Man, I'm updating faster than I thought I would... Oh well. Here's the next chapter. It should be a little better than the last two were. Now for the review response.

Varewulf: I saw lots of Pikmin 2 movies today. With the new Sumo Pikmin and the Kamikaze Pikmin, the whole galaxy will grovel at my feet.

Now that that's out of the way (it's becoming a habit, isn't it?), I want to tell you I like your decision. But basing on the events of BO2 (and you not wanting to mess with the storyline) they either don't get the stone, or (more likely) find it, play with it, get sent into the demon dimension and the SL reclaims it and puts it in a secure warehouse to prevent people from stealing it again.

I think I was grinning the entire time while I read this. Good fun! Keep up the good work!

P.S. I'll be back.

Response: I'm going to have the Pikmin reenter the story pretty soon. Not quite sure how I'll end it yet. Thanks for the ideas! Glad you liked it; hope this chapter will be just as fun.

Smoke: Hm, yeah, I agree with not interfering with the game by putting them in a time that wasn't mentioned. I am a bit dissapointed that they're not on the side of the new Seraphan. That comment about Malek reading the magazine was brilliant, though.

(cough) eternal prison (cough) I don't know why I'm saying that, I doubt that it fits in your plans.

Response: Oh it does, believe me it does. I plan to include most everything from BO2. I guess the reason I didn't have them join the new Sarafan was that if they did that, then there would be hardly any conflict in the story. And we can't have that, now can we?

The story begins with the Sarafan Lord standing behind a podium giving a speech to his followers.

Sarafan Lord: As the history hitherto of class struggles against the modern booshwa society,

Sarafan warriors: Yaay!!

Sarafan Lord: Class antagonism!

Sarafan warriors: Yaay!!

Sarafan Lord: Serfdom!

Sarafan warriors: Yaay!!

Sarafan Lord: Feudal something of oppression!

Sarafan warriors: Yaay!!

Sarafan Lord: And victory... for the proletariats!

Sarafan warriors: ???

Sarafan Lord: That's you!!

Sarafan warriors: Yaay!!

Sarafan Lord: Power to the oligarchy! Good night!

Meanwhile, at the Stronghold...

Malek: Okay, here's what we're gonna do. We'll make our way to the Slums as quietly as we can, find out everything about the Nexus Stone, then return here. Everyone got that?

Raziel: Right.

Turel: Sure.

Zephon: Okay.

Dumah: Hoo-ha!

Rahab: Alright, that needs to stop.

Dumah: What? The "hoo-ha"?

Rahab: Yes, the "hoo-ha"!!

Dumah: Why?

Rahab: Why?!? It sounds like something someone would say on a bad sports talk show!

Dumah: Hoo-ha!!

Rahab: Gah!!

Malek: That's enough pointless banter for now. We've got a long journey ahead of us.

They head towards the Slums but get lost along the way. In the end, they decide to ask for directions form a nearby house. This is the same house that Kain is sleeping in. Malek sends them in to investigate. They open the door and walk inside.

Melchiah: Hello? Is anyone home?

Raziel: Looks like they've all left.

Turel: Hey! Come look at this! There's a vampire sleeping here!!

Rahab: Try to wake him up.

Dumah: Righto.

Dumah attempts to inflict all sorts of bodily damage on Kain. All they get out of him is a few mumbles.

Kain: Mmm... No... Not the Nexus Stone... Curse you Magnus... Curse you Sarafan Lord... No. No, I don't... AAH!!

He sits up straight with his eyes open. Then lays back down and drifts into sleep.

Zephon: Hm. Well that was interesting. What should we do now?

Turel: Lets cut off his manhood.

At the Cabal headquarters...

Vorador: Gasp Ancient Vampire sense tingling! There's trouble afoot! Come Umah! To the Vora-mobile!!

Umah: We don't have a "Vora-mobile".

Vorador: Dammit! I'll just have to teleport, I guess.

He teleports to the security room of the house (Don't ask.) and sees Raziel raise the blade on his arm.

Vorador: Great Scott! They're about to mutilate Kain! Strange. They look somewhat familiar. Doesn't matter! I have to get them out of there. Hmm... I know! I'll scare them off by turning the front light on and off really fast!

The front light begins to turn on and off really fast.

Zephon: Aah! They know we're here!

Melchiah: Run away!!

They all run outside.

Malek: Well? Was anyone home?

Raziel: Nope. Not really.

Malek: Then we move on!

After yet more wandering, a figure jumps from out of nowhere and lands in front of them?

Faustus: Can I help you? You appear to be lost.

Dumah: Yeah. We're looking for the Nexus Stone and we-

Malek: Shut up! (To Faustus.) What is it you want?

Faustus: only to collect the bounty placed on your loathsome corpses by the Sarafan Lord.

Melchiah: (Under his breath.) It's nice to be wanted.

Faustus: Do not attempt to escape me. I am superior far beyond what you could ever possibly comprehend with 100% of your brain.

Malek: Oh, is that so? And what makes you so superior?

Faustus: Well, for one thing, my legs have three times the strength of yours. I don't know if you can understand that, but my vertical leap is beyond all measurement.

Raziel: So what you're saying is...is that you're superior to us because you can jump higher?

Faustus: Yes. Observe.

Turel: This guys almost a total psychopath. All he needs is an unhealthy obsession with Pikmin to be complete.

He demonstrates his "Jump" ability. Malek calmly walks over to where he was and plants his pike into the ground. When Faustus descends, the pike pierces his torso and he is suspended in midair.

Faustus: Aaaaakkk.

Turel: Is he dead?

Malek: Unfortunately, no. all someone has to do to revive him is remove the pike.

Rahab: Couldn't we just finish him now?

Malek: Nah, he's not worth the effort it would take. But at least he won't bother us for a while.

Dumah: Hoo-ha!

Zephon: I agree with Rahab. That is frickin' annoying!!

Malek is searching Faustus's clothes for some hint of where they should go next.

Malek: Okay... let's see... Aha! A "To do" list. Hmm... The only thing on it is "Interrogate Bishop about Cabal activities."

Melchiah: The hell?

Malek: It's all we've got to go on. We'd best start making our way towards the Cathedral. I think I saw it earlier.

Raziel: This is bullcrap. We just keep going from one dead end to the next. We haven't made any progress!

Malek: Shut up and do what I say.

Raziel: Yes sir.

Once again, they begin their tiresome trek. They navigate through the twists and turns dispatching all the thugs and thieves after the bounty on their heads.

Melchiah: God I hate this. God I hate this. God I hate this.

Turel: I'm bored. Are we there yet.

Malek: (Very irritated.) Not yet.

Raziel: If only we had something to kill.

Suddenly, Marcus appears.

Marcus. Bahahahahaha! You shall go no further. Mmmyes.

Dumah: Hoo-ha!

Zephon: It's about time.

Marcus: Whatever do you mean? You're going to die!

Raziel: Sure we are. Because you have some kind of "special ability" that makes you better than us.

Marcus: Mmmyes. That I do. I can become invisible and can Charm people into doing what I want.

Turel: Wait. You "Charm" grown men?

Marcus: Mmmyes.

Rahab: What kind of gay freak are you?!

Marcus: (Stunned.) What? But I... you... I'm not gay!!

Melchiah: Suuurre you're not, fruity.

Zephon: Where are your brightly colored bicycle shorts?

Marcus: Shut up!! Leave me alone!!

He curls into the fetal position and begins to weep quietly on the floor.

Malek: That was pathetic.

He hits him in the back of the head with the broad side of his pike, knocking him unconscious.

Malek: Come on. we have to find the Bishop.

They eventually reach the Bishop. They step forward and explain their situation.

Bishop: Hmm. Very troubling that is. Help you much I cannot.

Raziel: Just tell us what you can.

Bishop: In the Device the Nexus Stone is. Enter it you cannot. Seek the Builder you must. Tell you how to get inside he will. Inside the Eternal Prison he is.

Turel: Okaaaay... I think I understood that.

Malek: Thanks. I wish we could do something in return for you.

Bishop: That you cannot. Leave quickly you must.

Zephon: I know!! here's a coupon for free speech lessons!.

The Bishop glares at him.

Rahab: Let's get outta here.

They exit the building. On the way back to the Stronghold, they begin to discuss the best way to approach the Eternal Prison.

Malek: We're gonna go in, kick some ass, and take some names.

Brethren: Here here!

There you have it! I hope I didn't offend anyone with the way I wrote. Marcus. Next chapter! They enter the Device and find out what the Mass really is.