Chapter 22: Light and Dark clash, but who will prevail?

"Reserve power on. Repairs commencing. Unable to initiate main or auxillary power due to BETH override."

What was going on?

"So, I see that you are still alive?"

"Huh? Who's there?"

"I am your beginning and your end. You were only the protectioin to the world from me, your true self."

"So, what is your purpose? What is it that you want?"

"Black Ghost has given me the command to take over your body when you have met the objectives. The true purpose of the BETH is to push the pysche to continue improving their android body. In your case, Jedi, it was to perfection. Your objective, to become invincible! And now that you have attained that, it is my place to take over, and destroy you!"

Jedi looked around him. This was impossible. He was back on the stage in the auditorium of his school. The room was empty. All of the seats were in their upright position. Dust covered the floor around him. It was like time had frozen here, and for fifty years, no one had entered this room. In front of him stood himself? The brown hair, the dark eyes, the scar just above the nose. Everything was the same. But there was something different. Jedi had looked in a mirror enough times to know himself. This person's eyes were darker, more evil than his.

"No wonder you kept telling me that I could keep going, could keep repairing and fighting. Surely you don't think that I didn't think that it was too convienent for you to be there. So, you want to take over my body. Why?"

"Because Black Ghost needs for me to. He needs for me to do this so that when the time comes, I will be able to take over this pathetic world and crush the remnant of the human race."

"What makes you think that I will let you do that?"

"I didn't, but then that just makes the destruction of your psyche that much more interesting. Do you get it? I am going to destroy all that is you, to make room for all that is me."

"I'd like to see you try." Jedi looked at his right arm, it looked normal, could he still possibly?

"The polymorphic weaponry isn't availible here. Along with that, all of your other android abilities are gone. We fight this hand-to-hand."

Jedi gulped. He had never had to fight like that before. He had seen a great deal of action movies, just like any other teenager of his time. This was going to be brutal. Taking a step forward, he clenched his fists ready to begin. He wasn't going to make the first move.

"I am everything that you are not. Where you hate, I love. What you love, I hate. You have weaknesses that are my strengths. You are not going to win."

"You are all talk, let's just see if you have what it tkes to back it up." The image charged forward, enraged. His fist plunged downward aiming for a crippling blow at Jedi's chest. Jedi moved to the left, right to the edge of the stage. He did so barely in time to make it out of the punch's range. The air around the punch glowed, and went out when it was followed through. Somehow, there was somekind of energy being shunted into that punch. "Anything you can do, I can do better" Jedi taunted as he focused on his hand, forming the fist, then putting himself fully into the punch. For the moment, nothing else mattered. He hit the dark side of himself square on the back. The flesh burned, and Jedi could smell the odor. This was exactly like a dream. A dream where you can't control what goes on around you, but things still happen.

"So I see. You are stronger than first thought. It will be my plaseure to destroy you now." Rapidly turning, Jedi only was able to see the punch right before it landed in his face, throwing him back and into the wall making an indentation on it. Drywall fell off as Jedi slumped to the ground.

"You should just give up and go quietly. I can make this like hell for you!"

"Ne.....Never." Jedi struggled to his feet. He was off of the stage. Slowly moving forward Jedi managed to crawl up onto the stage. This was where he needed to be, but for what reason? He knew just a moment ago, but it had slipped from his memory.

"Did I mention that if you are off of the stage, that you start to die? That is how this will be decided. By whomever manages to keep the other off of the stage the longest until one of us no longer is here."

"What...am I doing here?"

"Ahhh. Poor baby. Forget why we are fighting? Here let me show you." Approaching the weakened Jedi, BETH picked him up, and began a rapid concussion barrage. Punch after punch landed. Jedi eventually couldn't feel the blows. Something was telling him to fight back, to defend himself, but he couldn't find a reason. All he wanted to do was go to sleep, but that one thing just wouldn't let him go.

'Jedi! Jedi! Are you there?" Something told him that he recognized that voice. But the name wasn't there. 'Jedi, you can't shut down now! The world needs you! We need you! I...need you. Jedi don't let go! Let me thank you for saving me, twice now. But you need to be awake for that. You need to fight!'

Suddenly in a flash, the name came to him. Julie! Jedi moved out of the way of the continious blows. BETH turned and was greeted with an uppercut. Things were back to a standstill. BETH looked at him, wondering how Jedi could have recovered. Jedi now knew that he had to do. In front of him appeared a sword.

"What! How can that be!? You can't be able to make weapons here. I am in control. I said no weapons, and there are no weapons." BETH tried to take the sword from in front of Jedi. But when his hand closed on the hilt, it immidiately caught on fire. "AHHHHHHH!" BETH fell down in a heap at Jedi's feet. Jedi knew that this would be his only chance. He had to take the sword. His hand trembled as he reached out and closed on the handle.

It felt so light. He was surprised by it. An inscription on the blade read:

To he who must defend himself from the evil within there will be given the power to shed their dark.

What did that mean? But that didn't matter. Lifting up the blade, he readied himself to strike down his inner evil.

"Heh, so it looks like I did misinterpret your soul scan. The odd readings weren't a sign of weakness, but of great strength."

"What do you mean?"


"What is their status?"

"Jedi is okay, but the readings are extremely eradic. Unfortunately, the cyborgs aren't doing as well. We've lost 007 and 001 to their BETH's. I can keep them under until we figure out what to do with them."

"Okay Julie, keep an eye on them, I will tell you when I have to land."

"Was that sword there when you came in?"

"No. Where did it come from?"


Herald of light: Okay, I know I said somewhere that I would try posting a lot more often, and I am still going to do that, but I may have to end this story, and then start another! I have been brainstorming too much. I'd say that a sequal may be in order! Anyway, what is the sword? What does it mean? Will Jedi win? What does BETH mean 'soul scan'? All that and more in the upcoming chapters as I start to bring this puppy to a close!

Special note to Hi299O: Thanks :) I really appriciate the great reviews! As for my dreams, let's just say that I am also an avid daydreamer, so if I remember a dream, I usually am stuck in it for the rest of the day. Actually only the first few chapters are based off of the actual first dream, the rest is a product of my daydreaming, or my very active imagination, whichever you wish to blame ;)