Flash back to during the locusts' rule of the city before zoot died.
Zoot and Nightmare stood over the battered body of a young man with Jaffa at their back, jaffa with his arm over his younger brother jadens shoulder all watching as the man at their feet died slowly and painfully, the only words on his lips were then names of his killers, Jaffa, zoot, Nightmare and Jaden, the boys candle burned for no more that five minuets, when he was over Zoot turned to Nightmare and surveyed his face, the scars were small but it showed Nightmare hadn't really been trying to block the boys weak attempts to survive
"not much of a fight?" he asked in a booking voice, Nightmare didn't reply, shaking his head he turned to Jaffa, Zoot too turned to the boy who would one become his greatest follower, Jaffa stared at Zoot and Nightmare in awe, he couldn't believe the two greatest warriors in 'the universe' were about to speak to him, ever after what he had done, but zoot didn't speak, raising the dagger that Nightmare had presented him with just after the virus he struck Jaffa across the face, Jaffa flinched but didn't fall he didn't want to show any more weakness.
"IDIOT!" zoot boomed as his expression became that of some enraged leader of a pack of wolves whose lower male had just bodged a hunt, Nightmare didn't say anything, but Jaffa could see he too was not pleased, as Zoot raised his dagger again to strike java with the hilt Jaden stepped between his brother and the locust leader and his bloodthirsty second
"If you are going to strike anyone then strike me oh Zoot, j… he was only doing what an older brother would do for someone like me. I may not be the greatest fighter or the smartest person in the tribe but I am good bait for the goody goody tribes and I come in handy when my brother is creating new schemes for you."
Nightmare nodded and so did zoot, Nightmare stretched his arms and cracked his neck, suddenly he turned, striking Jaden so hard he went sprawling to a nearby wall, the last thing Jaden would remember would be Zoot 'punishing' his brother for failing.
Nightmare turned and headed back to the locust camp, grabbing Java by the hair he turned her round and kissed her without warning, pulling away he allowed her to speak "Good day?" she laughed, Nightmare nodded
"me too look." Java said pointing over towards the pole in the centre of the locusts train-yard, there tied to the pole by the neck was a strange looking boy who looked like a mix of a clown and a dragon
"tribe circus?" he asked, Java nodded, turning to her sister Java waved before walking away with her arm round nightmares brick waist, Siva was left tending to Jaffa and Jaden who had been thrown at her feet by ebony and zoot
"He's not worth the title of locust." Nightmare complained as he and Java lay in his personal train car
"Then why is he one?" Java asked leaning over nightmares Chest to kiss him, Nightmare waited before replying
"Zoot needs the brat's brother." He said Java shrugged
"He needs you more, with your wits and wiles about you." she said stroking back Nightmares stray striped hair behind his ears Nightmare blinked, the hollow black contacts showed no signs of change in the darkened soul of Nightmare but he knew deep down in the pit of his fiery chest that one day it would come that Jaden would one day have a date with Nightmares Metal.
about two weeks later.
It had finally happened Jaden had driven the heartless warrior to the brink of madness with his weak, ill and childish and he had challenged the brother of Jaffa to a duel in front of all the locusts to prove once and for all if Jaden had what it took to be a locust
Although the challenge brought his brother joy it brought Jaden nothing but pain, as the dawn broke on the day of the duel Jaden sat preparing himself before a broken mirror "Ever since Java and her symmetrical sister were thrown from the yard he's been on the war path holding that sword out like a lance hoping to squire anyone who does stand in his way, but why then is he challenging me? what have I done to anger him, my very life I would give at his command, but not like this, not upon his own blade, does he not see that I have learnt well, that at my brothers word I have stayed at his back." as he spoke Jaffa entered
"So my brother, the day of reckoning for you has come, you face the mighty nightmare.," he said, Jaden nodded, he didn't know how but as his brother had entered he knew he would survive.
Suddenly the sound of the other locusts cheering Rang through the tent, as the call went round Jaden got to his feet
"the mighty nightmare believes that in battle you ride with one of three deities behind you on your war horse, of all of them I hope wisdom is on my side this morning." he said before closing the car door so that his brother could see nothing but shapes through the mangled glass
As the fight raged Zoot and Ebony sat atop the Police car watching and drinking red wine.
From the Car Jaffa could see more than his brother had counted on, he could see that illness or no illness his brother was destined for greatness.
end flashback