Chapter 7
Wrongfully Accused
As they reached the outside of Termina they realized something wasn't right. Diss stopped them at the entrance before the Acacia Dragoons that now swarmed the town spotted them.
"Steena you go with Christy and Miguel, get us some supplies and those elements you keep talking about. We're going to set up rooms in the hotel and get people set up for the night. After Steena returns everyone will have the rest of the day to themselves," Diss said authoritatively.
"Why Me, Christy, and Miguel?" Steena asked quietly.
"You know the elements better than anyone here. On top of that Miguel is good help in a fight, and Christy can help you guys avoid a fight if possible. You guys can take anyone on but also avoid trouble if you have to," Diss replied matter-of-factly. Steena nodded getting it. She kissed Paul good-bye then led the other team members to the Element shop.
"Lotsa Dragoons in one area is never a good thing." Paul said quickly walking around the town.
"No, it's not a good thing at all." Shaun said just as uneasily.
"HOLD YOUR TOUNGES." Came the familiar voice to Paul and Shaun.
"Zoah" Kid muttered to Serge.
"BY ORDER OF THE ACACIA DRAGOONS I AM PLACING YOU UNDER ARREST!" The man said with authority. Dragoons surrounded Diss.
"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!" Paul said pushing his way to Diss. "Just what has my client done?"
"He has kidnapped the lady Riddel."
"I don't know any Riddel!" Diss said stupidly.
"Not helpful." Shaun muttered. Diss looked at him. "That's what they all say." Shaun and the other clones got up next to Diss.
"If he goes we go!" Clone Paul said.
"Very well." Said the voice of a small girl.
"If it isn't Marcy." Paul said walking up to her.
"Like, not only did you guys try to kidnap me earlier, but you had the gall to kidnap Lady Riddel. Sir Dario is going to wipe the floors with you. SO THERE!" She finished with her tongue out. Paul grabbed her tongue and kicked a dragoon away. A man with big muscles and a large helmet head butted Paul hard in the back of the head. Paul fell flat unconscious.
"ARREST THEM ALL!" Soon everyone was chained.
"This is never a good thing." Shaun said hopelessly. Clone Shaun nodded.
~*~
"Nothing is quite like buying new elements." Steena said happily. Miguel looked up at the sky.
"Something is wrong." Miguel said focused. Christy nodded.
"I agree, let's head over to the hotel." The three ran to the hotel. Christy was the first to the counter. Behind it was a mid aged woman.
"Would you like a room?" she said happily.
"Did a man with a large party enter here asking for rooms?" Christy said quickly.
"No, but there was a large party arrested by the Acacia Dragoons." Christy thanked the woman.
"We need to get to Viper Manor." She said quickly.
"And why is that?" came a deep voice from a man in the shadows. He had black armor and a black cape. He had blue eyes and blond hair nicely combed.
"Dario." Steena muttered.
"You might have arrested my friends." Christy said explaining.
"Your friends not only assaulted my men, but also kidnapped Lady Riddel. Until you can prove other wise or lightening strikes on a clear day your friends are in my custody. Both I doubt any of you could produce." Dario said coldly. Steena grew angry as she saw Dario leave.
"Man, why is the second one the easiest to do?" Miguel nodded in his frustration.
"It's simple guys. We go and take down whoever stole Riddel and bring her back." Steena and Miguel nodded.
"Let's go." Miguel said. As soon as they left the hotel Steena bumped into a tall muscular man with tattoos over his arms.
"Streaker sorry." He said dumbly. A man half the size of Streaker bumped him over.
"My, my, what A fine specimen. My name is Draken." Steena didn't take the offered hand as Miguel stood next to Steena.
"She's taken. Leave." Draken frowned.
"Well, looks like we'll need to take care of this little problem." Draken slyly pulled out a wand. Before he could use it Miguel was on top of him with a dagger at his throat.
"HELP ME STREAKER!" Draken shouted.
"Um, how?" Draken cursed as Streaker replied. Streaker grabbed Miguel and hurled him off of his friend Draken into a bunch of barrels.
"Good!" Draken said getting up.
"Now what?" Streaker asked dumbly.
"Grab the girl in white and let's go!" Draken ordered.
"Streaker sorry." He said walking up to Steena. "This not hurt."
"Yeah, well this will!" Steena said harshly doing a roundhouse kick to Streaker.
"Ow." Streaker said dumbly not moving. "WHY YOU HURT STREAKER?" Steena looked to Christy hopelessly.
"Put a little more PMS in it!" Christy offered shrugging. Steena nodded.
"HIYA!" Steena kicked so hard the large man fell flat on his back. Draken looked at his downed friend.
"Uh.shit!" He started to run when he stopped.
"You feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders." Christy said evilly. "The strain pulling down on your shoulders as your feet begin to sink into the Earth." Draken began to scream.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!"
"You begin to see the last of the world as your body gets heavier and heavier." Miguel slowly got up and limped next to Steena.
"STOP!" And Draken fell unconscious.
"WOW! THAT'S LIKE A.JUDO MIND TRICK OR SOMETHING!" Miguel said happily. Henry the squirrel popped out of Miguel's hat and went up to Draken. He nibbled around until he found a wallet. Henry opened the wallet and pulled out the cash.
"YOU LITTLE." Steena said shocked as Henry ran up to Miguel and pocketed the money in Miguel's left pocket.
"Now I see why Paul loves this squirrel." Miguel said plainly as they walked out of Termina.
~*~
"I want my lawyer!" Paul screeched. Everyone looked at him except the guards they merely opened the door and threw a barely conscious man into the cell before slamming it. "This isn't my lawyer!"
"Shut up, a man matching two captive's descriptions has kidnapped Lady Riddel. Unless one of them confesses you shall all be hanged. One by one until the true culprit admits to the crime," Came a devilishly cold voice. A tall man with stark white hair, black uniform, and red eyes stepped out of a nearby room.
"Two? Who's the first one?" Paul asked incredulously.
"That man lying before you right now is the first, the other one is that man," the uniformed man said pointing right at Diss. Everyone looked at The man that was lying before them. It could only be one person if Diss was the other look alike.
"Viper.leave them out of this. This is just between you and me," the prone figure said weakly.
"A proud man you are, I would have believed we would have been good friends in another time and place, but now you are the filthy pathetic heartless man I know," Viper spat at the prone man. He got to his feet and glared at Viper flames erupting from his shoulders causing everyone to jump.
Viper glared at the man and snapped his fingers. Zoah and Karsh came out of the room with buckets; they walked to a safe distance from the man and threw the contents of the buckets on him. He howled in pain as steam erupted from his body nearly dropping him to his knees. He gritted his teeth and remained standing the flames still licking his skin.
"Impressive, now stand down before I repeat the process. I don't think you can take four buckets of water in such a short amount of time," Viper said grimly admiration showing in his eyes.
"Let them go, I'm the man you want. Leave them alone!" The man shouted flames hitting the buckets. They instantly ignited under the high heat and burned through showing exactly what The man was.
"I can't do that Patrick, now stop before I have to hose you down," Viper said grimly determined not to admit defeat.
Fire burned in Patrick's eyes brighter than ever, "Bring it!" He let the flames totally engulf him before an old man came out. He said two words in an undecipherable language and Patrick fell to the ground unconscious. Everyone in the room looked at the old man.
"Belthazar, are you sure that was needed?" Viper asked him. He nodded.
"You couldn't have hurt him like that. Any water would instantly evaporate, only causing steam to form and possibly hurt you. I would suggest you set him up for another session, if he had that much energy you didn't get him well enough," Belthazar said slowly.
"Agreed, Karsh, Zoah, play with your 'guest' a little more. He wasn't quite tired yet," Viper order the Devas. They nodded as Zoah opened the cell. Karsh walked in and brandished his axe as Zoah picked up Patrick's limp form and carried him to a door they could not see. Karsh backed up kicking the door closed as he turned to leave a look of satisfaction on his face.
~*~
Patrick looked at his tormentors with a deep hatred as he came around.
"You know the drill, tell us where Riddel is and we might let you live," Karsh said coldly.
Patrick had had enough with words he merely spat hitting Karsh on the cheek.
"Zoah start the hose," Karsh said growling. Zoah hooked up the hose to a small pipe of water. He turned the nozzle and water began to flood the floor that was already damp from last time. "Where is she?"
"I don't know!" He spat at Karsh again this time nearly hitting his eye. He growled lowly reaching for his axe. Zoah put a hand on Karsh's shoulder. Karsh looked up at the giant and shook his head.
"Zoah leave the hose and go. I have an idea," He said looking back at his captive. Zoah left the room not sure what was up. Karsh turned off the hose letting it drain before shoving it in Patrick's mouth. "Where is she?"
Patrick shook his head clearly. Karsh turned on the water causing Patrick to hunch in pain as the hose shot out of his mouth drenching him. He screamed as the water went to work causing his skin to bleed in places, Karsh shut it off.
"Is she in fossil valley?" Karsh asked.
"I don't know!" Patrick replied. Karsh started the hose again stopping after a few seconds of it.
"Is she at the Divine Dragon falls?" He asked again.
"I don't know!" He cried as Karsh watered him down again.
"The Dark Woods?"
"I don't know!"
"Hydra marshes?"
"I don't know!"
"Termina?"
"I said I don't know!"
"God damnit you will tell me if it kills you!" Karsh growled slapping Patrick hard. He turned with the slap to lessen the blow, but it still stung. Patrick looked at Karsh and glared at him water steaming off of him. "You took Riddel from me and I'll be damned if I don't try everything to get her back. You will tell me if I have to beat it out of you!" Karsh roared as he punched Patrick hard in the gut. Patrick sagged the only thing supporting him was the chains. Karsh crouched so he could look into his face. "There is an easier way out of this you know. Just give me a location even if its fake I would have to go away and check it out. You could regain your lost strength. Possibly last out longer. Just say a place and I'll have to check," He said his voice mocking him.
"Go." Patrick said panting.
"Go where?" Karsh said perking up, this maybe it.
"Go. to," Patrick said still trying to catch his breath.
"Where?" Karsh asked impatient.
"Go.to.hell!" Patrick said spitting at Karsh hitting him full in the face.
"You won't see your cell again for the rest of your life, however long that is," Karsh said growling as he turned on the hose and used it to shower Patrick with water. He screamed in pain unable to take more before he slumped. Karsh shut off the water before checking. His pulse was still strong, but he was shallowly breathing. "Rest up boy, you will be dead when I don't have to keep you alive," He growled leaving.
~*~
"Its about time you woke up," came a very familiar voice. Patrick groaned as he heard it. "For a second there I thought you were dead. I guess you're lucky you can regenerate," the voice continued. Patrick's eyes snapped open as he saw the old man standing before him.
"How do you know that?" Patrick snapped. He lunged at the man only to be stopped by his chains, his hands centimeters from the man's throat.
"I know everything about you R-246. Your work as an assassin would make even our champion seem pale. It was too bad your training was erased with your memory wipe. So R-246, may I call you that?" He began rambling.
Patrick lunged at the man. He wanted to tear Belthazar's throat out. He had given him the worst insult anyone could have had. He had reduced him to a mere specimen.
"I'll take that as a no," Belthazar said as he turned his back walking well outside of range. He grabbed a stool and moved it over to where Patrick was chained and sat down. "Well whatever you call yourself, you are the last of your kind. The project failed horribly. I had no control over it at all in the end and the specimens that showed the most promise committed suicide. I told the project leaders that to let them develop like normal humans would be the safest way to insure they fully explore their talents and abilities. Unfortunately my test went awry when one of the specimens died permanently. Thanks to a meddlesome twit that didn't know what he was doing," Belthazar said. Patrick lunged at him nearly tearing the chains from the walls. "I'm sorry did you know her?"
"You know damn well I did!" Patrick growled he lunged for the man again his hands so close to choking Belthazar to death.
"Oh yes.R-247. She did leave you a message. Something like 'I will love you forever.' I really can't tell what she meant by that rubbish but," He was sharply cut off.
"You damn Aryan I'm going to tear your throat out with my teeth! When I get through with you there won't be enough to put in a twelve ounce can let alone a coffin! I'm going to kill you!" Patrick screamed making the Aryan jump.
"First off, my name is Belthazar. Second, acting as if my race is an insult wont get you anything but a serious amount of pain. Third off, as much as I don't doubt you would carry out your threat I don't think I could let you. The project may yet be salvaged and for once my superiors agree. I'm going to tell you a story about a race," Belthazar said softly.
"Yippee-skippee," Patrick mumbled.
"This race was developing faster and quicker than all the races around it. Eventually they discovered beings of pure power. These beings could control anything they pleased. These were the gods all races first worshiped. It would be like what we would be to a cave man. Only these people are even more so. They have transcended physical forms. The race wanted to be more like them and in your race's words they made a deal with the devil. The being they contacted would give them technology fifteen generations farther than possible. The catch was we would have to use that technology to create the perfect 'toy' for this being. The race started learning the technology and eventually they subjugated another race that was on the verge of a technological revolution of their own. They gave them powers and tried to produce the perfect 'toy' one that could fight and still recover from anything. A group of one thousand was gathered. Only one now remains."
"So let me get this straight. The Aryans made a deal with a transcended being promising the ultimate toy in return for technology so far advanced they would have had to advance time fifteen generations. In return said being wanted them to produce a toy, about a thousand people died and I'm the only Human-Aryan hybrid left?" Patrick asked growling it out.
"Essentially," Belthazar nodded.
"Does your race have to try to be this stupid or does it come naturally?" Patrick spat. Belthazar's eyes flared as he sent a mental projection into Patrick. He curled up in pain against the wall. Belthazar continued the torture a few more seconds before letting it go.
"Choose your words carefully pup, because while you may be considered a Master of Fire among your people you haven't even begun to scratch the surface. I could do things to you that would make you wish you had never been born!" Belthazar said ice dripping from his voice.
"I take it you want to wheel and deal with me. Considering you told Viper how to hurt me I don't feel like negotiating," Patrick said bitterly. He remembered the episode all too well. They had imprisoned him for a day beating him cutting him anything to inflict damage. The next morning he would be healed causing the process to repeat. That was until Belthazar showed up. He had a cup of water in his hands and asked if he could show them something. Up until then Patrick hadn't even grunted in pain taking it all. When Belthazar tossed the cup of water in his face he screamed. Since then he had been getting regular treatments of water.
"I needed you weak in order for you to appreciate what I'm offering," Belthazar reached in his robes. Patrick instinctually flinched away from the man only to see he had brought out a small bottle of pills. "You recognize these?"
"How can I not. I need one in order to bathe or shower," Patrick mumbled.
"Good, then I don't have to explain what they do. Now for the deal I will give you back everything you want, People, items, money, ect. In return you agree to help me take down Fate," He said softly.
"You want me to take down the computer? I was going to do that already!" Patrick lunged at the man irritated that the deal was going nowhere.
"No, the computer is practically finished off. I'm talking about the being called Fate," Belthazar said slowly.
"You mean the demi-god you dealt with was the one that could control the lives of every being in the galaxy?" Patrick asked not sure if that was what he was saying.
"Yes, we made a deal with Fate," Belthazar said sadly.
"You realize I'll never be able to kill it now. Its non-corporeal, I can't even hurt the damn thing!" Patrick said still in disbelief.
"You don't have to injure Fate, just entertain him. I will give you Chronopolis and anything else you may require so that you can build a life here. You may leave Chronopolis occasionally but essentially that place will be your prison. That is why the High Command is willing to give you anything you desire," Belthazar said softly.
"Anything I want?" Patrick asked cautiously.
"Anything your heart desires. We can bring anyone back from the dead. We can produce any item you may want. We can give you more power than you could ever-"
"First thing about humans, we passed a series of laws forbidding human test subjects. There was a reason for that. It's called humane treatment, we resent the fact you put us in some test tube and gave us these powers. Second I don't want to see the inside of another testing pod for a long time!"
"Calm down, I was merely asking what you would want," Belthazar said placing a hand on Patrick's shoulder.
"Fine then, you said that you could bring back anyone?" Patrick said softly.
"Anyone from your home world, we have every human's DNA on file at Chronopolis. It would be a simple task to bring them back. Cloning was near perfection when we subjugated your species, and so we used that as the basis of producing the 'game'," Belthazar said proudly.
"So you can make an infinite number of me. I don't care I'm just asking if you can bring back anyone!" Patrick snapped. He hated Aryans and this one wasn't giving him a reason to do contrary.
"Sorry, I got carried away, but yes anyone living or dead from Earth," Belthazar said slowly.
"Awhile ago I had a guardian angel. She protected me until someone finally isolated her from me and killed her. I want her back, I need her again," Patrick said softly.
"You mean out of anything I could give you, you want one person?" Belthazar asked incredulously.
"Money means nothing to me; I grew up where the economy was a barter system. Items mean nothing to me; I move around so much I carry what I need. Most of the people in my lifetime either don't deserve to be resurrected or I don't need right now. I need my guardian angel," Patrick said softly.
Belthazar nodded as he gave him a pill, "This will last you twenty four hours. By then this entire mess will be cleared up. Now who was this person you wanted. I'm going to need their bracelet number."
"Funny you should ask that," Patrick said a small grin passing over his face.
~*~
"GRAHHHHH!" Paul shouted ramming himself into the bars. "Damn bars." He mumbled after he hit his head on them.
"WELL WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?" Diss shouted. "I can melt them, but then that would make it look like we did kidnap that Riddel." Marcy skipped up to the cage.
"Like, guess what!" Marcy said excitedly. Paul looked at Marcy and knelt down to her height.
"You're going to let me out!" Paul said slyly. Marcy shook her head. Before Paul was able to ring her little neck Shaun hit him to the side.
"What," Shaun said annoyed.
"The one called Paul has visitors. They claim to be your.friends..." Marcy looked oddly at Paul who was getting up. Behind Marcy was Lynx and a man covered by a trench coat.
"If it isn't the dynamic duo." Paul muttered.
"Shut up mortal." Lynx hissed knocking out Marcy with a weird pinch that he did to her neck.
"All clones gather around. I'm about to tell you something vitally important." The clones did so. "Good. You're all my creations. My beings. And I can command you to do my will.SO DO SO! KILL SHAUN AND PAUL!" The clones looked at The man stupidly.
"What the hell." Clone Shaun said dryly.
"Judo mind trick?" Paul said evilly. "Those don't work." Paul shot a bolt of electricity at The man. The man stood tall and proud as he took the blast.
"Listen. I didn't come here to be talked down to. I came to make a proposal. If you hand me the heads of the non-clones, I'll let Steena and Christy live. Don't, and they will die. Deal my little clones?" Both Paul's shot at The man clawing at him. "I'll take that as a no." He said coldly. "I'll give you an hour and a half to decide your fate!" The man turned on his heels and left quickly with Lynx closely behind him.
"This is SO NOT COOL!" Paul blared ramming the bars again.
~*~
"Looks like Paul is not happy." Kid said sadly sitting on a tipped over box. Serge nodded.
"No doubt ramming his own body into the bars." Kid chuckled picturing it. They both heard another loud grunt as a body collapsed to the floor above them.
"Yep." Kid said.
"I wonder what will become of us." Serge said sadly.
"No worries mate. They don't have Steena or Miguel or that Christy. They'll bust us out." Serge shook his head.
"Why do I get this feeling something bad will happen whenever you say no worries." Kid frowned and punched Serge on the shoulder. "WELL I DO!"
As they reached the outside of Termina they realized something wasn't right. Diss stopped them at the entrance before the Acacia Dragoons that now swarmed the town spotted them.
"Steena you go with Christy and Miguel, get us some supplies and those elements you keep talking about. We're going to set up rooms in the hotel and get people set up for the night. After Steena returns everyone will have the rest of the day to themselves," Diss said authoritatively.
"Why Me, Christy, and Miguel?" Steena asked quietly.
"You know the elements better than anyone here. On top of that Miguel is good help in a fight, and Christy can help you guys avoid a fight if possible. You guys can take anyone on but also avoid trouble if you have to," Diss replied matter-of-factly. Steena nodded getting it. She kissed Paul good-bye then led the other team members to the Element shop.
"Lotsa Dragoons in one area is never a good thing." Paul said quickly walking around the town.
"No, it's not a good thing at all." Shaun said just as uneasily.
"HOLD YOUR TOUNGES." Came the familiar voice to Paul and Shaun.
"Zoah" Kid muttered to Serge.
"BY ORDER OF THE ACACIA DRAGOONS I AM PLACING YOU UNDER ARREST!" The man said with authority. Dragoons surrounded Diss.
"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!" Paul said pushing his way to Diss. "Just what has my client done?"
"He has kidnapped the lady Riddel."
"I don't know any Riddel!" Diss said stupidly.
"Not helpful." Shaun muttered. Diss looked at him. "That's what they all say." Shaun and the other clones got up next to Diss.
"If he goes we go!" Clone Paul said.
"Very well." Said the voice of a small girl.
"If it isn't Marcy." Paul said walking up to her.
"Like, not only did you guys try to kidnap me earlier, but you had the gall to kidnap Lady Riddel. Sir Dario is going to wipe the floors with you. SO THERE!" She finished with her tongue out. Paul grabbed her tongue and kicked a dragoon away. A man with big muscles and a large helmet head butted Paul hard in the back of the head. Paul fell flat unconscious.
"ARREST THEM ALL!" Soon everyone was chained.
"This is never a good thing." Shaun said hopelessly. Clone Shaun nodded.
~*~
"Nothing is quite like buying new elements." Steena said happily. Miguel looked up at the sky.
"Something is wrong." Miguel said focused. Christy nodded.
"I agree, let's head over to the hotel." The three ran to the hotel. Christy was the first to the counter. Behind it was a mid aged woman.
"Would you like a room?" she said happily.
"Did a man with a large party enter here asking for rooms?" Christy said quickly.
"No, but there was a large party arrested by the Acacia Dragoons." Christy thanked the woman.
"We need to get to Viper Manor." She said quickly.
"And why is that?" came a deep voice from a man in the shadows. He had black armor and a black cape. He had blue eyes and blond hair nicely combed.
"Dario." Steena muttered.
"You might have arrested my friends." Christy said explaining.
"Your friends not only assaulted my men, but also kidnapped Lady Riddel. Until you can prove other wise or lightening strikes on a clear day your friends are in my custody. Both I doubt any of you could produce." Dario said coldly. Steena grew angry as she saw Dario leave.
"Man, why is the second one the easiest to do?" Miguel nodded in his frustration.
"It's simple guys. We go and take down whoever stole Riddel and bring her back." Steena and Miguel nodded.
"Let's go." Miguel said. As soon as they left the hotel Steena bumped into a tall muscular man with tattoos over his arms.
"Streaker sorry." He said dumbly. A man half the size of Streaker bumped him over.
"My, my, what A fine specimen. My name is Draken." Steena didn't take the offered hand as Miguel stood next to Steena.
"She's taken. Leave." Draken frowned.
"Well, looks like we'll need to take care of this little problem." Draken slyly pulled out a wand. Before he could use it Miguel was on top of him with a dagger at his throat.
"HELP ME STREAKER!" Draken shouted.
"Um, how?" Draken cursed as Streaker replied. Streaker grabbed Miguel and hurled him off of his friend Draken into a bunch of barrels.
"Good!" Draken said getting up.
"Now what?" Streaker asked dumbly.
"Grab the girl in white and let's go!" Draken ordered.
"Streaker sorry." He said walking up to Steena. "This not hurt."
"Yeah, well this will!" Steena said harshly doing a roundhouse kick to Streaker.
"Ow." Streaker said dumbly not moving. "WHY YOU HURT STREAKER?" Steena looked to Christy hopelessly.
"Put a little more PMS in it!" Christy offered shrugging. Steena nodded.
"HIYA!" Steena kicked so hard the large man fell flat on his back. Draken looked at his downed friend.
"Uh.shit!" He started to run when he stopped.
"You feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders." Christy said evilly. "The strain pulling down on your shoulders as your feet begin to sink into the Earth." Draken began to scream.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!"
"You begin to see the last of the world as your body gets heavier and heavier." Miguel slowly got up and limped next to Steena.
"STOP!" And Draken fell unconscious.
"WOW! THAT'S LIKE A.JUDO MIND TRICK OR SOMETHING!" Miguel said happily. Henry the squirrel popped out of Miguel's hat and went up to Draken. He nibbled around until he found a wallet. Henry opened the wallet and pulled out the cash.
"YOU LITTLE." Steena said shocked as Henry ran up to Miguel and pocketed the money in Miguel's left pocket.
"Now I see why Paul loves this squirrel." Miguel said plainly as they walked out of Termina.
~*~
"I want my lawyer!" Paul screeched. Everyone looked at him except the guards they merely opened the door and threw a barely conscious man into the cell before slamming it. "This isn't my lawyer!"
"Shut up, a man matching two captive's descriptions has kidnapped Lady Riddel. Unless one of them confesses you shall all be hanged. One by one until the true culprit admits to the crime," Came a devilishly cold voice. A tall man with stark white hair, black uniform, and red eyes stepped out of a nearby room.
"Two? Who's the first one?" Paul asked incredulously.
"That man lying before you right now is the first, the other one is that man," the uniformed man said pointing right at Diss. Everyone looked at The man that was lying before them. It could only be one person if Diss was the other look alike.
"Viper.leave them out of this. This is just between you and me," the prone figure said weakly.
"A proud man you are, I would have believed we would have been good friends in another time and place, but now you are the filthy pathetic heartless man I know," Viper spat at the prone man. He got to his feet and glared at Viper flames erupting from his shoulders causing everyone to jump.
Viper glared at the man and snapped his fingers. Zoah and Karsh came out of the room with buckets; they walked to a safe distance from the man and threw the contents of the buckets on him. He howled in pain as steam erupted from his body nearly dropping him to his knees. He gritted his teeth and remained standing the flames still licking his skin.
"Impressive, now stand down before I repeat the process. I don't think you can take four buckets of water in such a short amount of time," Viper said grimly admiration showing in his eyes.
"Let them go, I'm the man you want. Leave them alone!" The man shouted flames hitting the buckets. They instantly ignited under the high heat and burned through showing exactly what The man was.
"I can't do that Patrick, now stop before I have to hose you down," Viper said grimly determined not to admit defeat.
Fire burned in Patrick's eyes brighter than ever, "Bring it!" He let the flames totally engulf him before an old man came out. He said two words in an undecipherable language and Patrick fell to the ground unconscious. Everyone in the room looked at the old man.
"Belthazar, are you sure that was needed?" Viper asked him. He nodded.
"You couldn't have hurt him like that. Any water would instantly evaporate, only causing steam to form and possibly hurt you. I would suggest you set him up for another session, if he had that much energy you didn't get him well enough," Belthazar said slowly.
"Agreed, Karsh, Zoah, play with your 'guest' a little more. He wasn't quite tired yet," Viper order the Devas. They nodded as Zoah opened the cell. Karsh walked in and brandished his axe as Zoah picked up Patrick's limp form and carried him to a door they could not see. Karsh backed up kicking the door closed as he turned to leave a look of satisfaction on his face.
~*~
Patrick looked at his tormentors with a deep hatred as he came around.
"You know the drill, tell us where Riddel is and we might let you live," Karsh said coldly.
Patrick had had enough with words he merely spat hitting Karsh on the cheek.
"Zoah start the hose," Karsh said growling. Zoah hooked up the hose to a small pipe of water. He turned the nozzle and water began to flood the floor that was already damp from last time. "Where is she?"
"I don't know!" He spat at Karsh again this time nearly hitting his eye. He growled lowly reaching for his axe. Zoah put a hand on Karsh's shoulder. Karsh looked up at the giant and shook his head.
"Zoah leave the hose and go. I have an idea," He said looking back at his captive. Zoah left the room not sure what was up. Karsh turned off the hose letting it drain before shoving it in Patrick's mouth. "Where is she?"
Patrick shook his head clearly. Karsh turned on the water causing Patrick to hunch in pain as the hose shot out of his mouth drenching him. He screamed as the water went to work causing his skin to bleed in places, Karsh shut it off.
"Is she in fossil valley?" Karsh asked.
"I don't know!" Patrick replied. Karsh started the hose again stopping after a few seconds of it.
"Is she at the Divine Dragon falls?" He asked again.
"I don't know!" He cried as Karsh watered him down again.
"The Dark Woods?"
"I don't know!"
"Hydra marshes?"
"I don't know!"
"Termina?"
"I said I don't know!"
"God damnit you will tell me if it kills you!" Karsh growled slapping Patrick hard. He turned with the slap to lessen the blow, but it still stung. Patrick looked at Karsh and glared at him water steaming off of him. "You took Riddel from me and I'll be damned if I don't try everything to get her back. You will tell me if I have to beat it out of you!" Karsh roared as he punched Patrick hard in the gut. Patrick sagged the only thing supporting him was the chains. Karsh crouched so he could look into his face. "There is an easier way out of this you know. Just give me a location even if its fake I would have to go away and check it out. You could regain your lost strength. Possibly last out longer. Just say a place and I'll have to check," He said his voice mocking him.
"Go." Patrick said panting.
"Go where?" Karsh said perking up, this maybe it.
"Go. to," Patrick said still trying to catch his breath.
"Where?" Karsh asked impatient.
"Go.to.hell!" Patrick said spitting at Karsh hitting him full in the face.
"You won't see your cell again for the rest of your life, however long that is," Karsh said growling as he turned on the hose and used it to shower Patrick with water. He screamed in pain unable to take more before he slumped. Karsh shut off the water before checking. His pulse was still strong, but he was shallowly breathing. "Rest up boy, you will be dead when I don't have to keep you alive," He growled leaving.
~*~
"Its about time you woke up," came a very familiar voice. Patrick groaned as he heard it. "For a second there I thought you were dead. I guess you're lucky you can regenerate," the voice continued. Patrick's eyes snapped open as he saw the old man standing before him.
"How do you know that?" Patrick snapped. He lunged at the man only to be stopped by his chains, his hands centimeters from the man's throat.
"I know everything about you R-246. Your work as an assassin would make even our champion seem pale. It was too bad your training was erased with your memory wipe. So R-246, may I call you that?" He began rambling.
Patrick lunged at the man. He wanted to tear Belthazar's throat out. He had given him the worst insult anyone could have had. He had reduced him to a mere specimen.
"I'll take that as a no," Belthazar said as he turned his back walking well outside of range. He grabbed a stool and moved it over to where Patrick was chained and sat down. "Well whatever you call yourself, you are the last of your kind. The project failed horribly. I had no control over it at all in the end and the specimens that showed the most promise committed suicide. I told the project leaders that to let them develop like normal humans would be the safest way to insure they fully explore their talents and abilities. Unfortunately my test went awry when one of the specimens died permanently. Thanks to a meddlesome twit that didn't know what he was doing," Belthazar said. Patrick lunged at him nearly tearing the chains from the walls. "I'm sorry did you know her?"
"You know damn well I did!" Patrick growled he lunged for the man again his hands so close to choking Belthazar to death.
"Oh yes.R-247. She did leave you a message. Something like 'I will love you forever.' I really can't tell what she meant by that rubbish but," He was sharply cut off.
"You damn Aryan I'm going to tear your throat out with my teeth! When I get through with you there won't be enough to put in a twelve ounce can let alone a coffin! I'm going to kill you!" Patrick screamed making the Aryan jump.
"First off, my name is Belthazar. Second, acting as if my race is an insult wont get you anything but a serious amount of pain. Third off, as much as I don't doubt you would carry out your threat I don't think I could let you. The project may yet be salvaged and for once my superiors agree. I'm going to tell you a story about a race," Belthazar said softly.
"Yippee-skippee," Patrick mumbled.
"This race was developing faster and quicker than all the races around it. Eventually they discovered beings of pure power. These beings could control anything they pleased. These were the gods all races first worshiped. It would be like what we would be to a cave man. Only these people are even more so. They have transcended physical forms. The race wanted to be more like them and in your race's words they made a deal with the devil. The being they contacted would give them technology fifteen generations farther than possible. The catch was we would have to use that technology to create the perfect 'toy' for this being. The race started learning the technology and eventually they subjugated another race that was on the verge of a technological revolution of their own. They gave them powers and tried to produce the perfect 'toy' one that could fight and still recover from anything. A group of one thousand was gathered. Only one now remains."
"So let me get this straight. The Aryans made a deal with a transcended being promising the ultimate toy in return for technology so far advanced they would have had to advance time fifteen generations. In return said being wanted them to produce a toy, about a thousand people died and I'm the only Human-Aryan hybrid left?" Patrick asked growling it out.
"Essentially," Belthazar nodded.
"Does your race have to try to be this stupid or does it come naturally?" Patrick spat. Belthazar's eyes flared as he sent a mental projection into Patrick. He curled up in pain against the wall. Belthazar continued the torture a few more seconds before letting it go.
"Choose your words carefully pup, because while you may be considered a Master of Fire among your people you haven't even begun to scratch the surface. I could do things to you that would make you wish you had never been born!" Belthazar said ice dripping from his voice.
"I take it you want to wheel and deal with me. Considering you told Viper how to hurt me I don't feel like negotiating," Patrick said bitterly. He remembered the episode all too well. They had imprisoned him for a day beating him cutting him anything to inflict damage. The next morning he would be healed causing the process to repeat. That was until Belthazar showed up. He had a cup of water in his hands and asked if he could show them something. Up until then Patrick hadn't even grunted in pain taking it all. When Belthazar tossed the cup of water in his face he screamed. Since then he had been getting regular treatments of water.
"I needed you weak in order for you to appreciate what I'm offering," Belthazar reached in his robes. Patrick instinctually flinched away from the man only to see he had brought out a small bottle of pills. "You recognize these?"
"How can I not. I need one in order to bathe or shower," Patrick mumbled.
"Good, then I don't have to explain what they do. Now for the deal I will give you back everything you want, People, items, money, ect. In return you agree to help me take down Fate," He said softly.
"You want me to take down the computer? I was going to do that already!" Patrick lunged at the man irritated that the deal was going nowhere.
"No, the computer is practically finished off. I'm talking about the being called Fate," Belthazar said slowly.
"You mean the demi-god you dealt with was the one that could control the lives of every being in the galaxy?" Patrick asked not sure if that was what he was saying.
"Yes, we made a deal with Fate," Belthazar said sadly.
"You realize I'll never be able to kill it now. Its non-corporeal, I can't even hurt the damn thing!" Patrick said still in disbelief.
"You don't have to injure Fate, just entertain him. I will give you Chronopolis and anything else you may require so that you can build a life here. You may leave Chronopolis occasionally but essentially that place will be your prison. That is why the High Command is willing to give you anything you desire," Belthazar said softly.
"Anything I want?" Patrick asked cautiously.
"Anything your heart desires. We can bring anyone back from the dead. We can produce any item you may want. We can give you more power than you could ever-"
"First thing about humans, we passed a series of laws forbidding human test subjects. There was a reason for that. It's called humane treatment, we resent the fact you put us in some test tube and gave us these powers. Second I don't want to see the inside of another testing pod for a long time!"
"Calm down, I was merely asking what you would want," Belthazar said placing a hand on Patrick's shoulder.
"Fine then, you said that you could bring back anyone?" Patrick said softly.
"Anyone from your home world, we have every human's DNA on file at Chronopolis. It would be a simple task to bring them back. Cloning was near perfection when we subjugated your species, and so we used that as the basis of producing the 'game'," Belthazar said proudly.
"So you can make an infinite number of me. I don't care I'm just asking if you can bring back anyone!" Patrick snapped. He hated Aryans and this one wasn't giving him a reason to do contrary.
"Sorry, I got carried away, but yes anyone living or dead from Earth," Belthazar said slowly.
"Awhile ago I had a guardian angel. She protected me until someone finally isolated her from me and killed her. I want her back, I need her again," Patrick said softly.
"You mean out of anything I could give you, you want one person?" Belthazar asked incredulously.
"Money means nothing to me; I grew up where the economy was a barter system. Items mean nothing to me; I move around so much I carry what I need. Most of the people in my lifetime either don't deserve to be resurrected or I don't need right now. I need my guardian angel," Patrick said softly.
Belthazar nodded as he gave him a pill, "This will last you twenty four hours. By then this entire mess will be cleared up. Now who was this person you wanted. I'm going to need their bracelet number."
"Funny you should ask that," Patrick said a small grin passing over his face.
~*~
"GRAHHHHH!" Paul shouted ramming himself into the bars. "Damn bars." He mumbled after he hit his head on them.
"WELL WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?" Diss shouted. "I can melt them, but then that would make it look like we did kidnap that Riddel." Marcy skipped up to the cage.
"Like, guess what!" Marcy said excitedly. Paul looked at Marcy and knelt down to her height.
"You're going to let me out!" Paul said slyly. Marcy shook her head. Before Paul was able to ring her little neck Shaun hit him to the side.
"What," Shaun said annoyed.
"The one called Paul has visitors. They claim to be your.friends..." Marcy looked oddly at Paul who was getting up. Behind Marcy was Lynx and a man covered by a trench coat.
"If it isn't the dynamic duo." Paul muttered.
"Shut up mortal." Lynx hissed knocking out Marcy with a weird pinch that he did to her neck.
"All clones gather around. I'm about to tell you something vitally important." The clones did so. "Good. You're all my creations. My beings. And I can command you to do my will.SO DO SO! KILL SHAUN AND PAUL!" The clones looked at The man stupidly.
"What the hell." Clone Shaun said dryly.
"Judo mind trick?" Paul said evilly. "Those don't work." Paul shot a bolt of electricity at The man. The man stood tall and proud as he took the blast.
"Listen. I didn't come here to be talked down to. I came to make a proposal. If you hand me the heads of the non-clones, I'll let Steena and Christy live. Don't, and they will die. Deal my little clones?" Both Paul's shot at The man clawing at him. "I'll take that as a no." He said coldly. "I'll give you an hour and a half to decide your fate!" The man turned on his heels and left quickly with Lynx closely behind him.
"This is SO NOT COOL!" Paul blared ramming the bars again.
~*~
"Looks like Paul is not happy." Kid said sadly sitting on a tipped over box. Serge nodded.
"No doubt ramming his own body into the bars." Kid chuckled picturing it. They both heard another loud grunt as a body collapsed to the floor above them.
"Yep." Kid said.
"I wonder what will become of us." Serge said sadly.
"No worries mate. They don't have Steena or Miguel or that Christy. They'll bust us out." Serge shook his head.
"Why do I get this feeling something bad will happen whenever you say no worries." Kid frowned and punched Serge on the shoulder. "WELL I DO!"