The Gem of Adlehyde

Once Siegfried had heard about the location of the Teardrop being found, he went to visit the captive girl. Virginia looked on at him with disdain unmatched by anyone in the world. But Siegfried had no anger due to it, he rather enjoyed her spectacle. "I expected that. You humans are such predictable creatures. In ancient times, you held my kind in such disdain that you refused our offer of nanomachines for evolution. Then, you chose the side of the Elw over ours, when my people saved your lives. Oh! You didn't know that little piece of gossip? Originally, we were one race, until my people found the value of evolution, and yours stayed down in the dirt as subservients. Until they left to become closer to this blasted world of Filgaia."

As much as Ginny wanted to spat in his face, to tell him to shut up, she knew it would do no good. For her ability to read the wavelengths of beings such as Demons and Guardians allowed her to know it they lied or were truthful; albeit she still did have a hard time telling when humans were going to betray her trust. Siegfried was telling the truth about humanity. They really were once just the same as the Metal Demons.

-Do not worry, the voice of Raftina rang in her ear, Your people were reconciled to Filgaia long ago. When the Elw realized how badly the neosaphians, humanity's ancestors, were being treated by the Metal Demons, they mounted a mass rescue. The kindness of the Elw saved them from being nothing more than pawns in a war they did not want; all they desired was for all the immigrant races to live in peace with those who already lived here. So, they joined our side and you know the rest. Worry more about yourself than the current situation you face. Virginia, you must find a way to escape and to save the Teardrop.-

Just then, the monitor lit up. Although Siegfried was blocking her field of vision, Virginia could just make out the form directly in front of it…Jet Enduro. He looked mad as he spied the Demon Lord. The girl let out a sigh of relief; she was not afraid if Jet was on the case. She knew he would be able to find her. Besides, she could also see Clive, Gallows, Maya, Alfred, Todd, and Shady behind him; he was not alone.

"Where is Virginia? If you don't talk now, Demon scum, I'm going to shoot you so badly that you will feel it all the way to Hell and beyond," threatened Jet. These words surprised Virginia, why did he care? He sounded like it was her as a person that he looked for; not her as the team leader who was going to help him make it big. Could it be that he realized how much he needed her to find out about who he really was?

Siegfried told the boy, "She is right here, in my lab. But I will not tell you where it is. Instead, I propose a trade. If you will go to the Ruins of Memory, and excavate the Teardrop for me, then I will return the girl. I'd do it myself, but alas I have no idea of the entrance. Since you want the girl back so badly, you find the keys for me." He then walked away from the screen, to show them Virginia was there and safe.

Gallows ran towards the screen, ready to punch the Demon Lord out. "You scum! How dare you hurt a lady like that? Someone ought to teach you some manners." Of course, Siegfried simply cut the monitor power, knowing that the sentimental fools would bring him what he asked for without problems.

At that point, Leehalt entered with Melody and Malik in tow. He'd figured that the other Drifters would go to the Dissection facility to look for their leader. That had been the plan. They'd head there, and then they'd go to the Cradle of the Metal God. While the Drifters searched for the location where the light headed to, they would be traveling safely over the sea of sand, where no one could see them and give a new piece of info to their enemies. Thus, it would buy them time to research the location of the Adlehyde gem.

"Leehalt, head to the Ruins of Memory," Siegfried ordered, "Wait in the shadows with Melody and Malik until the Drifters acquire the Teardrop. Then, you will make the exchange. But I still have business with this little one. So I will create a hologram for you to carry. However, once it leaves the hands of those with the power of the Demons, it will vanish. So be prepared to fight with the Drifters and kill them at last."

"Yes, my Lord," Leehalt vowed. He looked towards Virginia as if to remind her that she was now less than a human being. Then, he teleported off. Melody went next, followed by Malik; but only after he had taken the hologram from Siegfried. Virginia was left once more at the mercy of the wicked Demon.

Siegfried stated, "Humans are such sentimental fools, they'd do anything for their inner circle. Of course few would be so sentimental as to save complete strangers or enemies, but most would rather see the world go up in smoke than a friend die. Soon, my dear, soon you will bring about the cataclysm through the Teardrop's power. Then, all of the Demons will finally be able to gain superiority in this wretched world."

S...S

It felt like hours passed, but in reality it was only about twenty minutes. Suddenly, the Prophets appeared back in the room with Siegfried and Virginia. In Leehalt's hands was a gem; the Teardrop!

Virginia fumed. "You creep! That gem rightfully belongs to my family. Get your hands off of it. If you think for one minute I'm going to help you unleash a cataclysm upon this world with that jewel, then you're dead wrong. I'd rather die than stoop low enough to help Demons to kill all that I hold dear in life."

"You have no choice," Leehalt said, "You will be hooked up to machinery upon our flying fortress Deus ex Machina. The Teardrop will be attached to you through the device, and we will use the power to control your will. Directing your Shamanic power and will at the gem, we can make you do anything we want. The great destruction will pave the way for our nanomachines to evolve Filgaia. For we will weaken the power of the Guardians through that gem. So count the minutes left until you lose your humanity."

He laughed and left the room. So did the others; all immersed in their own projects. Virginia lay there, still strapped to the table, and tried to think of a plan. But no matter what happened, she could not figure out a way to get through this. Like it or not, the girl was stuck in this lab; until her friends arrived.

'I wish I could help them. All I can do now is to resist until the very end. If they think they can just take over my will so easily then they're mistaken. Only I can rightfully control my destiny. Now, I need to buy time for the others to arrive,' she mused. With that, she concentrated and sent one of her Saint spells into the computer terminal. Revenge was sweet, and even the smallest delay could get her friends here.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Don't mess with Ginny. Especially when Jet is in the vicinity. Both of them can give it to ya if pushed...

Due to the new Document Manager Changes a S...S means a scene change