Chapter 15
What does not kill you...
Steena walked into Paul's room where he was sleeping. As soon as she entered his eyes shot open.
"How you feeling?" Steena asked.
"Tired." Paul replied. Paul tried to get up for Steena before she pushed him down and sat next to him.
"Maybe you wouldn't be so tired if you didn't get so crazy in the cage!" Steena said angrily. Paul looked at her.
"You do know that he wanted the challenge." Paul stammered. Steena sighed and rolled her eyes. She laid down next to Paul and stared at the ceiling. Paul cuddled next to her and placed one arm around her waist. Steena wanted to hold his hand but she pushed Paul away.
"You can't just think by kissing or hugging me we can get back together! You did cheat on me ya know!" Steena said getting out of the bed. Paul looked at Steena and blinked. Steena turned on her heel and left the room with tears filling in her eyes.
"Yet another success in the world of Pauliville?" Miguel asked walking in with Henry on his hat as usual. Henry chipped in his two cents by squeaking quickly.
"Yep. Steena still seems to be pissed about something.." Paul said.
"Want to know how Pierre is?" Miguel asked trying to change the subject.
"Nope. Could care less about him. He asked for the hell he went through." Paul said accusingly. Miguel sat in a chair.
"It was fun to see you beat Pierre, but after awhile it got kinda gross.." Paul laughed.
"Wish you could have seen it. The look on Pierre's face was priceless." Paul said laughing some more.
".." Miguel remained quiet but quickly spoke up. "You enjoyed inflicting nearly fatal injuries on that man?" Miguel seemed disgusted as he said those words.
"Well..I won't lie." Miguel eyed him. "Yeah, I did." Miguel sighed.
"Maybe you and I should take some time to get to know each other." Paul nodded.
~*~
"No my master I wasn't goofing off. I really did try to kill the irrational one." Miki tried to explain.
"SILENCE!" A cold harsh voice rang out. Miki was alone in her room looking into the record of FATE. "Twice I have asked you to eliminate Paul. If he stands alive and healthy then I can't play with my toy!" The cold voice sent chills down Miki's spine.
"I will try to poison his drinks tonight.." Miki said quietly.
"YOU FOOL!" the voice was very loud this time that Miki stepped back. "HE IS IMMUNE FROM THE BEING THAT INHABITS HIM!" Miki didn't understand.
"How?" Miki asked. "My family poison has always worked.." Before she finished the cold voice was silent. Soon she felt a very hard, cold hand backhand her.
"MUST I EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO YOU CHILD?" Miki rubbed her jaw looking at the record of FATE with complete fear. "He and his friends are possessed by Hosts. Beings that feed off their energy and in return protect them. You can't poison them because the being will dilute anything they drink!" Miki remained quiet. "AND WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT CHAMPION YOU CHOSE?" Miki sighed.
"He lied to me, I am sorry." Miki flinched as the record remained quiet.
"Speak your mind.." The voice said tiredly.
"How do you kill this man?" Miki asked. The voice remained quiet.
"You must just simply kill him." The voice said quickly after a moment.
"That is not enough my master.." Miki pleaded. "He is unlike anything I ever tried to assassinate on my own." The voice remained cold and quiet. Miki's back shivered from the odd silence. Soon she could feel another presence behind her. She turned around to see a figure with a hood covering its face. Miki eyed it in suspicion.
"That is the means of your help. Get Paul alone in a chamber with this figure and you shall have no more worries. My minion, remove your mask.." The voice hissed. The figure did so to reveal a very scruffy looking man in his twenties also holding a halberd that looked much fiercer than Paul's and a red sword strapped to his waist. Another presence appeared behind him from the shadows. It was a tall figure with whiskers.
"Lynx, make sure our friend gets to fight Paul with no interruptions. He must not interfere." Lynx nodded once.
"I hope you have lifeboats, because your precious boat will go down in flames if I get my way.." Lynx bated under his breath to Miki. Lynx held forth one of his hands and countless shadow cats began to appear behind him. After awhile Lynx put his hand down and opened the door. Soon the cats were gone. Miki looked at the record.
"What is going to happen to my boat?" Miki asked worried.
"Nothing..You won't even remember this.." And Miki felt a dark cloud fill her mind before she collapsed. Lynx moved her to a couch and tossed her onto it. The voice spoke again.
"Don't let anything interfere in that match!" The voice hissed. Lynx nodded following the last of his escort shadow cats. The voice grew quieter.
"Go Vladimir, go and Kill your master.." And the voice left. Vladimir turned on a heel and walked out.
~*~
Patrick was walking to his room when he heard a sob. Frowning he went towards the noise when he heard a cold voice,
"Don't let anything interfere with that match!" Patrick quickly ducked into a nearby room, which was empty at the moment. He watched through the crack as he saw Lynx walk with shadow cat escorts. White hot rage burned into him as he saw Lynx. His hand twitched violently as he blindly put on his gloves. He was about to storm out when he saw Samantha come down from the top deck.
He froze for a second and looked down at his hands. He knew she wouldn't approve. Furthermore he didn't want her to see him truly angry. He still felt jittery from their kiss on the top deck, and he didn't want to lose her now that there was a chance they could reunite. He watched Lynx disappear down the hallway and cursed. Once Samantha was out of sight he left the room in the direction of Lynx.
~*~
Sam hummed a small song to herself as she entered her room. She couldn't help but smile at herself and how the night had turned out. Patrick still loved her, not only because he had told her, but also because she felt it in the kiss. She sighed as she fell on the bed,
"Maybe I won't be so lonely anymore.."
~*~
Patrick gently cracked his hands and his neck. As he crept forward he waited in the shadows, leaving his staff unsummoned. He listened carefully as Lynx spoke to the cats,
"Kill the Earthers, but leave the native. She may come in handy later."
Patrick tensed himself. He couldn't let his clone get killed. Christy would kill him and He couldn't stay with Samantha anymore, since the other world NEEDED at least one Dissinger in order to go on.
"Go now while they intoxicate themselves, I'll hunt down the others," Lynx said. The shadow cats swept under the door to the bar and Patrick walked forward. Lynx turned around and smacked right into Patrick. "Seems to me that I have found one," Lynx snarled.
"Seems to me you have," Patrick countered pushing Lynx hard. Lynx flew back sliding on the floor before he stopped himself and returned to a standing state.
"Why can't you be a good boy and die like a normal human!" Lynx spat out.
"You first," Patrick returned. He held his palm face up and a small ball of flame appeared in it. Tossing it upwards he caught it with the same hand continuing to toss the ball in the air.
"Still the child, it seems that you need to be taught reality," Lynx said coldly.
"And it looks like a cat needs to be spayed," Patrick countered. Lynx growled low the sound traveling.
"Mortal you have spoken your last words," and with that he drew his scythe and attacked.
"And you've made your last mistake," Patrick said chucking the fireball. Lynx hit the wall at the far end hard as he tried to deflect it.
Lynx stared at Patrick for a second in disbelief. That fireball was more powerful than it should have been. He started to reconsider his options as he tried to run. Patrick chased him down before he checked Lynx hard.
"WONT YOU STAY!" He yelled as Lynx sailed through the door.
~*~
Samantha lay on the bed hugging a pillow close to her. She felt like she was soaring.
"How do you do it Patrick? How do you make everything seem like the first time all the time?" She asked quietly. She paused as she heard a low growl. Sitting up on the bed she picked up her sword. "What's going on?"
"WONT YOU STAY!" She heard Patrick yell. She had only seen him yell a couple of times back at temple, and both times he had lost his temper. She quickly cursed as she went out of the room. If Patrick used his powers on the ship, it might burn down, and she didn't have any pills to take.
~*~
Shaun looked around with his clone friends and the sky grew very dark. Soon Shaun felt a cold presence nearby. He quickly got up and looked around. All seemed quiet.
"I got it to.." Clone Paul said.
"Ya, something's wrong.." Diss said getting out his staff. Soon shadow cats began pouring out of the shadows.
"AND SO IT BEGINS!" Shaun quickly quipped punching a cat in the nose and grabbing another around the neck and tossing it away. Orlha placed brass knuckles carefully on her hands and casually got out from behind the counter. She dusted herself off and cracked her neck. Then she let a very loud pitch cry and began to beat up shadow cats over to a place by the wall. Shaun and clone Shaun were wrestling as clone Paul was overran by cats. He tried his best to get rid of them but the cats were persistent. Orlha yelled quickly to Shaun,
"CATCH!" and two metal maces were in the sky. Shaun and clone Shaun each grabbed one and looked around.
"Now it gets ugly.." Diss bursted a fire strip at a line of cats knocking them into a group of others. Orlah jumped over the back of a shadow cat and kicked another down off of Paul.
"Thanks." Clone Paul said as he got up and began blasting the place with electricity. Shaun and his clone crushed a sorry cat between their bodies and laughed as the bashed another away. The cat rolled on the floor and didn't get up.
"BRING IT ON PUSSIE CATS!" Diss shouted as he slashed every which way into dozens of cats.
"WON'T YOU STAY?" Patrick yelled enraged as Lynx was blasted through a door.
"Don't mind if I do.." Lynx said getting up casting a black orb at Pat. Orlha grabbed a plate and whipped it at the orb as it broke on contact but enough to stop the attack. Pat nodded to her as he retaliated with a fire ball off his own. Shaun and his clone began tearing up the place as they pasted shadow cats everywhere. Clone Paul was moving very fast. As soon as he saw a clearing he rose into the air. He began to look at which Diss he preferred.
"DISSINGER!" clone Paul shouted. "MEGA FLARE ATTACK!" Diss made his way over to Paul as both Shaun's were begging for more cats. Diss rose in the air with Paul as Diss began to make a small pillar of flame grow larger.
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Lynx shouted tossing his scythe like a boomerang knocking Paul down. Patrick grabbed Lynx from behind and hurled him over his body behind him. Lynx landed on a group of shadow cats as he quickly got up.
"Never a moment alone with myself.." Lynx snarled.
"I'm afraid you might do something nasty." Patrick quipped back as he charged. Lynx grabbed Patrick and tossed him into a table. Then Lynx picked up a barrel full of water. Pat saw the danger before a large fireball destroyed the barrel soaking Lynx.
"Time to fry the kitty.." Paul said evilly as he built up energy. Lynx tried to escape before Shaun grabbed Lynx and bear hugged him from behind. The electricity surged all through Lynx's soaked body causing him to scream loudly. Lynx was able to vanish after awhile of being surged up with power like a Christmas tree. Soon the shadow cats disappeared. Shaun and the others collapsed from exhaustion.
"YOU!" Orlha said walking over to Shaun.
"Yes?" Shaun said breathing hard.
"You aren't what you seem!" She said grabbing Shaun hard by the collar and kissing him. Patrick just got up and left.
"I need to check on the others." He said with a serious tone.
~*~
Kid was lying on the upper decks on a lounge chair relaxing as the night slowly cooled. She shifted her weight slightly on the lounge chair as she looked over at Serge. Serge was looking up at the sky watching the stars. His hand lay lightly on his swallow and Kid finally spoke up,
"You know mate, that thing isn't going ta sprout wings and fly away."
"I know, but I can't shake this bad feeling I have," Serge replied.
"Yeah, well this is a vacation mate yer supposed to relax!" Kid retorted. Serge sighed nodding before he heard a soft hissing. Both looked up and saw a shadow cat inching along the deck towards them.
"Let's relax after we take care of these," Serge said quietly as he got up swallow in hand. The cat sensing that its element of surprise was blown leapt forward. Serge swung the swallow and gutted the cat before dropping into his standard stance. Kid jumped to her feet dagger at ready as they looked around. Suddenly hundreds of eyes seemed to stare at them.
"Mate, cover me," Kid said reaching into the bag behind her back. Serge stood protectively in front of her and charged up an element. The cats watched in a daze before serge called to the heavens with the element dropping meteors on top of them. Most of the cats faded but there was still too many to fight off. It seemed that every one dropped brought hundreds more into the fight. "DUCK!" kid shouted.
Serge instinctively ducked as hundreds of tiny flaming needles flew from Kid's hands. The cats that were hit worse flew into the lesser hit ones causing cat fights to break out among them. "Run!" Serge said pushing Kid to the stairs to the lower decks. Kid broke into a sprint and dove below decks as serge charged up with chi energy. Floating into the air he released all his pent up energy and devastated the shadow cats. As he hit ground he ran for the ladder and slid down below decks.
"Nice shot mate," Kid said looking around.
"You too," Serge replied as he pointed at the ladder to further below deck.
~*~
Paul looked around. Miguel was asleep and Henry was next to Paul cuddling into a ball. Soon a man in a trench coat appeared with a clipboard in front of his face.
"It seems you got a case of serious Deja-Vu." The voice seemed familiar to Paul as he laid in his bed.
"What do you mean?" Paul said quizzically. Soon the clipboard dropped and Paul looked at a man with a face Paul seemed to know.
"Remember me?" The voice said coldly. Miguel woke up only to be shocked with electricity by the evil presence. Henry the squirrel ran to Miguel trying to revive him. Paul got out of bed only to be pasted against the wall next to his Halberd. Paul looked up to see the evil man peer over him.
"You can't be the evil me can you?" Paul asked dumbfounded.
"No, I am just another pawn in the complicated game of chess. And let's just say your about to be killed." Paul didn't like that as he went for his halberd. As soon as he was about to grab it the weapon floated over to the evil man as he grasped a hold of it.
"You got a name or should I call you Bobo the wonder dummy.." Paul said evilly.
"You can call me Vladimir." Paul stopped at the name as a cold shrill went down his spine. Paul already remembered the name well.
Before the invasion of Earth Paul wrote stories, but his stories mostly featured one man. Vladimir Sigma. The most ruthless, evil man Paul could think of. He always won. The good guys could never beat him. Since they never won, Paul's books never got published.
Vladimir glared at Paul.
"I have the gifts you possess, and the gifts that FATE gave me. YOU CAN NOT WIN!" Vlad shouted. Paul felt that he couldn't. Vlad moved over to Paul picking him up and tossing him outside. Paul slowly got up as Vlad stalked over to him. Paul quickly tried to remember Vlad's one main flaw, but he couldn't.
Paul got up only to be blasted by pure dark energy into double doors.
Vlad picked up Paul again and tossed him into the Grand Slam arena. Paul was thrown into the cage by Lynx as Vlad entered it. Lynx locked it shut as he sat down to watch.
"Any last thoughts.." Vlad taunted. Paul got up as he looked for something. What he saw was Steena, who was looking at Paul. Vlad saw Paul's gaze as he turned to look at what Paul was seeing.
"Ah, her.." Vlad said opening his hand. Paul was already on the run as he tackled Vlad down. Lynx looked at Steena and he got up quickly. Steena was too fast as she kicked Lynx right in jaw back to the seat as he slumped unconscious. Vlad got up slowly with Paul as he grabbed Paul's left foot and pulled down tripping up Paul. Steena tried to enter the cage but the lock was too much for her. Paul felt his locket slip out from hiding inside his shirt. 'Hurry girls' Paul thought as he got up. Vlad took out the Halberd and tossed Paul his. Paul grabbed it as he ran towards him and swung it low at Vlad's knees. Vladimir laughed as he tripped Paul up and slashed his back. Paul got up and Vlad eyed the locket.
"I'll take that." Vlad said coldly using his Halberd to grab it. Paul blasted Vlad away as he glared at him.
"No one touches the locket bud!" Paul said coldly. Vladimir got up and he charged at Paul. When they met they did fancy swings with their weapons until Vlad was able to swipe the locket. It was in the air as Vlad grinned about to catch it before Paul checked him hard. Paul bent down to pick it up before he was blasted away by Vlad. Paul scrambled to grab the locket but was too late as Vlad picked it up.
"Nice looking girl right here." He said pointing to Paul's older sister. "A definite keeper.." Vlad said. Paul grew so angry he charged at Vlad.
Steena looked at Paul longing to help him. She was on her way to apologize to Paul before she saw him getting beaten up by this man.
Paul's charge was easily thwarted. Vladimir was too skilled. Too quick on the uptake. He seemed to be the perfect counter to Paul in every which way. Paul got up to be slashed across the back.
"When I am done with this girl in the locket your girlfriend is next!" Vlad hissed into Paul's ear as he kicked Paul down. Paul tried to get up as he was slashed again by the blade. Paul felt the cold blood trickle down his back.
"Give it back.." Paul said hopelessly. Vlad looked at Paul as his grin twisted.
"What will it take to bring the best out in you?" Vlad said dropping the locket. Paul heard the thunk it made and turned to look at it. Soon he saw Vlad's boot crush the locket. Steena gasped as Paul looked at the locket that laid in pieces. Everything in Paul's mind shut down. Vlad grabbed Paul by the collar and tossed him like he was nothing. Paul was unresponsive. He let himself get beaten up as he kept his gaze on the broken locket. Soon Paul felt a sharp stab in his back, but nothing seemed to matter to him. His way of thinking was gone. He felt empty, cold, and helpless.
Vlad looked at Paul. He knew he easily should have killed Paul, but he was shattered, like his spirit was broken or something. He hated this, he wanted the challenge he was promised. Then he turned his gaze to Steena.
"If you won't put up a fight maybe she will.." Vlad said loudly for Paul to hear. He went up to the gate and opened it. Steena was too scared to move as Vlad placed his hands firmly over her arms.
"Oh you're very nicely built . . ." Vlad said whispering in her ear. Steena shivered as Vlad moved in to kiss her neck. Before he was about to pucker up he heard the first noise that made his spine shiver. It was the sound of thunder, more clearer and closer than he ever heard. He turned his gaze to Paul who was up and carefully looking over the locket.
"All gone . . ." Paul said psychotically. "All gone . . . ALL GONE!" Paul said laughing. "LIFE AND ITS MEANING! ALL GONE! ALL GONE! HA, HA, HA! ALL GONE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, VERY IRONIC HOW THINGS LIKE THIS WORK OUT!" Paul said rapidly and psychotically. Steena moved away from Vlad. Vladimir looked at Paul and then reentered the ring.
"Excuse me?" Vlad said. Then Paul's gaze turned to Vlad.
"ALL GONE!" Paul said happily. "All . . ." Paul's voice got deeper and more sinister. "Because . . ." Vlad's body shivered at the tone. "Of . . ." Paul laughed then looked serious again. "YOU!" And Paul blasted Vlad with all his energy sending him flying into a wall. The lightening from outside crashed through the ceiling and hit Vlad and soon he caught on fire. Vlad tried to get up as Paul ran over to him and slashed his throat. He then turned to Steena, then to the locket. He went back over to the locket. Steena moved slowly and cautiously over to Paul. As soon as she was in distance Paul broke down. He looked at the broken locket trying to put it back together as he held back his tears.
"Paul . . ." Steena said softly.
"GO AWAY!" Paul said in a childish tone. He was trying to put the locket back together with his hands, and each time he failed he grew angrier.
"Paul . . ." Steena said softer.
"GO AWAY!" Paul said screaming like a little child. He tried putting it back together but the pieces were not holding. Soon he tossed them all down and began to hit the ground next to him. "GOD DAMNIT WHY! WHY WHY WHY!" Paul said frantically. He got up and picked up a chair and tossed it all the way across the room. He was grabbing random things and tossing them before he went back to the locket trying to repair it.
"Paul." Steena said firmly.
"I SAID GO AWAY!" Paul shouted so loud it made Steena jump back. The thunder in the sky boomed. Paul tried his best to repair the locket as he failed over and over again. Steena gently touched Paul's hand, but he whipped it back quickly screaming. He took all the broken pieces and turned his back to Steena.
"Paul you need to let it all out . . ." Steena said calmly.
"I CAN FIX IT!" Paul shouted.
"Please Paul, its okay to let it go . . ." Steena said.
"NO! I CAN FIX IT!" The thunder bellowed again. Steena sat in front of Paul as she looked in his eyes.
"Tell me everything your feeling sweetie." Steena said softly.
"I can't hear them anymore . . ." Paul said trying to hold it back. "They aren't speaking to me anymore.." Paul said. Steena moved closer. She looked up to see Christy, Pat, Samantha, the clones and Orlha with Shaun looking at Paul. Steena got up and walked over to them.
"Can you leave us alone?" Steen asked. Miguel hobbled in.
"What happened, his spirit seems broken." Miguel said. Steena nodded.
"It is someone just destroyed his locket." Christy and Shaun gasped as Pat, Diss, and Clone Paul looked at the wreck ahead of them.
"Did he go . . ." Clone Paul started.
"Insane?" Shaun finished. Christy looked at them like they were crazy, and thinking they were jinxing it. Steena nodded.
"Yes. I think he has. He killed that man over there with an attack I have never seen more powerful. Although I think he is now just shocked he lost his locket. Please, leave us alone." Steena said looking at Paul. Miguel passed Steena and walked up to Paul.
"Hey." Miguel said softly. Paul said nothing. The others left leaving Steena and Miguel to tend to Paul.
"I want to be alone now.." Paul said quietly. Miguel nodded and left. Steena was dragged by Miguel.
"Let him go, he's going to do his obliteration attack." Steena looked at Paul longingly. Paul rose up in the air as he screamed loudly,
"WHY!!!!!!!!!"
Miguel shut the doors as they heard sparks and snaps of electricity. The window that showed the room was shattered as was everything else in there. Miguel and Steena felt a little tingle themselves, but not enough to knock them out.
After five minutes they saw Paul sitting in front of the locket. Steena sat next to Paul as he shivered. Then he bent over to Steena hugging her as he cried his eyes out. Steena softly rubbed his back. After that Paul turned to Miguel and hugged him tightly. Then he bent down and picked up the remains placing them gently in his pocket, the last thing to enter it was the picture, which he looked at for over ten minutes.
What does not kill you...
Steena walked into Paul's room where he was sleeping. As soon as she entered his eyes shot open.
"How you feeling?" Steena asked.
"Tired." Paul replied. Paul tried to get up for Steena before she pushed him down and sat next to him.
"Maybe you wouldn't be so tired if you didn't get so crazy in the cage!" Steena said angrily. Paul looked at her.
"You do know that he wanted the challenge." Paul stammered. Steena sighed and rolled her eyes. She laid down next to Paul and stared at the ceiling. Paul cuddled next to her and placed one arm around her waist. Steena wanted to hold his hand but she pushed Paul away.
"You can't just think by kissing or hugging me we can get back together! You did cheat on me ya know!" Steena said getting out of the bed. Paul looked at Steena and blinked. Steena turned on her heel and left the room with tears filling in her eyes.
"Yet another success in the world of Pauliville?" Miguel asked walking in with Henry on his hat as usual. Henry chipped in his two cents by squeaking quickly.
"Yep. Steena still seems to be pissed about something.." Paul said.
"Want to know how Pierre is?" Miguel asked trying to change the subject.
"Nope. Could care less about him. He asked for the hell he went through." Paul said accusingly. Miguel sat in a chair.
"It was fun to see you beat Pierre, but after awhile it got kinda gross.." Paul laughed.
"Wish you could have seen it. The look on Pierre's face was priceless." Paul said laughing some more.
".." Miguel remained quiet but quickly spoke up. "You enjoyed inflicting nearly fatal injuries on that man?" Miguel seemed disgusted as he said those words.
"Well..I won't lie." Miguel eyed him. "Yeah, I did." Miguel sighed.
"Maybe you and I should take some time to get to know each other." Paul nodded.
~*~
"No my master I wasn't goofing off. I really did try to kill the irrational one." Miki tried to explain.
"SILENCE!" A cold harsh voice rang out. Miki was alone in her room looking into the record of FATE. "Twice I have asked you to eliminate Paul. If he stands alive and healthy then I can't play with my toy!" The cold voice sent chills down Miki's spine.
"I will try to poison his drinks tonight.." Miki said quietly.
"YOU FOOL!" the voice was very loud this time that Miki stepped back. "HE IS IMMUNE FROM THE BEING THAT INHABITS HIM!" Miki didn't understand.
"How?" Miki asked. "My family poison has always worked.." Before she finished the cold voice was silent. Soon she felt a very hard, cold hand backhand her.
"MUST I EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO YOU CHILD?" Miki rubbed her jaw looking at the record of FATE with complete fear. "He and his friends are possessed by Hosts. Beings that feed off their energy and in return protect them. You can't poison them because the being will dilute anything they drink!" Miki remained quiet. "AND WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT CHAMPION YOU CHOSE?" Miki sighed.
"He lied to me, I am sorry." Miki flinched as the record remained quiet.
"Speak your mind.." The voice said tiredly.
"How do you kill this man?" Miki asked. The voice remained quiet.
"You must just simply kill him." The voice said quickly after a moment.
"That is not enough my master.." Miki pleaded. "He is unlike anything I ever tried to assassinate on my own." The voice remained cold and quiet. Miki's back shivered from the odd silence. Soon she could feel another presence behind her. She turned around to see a figure with a hood covering its face. Miki eyed it in suspicion.
"That is the means of your help. Get Paul alone in a chamber with this figure and you shall have no more worries. My minion, remove your mask.." The voice hissed. The figure did so to reveal a very scruffy looking man in his twenties also holding a halberd that looked much fiercer than Paul's and a red sword strapped to his waist. Another presence appeared behind him from the shadows. It was a tall figure with whiskers.
"Lynx, make sure our friend gets to fight Paul with no interruptions. He must not interfere." Lynx nodded once.
"I hope you have lifeboats, because your precious boat will go down in flames if I get my way.." Lynx bated under his breath to Miki. Lynx held forth one of his hands and countless shadow cats began to appear behind him. After awhile Lynx put his hand down and opened the door. Soon the cats were gone. Miki looked at the record.
"What is going to happen to my boat?" Miki asked worried.
"Nothing..You won't even remember this.." And Miki felt a dark cloud fill her mind before she collapsed. Lynx moved her to a couch and tossed her onto it. The voice spoke again.
"Don't let anything interfere in that match!" The voice hissed. Lynx nodded following the last of his escort shadow cats. The voice grew quieter.
"Go Vladimir, go and Kill your master.." And the voice left. Vladimir turned on a heel and walked out.
~*~
Patrick was walking to his room when he heard a sob. Frowning he went towards the noise when he heard a cold voice,
"Don't let anything interfere with that match!" Patrick quickly ducked into a nearby room, which was empty at the moment. He watched through the crack as he saw Lynx walk with shadow cat escorts. White hot rage burned into him as he saw Lynx. His hand twitched violently as he blindly put on his gloves. He was about to storm out when he saw Samantha come down from the top deck.
He froze for a second and looked down at his hands. He knew she wouldn't approve. Furthermore he didn't want her to see him truly angry. He still felt jittery from their kiss on the top deck, and he didn't want to lose her now that there was a chance they could reunite. He watched Lynx disappear down the hallway and cursed. Once Samantha was out of sight he left the room in the direction of Lynx.
~*~
Sam hummed a small song to herself as she entered her room. She couldn't help but smile at herself and how the night had turned out. Patrick still loved her, not only because he had told her, but also because she felt it in the kiss. She sighed as she fell on the bed,
"Maybe I won't be so lonely anymore.."
~*~
Patrick gently cracked his hands and his neck. As he crept forward he waited in the shadows, leaving his staff unsummoned. He listened carefully as Lynx spoke to the cats,
"Kill the Earthers, but leave the native. She may come in handy later."
Patrick tensed himself. He couldn't let his clone get killed. Christy would kill him and He couldn't stay with Samantha anymore, since the other world NEEDED at least one Dissinger in order to go on.
"Go now while they intoxicate themselves, I'll hunt down the others," Lynx said. The shadow cats swept under the door to the bar and Patrick walked forward. Lynx turned around and smacked right into Patrick. "Seems to me that I have found one," Lynx snarled.
"Seems to me you have," Patrick countered pushing Lynx hard. Lynx flew back sliding on the floor before he stopped himself and returned to a standing state.
"Why can't you be a good boy and die like a normal human!" Lynx spat out.
"You first," Patrick returned. He held his palm face up and a small ball of flame appeared in it. Tossing it upwards he caught it with the same hand continuing to toss the ball in the air.
"Still the child, it seems that you need to be taught reality," Lynx said coldly.
"And it looks like a cat needs to be spayed," Patrick countered. Lynx growled low the sound traveling.
"Mortal you have spoken your last words," and with that he drew his scythe and attacked.
"And you've made your last mistake," Patrick said chucking the fireball. Lynx hit the wall at the far end hard as he tried to deflect it.
Lynx stared at Patrick for a second in disbelief. That fireball was more powerful than it should have been. He started to reconsider his options as he tried to run. Patrick chased him down before he checked Lynx hard.
"WONT YOU STAY!" He yelled as Lynx sailed through the door.
~*~
Samantha lay on the bed hugging a pillow close to her. She felt like she was soaring.
"How do you do it Patrick? How do you make everything seem like the first time all the time?" She asked quietly. She paused as she heard a low growl. Sitting up on the bed she picked up her sword. "What's going on?"
"WONT YOU STAY!" She heard Patrick yell. She had only seen him yell a couple of times back at temple, and both times he had lost his temper. She quickly cursed as she went out of the room. If Patrick used his powers on the ship, it might burn down, and she didn't have any pills to take.
~*~
Shaun looked around with his clone friends and the sky grew very dark. Soon Shaun felt a cold presence nearby. He quickly got up and looked around. All seemed quiet.
"I got it to.." Clone Paul said.
"Ya, something's wrong.." Diss said getting out his staff. Soon shadow cats began pouring out of the shadows.
"AND SO IT BEGINS!" Shaun quickly quipped punching a cat in the nose and grabbing another around the neck and tossing it away. Orlha placed brass knuckles carefully on her hands and casually got out from behind the counter. She dusted herself off and cracked her neck. Then she let a very loud pitch cry and began to beat up shadow cats over to a place by the wall. Shaun and clone Shaun were wrestling as clone Paul was overran by cats. He tried his best to get rid of them but the cats were persistent. Orlha yelled quickly to Shaun,
"CATCH!" and two metal maces were in the sky. Shaun and clone Shaun each grabbed one and looked around.
"Now it gets ugly.." Diss bursted a fire strip at a line of cats knocking them into a group of others. Orlah jumped over the back of a shadow cat and kicked another down off of Paul.
"Thanks." Clone Paul said as he got up and began blasting the place with electricity. Shaun and his clone crushed a sorry cat between their bodies and laughed as the bashed another away. The cat rolled on the floor and didn't get up.
"BRING IT ON PUSSIE CATS!" Diss shouted as he slashed every which way into dozens of cats.
"WON'T YOU STAY?" Patrick yelled enraged as Lynx was blasted through a door.
"Don't mind if I do.." Lynx said getting up casting a black orb at Pat. Orlha grabbed a plate and whipped it at the orb as it broke on contact but enough to stop the attack. Pat nodded to her as he retaliated with a fire ball off his own. Shaun and his clone began tearing up the place as they pasted shadow cats everywhere. Clone Paul was moving very fast. As soon as he saw a clearing he rose into the air. He began to look at which Diss he preferred.
"DISSINGER!" clone Paul shouted. "MEGA FLARE ATTACK!" Diss made his way over to Paul as both Shaun's were begging for more cats. Diss rose in the air with Paul as Diss began to make a small pillar of flame grow larger.
"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Lynx shouted tossing his scythe like a boomerang knocking Paul down. Patrick grabbed Lynx from behind and hurled him over his body behind him. Lynx landed on a group of shadow cats as he quickly got up.
"Never a moment alone with myself.." Lynx snarled.
"I'm afraid you might do something nasty." Patrick quipped back as he charged. Lynx grabbed Patrick and tossed him into a table. Then Lynx picked up a barrel full of water. Pat saw the danger before a large fireball destroyed the barrel soaking Lynx.
"Time to fry the kitty.." Paul said evilly as he built up energy. Lynx tried to escape before Shaun grabbed Lynx and bear hugged him from behind. The electricity surged all through Lynx's soaked body causing him to scream loudly. Lynx was able to vanish after awhile of being surged up with power like a Christmas tree. Soon the shadow cats disappeared. Shaun and the others collapsed from exhaustion.
"YOU!" Orlha said walking over to Shaun.
"Yes?" Shaun said breathing hard.
"You aren't what you seem!" She said grabbing Shaun hard by the collar and kissing him. Patrick just got up and left.
"I need to check on the others." He said with a serious tone.
~*~
Kid was lying on the upper decks on a lounge chair relaxing as the night slowly cooled. She shifted her weight slightly on the lounge chair as she looked over at Serge. Serge was looking up at the sky watching the stars. His hand lay lightly on his swallow and Kid finally spoke up,
"You know mate, that thing isn't going ta sprout wings and fly away."
"I know, but I can't shake this bad feeling I have," Serge replied.
"Yeah, well this is a vacation mate yer supposed to relax!" Kid retorted. Serge sighed nodding before he heard a soft hissing. Both looked up and saw a shadow cat inching along the deck towards them.
"Let's relax after we take care of these," Serge said quietly as he got up swallow in hand. The cat sensing that its element of surprise was blown leapt forward. Serge swung the swallow and gutted the cat before dropping into his standard stance. Kid jumped to her feet dagger at ready as they looked around. Suddenly hundreds of eyes seemed to stare at them.
"Mate, cover me," Kid said reaching into the bag behind her back. Serge stood protectively in front of her and charged up an element. The cats watched in a daze before serge called to the heavens with the element dropping meteors on top of them. Most of the cats faded but there was still too many to fight off. It seemed that every one dropped brought hundreds more into the fight. "DUCK!" kid shouted.
Serge instinctively ducked as hundreds of tiny flaming needles flew from Kid's hands. The cats that were hit worse flew into the lesser hit ones causing cat fights to break out among them. "Run!" Serge said pushing Kid to the stairs to the lower decks. Kid broke into a sprint and dove below decks as serge charged up with chi energy. Floating into the air he released all his pent up energy and devastated the shadow cats. As he hit ground he ran for the ladder and slid down below decks.
"Nice shot mate," Kid said looking around.
"You too," Serge replied as he pointed at the ladder to further below deck.
~*~
Paul looked around. Miguel was asleep and Henry was next to Paul cuddling into a ball. Soon a man in a trench coat appeared with a clipboard in front of his face.
"It seems you got a case of serious Deja-Vu." The voice seemed familiar to Paul as he laid in his bed.
"What do you mean?" Paul said quizzically. Soon the clipboard dropped and Paul looked at a man with a face Paul seemed to know.
"Remember me?" The voice said coldly. Miguel woke up only to be shocked with electricity by the evil presence. Henry the squirrel ran to Miguel trying to revive him. Paul got out of bed only to be pasted against the wall next to his Halberd. Paul looked up to see the evil man peer over him.
"You can't be the evil me can you?" Paul asked dumbfounded.
"No, I am just another pawn in the complicated game of chess. And let's just say your about to be killed." Paul didn't like that as he went for his halberd. As soon as he was about to grab it the weapon floated over to the evil man as he grasped a hold of it.
"You got a name or should I call you Bobo the wonder dummy.." Paul said evilly.
"You can call me Vladimir." Paul stopped at the name as a cold shrill went down his spine. Paul already remembered the name well.
Before the invasion of Earth Paul wrote stories, but his stories mostly featured one man. Vladimir Sigma. The most ruthless, evil man Paul could think of. He always won. The good guys could never beat him. Since they never won, Paul's books never got published.
Vladimir glared at Paul.
"I have the gifts you possess, and the gifts that FATE gave me. YOU CAN NOT WIN!" Vlad shouted. Paul felt that he couldn't. Vlad moved over to Paul picking him up and tossing him outside. Paul slowly got up as Vlad stalked over to him. Paul quickly tried to remember Vlad's one main flaw, but he couldn't.
Paul got up only to be blasted by pure dark energy into double doors.
Vlad picked up Paul again and tossed him into the Grand Slam arena. Paul was thrown into the cage by Lynx as Vlad entered it. Lynx locked it shut as he sat down to watch.
"Any last thoughts.." Vlad taunted. Paul got up as he looked for something. What he saw was Steena, who was looking at Paul. Vlad saw Paul's gaze as he turned to look at what Paul was seeing.
"Ah, her.." Vlad said opening his hand. Paul was already on the run as he tackled Vlad down. Lynx looked at Steena and he got up quickly. Steena was too fast as she kicked Lynx right in jaw back to the seat as he slumped unconscious. Vlad got up slowly with Paul as he grabbed Paul's left foot and pulled down tripping up Paul. Steena tried to enter the cage but the lock was too much for her. Paul felt his locket slip out from hiding inside his shirt. 'Hurry girls' Paul thought as he got up. Vlad took out the Halberd and tossed Paul his. Paul grabbed it as he ran towards him and swung it low at Vlad's knees. Vladimir laughed as he tripped Paul up and slashed his back. Paul got up and Vlad eyed the locket.
"I'll take that." Vlad said coldly using his Halberd to grab it. Paul blasted Vlad away as he glared at him.
"No one touches the locket bud!" Paul said coldly. Vladimir got up and he charged at Paul. When they met they did fancy swings with their weapons until Vlad was able to swipe the locket. It was in the air as Vlad grinned about to catch it before Paul checked him hard. Paul bent down to pick it up before he was blasted away by Vlad. Paul scrambled to grab the locket but was too late as Vlad picked it up.
"Nice looking girl right here." He said pointing to Paul's older sister. "A definite keeper.." Vlad said. Paul grew so angry he charged at Vlad.
Steena looked at Paul longing to help him. She was on her way to apologize to Paul before she saw him getting beaten up by this man.
Paul's charge was easily thwarted. Vladimir was too skilled. Too quick on the uptake. He seemed to be the perfect counter to Paul in every which way. Paul got up to be slashed across the back.
"When I am done with this girl in the locket your girlfriend is next!" Vlad hissed into Paul's ear as he kicked Paul down. Paul tried to get up as he was slashed again by the blade. Paul felt the cold blood trickle down his back.
"Give it back.." Paul said hopelessly. Vlad looked at Paul as his grin twisted.
"What will it take to bring the best out in you?" Vlad said dropping the locket. Paul heard the thunk it made and turned to look at it. Soon he saw Vlad's boot crush the locket. Steena gasped as Paul looked at the locket that laid in pieces. Everything in Paul's mind shut down. Vlad grabbed Paul by the collar and tossed him like he was nothing. Paul was unresponsive. He let himself get beaten up as he kept his gaze on the broken locket. Soon Paul felt a sharp stab in his back, but nothing seemed to matter to him. His way of thinking was gone. He felt empty, cold, and helpless.
Vlad looked at Paul. He knew he easily should have killed Paul, but he was shattered, like his spirit was broken or something. He hated this, he wanted the challenge he was promised. Then he turned his gaze to Steena.
"If you won't put up a fight maybe she will.." Vlad said loudly for Paul to hear. He went up to the gate and opened it. Steena was too scared to move as Vlad placed his hands firmly over her arms.
"Oh you're very nicely built . . ." Vlad said whispering in her ear. Steena shivered as Vlad moved in to kiss her neck. Before he was about to pucker up he heard the first noise that made his spine shiver. It was the sound of thunder, more clearer and closer than he ever heard. He turned his gaze to Paul who was up and carefully looking over the locket.
"All gone . . ." Paul said psychotically. "All gone . . . ALL GONE!" Paul said laughing. "LIFE AND ITS MEANING! ALL GONE! ALL GONE! HA, HA, HA! ALL GONE IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, VERY IRONIC HOW THINGS LIKE THIS WORK OUT!" Paul said rapidly and psychotically. Steena moved away from Vlad. Vladimir looked at Paul and then reentered the ring.
"Excuse me?" Vlad said. Then Paul's gaze turned to Vlad.
"ALL GONE!" Paul said happily. "All . . ." Paul's voice got deeper and more sinister. "Because . . ." Vlad's body shivered at the tone. "Of . . ." Paul laughed then looked serious again. "YOU!" And Paul blasted Vlad with all his energy sending him flying into a wall. The lightening from outside crashed through the ceiling and hit Vlad and soon he caught on fire. Vlad tried to get up as Paul ran over to him and slashed his throat. He then turned to Steena, then to the locket. He went back over to the locket. Steena moved slowly and cautiously over to Paul. As soon as she was in distance Paul broke down. He looked at the broken locket trying to put it back together as he held back his tears.
"Paul . . ." Steena said softly.
"GO AWAY!" Paul said in a childish tone. He was trying to put the locket back together with his hands, and each time he failed he grew angrier.
"Paul . . ." Steena said softer.
"GO AWAY!" Paul said screaming like a little child. He tried putting it back together but the pieces were not holding. Soon he tossed them all down and began to hit the ground next to him. "GOD DAMNIT WHY! WHY WHY WHY!" Paul said frantically. He got up and picked up a chair and tossed it all the way across the room. He was grabbing random things and tossing them before he went back to the locket trying to repair it.
"Paul." Steena said firmly.
"I SAID GO AWAY!" Paul shouted so loud it made Steena jump back. The thunder in the sky boomed. Paul tried his best to repair the locket as he failed over and over again. Steena gently touched Paul's hand, but he whipped it back quickly screaming. He took all the broken pieces and turned his back to Steena.
"Paul you need to let it all out . . ." Steena said calmly.
"I CAN FIX IT!" Paul shouted.
"Please Paul, its okay to let it go . . ." Steena said.
"NO! I CAN FIX IT!" The thunder bellowed again. Steena sat in front of Paul as she looked in his eyes.
"Tell me everything your feeling sweetie." Steena said softly.
"I can't hear them anymore . . ." Paul said trying to hold it back. "They aren't speaking to me anymore.." Paul said. Steena moved closer. She looked up to see Christy, Pat, Samantha, the clones and Orlha with Shaun looking at Paul. Steena got up and walked over to them.
"Can you leave us alone?" Steen asked. Miguel hobbled in.
"What happened, his spirit seems broken." Miguel said. Steena nodded.
"It is someone just destroyed his locket." Christy and Shaun gasped as Pat, Diss, and Clone Paul looked at the wreck ahead of them.
"Did he go . . ." Clone Paul started.
"Insane?" Shaun finished. Christy looked at them like they were crazy, and thinking they were jinxing it. Steena nodded.
"Yes. I think he has. He killed that man over there with an attack I have never seen more powerful. Although I think he is now just shocked he lost his locket. Please, leave us alone." Steena said looking at Paul. Miguel passed Steena and walked up to Paul.
"Hey." Miguel said softly. Paul said nothing. The others left leaving Steena and Miguel to tend to Paul.
"I want to be alone now.." Paul said quietly. Miguel nodded and left. Steena was dragged by Miguel.
"Let him go, he's going to do his obliteration attack." Steena looked at Paul longingly. Paul rose up in the air as he screamed loudly,
"WHY!!!!!!!!!"
Miguel shut the doors as they heard sparks and snaps of electricity. The window that showed the room was shattered as was everything else in there. Miguel and Steena felt a little tingle themselves, but not enough to knock them out.
After five minutes they saw Paul sitting in front of the locket. Steena sat next to Paul as he shivered. Then he bent over to Steena hugging her as he cried his eyes out. Steena softly rubbed his back. After that Paul turned to Miguel and hugged him tightly. Then he bent down and picked up the remains placing them gently in his pocket, the last thing to enter it was the picture, which he looked at for over ten minutes.