Disclaimer: The characters of Gargoyles are owned by Disney. The characters of Mummies Alive are owned by DIC. Thecharacter of Joshua Blade, Eric Spellburg, Samuel Hawkes Jade and Chris Claw are my characters, and mean no harm to the show. Lucia Dominguez and Trynia Merin belong to Trynia Merin.
By Jade and Trynia Merin
Joshua was on the roof of the Magic Coffee. He was thinking about what happen last month. Most of his past had come to light. It scaried him that it would distory his friendship with the ones he came to love as family. He smiled. It had worked out better than he thought it would and he made new friends. Then there was Demona. His body shivered. That gargoyle was the root of all his problems and strangly she was the giver of his powers.
Eric wandered onto the roof, slowly walking up to his friend. Even though he knew Joshua came here for solitude, he couldn't help but want to comfort Joshua. "Are you okay?" he asked, reaching out to touch his friend's shoulder. Joshua sighed, his shoulders rising and falling under Eric's touch. "I'm just... thinking..."
"I know it was a lot of scary things... to find out..."
"Eric, my family... all those years..." Josh turned his dark haired head to face the half elf. "Do you know what it's like to..."
"Yeah. My family has its secrets too. I had a chance to talk to Puck..."
"What did he say?"
"Puck said I have great potential... and he offered to help give me lessons..."
"How is he going to do that if you're here and he's in..."
"He said something about a correspondence course..." Eric grinned.
"By mirror..."
"Oh, it figures," Josh chuckled. "Yeah. I also asked him if he knew anything about my family... and he said that he'd tell me, when he thought I was ready to hear..." Eric sighed, frustrated. "I've heard that one," Josh said."That line about... when you're old enough?"
"Yeah. He said that Oberon had his eye on me for a while... but he wouldn't be allowed to tell me anymore until I had learned more magic first. And proved I had what I took to be a Child of Oberon..."
"Figures," Josh sighed. "But what are you going to do, now that you know?" Eric asked. "I mean... like your family isn't that close and all but..."
"You guys are my family now," Josh glanced to Eric. "The only ones that matter..."
That day they wandered lazily through central park, his arm in hers, with a picnic basket hanging over his other. Blue skies overhead seemed so peaceful compared to the turbulence of the past few weeks. Lazily they threaded their way through the maze of trees towards the huge open field at the center of the park. If Lucia did not see the spires of Central Park west through the gaps in the trees, she might believe they were in the midst of a forest. Only the presence of a few soccer players, and other picnickers under the bright sun betrayed the fact there was civilization.
"Here's a good spot," she pointed to a pleasant spot under the shade of a red leaf maple, and he tossed down the blanket. Lucia and he perched on the sides of the tartan stretch and began to sort through what they had brought from his kitchen. It was a fun time between the two of them deciding what to take, and how to prepare it. She should not have been surprised that he could cook himself, even though he had a part time chef and a housekeeper on his staff. The sturdy basket was one of those European styles, complete with racks that held real china plates, and silverware. No plastic fare here. A breeze sang chilled her scalp, rustling leaves overhead.
There was fruit salad, fresh sandwiches of several varieties, and even a bottle of Perrier. For the first half hour they did not talk, only glanced at each other with silent smiles as they watched the world go on around them. "Hard to believe those Quarrymen were chasing through here," she commented through a mouthful of ambrosia. She leaned on one side, her ambrosia before her as she held up her head on one folded arm. Across the food from her he lay in a much similar position, head similarly propped on an upright hand. Horizontally the differences in heigh vanished. "I quite agree," he nodded, washing away the remainders of sandwich with a few sips of sparkling Perrier.
Like many in Europe he regularly consumed the sparkling mineral water. Normally he would have brought wine, but there were a few limits to the situation. A few crumbs had fallen onto his partly unbuttoned shirt, pale heather against tanned skin. The outfit was casual academic, dress trousers of a dark brown, and the hound's tooth jacket overtop the collarless shirt. Sturdy leather walking shoes completed the ensemble, freshly polished. Across from him she had on her spaghetti strap sundress with light blue flowers over navy blue. Her cardigan was only buttoned at the top, her long dark hair pulled back into an updo with a spring clip. As always the platform sandals decked her feet.
"Used to come here a lot with my aunt," she shook her head, finishing the last bite of her chicken salad sandwich. "One of those places you could come without spending anything. Had to get really good at it too..."
"How fortunate you had lived here of all places," he nodded. "But such a city has its nasty secrets..." He sighed, and that preoccupied look crept over his face."I was just wondering why you've been so quiet lately," she wondered. "I mean it was only a week ago that those strange things happened."
"It has me disturbed lass," he put down his drink, and rested on his back, looking up into the sky. Lucia got up and crossed over to where he was laying, sitting at his side. "What? You can tell me y' know..." she asked, nudging his arm. He sat up partway, resting on his arms. "Did you notice anything strange that night? What do you remember about the dance, lass?"
"That's the funniest thing. It was all a blur. I remember you asking me to dance..." and here she blushed. "Then Sharon and I went looking for Josh, and we saw you talking to four teenagers, who I remember were his friends. Then Det. Maza showed up, and I went looking for you..."
"And..." Macbeth continued. "It was weird. Everything's... hazy after that... I remember something really bizarre happened, but I can't remember what. Except it had to do with Josh, and you were there... but you were dressed differently. It's almost like a dream..."
"Dressed how?" Macbeth asked. "That's what was weird, I remember you were in some weird armor... and so were they... oh Caramba I can just bring it to mind and then it goes away!" she struggled to remember. "Why are you asking? Don't you remember either?"
"No," he clasped her hand gently. "Not clearly. I recall a fight... and being at Castle Wyvern... and Mr. Xanatos said that Sharon had been kidnaped. But it's all so elusive. I remember finding you on the floor with Sharon... asleep, and I woke up next to both of you lasses. Then I brought you back to your dorm..."
"Yes... but why were we at Wyvern? I remember something about a Demon," Lucia shook her head. "I once knew.. but I'd have to really concentrate to... it's like my brain was full of shadows..."
"What did ye say, lass?" he asked, grabbing her hand. "It was like my brain was full of shadows..." she winced. "A Demon... Shadows!" Macbeth snapped his fingers. "That boy... the power of shadow... and... Demona!"
"Demona?" she shook her head, and shuddered at the sound of the name. It didn't seem pleasant. An icy chill crept over her flesh. "Dinna worry about it lass," he took her hand, and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Thank ye verra much!"
"What?" she asked, and blushed where he had kissed her. "you're welcome but I don't see..."
"Someone made us forget, lass, and I intend to find out why..."
Back in San Francisco:
The Three people with one robot was waiting for a person to show up to talk to them. Two of them were « machine and « human. The other human was a human wolf.
The room was like a scene from a Egyptian tomb. "Man what a place." The woman looked around as her brother tap his foot. "So where is this guy?"
"Forgive the wait but I had to look after something. Welcome, I am Harris Stone."
"Hello Mr. Stone. We have heard that you might have a job for us."
"Yes. I know you are mercenaries with special skills. I hope you will be up to the very specific task I have in mind..." The wolfman looked at his claws. "Well we're in it if it's a good fight! I've gotta mad on for..."
"Shh!" the cybernetic jackal man held up his hand. "We're interested, if the fee is good..."
"Yeah..." his sister nodded. "You'll find it more then worth your while. Here is a file on the... matter. Be advised that you may run into some rather... archaic and unusual opposition.."
"We live for unusual heads... to bust!" the wolfman snarled with glee. "Yeah! Whatever it is, we can take it! Whopping magical archaic stuff is our middle name..."
"The whopping type aside, what does this entail?" the robot asked. "A little persuasion..."Harris Stone grinned as he handed the file to the mercenaries. Eagerly the twins, the wolfman, and the robot gathered around his desk.
Back in New York City, travel plans were being made. Lucia had just happened to come to Prof. MacDuff's mansion for a history lesson, only to find him packing several suitcases. "I'm verra sorry, I must have forgotten," MacDuff apologized, as the housekeeper had brought him in from upstairs. The grand lobby was at least three stories high, a long bannister running along the length of the upper stories. A large stained glass window was set high into the wall, and Lucia saw the silhouette of a female gargoyle soaring before a full moon. Far below a bearded silhouette looked up to her.
Pillars decorated with creeping stone ivy held up the roof and separated the second story from the first. All along the walls and corridors she could see the oil paintings gazing down on them. Stuff looked as it had been laid out for a trip, as the suitcases were neatly lined up. "It's okay... it can wait," she held up her hand. "Do you have to go?" asked Lucia, of her Professor."Aye lass. There is something about that boy that makes me wonder..." Prof. MacDuff added. Do you mean Joshua?" He nodded. A horn was heard out side. "The cab has arrived Mr. MacDuff."
"Thank you. I'm afraid I have to go now Lucia. I make sure to call a when I get there."
"Be careful, Professor," she told him, grabbing his arm gently yet firmly. "Somehow I think you're getting into something over your head."
"Dinnae worry," he smiled, touched at her concern. "There's a lot of surprises in store for whomever may be foolish enau t' try..."
"Good luck... and please come back.... soon...." she looked at him, and then blushed. Her hand was still clenched within his. "I'll be back before anyone knows I've been gone. Mind ye, keep studying!" he smiled. Holding her hand up to his lips he pressed a gentle soft kiss there. Impetuously she grabbed his shoulder, and hopped up to press a quick kiss to his cheek. Instead of pushing her away, he surprisingly caught her about the waist in a close hug. "Ahem," he coughed a minute later."Best be getting on to the airport... they always do say to be there an hour before the flight..." He took hold of some of the suitcases and his housekeeper took the others. Lucia could only watch him get into the cab and wave good-bye to him.
On the plane, Prof. MacDuff scratched thoughtfully on a legal pad with a silver plated pen. He struggled to make sense of the tangle of recent memories. Now more then ever he was certain he had been placed under a memory fogging enchantment. Just who cast it he struggled to determine. Who was the mage at Wyvern? Young Alex... and... Puck! That name sprang to mind, and he realized what must have happened. Puck, casting an enchantment. There was something Xanatos was wanting to hide from him, and the two college coeds. Just what it was had something to do with the boy Joshua Blade. Then Lucia had mentioned Demons and shadows. She too had been there, under the same memory blackout, moving groggily at his side when Xanatos and Fox called their names. Squeezing his eyes shut he remembered he had been wearing his armor, fully armed. He took that memory and sharpened it in his mind. That one element diffused the mystical shadows hazing his recollection. "The Kiss of forgetfulness enchantment! Curse you Puck," he muttered under his breath, and sipped a bit of hot coffee to wash away the distaste in his mouth. "Just when I was on the verge o' sorting oot just what happened ye had t' come along and..."
But wait. There was another boy. A red head, with a same sort of magical aura. Another elf? Or a half elf perhaps that snapped into his mind. Puck was showing him... showing him something. Demona... yes... she must have been there too, for he wrestled the images to mind. It all exploded at once into memory. Past the haze into his brain it all flooded back. "Demona... how could ye? They are just children!" Joshua Blade... and... and Eric... Eric Spellburg! That was the red headed boy's name! Macbeth put it all together now! Those two boys had somehow tumbled into Titania's mirror the last time he had seen them. When Rayna had disappeared. He and Keith had the help of two armored figures. At last the puzzle made sense now! "I will find out what yer up to, Demona," Macbeth slammed his coffee mug down. "And I will know that boy's secret. He could be in worse trouble then he ever imagined!"
Such a spell that Eric had cast might have worked to cloud the girl's minds, making them forget. But Eric had forgotten that he was dealing with a man who had lived for centuries. Macbeth's knowledge of magic, and his sheer force of will had wrested the stolen memories back. The girls, he muttered, biting into a bit of cheese Danish. Sharon just had to blunder into things, didn't she. But Lucia, she had only been concerned for her friend. And him perhaps? Wanting to gallivant and dabble in adventures, or was it something different? He gave an amused, if awkward smile as his mind contemplated this thought.
Presley, Elane, Cythina and Walter ran into the SF Zoo. Eric walking with Joshua. It was a nice day for a field trip. Joshua though wasn't happy, but it was his turn on helping out as a chaperone. He was given this group of kids as Mr. Huxley looked after another group. The kids ran towards the Lion's cage. Presley was trying to talk to Cythina. Eric looked at his friend and shook his head. The lions pace back and forth in the cage. "Wow they are active today."
"Yes they are Walter." Joshua keep his eyes on the children. Something was bugging him in side. One thing that still on the young shadow man's mind was what had happen to him the past few weeks and it all happen in NYC. Eric was looking at the lions now as well. Elane was taking notes for the school paper. "The wolves are over here." Presley moved towards another cage. The others followed. Joshua didn't like the feeling he was getting from the area."You okay, Josh?" Presley asked. "You look spaced out..."
"Nothing," Josh sighed. "Just personal stuff. Nothing for you to worry about..." But there was something else that didn't feel right. The shadows moved and Joshua looked back as suddenly something grab him from behind. "Hello there hansom." Joshua was looking into a face of a woman with metal parts. "Who... what are you..." he gasped. Eric moved to help, but was grabbed by strong arms from behind. A Wolf grabbed the boy and held him off his feet. "You're coming with us, sunny boy!"
"Let me go!" Walter and Elane tried to run, but a gleaming metal robot landed before them. "Stay quiet and nobody gets hurt!" it said calmly. Presley turned to run, but a gleaming metal man landed before him. "Uh uh, not nice to tattletale," he said. Presley reached for his amulet, whispering,"Guys, help!"
Inside the Sphinx.
Ja-Kal's amulet gave off a glow. "Quickly our prince is in trouble."
"Who would be going after Presley now that Scarab got his immortality."
"Well our prince is calling for help so don't stand there." The four mummies jumped into the Hot Ra. Nefer put her foot on the gas as the other hold on for their un-life. "I do wished you take it easy Nefer-tina. We all do wish to get there in one piece." Rath held on to his tall hat. Ja-Kal keep quite. Armon was eating a Beefy-burger.
Rath had the strangest feeling when he held up his ankh, the closer they were getting. They had to drive by the airport to get to the zoo, and he could swear he sensed another ancient soul on the ankh. Indeed it glowed and sparkled momentarily as a plane streaked into a landing. "What's that noise for, Rath?" JaKal asked. "I could swear if I didn't know the Young Prince's astral frequency, that I sensed the soul of another ancient king. Not as old, but just as powerful!"
"We'll worry about that later, Rath!" Ja-Kal said firmly.
Joshua was thrown into the bush. "Joshua!!!" Dark green eyes glowed with anger. "With the Strength of Ra!!" Red and black energies surrounded the young shadow man as he jump out of the bush. Golden metal clanked on the ground as a Vulture faced the Pack. "Let my friend go or you will be facing your nightmares!" The golden staff glowed with black energy. The woman looked at her brother and then laughed, "Hahaha! You think you can stop us with that little stick."
"You've been warned. Shadow's Nightmares!!!" Joshua hit his staff to the ground, the black power wave charged at the pair that were laughing at him. The Robot leapt over the kids and charged Joshua. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Run!!!" Yelled Eric to the other kids. Presley, Elaine, Cythina and Walter looked at Eric being held by the Were-wolf. "But..."
"I said run!" Eric was trying to cast a spell under his breath. Elaine, Cythina and Walter did run but Presley grab his Boomer-Ra and threw at the Were-wolf. If one thing Presley had gained over the last couple of years fighting Scarab was the courage to stand and fight.
The weapon hit Wolf in the face. Eric fell to the ground and then suddenly a roar, and a figure slam into Wolf. "Jade!!"
"What the??"
"I'll be a toaster oven. Another Were-Wolf."Hyena looked at the new player in the fight. Bright green eyes looked at the enemy from under brown matted hair. Claws dug into the ground.
Joshua had his hands full with the Robot. "Well now what do we have here?"
"I could ask the same question. Who or what are you?"
"They call me Coyote." The staff glowed as Joshua kept pace with the Machine called Coyote. Eric wonder what in the world was going on and why he was the center of it all. Then there where two more armored warriors on the scene. The golden-purple Hawk and Golden-orange Cheetah.
"Eric are you okay?" The Hawk had a sword in his hand. The boy nodded. Presley had helped Eric up off the ground. "Get your selves out of here now!"
Presley and Eric turn to run but JaKal got in the way. "Now kids we aren't going any where are we?"
"Matter of fact we are. Strength of Ra!!"
Green/red glow surrounded the boy. Then Eric shouted, "Dragon's power, dragon's might, give me wings to fight with Might!" It was a blast of wind and there stood the boy in dragon armor with wings. "If you want me that much come on and fight me." The wings flapped and Eric took off. Jackal was taken back for a second and Presley ran past him. Then a fire blast rained down on the cyborg. Just then the Mummies showed up. "Samuel what is going on here?"
"I don't know Ja-Kal but this side-show is after Eric not Presley. Now are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?"
Eric had flown down and stood beside his friends. Suddenly screams were heard all over the Zoo. Then a Loin jump out of the bushes. "This isn't what we had in mind for an easy way to stop the fighting."
"Run!!!!" The Lion leaped at Eric. Joshua quickly hit the great cat with his staff. It turned and tried to swipe at the young shadow man but he had jumped over the beast, grabbed Eric, and ran. Ja-Kal and Samuel faced a Tiger. Nefer-Tina and Chris faced a Bear. They used the power of their weapons to beat back the animals. Jackal jumped in front of Joshua and Eric.
"Sorry but that kid is our meal ticket. Hand him over."
"Eric run." Eric found himself being pushed into the bushes as Joshua lunged at the Cyborg. "AHhhh!!!!" Steel claws wrapped around the young shadow man. A robot voice rung into his ear. "Now that was a silly thing to do."
"Maybe, but it what I do."
"Wolf stop playing with the locals and Hyena it's time to go."
"But I was having fun." She had Rath in a bear hug. "We got one of the targets we get the other later." Joshua was thrown inside the robot and it flew off as the rest of the Pack ran away.
Macbeth was at a loss only for a short time. Quickly he reached into his briefcase, pulling a small crystal ball out. He plugged the cord into the terminal of his laptop computer for a power source. Slowly he waved his hand over the ball, whispering, "Spiritus, Minutus, Illustrious appare! Tiny spirit of fire and power, find those friends I seek this hour!" A small sphere of light loosed itself from the glowing mass, firing off towards parts unknown.
Macbeth hoped it would find Josh before too much longer. "Now, where are ye lads," Macbeth muttered, setting the laptop down on the passenger seat of his car.
The sun was lower in the sky when the Pack return to the Black Pyramid. By this time Joshua's armor had run out of power. He hid his staff under his black jacket. The robot open up the compartment and threw out Joshua. He looked up and saw that he didn't wanted to, Harris Stone. Joshua knew better than that. His powers of shadows could break through spells of 'masks' a word he made up for concealment spells.
"What do you want you bag of old bones?"
"I'll be the one making the demands around here little shadow boy. Now where is the other one?"The group looked at one another. "Now he told us there would be some others but he didn't say any thing about there being an army.
"What do you mean an Army?"
"Ja-Kal and his friends showed up silly old man. Do you think you can get what you want in one attack." Joshua showed little fear in his face but then he felt an old feeling coming over him.
"Well go and find the boy. Here is part of the money for bring in this trouble sum brat but you will not get the up grades until you bring me other." The Pack left and Harris Stone was gone in a flash of purple light. Scarab looked down on Joshua. " I have done as you asked Miss Dominique Destine. So please come out from the shadows."
"Hello little one. You know who I am for real don't you, that power of yours is innate in your family." Joshua looked at the red headed woman and that was when his blood ran cold. "D...D..Demona???"
The sun began to set. Both, Dominique and Scarab cried out in pain. He watched as the woman became a Gargoyle once again. He turned to leave but a group of shabti were standing at the Exits. So the young shadow man remained still.
"My dear child. I told you my little one you be mine."
"Get a life Demona. What's your part in all this, Scarab?"
"That isn't your concern dear boy but for now your guess. Shabti!!" The stone-sand men took a hold of Joshua and drag him away.
Eric was up set as well as was Samuel. It was the first time the young warrior had lost a friend to the enemy. Ja-Kal was watching his friend, his son. He could see the spirit of Padjet was showing around Samuel.
Jade spoke up. "Come on these people where not normal okay we are lucky that they didn't get all they wanted."
"What do you mean not all human Jade?"
"Well two of those villains were haft human and haft bot." Eric turn to looked at his friend. "Do you mean like Trynia, Jade." She nodded. "But I don't think they are as advanced as she is."
"Well then maybe we should give Trynia a call." Every one nodded and Rath headed to the phone to call their friend for help.
Trynia depressed a button on her computer when she heard the phone ringing. Directly through her terminal the phone came up with Rath's English accent. "Rath.. what's wrong?"
"It's terrible! Josh Blade has been kidnaped... by some very odd machine creatures... we were hoping you could assist us..."
"Wait Rath, Machine creatures?" Trynia asked. Eric's voice cut in, "Cyborgs like you Trynia... they call themselves the Pack! Please you gotta help us... they could hurt Josh!"
"As you can see he's quite distressed... can you meet us at the Sphinx as soon as possible?" Rath asked. "Certainly. I shall arrive promptly..." Trynia nodded. She depressed the switch, and rubbed her chin. Other cyborg? Not the Bionic 6 or Dr. Scarab. Yet another group. Quickly her fingers moved across computer keys as she rung up files off the Internet on the Pack.
Macbeth continued to gun his black Jaguar down the highway. It was the one he had in New York, except he'd had it crated here for use on the trip. Still the crystal ball showed its strange images. A computer link converted the will of the wisp's searches to coordinates that plugged into his Geostart navigation system. He spotted an image of Josh, absconded by strange clay figures. Macbeth's brow furrowed. He had seen these Shabti before, back when a certain Wizard had stolen his immortality! Anger filled his features! Had this sorcerer taken Josh somewhere?
Eric was fighting as the group was waiting for Trynia to show up. Samuel didn't like waiting either but Trynia would know how to deal with the Cyborg. Now that were-wolf was easy to deal with as was the robot. "Don't worry Eric, Trynia will help us to get Joshua back and keep you safe." The boy looked at his foster father. It was only a few months ago that the papers went threw. Samuel had to work hard at this but it showed the child-care people that he could be Eric's father. Suddenly a blue and silver hovercraft was heard out side. It drifted gracefully to the ground. A white and gold cheeked figure in dark black and silver coveralls waved to them as she enter the room. "Sorry to take so long," Trynia responded, parking her hovercraft. "That's okay," Sam said. "We're just glad you could come! Eric said we were having some difficulty with some cyborg... they call themselves..."
"Jackal and Hyena, of the Pack," Trynia completed. "I read their Internet file. They're mercenaries. I've had my eye on them for a few years."
"Please you gotta help us find Josh..."
"I promise I will endeavor to do so..." Trynia nodded. "I have a few surprisers for those retrogrades..."
"What are we waiting for?" Eric asked."Wait, we must make a careful plan," Sam said. "That's what they expect us to do, go barging in like that. Trynia, we need a plan like in the old days in Ancient Egypt..."
"I think I recall..." Trynia nodded. "Eric, are you adept at illusions?"
"The one Robot resisted my magic..." Eric shrugged. "Metal dispels magic," Sam added. "Hmm... let me see..." Trynia muttered, as she and Sam conferred quietly. It was agreed that only Samuel's group would go after Joshua. Just in case the Pack would come after Presley for a reason. A moment's later, and she asked Jade and Chris to climb into the hovercraft with her.
"Sam, Eric, you'll come in first. They'll be expecting you..." Trynia said. "And you'll show up as a rear guard, right?" Sam nodded. "Just like in Thebes..."
"Right! The Senenmut maneuver!" she nodded with a smile. It was good to have her old friend at her side again, even if he was reincarnated. "Dad... I sense a familiar presence..." Eric said as they set out. "One we haven't sensed since one month ago..."
"Who or what is it?"
"An ancient power... not as ancient as Scarab, but old... do you think..."
"Demona!" Macbeth spat as he saw her in the crystal ball. There was Josh, at her mercy again. Macbeth homed in on the trace. The will of the wisp pulled out, revealing a pyramid sheathed in black glass. "Scarab," he muttered with distaste. He well remembered the man who had breached the bond of immortality he and Demona once shared. Gunning the jaguar, he roared to the rescue.
"Now you will be mine!" Demona laughed, advancing upon Josh. "Never!" he snapped. His dark green eyes stared at the demon he didn't want to bond with.
Suddenly a green smoke swirled around them, making them cough. "What the heck?" Scarab coughed. "It's not me, boss..." Hecka coughed. "What..." Demona began to hack, and then suddenly her eyes flared crimson in the dark. Lightening slammed into Scarab, knocking him flat. Demona too fell on the ground. Josh glanced back and forth, and saw a shadow moving behind the smoke. "Who dares!" Scarab coughed. He summoned a wind to dispel the smoke, but was not very successful. Demona felt someone kick her in the back, and Scarab moaned again. This was getting to be tiresome! Something cut into Josh's bonds. "Easy there laddie..."
"Professor?" he whispered. Still the thick green smoke separated them from Demona and Scarab. However a fire flared from Hecka's mouth, slowly burning off the smoke just before the sorcerer. Glancing over his shoulder, Josh saw Macbeth. Green goggles covered his eyes, and Josh guessed they must enable him to see in the odd smokescreen. "Wait my armor's lost its power..."
"Stop right there!" Demona shouted. A wind swirled around the two black suited figures. Macbeth shoved Josh into the shadows, and fired a shot at Scarab. Demona's tail lashed out, and tripped Macbeth. He tumbled over onto his hands, and somersaulted neatly to his feet again. Joshua grabbed at the shadows around him. He pulled in power. He was angry at Demona. "I will not let you have me!!!" Shadows began to gather around him. "Leave me alone." The shadows then blasted into Demona. She coughed, struggling against the shadows that enfolded her. Scarab rent his robes in two and summoned purple lightening all about his form. Josh gasped at the sight of him taking on his scarab armor. Magical fire fizzled at his shadows. Macbeth gasped at the fire sizzling around them both.
"Well well, what have we here?" Jackal laughed at his sister. Jackal's cybernetic eye caught site of three figures flying in what appeared to be a silver hovercraft. "If I didn't know better I'd say we had company," Hyena laughed. "It's that girl..." Wolf sniffed. "Let's invite them to the party!" Hyena laughed. "I'm in the mood for a fight!" The twins were ready to fight. This time Jade was in her Hyena armor. She didn't like the feelings she got fighting that other were-wolf. She held her battle ax. Chris was in his Cheetah armor hammer in his hand. Trynia was at the controls of the hovercraft.
At this same time...
Samuel and Eric were clawing their way up the building on the other side. "What do you think Scarab is doing to Joshua?"
"I don't know Eric but we aren't going to sit and wait for Scarab's next move." The pair then remain quite for the rest of the climb.
Joshua strain as he tried to keep Demona rap in the shadows. "I don't want any thing to do with you Demona get that threw your head."
"I beg to differ." Joshua was thrown up against the wall by Coyote.
The shadows slowly lost their grip on Demona. ~No!!!~ was the last thing Joshua though of as he lost consciousness."Joshua!" Macbeth shouted, and aimed a blast at Demona. Lightening snaked around her, stunning her to the ground. Simultaneously, Coyote's blast slammed into Macbeth's back. The robot grabbed the immortal king in a vise grip that Macbeth could not hope to break.
That was when all hell broke out. Samuel and Eric came crashing threw the window. It was the first time Demona seen Samuel in his magical armor. The Eagle of gold, purple and blue. The helmet hid most of his face but when he looked at Demona she remembered him. "You! You are one of the fools that stopped me from taking what was might in NY."
"And I will stop you again. I will not let you take any of my friends."
"You don't know what your dealing with."
"We will see. Ask your partner about my track record."
Demona hissed at him. Eric had run over to Joshua. The boy/elf shook his friend. Dark green eyes fluttered open. Eric then turned his anger at Scarab. "Dragon's breath, angel's might, I send you now, out of my sight." Green/red light blasted out of Eric's hands and hit Scarab. "Aaaahhhhh!!!!" screamed Scarab as he disappeared from the room. To where is any one's guess. Scarab found himself on the other side of Western Gate. "Oh well at least I can finish that card game with Anubis." The Wizard then headed for Anubis' place.
Outside...
Trynia's hovercraft was underfire. Hyena and JaKal had taken to the air to blast the ship out of the air. That when Jade jump from the ship into JaKal. "Now you're going to tell me what you did with my friend or I will start reprogramming you." She jammed a deice that Trynia gave her in to his neck. "Eeeeekk!!"
"Leave him alone!" Hyena shouted, jetting inwards. Her long claws extended to slash towards Trynia."You're not the only one who has armaments,"Trynia laughed, and suddenly her silver upon one arm elbow swirled into what appeared to be a short blade. It clashed against Hyena's blades, and Trynia's hand slammed into Hyena's chest plate. Silver leeched over gold, and Hyena felt the sensation of little bugs crawling over her. Automatically she sent a jarring electrical current through both, but Trynia absorbed the power. Hyena shuddered and went limp.
Trynia's nanotechnology swirled back onto her own systems. Wolf's foot slammed into Trynia's chest, knocking her over. The hovercraft lurched, and Wolf picked up Trynia and prepared to toss her. However, Chris Claw slashed at Wolf's feet. He leapt up, tossing Trynia. The cyborg slammed into the rear of the craft, and then leapt to her feet. Wolf pushed against the were cheetah, grunting, "You second rate amateur! I won't let you stop me!"
"Leave my brother alone!" Jade snarled. "Ohh... what do we have here?" Wolf grinned. "Maybe I'll keep you around... pretty one..." Trynia's fist slammed into Wolf's jaw, knocking him cold. "I hate to resort to brute force, but in this case it is warrantied..."
"Uh... Trynia..." Chris shouted, as he grabbed for the hovercraft controls. Unfortunately all they could do was hang on for dear life as the hovercraft smashed into the building. Glass tinkled onto the floor as shards exploded outwards. The craft slipped through, and only stopped when it hit the far wall of Scarab's office. Jade, Chris, and Trynia all spilled rudely onto the office floor near their friends. Luckily Chris and Jade were relaxed, and managed to recover without too much damage. Trynia lay rather still.
Demona did not like the new odds. She wanted Joshua badly but he was too far away to grab as was Eric, but there was the other one. Muttering in Latin she ran and as she finished the spell, she wrapped herself around Samuel. "You may have won this battle little one," she pointed her claw at Eric and Joshua, "But I have your friend."
"Samuel!!!! Yelled both Eric and Joshua as they saw their friend and the Demon disappeared in a bright purple light. Macbeth struggled against Coyote. Jade and Chris grabbed the jammer, and slammed it against the robot. It fizzled as the device overloaded its circuits, spilling Macbeth rudely to the floor. "Thank ye," he muttered as Chris helped him up. "Where did ye get that device lad?" Jade was helping Trynia to sit up. "Josh..." Eric wailed. "Sam... she took my dad!"
"We will find him, lad," Macbeth gritted. "I promise ye!"
It was then that they noticed Jade struggling to lift Trynia. She wasn't having too much luck, and Chris moved to help her, with Macbeth nearby. "Who is that?" Macbeth asked, looking at her very oddly. Slowly Trynia came round, and glanced at her friends."Sam... he's gone..." Eric sobbed, and Josh held him close. "Rayna..." Macbeth rubbed his eyes"What happened to ye lass... ye were a gargoyle when last I saw ye... but what is with the cybernetics, lass?"
"Who is Rayna?" Trynia asked, and glanced from Macbeth to Jade with confusion. "And who are you, sir?"
"This is Trynia Merin... our friend..." said Josh. "You must excuse me, lass," Macbeth muttered. "It's jest that ye look a sight like another of my friends... I am Lennox MacDuff..."
"Well we have to think about other things right now. Let's get out of here and think on where Demona took Samuel and before this circus wakes up." Joshua held Eric close. The group nodded and left the pyramid.
A few minutes later the group had enter the Magic Coffee. Jade made sure of the closed sign was up. Trynia sat down and started the healing program. Chris took Eric up stairs to sleep. Joshua was sitting in the shadows. "Would you like to have a drink Mr. MacDuff?" Jade asked.
"Some Scottish whisky in a small glass. Would be nice lass." Jade nodded and walked over to the bar. "So what now?"
"We look for Demona and get yer friend back."
"No!!!" Very one looked at Joshua. "We have to do more than that. We have to end this once and for all, or she keep coming back and who know what else she will do." Joshua's dark green eyes glowed in anger.