Chapter 2: An Old Enemy…A New Threat
Roland looked at the city from the top of the stadium, "Did I do the right thing," Roland thought to himself, "can I give them time to prepare? So many questions…and I only have a handful of the answers I need, perhaps if I tell them they'll provide the rest."
Roland then reached around his neck and pulled out a gold necklace with green gems in it, he clasped it in his grasp as if looking for some kind of strength inside. He then sensed it; all twelve of the Crest had been gathered at Ambar Tower. "Well let's get this production on the road."
As Roland neared the room he could hear the voices of the other Crests saying stuff like 'I hope this Roland shows up soon.' or 'what does this guy have to tell us that's so important?!'
"They've a right to doubt me…but perhaps I can sway their opinions a bit. Oh I do hope they'll believe me." Roland thought as he opened the door. He walked in and saw them look at him as he entered, Ambar was the first to speak, "Well we're all here…so out with it."
With a deep sigh Roland said, "Okay…but you're not going to believe me, here goes nothing……the Empire is back."
"Impossible," Zephy blurted out, "Kayin and the others got rid of the last reminisce of them, how could they have survived this long!?"
"Just listen okay…I understand your doubt, I was surprised myself. But Kayin's little tact only crippled the Empire, it's had time to mend its losses, it's troops have more then multiplied into the ten thousands range," Then Roland shot a confident (if not sly) smile, "but there's some good news in all of this…Kayin's little tact caused a backward vacuum in the Empires' structure…it's literally at war with itself."
"Yeah…so what's the big deal, we've beaten the Empire before…we can take them again." said Pulsar.
Roland shook his head, "After what I tell you…you may doubt that, now there are five factions in this whole war, but the strongest are the τ (Tau) Faction, the α (Alpha) Faction, and the ω (Omega) Faction, and out of those three it's the Omega Faction you should all be worried about."
"And why's that?" Asked Sem Deth.
Roland's face suddenly went completely dark and serious, even the air around him seemed to broadcast some powerful omen, "Because they have Crest Warriors of their own."
"That's not possible…there are only twelve Crests and we're them!" Ambar argued. "Uhh…that's not exactly true Ambar." Zephy spoke out, a nervous laugh in her voice, "What…Zephy don't tell me you're buying into this, you know as well as the rest of us there are only 12 Crests…what he's saying is a damn lie!" Howl argued.
Zephy looked at Roland nervously, Roland replied with a nod and said, "I think it's time they knew."
"If you say so," Zephy commented with a heavy sigh, she turned to the others and began, "Well Ambar while you're right about there being 12 Crests…it doesn't fall into a proper category, you see there are three categories of Crests. There are the main Crests…which you all possess, then there's another category known as the Fallen Crests. A category to which four Crests of incredible power were bestowed, but as the name suggests…it is believed that those Crests perished and were never inherited. Then falls the third, and perhaps most feared category, the Dark Crests…negative, evil Crests that should have been destroyed when first conceived. My guess is that the third category has been inherited by certain soldiers of this Omega Faction."
"Quite right Zephy…but these warriors do not consider them selves part of the Crest, but think of themselves as a whole new and 'superior' group called the Psychics. I'm not trying to dampen your spirits but they may be as powerful as you…maybe even stronger." Roland pointed out, "I'll be the judge of that." grumbled Sem Deth.
Bengala then asked, "Okay…well besides being completely shocked by the fact that there are more Crests out there then I thought…I just have one question for you Roland…what role do you have in all this?"
Roland seemed to take a proud looking smile and said, "I am one of the Fallen Crests…the Crest of Victory, I inherited it from my father."
"So where is your father Roland?" Xeanica asked out of curiosity, Roland looked down on himself at that question and said, "He crossed the River Styx a long time ago…I'd rather not get into that story."
Grace came towards Roland in an attempt to comfort him, but Roland stepped back from her, "I don't need your pity!" he snapped. "And plus that's not the worst…about the Psychics I mean, they're attempting to open a gate to Drakonia."
"Okay now I'm going to say that's not possible," said Zephy, "I'm the only one who can open a portal to Drakonia, well me or one of the Guardians but it still stands."
Roland shook his head, "One of the Psychics is called Gatekeeper…and as the name suggests he's trying his hardest to open a portal there, but my guess is it'll take some time…time the other Psychics are going to buy for him, a few of them are already on this planet who are to make sure to keep an eye on and out for you." Roland looked around the room, all of them seemed to be hanging on his every word…even some of the skeptic ones. "Which is why I'm asking you all to move into the Tower…I know that this place has been built to handle multiple residents, and I know this place will be perfect for our main base of operations."
"I hope you know how short notice this is?" Ambar asked him, Roland nodded and said, "Yes and I apologize…but if you're going to be ready for the Psychics, you're all need to be here to back each other up," Suddenly Roland looked at the door, "one moment please."
Roland walked over to the door and swung it open, suddenly Shin fell to the floor in front of it…standing behind it were Vixy and Nearie. Roland looked down at Shin and said, "I figured you were eavesdropping on us, my question is…how much did you hear?"
"Just something about Psychics and a Gatekeeper…please don't hurt me." Shin whined. Roland looked at them and said, "Okay I know there are more of you who're hiding from my line of sight, but it's okay…I'm not mad."
Suddenly Hope and Lionhawk appeared from the edges of the entryway, Roland looked at them, "I need to speak with you five…right now and alone."
As Roland closed the door behind them "What do you suppose that's all about?" Grace asked. "I have an idea…but if I'm right you're not going to like it." Kayin replied.
As the kids followed Roland he started to speak, "I figure you were all born after the Ancestral War…so you've never had to face death or suffering, but with the Psychics…that may all change real soon." Roland then stopped and whirled around to face them, "Which is why I'll be training you…so when the time arises you can meet this threat in the face."
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa buddy…I'm no fighter, none of us are!" Shin argued.
"And I respect that…but I have a gut feeling that your parents and their friends may not be able to do this alone, plus I sense in all of you a power that you haven't tapped into…you all believe you've hit a wall in your powers and that's the cap of it, but with my training. I can help you get past that wall and make you bring on a strength you never believed you had."
"I don't know about this…I mean I know what we have to do, but—" Hope started to say, but then started to break into a sobbing fit. Roland put his hand on her shoulder and said, "I know it's going to be hard for you…but believe me there was a time when I was like you and I didn't want to fight either, but realize what will happen if your parents fail and Gatekeeper is successful in opening a portal to Drakonia, is that what you want to see?"
"No…I don't." Hope replied.
"Well you don't have to ask me…I'm in." Lionhawk responded.
"Heck I'll try anything once…I'm in too." Shin responded.
"Well, you've convinced me." Nearie replied.
"I don't like the idea of becoming a warrior…but if it means stopping these 'Psychics' I guess I'll have to get my hands dirty sooner or later." Vixy added in.
Roland looked at Hope and said, "You know…it's up to you, but we could really use your help." Hope finally gave a faint smile and said, "Okay…I'm onboard."
"Excellent…let's go back in to your families, have supper, oh…and training starts the day after tomorrow." said Roland.
With that they re-entered the meeting room, shared a few laughs, and had a great time…supper being cut short on the count of Geeku devouring the 7 bowls of soup (which were enough to feed at least four people each)
Later that night Roland stepped out onto the balcony, staring out at Prism and in a deep concentration of thought, suddenly he heard someone come from behind him. He quickly grabbed one of his two guns and whirled around, "Whoa pal…watch where you point that thing." Howl pointed out, Roland re-holstered his weapon and went back to what he was doing before. "Penny for your thought?" Howl asked, Roland said, "They're out there…the Psychics I mean, they're watching us all, waiting for the opportune time to strike, and to say the least I don't see all of us coming back here after this is over. I want to ask you something…and I know you won't speak for all of the others, but if Vixy, Shin, Hope…if they had to help fight too, would you allow it?"
Howl nodded and Roland gave a faint smile and said, "And another thing, that kid of Kayin's…Hope I mean, I know this might sound crazy. But I can sense something inside her, a sort of power…and let me tell you this, it's waking up as we speak."
"How powerful will it make her?" Howl asked, Roland shook his head, "I dunno…all I do is that when it does, she'll have to learn to control it." As Howl left he said, "Oh and Zephy wanted me to tell you, she alerted Drakonia about Gatekeeper…they've put sort of a 'filtering system' around it."
Roland didn't answer, but he thought: "He'll find another way…you've only slowed him down."