Inner Strength

The spell hit Jet dead on, and he began convulsing. He fell to the ground, trying his best to get back on his feet. Slowly, after bracing himself on the table, the boy managed to stand. But his legs still felt like jelly; this was no run of the mill Eliminate Scanner. No doubt Leehalt had worked on improving that spell since their last encounter. While Jet got himself back up, an enraged Virginia cast Saint on Leehalt.

"What a foolish girl you are," the leader of the Prophets said, "If you didn't resist us, you wouldn't have to feel pain. Nor would your boyfriend. Now then, we will be going to the Deus ex Machina soon and I don't need the delays in the timetable. So come with me or he dies." To prove his point, Leehalt struck out at Jet once more. Then, he attacked Virginia, but only a small spell. He thrilled in the power flowing in him.

"You monster," muttered the girl. Again she aimed a Saint spell, but this time Leehalt was ready. After she cast it, he used Rule of Vengeance. The power struck Virginia as well, sending her reeling backwards. As if fate itself was playing games, she found herself falling inside of Jet's arms. By this time, they were barely able to stay conscious let alone stand. Perfect for Leehalt to take advantage of it all.

The Demon walked towards them. He told Virginia, "Now then, you are in no condition to fight me back anymore. So just come quietly. You're lucky Lord Siegfried said we need you; else I would have torn you to pieces long ago. Count your blessings and come along." With that, the wicked Prophet grabbed the girl by her wrist, and began dragging her. However, he didn't count on her using her other hand to grab hold of the table. Virginia braced herself, hoping to buy enough time for her and Jet to recover from the assault.

She glared at Leehalt with eyes like daggers. "Maybe you can take me with an attack from behind. And maybe you can use my memories to locate the family treasure and steal it. But I'll never allow you to use me to harm the Guardians. We of the Shaman Tribe fight back until the very end. My mother told me never to give into bullies, and that's all you are. A schoolyard bully who just got too big for his own ego."

Leehalt became enraged. He used his other hand to slap Virginia on the cheek for her insult. But just then, something amazing happened. Jet's heart began beating louder and louder. It could be heard clearly throughout the entire room. Then, the boy got to his feet once again. Only, something had changed.

Jet had a look on his face; a look similar to the man whose lover is being tortured in a novel. Green fire shone in his violet eyes, and a green glow had begun to form around the Airget-lamh B/V2. Aiming the ARM at Leehalt, the boy fired. As the bullet penetrated the Prophet's shoulder, the green glow brightened.

"Impossible!" exclaimed Leehalt, "It can't be! But he died at Yggdrasil. There is no way the Filgaia Sample could still be alive. Yet, those powers are ones that only he can use. Werner you…you did this! I bet anything you were the one who saved his wretched life. After all, Melody, Malik, and I didn't care about that creature, and you were Elliot's best friend. See what your sentimentality has unleashed on your rival!"

"What did you say? I don't care about what Werner unleashed, or what this power is. Right now, all I want is for you to step away from Virginia," demanded Jet. Virginia wondered what Leehalt meant, and why Jet wasn't getting shocked with the reference to himself. Obviously, the boy was connected to the Council of Seven in some way. It was a fact her father found and raised him; and seemed to know about a hidden power. She wanted to know more, why in the world did Leehalt say those things to Jet anyway?

Leehalt continued, "You really don't care about who you really are. Although I bet Werner calls you something along the line of Jet Enduro, your real name is Adam Kadmon. All you are is an android, created with the life energy of Filgaia for use in our experiments. But, that brat son of Elliot's got in the way in an attempt to give you human DNA to help out his father. Elliot was always a dreamer, wanted to integrate the sample into human society. The boy died, and Elliot decided you would be his son. He and Werner always referred to you as Jet; the name of Elliot's son. However, you are nothing more than a machine. Maybe you are powerful and maybe you can survive on your own, but in the end you were only meant for one single purpose. That purpose was to help rejuvenate Filgaia; at the will of the Council of Seven using the power of your Airget-lamh. You don't deserve to even be alive, since we will accomplish this with evolution." He hoped it would knock Jet back to earth. If he could sink the boy's soul into despair, he would have won.

Leehalt's plan worked. Jet felt himself letting down the Airget-lamh. He sunk to his knees as the fire died down. Since it was that fire that had enabled him to keep fighting despite his wounds he no longer had the strength to stand. 'I am an android? No, that can't be true Jet. But then why else would I have these powers. He must be right. Darn it! I lost that power. I can no longer fight on. I failed Virginia. No! I'm not going to just let it end. Somehow, I have to get up once more. Virginia needs me right now.'

Jet felt his determination enabling him to stand. However, it was still a little wobbly. But if he could call upon that power that he'd used at Yggdrasil, he would have a chance. One second is all it would take for the boy to fill Leehalt up with Filgaia's energy like a balloon with air. If that didn't do damage to him then Jet didn't know what would. After all, the Prophets had lamented about Filgaia attempting to dispel them.

"Too slow boy," Leehalt called, "In the end, you were nothing but a worthless puppet. I will give you one consolation thought. After you die it won't be long before evolution engulfs Filgaia. With that, I will have no more need for the girl. She will die, and you two can spend all eternity together in the afterlife. That is, of course if she isn't frightened of you now." He held up his hands to send an Eliminate Scanner at Jet.

"Accelerator!" screamed the boy. At the same time, Virginia called out, "Saint!" The magic spell of the Shamans struck Leehalt a split second after Jet had grabbed hold of his neck. As the Prophet felt the pain of the Guardians, Filgaia went to work. Soon, green lights covered Leehalt's body. A split second later, he was consumed by a jade colored fire. A minute later, when the blaze cleared, he was no more.

Virginia looked at Jet. She knew he was in pain. It had to be because of what he found out. The girl knew she wouldn't like it if she'd been the one who learned that about herself. All she could do was to show Jet she was still there for him; still wanted to be his friend. So she put her arms around him, and held him close to her. 'It's going to be ok Jet, I'm here. No matter what we find out, you'll always be Jet to me.'

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Well, after a severely strained fight with lots of emotional power…we come to a scene with more sap than a bee hive. I know I'm weird.