned giving Catherine a hug.
"Nope." Catherine replied quickly.
"Alright let's have it."
"Look at the last place you would expect. A place you thought was gone forever." Steena eyed her carefully. Slowly she began to see a pattern.
"You're helping me!" Steena said happily smiling.
"Der!" Catherine said dumbly.
"A place long gone." Steena muttered. "BUT WHAT?"
"Hey, I did more than sis said I could." Catherine replied hugging Steena and leaving.
"PAT! CHANGE COURSE!" Steena ordered loudly.
"Why?" Pat replied.
"Paul's at the Dead Sea!" Pat shook his head.
"That's crazy. We're going to Chronopolis. Besides, maybe we can restore Christy there." Pat muttered. Steena looked at him in disbelief.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO?" Steena shouted. Patrick turned around.
"Rule One!" Pat replied sternly.
"RULES MY ASS!" Steena shouted back.
"What?" Pat said quizzically.
"RULE FREAKIN THREE! GO IN, GO OUT!" Pat looked down and cursed softly to himself.
"No. My decision is final. Christy first, then Paul." Shaun was over hearing the conversation and exploded on Pat picking him up and holding him close to the water.
"YOU SEE THAT WATER! IF YOU WANT TO LIVE YOU WILL CHANGE COURSE!" Shaun said with force. Diss launched Shaun off him and turned about. He held his staff in hand.
"What's wrong with you Shaun?" The clone Shaun stared blankly with Paul next to him.
"YOU'RE SCREWING PAUL OVER AGAIN! YOU ARE CHOOSING SOMEONE ELSE OVER HIM!" Shaun yelled with all his intimidation.
"I KNOW PAUL IS AT THE DEAD SEA! AND I AM NOT LETTING ANYONE STAND IN MY WAY OF RESCUING PAUL!" Steena said stepping next to Shaun.
"This is bull." Pat muttered kicking the boat.
"I see mutiny in the ranks." Christy said loudly. Pat and Diss glared at her.
"My decision remains final.we're going to Chronopolis." Pat said sternly. Steena grabbed her sword and drew it pointing it at Pat. Patrick looked at the sword and glared at Steena. "You have no idea what you are doing bitch." Steena stepped up to Patrick looking him in the eyes.
"I know damn well what I am doing. And unless you turn this boat around the clone Diss will be the only Diss left in this world." Patrick was about to push Steena away when she kicked him in the groin and backhanded him in the face. Pat was about to retaliate when she kicked again. This time Patrick had enough. He regrouped and threw a fireball at her. Steena covered herself for fear of the burn when she heard a small pitiful grunt from Shaun.
"Owie." Shaun said mockingly. Patrick glared at Shaun when he saw clone Diss step next to him.
"I'm with Pat! CHRISTY THEN PAUL!" Clone Shaun stepped with Steena and Shaun.
"HOW COULD YOU NOT SAVE PAUL AFTER ALL THE TIMES HE SAVED YOU!" Steena blared.
"REVERSE THAT! I SAVED HIS ASS MORE THAN HE SAVED MINE!"
"YOU IGNORANT BAFOON!" Both Shaun's yelled.
"STOP YELLING GOD DAMNIT!" Paul yelled next. "STOP THE FREAKING YELLING!" Everyone looked at Paul as he surged all over with electricity. The sound of thunder bellowed in the background. "DISS OVER THERE!" Paul yelled pointing to a corner. "Steena over there." Paul said getting quieter. Slowly he put everyone in a corner. As best he could. "I WANT ALL OF YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE ABOUT TO DO!" Christy looked at Paul quizzically.
"You do know you just gave them all a time out." Paul nodded.
"Yep." Paul said patting his stomach.
~*~
"Well, well." Lynx muttered. "Looks like we have anger in the ranks." The man laughed with sadistic glee as he sighed sitting down.
"Looks like we won't need to worry about them for awhile. They are either going to come to us, or kill themselves. Either way is fine with me." Lynx laughed taking a seat across The man's.
"We will need to fortify a defense at the Dead Sea." Lynx muttered.
"First the highway, then the snow base."
"I'm thinking insane numbers of monsters."
"Or one really big can of whoop ass." The man said happily.
"Oh this gives me this really nasty idea." Lynx said laughing softly. The man eyed him curiously and then got the same general idea. Both began to laugh loudly with sadistic glee as they got up to start their master plan. Before they left a small ding went off.
"Ou, my noodles are ready." The man said.
~*~
"Why are you so stubborn!" Steena yelled.
"I don't know who died and made you the leader of this group!" retorted Patrick.
"I NEVER WAS A PART OF YOUR LITTLE GROUP!" Steena yelled louder in an annoyed tone. Pat just turned around as Paul walked up behind Steena.
"Allow me." Paul said coldly. He walked up to Pat and smacked the back of his head.
"What was that for?" Pat said rubbing his head.
"Do we have Christy?" Paul said sternly.
"Yes." Pat said dumbly.
"Do we have the real Paul?" Pat shook his head.
"Then why don't we get him first?" Pat sighed.
"Cause Christy is more important than him right now." Pat said in a fatherly tone. Paul glared at Patrick and restrained himself. The boat hit the sand of a small island where everyone debarked and sent up camps. As soon as Diss and Pat were done with theirs they set up a fire.
"Explain why we have to go for Christy first?"
"Because she is more important right now. Why don't you try listening Paul?" Diss replied for Pat. Paul gritted his teeth and closed his fists restraining himself. He turned around and saw Shaun walking very quickly up to Diss. He brushed past Paul and tapped Diss on the shoulder. Diss turned around and Shaun swung his fist hard hitting the temple. Diss fell down unconscious. Pat tackled Shaun and held him down.
"What's gotten into you, huh Shaun?" Shaun head-butted Pat in the face and rolled over mounted on top of Pat. He began to violently punch at Pat when Steena pulled him off.
"BY MORNING YOU WON'T FIND ME HERE!" Shaun said shrugging off Steena's hold.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Pat said wiping his mouth.
"I'm taking a boat, and heading to the Dead Sea." Kid walked up to the forming circle. She looked around and saw Paul deep in thought.
"YOU LEAVE SHAUN AND I'LL KICK YOUR ASS SO HARD!" Pat yelled. Paul stepped up.
"I want to challenge for leadership." Paul said quietly. "It was the rule we made when we all felt that the current leader was not acting in the group's best wishes." Pat laughed scornfully.
"Really, without Christy the rule doesn't go into effect."
"I second the motion." The cloned Shaun said. Diss slowly came to. Kid dragged him off to the side. Shaun stepped up. "I third the motion." Pat looked around and realized his only help was with his clone.
"I refuse. You're all just tired from the trip." Pat began to say.
"If I really were to be your Wife or whatever, I would definatly start looking for another husband. I wouldn't want to relate myself with a coward." Christy taunted. Pat glared at her and he shook his hand causing his staff to summon to his hands. Diss stepped up next to Pat.
"This is a challenge of leadership. Technically I am half the leader." Pat nodded.
"Handicapped match, Paul. Do you think you could really win?" Paul nodded cracking his whole body. He stepped into the circle and dropped to a defensive stance.
Diss swung first with a hard slash to the jaw. Paul dodged and grabbed the staff in the mid section and hurled Diss into Shaun who threw him back. Pat brought his staff around Paul's neck chocking him and he leg-sweeped him onto the sand. Paul managed to role back out of the choke and he brought his knee up in a defensive position to hit Diss in the stomach as he charged at him. The blow knocked Diss off balance and he lost his wind.
"Boy, you gonna pay." Pat muttered as he rolled up onto his feet. Paul attempted a roundhouse that Pat ducked and used his staff to trip Paul under his feet. He crashed on his back and Diss and Pat began stomping and hitting Paul all over. Paul rolled over to the clone Shaun and was kicked over and over again.
"Why doesn't Paul use his magic or Shaun elp him?" Kid asked. Shaun replied hesitantly.
"We can't partake in the fight. And no powers are allowed."
Paul was able to roll between Diss and Pat he jumped up kicking both in the back so they were thrown into Clone Shaun, who in return threw them back. Paul dove in for a knee strike and connected with Pat's skull driving it into the sand. Diss grabbed Paul by the back of the shirt and tossed him into a tree. Pat and Diss began to cut and hit Paul until Paul was no longer able to keep up with the pace. He slumped to the ground and began to wheeze hard. Diss and Pat both backed off breathing heavily.
"You lose. I still rule this group." Diss and Pat said at the same time. Paul glared at them.
"With your blessing or not we're going to the Dead Sea." Paul wheezed heavily. Steena ran to his aid.
"You're right. We are going to the dead sea." Pat said. "That fight proved it." Kid sighed.
"You're all bloody freaks."
~*~
Patrick sat on the beach silently. He looked at the stars getting lost in them as he cleared his head. He had just stopped a challenge for leadership. He limply held onto his dragon staff as he stared at it. The staff had hurt his friend. True he had tried to forcefully take leadership, but he had vowed never to hurt a friend intentionally. He could have done the job without the slashes he had given Paul. That much was certain, but he felt an odd sense of joy with each wound inflicted. Like the idea of killing someone gave him a rush. The thought scared him. He wasn't a senseless murderer. He was Patrick Eric Dissinger, and that name did not translate to murderer. He sighed his shoulders dropping as he felt like a part of him was reawakening. Something from before the Aryan invasion that made him who he was today. He felt a presence from behind and gripped his staff tighter.
"I'm not in the mood for another argument," He said ice filling the void he felt in his voice.
"I'm not here to give one," Thomas' voice came clearly. Patrick Jumped up turning to face his teacher.
"Thomas, what are you doing here?" Patrick managed after his shock.
"My pupil seems to be a bit lost, I thought I'd throw him a map," Thomas replied cryptically.
"Please no riddles right now Thomas," Patrick said rubbing his temple. Fire seemed to light in his head causing him pain.
"Your path wont lead you to Chronopolis yet. If you remembered anything from your last adventure, you'd remember that the path to Chronopolis is through the Dead Sea," Thomas replied. He merely crossed his arms waiting for Patrick to try and contradict him.
"I'm a fool aren't I?" Patrick replied softly.
"Only if you keep rushing in like you have been. Just remember what I told you, so far you haven't gotten anyone killed, but you will at the rate your going," Thomas replied fatherly. Patrick sighed nodding. He was going to reply in agreement when Thomas disappeared. It wasn't like when Christy had, it was abrupt, as if he was there one minute gone the next.
"Thomas?" Patrick said to the now empty beach.
"What's up with him?" Kid asked jerking her thumb over at Patrick sitting on the beach watching the stars. A second ago he had looked like he was talking to someone, but no one was there.
"No idea Kid," Diss replied watching his counterpart.
"Whys he stargazing at a time like this?" She asked pressing on.
"Whenever I had felt like the weight of the world was pressing on my shoulders I watched the stars. It never seemed that bad when you consider the universe in relation to it," Diss whispered softly, as if it were some secret. Kid watched Patrick in a new light. The man would shoulder everything he had to get the job done, and if it meant his death he was fine with that, so long as his friends lived.
"Mate, why is he so hung up on his shiela," Kid asked.
"Christy, is special. A long time ago we fell in love with a fellow student who was training with us. The problem was that she died after our brother attacked the facility we were staying at. He killed her and our mentor in the same battle," Diss looked down his throat tightening.
"I'm sorry mate, sounds like everything went ta hell at once," Kid replied.
Diss shook his head, "No, that was just a test. Everything went to hell seven years later. Even now I don't think I'm ready to talk about it." With that said, Diss simply got up walking off to his tent where he laid down. Kid stared at Patrick watching as he finally got up. With a shrug of his shoulders the over shirt he wore as a jacket fell down to his empty hands. In a practiced maneuver he tied the shirt around his waist and kicked the dragon staff up to his open hand. The staff caught fire and slowly shrank. With a flick of his wrist the glowing fireball in his hand disappeared. He slowly turned and walked to his tent.
"Mate, ya ok?" Kid asked him.
"No, I don't know if anything will ever be ok again," Patrick said walking on without a second glance at her. He seemed so much colder now than a few days ago when he had been so full of energy and had a grasp of what was right. Kid felt pity for him, it seemed like the man was always being tested and kept trying to please everyone at the same time.
"Mate?" Kid asked unsure what she had to say.
"What?" Patrick replied spinning to face her a look of extreme irritation on his face.
"I think everything's going to turn out fine now, ya got everything under control," She said before she realized it.
"For all of our sake's I hope so Kid, I really hope so," with that he walked straight to the farthest tent in the camp. He climbed in and collapsed on his roll. That was the last thing she saw but she could hear the silent sobs as Patrick slowly went to sleep.
~*~
Steena sat silently behind Paul trying to wrap a bandage around his waist. Each time she got close Paul pushed her hand away.
"Come on." Steena said soothingly. "It will feel good." Paul shook his head.
"I want a reminder. Of how stupid things can get in this world." Steena sighed.
"If only you knew." Steena whispered. She tried to wrap the bandage around him again, but Paul persisted. Steena grew angry and got up. She focused her energy as she aimed Paul's head between her hands.
"HIYA!" Steena screamed as she whipped her ankle around with harsh velocity that when it hit Paul's head he stayed in place eyes wide out, and then collapsed onto the sand. Serge looked at Steena and then backed away.
"You're more violent than usual." Serge said quickly jogging off to his tent.
"The faster we rescue Paul, the faster I keep my sanity."
~*~
"Interesting, most interesting," The man said softly looking at the screen.
"What could possibly be interesting about this entire situation?" Lynx asked irritated.
"Patrick, he's remembering his past," The man said slowly watching.
"Didn't he do that already?" Lynx asked dumbfounded.
"If you actually took the time to read the file you'll realize that these people have two pasts, before the Aryans and after the Aryans. Patrick has begun to regress back into his Pre-Aryan form. I suggest we up security at the Dead Sea, otherwise it may be too late to take him out," He said matter of factly. Lynx stared at him dumbfounded.
"I thought that was impossible." He muttered softly.
"Only in rare cases can a person regain what the Aryan's took. Fetch me Belthazar now!" He yelled.
"Why could you possibly want that old man?" Lynx muttered turning to do as he was told.
"All in good time my apprentice, all in good time."
Lynx spun on his heels and snarled, "I'm no one's apprentice. I am second to no one and no one can truly beat me! How dare you!"
"You are nothing compared to me Lynx, now if your nice I will let you even be my avatar," The man said slyly.
"I answer to no one but the FATE computer system!" Lynx blared at the man. The man merely laughed at him as if Lynx had said a funny joke.
"My dear, dear Lynx. You really are entertaining. The FATE computer system is nothing compared to me. I am Fate herself. The divine goddess that predetermined everything from the disbelief that you are now feeling to the anger that is starting to surge through your veins. I am larger than you could ever imagine!" Fate said laughing harder and harder.
"You know all? Then how come they have been beating us back at every turn? How do they keep winning against all the odds? Explain this almighty 'goddess'" Lynx said tersely.
"These impudent mortals challenge my authority. They cut the puppet strings a long time ago when they decided to fight me. I can't control them anymore, but I can tell what they will do next. Even more so now, since I reattached my puppet strings to a special lucky puppet. Now fetch me Belthazar otherwise I will have to activate the backup Biological Component of this sad excuse for a computer, since its current one will face death personally," Fate said ice slowly filtering into his voice until Lynx shivered from the gaze he was given. He turned and left wondering what had possessed him to go against Fate, Lynx clearly wasn't powerful enough to take him face to face. Even more Fate had flat out blocked every probe Lynx had made into his mind. It was as if Fate didn't exist.
"If you truly are the Goddess Fate, then we are all in trouble," Lynx muttered as he started his journey to Termina.
~*~
Patrick awoke with a groan clutching his head tightly. He felt like he was hung over and sluggish as he went about waking up. After shrugging on his shirt jacket he got out of the tent. A small fire had been started and a couple of the group members were huddled around it warming themselves from the chilly morning. He merely walked off to the forest as he shook his head. The headache hadn't subsided, and he felt in desperate need of aspirin. Leaning against a tree trunk he rested until it started subsiding. As he took inventory of himself he heard laughter from the campfire.
It cut through him like a knife. He grimaced as his head exploded into a new form of pain. He clutched his head tightly as he made his way back to the group. Something was horribly wrong, and he knew it. He had never felt these headaches before, now they seemed to be a permanent attachment to his life. He remembered distantly seeing the others look at him.
"H-h-h-h-help" He managed before he collapsed. He could hear their voices, their concern for him. Telling him everything was all right. Somebody started grabbing his feet while another grabbed his shoulders carrying him to a tent. The last thing he saw was somebody hunched over him checking him for wounds before he blacked out. Then the nightmares began.