Sorrow. Pity. Pathetic. Pitiful. Such harmful words that are slung around by people without care. Words that should be thought about before said, but it is always too late. The words are uttered, often in wroth, and the one who receives the words often carries a shattered heart, that they will bandage over and let scar. After so many times, their hearts will just be a scar, and they will continue the process that destroyed their hearts unto others. This being the inverse of the concept of "paying it forward".
Traitor. Liar. Thief. Enemy. Evil-doer. Demon. Names that pierce another and make them gain weight on their soul. They deny these names or titles placed upon them. They are innocent. They always say that. And it is true, they are innocent, but that is only the first time. While they know themselves innocent, others will continue calling them these names, believing themselves right even when wrong. Eventually, the people who are falsely called these names will become what they are called. It is often that when a person is being punished for something they are not or have not done, that they go and decide to do the act, so at least then they can be guilty and feel at peace in their minds. The truth of the matter is that the people who give out these names to the innocent, are often enough, the true bearers of the name, that is, until the other finally succumbs to the false name and takes it, and then they switch roles. But the truth is, they only switch names on the outside, but on the inside they are slowly eaten away by the truth. The innocent becomes a liar, and the liar becomes innocent, but inside they know who was the true innocent and who was the true liar.
But these are just words. These are only names. Titles. In the end, it is the wielder of these words that decides what they mean. World is a word that is defined by the person themselves. And world is like any other word in any language. Any word can mean anything you want it to, and this is made clear when you place other words around them to make them different. "Does this not look different?" sounds in no way the same as "This doesn't look the same".
Thus is the power of words.
Chapter FourThere was a guardian named Balder. He was the most loved of them all, for he is guardian of goodness as well as the most handsome around. The son of Odin and Frigg. Brother to Hoder, the blind guardian of darkness. Hearing prophecy that he was destined to die though, Frigg went to everything in the world and got it to promise to never harm Balder. Thus, he was invincible and impossible to kill. The other guardians made sport of this, often throwing things at him and watching them never harming him. But there was one in Asgard who disliked Balder and who was jealous of how handsome Balder was, and that was the frost giant who was blood brother to Odin, that being Loki.
In an attempt to find Balder's weakness, Loki disguised himself, since he could change his form, and found out what the one thing Frigg forgot to get to promise not to harm Balder. That was mistletoe, something Frigg thought would be nothing to worry about. With this knowledge Loki made a sort of arrow of a mistletoe sprig, and handed it to Hoder one day as the guardians were throwing items at Balder as usual. When Hoder hit his brother with the mistletoe, Balder immediately died.
Many grieved for him, and even his wife, Nanna, threw herself on his funeral pyre and died with his body. Odin sent Tyr to see Hel, the daughter of Loki and a giantess, as well as the guardian over the dead. She agreed that Balder could return if everyone in the world wept for him, and everyone did, except one old woman, who was really Loki is disguise. And Balder remained dead.
It was found that Loki was the cause of his death, and finally was punished by the other guardians after his long record of misdeeds against them. The sons he had with the guardian Sigyn, were turned to wolves, and one at the other. The dead son's intestines were chains that bound Loki to a rock, where a snake's poison would drip down on his face for all of time. His wife, ever loyal, held a cup to catch the poison though, but when Sigyn had to empty it, he would feel the pain of the poison acid on his face. This was when his shouts of pain would turn to earthquakes that shook the world.
After a long time passed, the event that the guardians knew about came to pass. It was called Ragnarok, "fate of the gods", and the events were known by all of the guardians, they were well aware of who would die, and who would be killed by whom, but being who they are, and that there is no death more honourable than that of death in battle, they went on with fate. It all began with three winters with no summers between them.
Conflict would break out, people will starve, and good will begin to vanish among the people. The wolf who had been chasing the sun since the beginning of time would finally catch his prey, and then another wolf will swallow the sun, purging the world into darkness as stars fade away. A strong earthquake follows, freeing Loki from his shackles, as well as his son, Fenrir, a wolf he had with a giantess that was fierce. There will be a loud crow that alerts the demons, guardians, and raise the dead. The Midgard serpent will rise in the seas and writhe about, making the sea lash out at the lands and his mouth will unleash a poison that will stain the earth and sky.
The demons will leave Jotunheim in their boat, headed for the battlefield in which the demons and guardians had first fought long ago. Another ship, with Loki in the lead, will set sail with the inhabitants of Hel as deadweight. The fire demons of Muspellheim, led by Surt, will tear apart the sky as they make their move to the ancient battlefield as well, leaving in their path flames that scorch the lands.
The guardians will wake, as Odin goes to take council with Mimir on behalf of his people. Yggdrasil, the giant ash tree that connects all of the lands together will shake as all lands shudder. The guardians prepare for battle and they will ride to meet with the demons on the battlefield called Vigrad.
Odin will ride straight to face off with Fenrir, and Thor will be unable to help as his old enemy, the Midgard Serpent attacks him. Frey is the first to fall in battle against Surt, because he had given his sword away to his servant long ago, but he will fight bravely before falling. Tyr is able to win against Garm, but is severely harmed in the fight. Heimdall and Loki will meet in battle, and the two will perish, being that they were evenly matched. Thor will kill the Midgard Serpent with Mjollnir, but will stagger back nine steps after and then die due to poison the serpent spews on him. Odin himself, with his mighty spear, Gungnir, will be eaten by Fenrir, whose jaws are so large they can scrape against the ground and the sky itself and still have more room. To avenge his fallen father, Vidar will immediately come forward and place one foot on Fenrir's lower jaw. On this foot is the shoe he has been making since the beginning of time. With one hand he will grasp the beast's upper jaw and tear it's throat asunder, killing it at last. As soon as this happened, Surt will burn the entire world, engulfing it in flames, and killing all manner of things. The world will be hit by the stars that once hung in the sky, and fire will cover all. Finally, the world will sink into the sea.
Fires roared as screams went out all around the port town of Jolly Roger. The Ark of Destiny armies launching an attack on the town. Buildings falling apart and shattering from cannon attacks. Under the cloak of night many who were asleep in beds never had the chance to wake up. Those awake could only run out of fear and confusion, not knowing that it was the Council of Seven who damned them by breaking international laws.
As shouts of fear, panic, and despair covered the town, four bodies ran about the sandy streets intent on leaving. The ten-year-old boy named Jet was being led by his much older father, Eliot. The man with gray hair and moustache showing either his age or where Jet got his hair colour. Behind them were the equally as frightened forms of Norris and Amigone, who had already lost their homes and family.
Taking a break from their panicked run, Eliot rested against a still intact building in the town near to main street. "Listen," he said to the children, "You three are Filgaia Samples. Jet the prototype and Norris the second one. Amigone the last." He looked around nervously, watching for foot soldiers. "The Filgaia Samples are illegal because they have their genes manipulated and when they hit the right conditions someday, they will be able to use the ability to regenerate the planet. That is what I made you three into, but…you are more than just that. You are my son, Jet, and you two, are the same. You are humans. I won't let you three suffer for what I have done to you."
There was a silence. Jet placed his hand on his father's arm. "That's okay, we know you did it with the best intentions." The other two nodded in agreement.
Elliot stared at them, full up with emotion. He shook that away. They had little time. "Listen, the Council want to change you into weapons to destroy the Ark, and thus, end this war. We need to hide away from the Ark and the Council until this all blows over." The kids nod in understanding. "Okay, let's go."
The four of them begin to move again at a hurried pace among all of the destruction. There was a small sewer system—brand new—on main street, and if they could get into there, they would be safe and could leave Jolly Roger unnoticed. This is what Elliot told them as they started this trek to safety. They only had a long five blocks to go.
It was then that a gunshot rang out and Elliot hit the ground, hurt. "Dad!" Jet ran to his side and found the man hurt, but fine. Jet looked to the area nearby to find someone he knew. "Councilman Leehalt, what are you doing? Why did you hurt my dad?"
Leehalt laughed. "He's trying to make off with Council property." The man simply said as he stepped forward. "Pity, that was my last bullet." He noted as he tossed the ARM he carried aside. "I need you and your friends Jet, so why not be kind and come to me peacefully?"
Jet lifted his dad up on his shoulders. Amigone helping him put the older man there. Norris looked to Jet. "Jet, I'll distract this guy, you go on ahead."
Jet stared at his friend in question. It seemed like something he couldn't do. Leave a friend behind. While Norris and he had their differences, they were the best of friends, even if split up due to conflicting loves for Amigone. "I can't do that."
"Just do it!" Norris ordered as he launched his small body onto the upper portion of Leehalt, sending the two to the ground. Biting the older man, Norris then looked to the rest of his party with a serious look. "Jet, make sure Amigone is safe! I won't forgive you if you don't do that!"
Seeing that Norris would only have an advantage for little time, as Leehalt was already getting up, and had a firm hold on Norris, Jet looked to Amigone. The two of them nodded and Jet ran off dragging his father behind him with Amigone trailing behind.
Jet dodged several vine-like protrusions that had whipped out at him from Norris' forearms. As a Beta-Type Filgaia Sample (or a war-machine Filgaia Sample) Norris had power of plant, earth, and water abilities. Not all had those three, and not all remained in human shape. Norris was just lucky. He became the ruthless killer the Ark wanted of him, and so they had no reason to ever harm him in anyway nor did thy to change his abilities to make him stronger. That was what happened to the others who were now dead. The Council or the Ark found they were not proving themselves as war-machines and kept trying to strengthen them and evolve them more. In the end, Samples One, Three, Four, and Six died that way.
Jet ran from one more final vine attack as his boomerang trailed, carried in his right hand. Norris finally stopped his assault. "And that is what I remember of our final night…my telling you to run as I attacked Leehalt. Pheh, I was glad the moment that I was ordered to kill him a year later by the Ark."
"Yeah, nice story." Jet mused. "I was there. I know it well. It is the only dream I have sometimes. The only nightmare."
"And Leehalt caught me. He caught me and the Council went on and changed me. Made me into this monster that has been attacking you." The vines retracted into his forearms as if nothing happened, but the sleeves he wore were torn up now. "I will make you suffer worse pains!"
Raising his arms a fissure formed in the earth as it headed for Jet, sprouting jagged chunks of earth upward. Jet moved aside the two chains of rocks, and they each connected and shattered when they met.
Jet paused. "That was true, the story you told me," He stood tall so Norris could see him. "But that wasn't the end to it…"
The ten-year old with the name of Jet carried his injured father's body, running as fast as he could. He was strong, for a ten-year-old. Maybe it was a by-product of the Filgaia Sample treatment. Whatever the case was, he was strong enough to lift a grown man. It has been said that in times of distress a person's strength can intensify. Mothers can lift heavy items off of their babies. This may just be another case.
In the distance, Jet could see the sewer opening that he could use, and doubled his pace. Norris still in his mind. He felt guilty to leave his friend behind, but he understood that there was more important things going on. Norris made his own decision.
His ears heard the noise all around him, but they pinpointed to the one sound that was most important to him in this moment that seemed to get farther and farther behind him. The panting breath of the young female named Amigone. Even with his father on his back, he was far too fast for her to keep up with. He was at least ten feet ahead of the girl. The sounds of either Ark or Council troops behind her.
He made it to the sewer entrance, and flung the heavy iron circular door open wide. He had little time to play it cool. It was at that time that he heard a scuffle as a rock and foot touched, and then the following plop that would scatter dirt about the air. Jet was hoisting his father up and through the entrance just big enough for a body when he looked back in the direction he came. Amigone had tripped and fallen on her face fifteen feet away from him. The lights of the advancing enemy closing in on them. If they could get in the sewer, it would not matter. Jet knew enough about the city's design of the sewer and there was a gate that could be closed, thus giving him an hour lead on whoever would follow him.
It seemed like an eternity as Jet and Amigone stared at one another, but only seconds had passed. Time was running out for them. Could they really all get away? With Elliot Enduro injured as such, it was slowing them down. If Elliot were fine, Jet could easily go and pick up the girl he loved and they would all get away, but Jet needed to shove his father's body into the sewer. He would then need more time to get away. He was cutting it short as it is, and going back and then running with Amigone to the sewer again would put them behind schedule. They would all be caught.
"Amigone." He softly said, with uncertainty in his voice. Shouting all around them as the town burned.
"Go," Amigone began, and stopped to catch her breath. "Keep on going without me Jet!"
"What?"
"I'm not worth us all dying or whatever our fates will be!" She screamed over tears. "I want you to live most of all, Jet. I want you to live because it was you who let me. Go…because I want you to live."
Jet didn't respond, he took a breath, stuffed his father into the sewer, and followed after, shutting the heavy door just as the Council troops were coming. As Amigone was detained, Jet grabbed his father's body and ran through two short halls and through the gate. He kept on going, even though the Council soldiers were stopped at the gate. In a panic he finally fell, and dropped into the water.
Raising up, he wiped his tears away. "I…want to live too…" Was his guilty statement.
"How…can you be so heartless, Jet?" Norris angrily asked. His forearms turned to rock and he fired them out like spikes, but Jet nimbly dodged each round. "And then…to make things worse," Norris continued his assault on Jet, now lashing out with various vine-like whips. "You go on to love another woman! Leaving Amigone like that!"
Jet slung his boomerang like a blade and whacked the vines away. "In either case, Amigone is dead now."
"Her hearts still beats as it calls out for you!" Norris declared. His maniacal emotion ravaging his body, showing itself in the way his eyes glared and shook about slightly. A twitch in one. His voice higher in pitch. "Through everything…through it all…I was by her side. I held her hand. I reached out to her to comfort her in her worst hours of pain." He bitterly spoke. All life seemed to fade away though. "But…she never cared about her pain. She never cried. She never screamed about the pain she must have felt. She always just spoke about how she was worried about you." Norris violently thrust his hand forward as vines stabbed Jet. Three in his left shoulder and one in his third rib on the right. Jet never flinched. "It was only you she ever wanted. Never me. And you were the one who leaves her behind. You decline her love for you and go on to love another! It's not fair to me! It's not fair to Amigone!"
It was silent for a moment as blood left the wounds that the four vines still inhabited on Jet's body. "But…life is unfair. It never is unfair in your favor. That's just how life is." He remarked softly. "Is it fair for me to take responsibility for the things that I never asked to be a part of? Is it fair to be blamed for things I never wished happen?" Jet questioned. "It isn't…but I accept it anyway because I know no one else will." He looked softly at Norris' eyes, which slowly calmed as he watched Jet. "If I could do everything I wanted…everything that I wished…then trust me…your life would be fair and so would Amigone's…but I can't do that. I don't have that power. I don't have the power to grant my wishes!"
Norris stood there for a moment, as the vines leave Jet's body. "And that is why you die."
"I ask of you again…who are you?" The soft voice echoed.
Colored green by the light, Virginia picked her body off the ground, but that did not relieve the numb feeling she was having looking at what she did now. She felt bile swirling in her stomach.
"I…I am Virginia Maxwell."
"Oh, Virginia?" The voice questioned. "I like your name. Welcome Virginia." The voice said in a sing-song manner.
Virginia took a step closer to the glass pane that went unnoticed earlier due to no light on the other side. Still, she had to wonder why this person never saw her. "And, who are you?" Virginia wondered. She had a feeling, but what she saw right now…
"Me? Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners." The voice giggled. "One should say their own name before asking, and I did wrong."
"It's no problem."
"I have not used my name in so very long, but when I did use it, people called me Amigone."
Virginia tensed up. She did not want to believe that the young woman her age she was watching on the other side of the glass was Amigone. She remembered Jet's picture though. The one with Amigone in it. Virginia had studied it shortly while no one was watching, once Clive had brought it up at lunch. The short raven hair that fluttered in the green water that surrounded Amigone had been the only real feature to notice. Other than that, there was a woman who stood surrounded by a green liquid, with no signs of manner to get air to her. Virginia thought, maybe now she could believe the myths about mermaids, seeing a woman breathe in water for real. The face of Amigone was obscured by shadow, impossible to make out. The body was covered in pale skin and was barren, showing no clothes. Just the ample bosoms of a twenty-year-old girl. What made Virginia cringed though, was the fact that Amigone's arms were no longer arms really. They just looked like stretched out tubes of skin that attached to a machine. The lower portion of Amigone's body disappearing into shadow so Virginia could not make her legs out—if Amigone had them at all still.
This is Amigone. This is the girl that Jet loved, and may still love. Virginia thought that over many times.
"Virginia, why are you here?" The sweet voice of Amigone wondered. "It is not common for me to have visitors, at least ones like you."
"I," Virginia swallowed some spit and closed her eyes. "I was told to come to this facility by…by Jet."
"Jet?" Amigone questioned. "Jet Enduro?" She wondered again. It was suddenly silent as some air bubbles floated to the top. "Jet has finally come! I have waited so long for he and I to be together again!" She said with a sudden excitement. "I've been yearning for he and I to play games just like so long ago."
"Oh, is that so?" Virginia wondered, but Amigone seemed to ignore her, caught up in her fantasies instead.
Virginia decided against talking to Amigone until after the woman was calmed. Looking to a nearby desk Virginia noticed a manila folder she did not see earlier in the darker room. She found on its tab the name Amigone, and so with curiosity, opened it up. The fifth, and only female Filgaia Sample that the Council of Seven had created. By the fifth creation the idea was made that males would not do as the Filgaia Sample. In order to recreate life, one would need the power of one who can create life, which was a woman. That was the summary of what Virginia found, and so she flipped the page. So far, the Ark and Council however have not done what they wish with her. The machine she was equipped to was supposed to let her use a power to revive the planet, but the end result was that she could keep the world as it was, and make sure none of it decays any further. The Yggdrasil Project ended as a failure in most of the Ark's eyes after they adopted it from the Council, because the goal they set out on was not completed at all. That was why Amigone was all-but-forgotten about, as well as this facility. They keep it running to prevent further decay, but only come around every so often.
"Virginia?"
The brunette placed the folder down, looking to the woman in the green liquid. "What is it?"
"I…I am very saddened by this."
"About Jet? Why?"
"For so long…I have waited to see him again…but I no longer can see him." The movement of her head allowed Virginia to see that in fact, Amigone had no eyes to speak of really. There was only skin. Now she knew why Amigone had not noticed her. "I can't even…feel Jet any longer. From my spot all I can do is hear his voice. I am sure that it has changed…I wonder what it sounds like now." She paused. "Virginia, how is Jet?"
"I…I really don't know." Virginia replied, thinking to how right now, for all she knew, Jet could be dead.
Adven rolled across the dirt, causing it to burst up around him into the air. Clive drew a small cane from inside his coat as he watched the man in front of him casually walk towards them.
The man who had assaulted them was a one-armed samurai, with his black hair tied up into a knot, and a scar on his left eye. His tanned skin covered over by the dark of the night. His left hand lightly held his katana at his side.
"I finally have the power to destroy the easiest of flies." The man muttered with a gravelly voice. "They don't let me kill enough, but when I can, I like to cherish it the most I can."
Clive placed his hand on the top of his cane. "That's a rather pathetic desire." He commented. "A foolish reason to continue living."
The man scoffed. "My name is Shinotori. The Ark has named me Filgaia Sample Seven, but I much prefer the title of "Killing Wind"."
"Why, are your farts that bad?" Clive muttered.
"Blasphemy!" Shinotori snapped, infuriated. "I was going to go easy on you two, but now you will suffer the full blunt of my wrath."
Adven had finally gotten his body up. "Good going, Clive." He lamented.
"He has one arm, and we have four." Clive simply said.
Angered to his max by how Clive was underestimating him, Shinotori launched his body forward and swung his katana at the still Clive. Clive moved the hand that was at the top of his cane, and it seemingly grew longer and blocked Shinotori's attack. The sound of metal on metal echoing in the decimated ruins of Jolly Roger. Shinotori withdrew himself from the man. "I see, a shinobi-sue type blade." The samurai noted.
Clive drew the rest of the blade out from the wooden cane sheathe that had hidden his weapon. "I have two goals left in my life before I go on back home to Humphrey's Peak to an arranged marriage. Those two goals are simply to protect my friends as well as meet and defeat one strong opponent." Clive remarked. "I have found you to be that opponent. You should feel honored."
Shinotori let out a laugh. "It pleases me to know that I will make someone a widow before she even weds." With that his body catapulted at Clive again who deflected his attack away. Adven was quick to back away from the fighting, confused as to what he should do. The two with blades stepped back from one another. "After I kill you, I will have to find my way to Humphrey's Peak to kill the woman as well." The two launched forward again, clashing metal against metal three times, each blocking the other's attacks. Shinotori went with a thrust-attack that Clive sent away from his body by throwing his blade at its side.
"Even Catherine could kill you." Clive mused; slashing at Shinotori's left side, cutting off the empty sleeve that hung from Shinotori's shoulder. With a side-kick Clive knocked the man backward.
Adven realized that Clive probably would not need his help. Jet did though, and he promised that he would help Jet. Now was his time to come through on that, and so he turned from the fight so he could make his way back to Jet.
"Not so fast!" With a swing of his katana, Shinotori had sent out a blade of air that shattered the ruins around them, cutting off Adven's path. "You will die by my hand as well." He looked to Clive. "I bet you were surprised by my attack. It's what the Ark has bestowed upon me. The power of the winds of Filgaia. Let you feel the power of your own planet destroy you!" With a step forward a blade of wind flew for Clive who dodged aside, but a second attack made him move aside again. The ground blowing into the air as the blades hit.
Before Clive could react, Shinotori had closed in, slashing at Clive's left arm. Clive had moved his body free from the attack, but still caught a piece. The clothing on his arm tore away as his skin was broken. Shinotori sent a kick as his next attack that sent Clive into a ruined wall. A thrust of his katana pinning the glasses-wearing man to the same wall, pinned at the area below his right shoulder.
From behind though, Adven had approached and sent a fist to Shinotori's face. Ripping his blade from Clive's body, the samurai left the two behind. Adven did not let up and stepped further in a lunge to grab the clothing Shinotori wore. With the fabric in hand, Adven drew the samurai's body towards him and gave three more punches with his free hand.
Shinotori struck Adven's jaw with the hilt of his blade, freeing him from the brunette's grasp. Quickly he gave a counterattack in the form of a wind blade. In defense, Adven put up his arms, but the attack still flung him away only to land fifteen feet later on the sand.
In this time Clive swung his blade at Shinotori, creating a diagonal slash across the samurai's chest. Clive stood showing no signs of pain as Shinotori clutched the wound on his chest where light blood flow began. He saw that Clive did not even bat an eye in his pain, and wanted to upstage the man by not showing his own pain, but it seemed impossible. Shinotori did not understand how Clive could stand there before him showing no sign of pain whatsoever. But the blood that flowed from the wound he inflicted on Clive was apparent.
A burst of ground flew about Jet's head as pointy rock "missiles" fired from Norris' arms missed him by inches as he dodged about them. Jet had thought it about time to show what he was worth. What he could do. Drawing his ARM he shot out at Norris who was hit in the shoulder by the bullet. The two froze.
"The Aigert-Lahm B/V 2?" Norris muttered.
"Yeah, the weapon only I can use." Jet replied.
"Who needs such a piece of junk?" Norris put his hand in his shirt, withdrawing a gun that was Jet's equal except it was blood red in color. "This is the Aigert-Lahm B/V 3. Made for me long ago by the Council to use before they equipped me with the powers I've shown before now."
"It's not original like mine." Jet simply said, taking aim. Norris met his move. The two moved as they fired off rounds at the other. In a circle they ran, each trying their best to get a shot in. Suddenly a rock formation swelled in the earth, causing Jet to trip, in this moment Norris shot Jet full of three rounds of lead.
Plopping to the ground as blood sputtered from the wounds as bullets enter, Jet gritted his teeth in pain. Norris stopped his run to grin as Jet lied face-down on the ground looking over his wounds. One shot in his shoulder, the other in his thigh, and one more that grazed his right arm. He should be fine, Jet found. "That was cheap…putting that rock there.
"What are my powers for if not to win?" Norris chuckled.
"You used to gloat that you were better than me. If you use something like that…"
"I still am your better." Norris remarked, tossing his Aigert-Lahm aside. He no longer needed it. "You can't do that, after all. Every fight we ever started was ended by someone. This is the first time we've ever actually fought."
"I know…but back then…you would have always beaten me."
"No, not just back then." Norris corrected. He stopped just above Jet's fallen form. "Even now."
Jet rolled onto his back. "No, not now." Jet remarked. He formed balled fists and drew his arms back. "Positive!" He flung his balled fists upward. "Cannon," his palms broke so all four fingers and thumb would be spread. "Fire!" The yellow attack the radius of his body width from shoulder to shoulder burst forth from his hands. The beam of yellow positive energy hit Norris dead-on, who was taken surprise by the attack. The force of the attack flinging the Filgaia Sample Beta up into the air. As the beam attack flew past and into the night sky, Norris' body fell back to the earth ten feet away from Jet.
With a groan Jet stood up, using his good leg to start with. He looked to Norris' fallen form. Slowly, Norris shrugged off the attack and the drop to the ground, and stood himself up on his feet. "That was…interesting." He remarked.
"Just something I picked up on…thanks to a real friend."
"Pheh. Regardless…it will not stop me." Norris dusted his body off with a shake. With rapid movement he once more had struck Jet with his vine appendages, digging into Jet. This time four of them from his extended right arm had burrowed into Jet's body. One in his unharmed shoulder, his chest at the collar, his left elbow, and his gut near to his gall bladder. "Like the vines of this earth, I will absorb life from you, and put you away for good."
"How little you think of me." Jet laughed. "There has always been one thing that I do better than you, Norris."
"And what is that?"
"Be what I am." With those words, the vines in Jet's body violently erupted, following them all the way back to Norris' arm which exploded apart as well, leaving Norris with his one left arm.
Clutching his right shoulder, where the violent reaction stopped, Norris breathed through his teeth in pain. His howl already distant. He had finally calmed after a moment, with the pain still lingering with him. "How…How did you do that?"
"I am the prototype and original Filgaia Sample. I will always be a better Filgaia Sample than you." Jet explained coldly. "There is one more thing I am that makes me better than you…I am a better friend. I will not kill you Norris. You are my friend, even now. I wish you still thought so as well." Jet turned his back on Norris' fallen body. "But…like I said earlier…I can't get what I wish."
With those parting words, Jet left the fallen body behind. Norris fell to his knees clutching his arm harder to stop the pain.
Clive and Shinotori remained staring at one another in silence. Adven watched from the sides. Even Adven knew of Clive's pain, but he could not understand why the bespeckled man did not stop and let him take over.
Clive had left his home in Humphrey's Peak long ago. He was to take part in an arranged marriage with a woman named Catherine, but the truth was…it was too early for him to settle down like that. He barely knew the woman. Regardless, he had too much honor to not deny that he had liked her enough when he did meet with her. Still, he told the families that before he gets married, he would first have to fight an equal opponent, as well as for him to gain two friends whom he would die for.
He was a lone wolf. He knew he would never meet two people he would die for. Not only that, he was also very strong, and he had thought he would never meet an opponent with his strength. But then he met Jet, who gave him a challenge in a fight. Still, when it all came down to it, Jet was not an enemy, so the gray-haired man did not qualify as an opponent. Then he had to join Jet and Virginia, and in the end, they became the two friends he said he would have to find first. He had hoped that the opponent would not show up. But when he saw Norris, suddenly he did want to fight someone his equal. Maybe he was finally ready to give in to his fate and get married. Settle down and start some family. Take over the family business. Maybe he even wanted to.
And that was why Clive stood here now holding his weapon in anticipation of an attack from his one-armed enemy. That attack did come, and in a graceful movement Clive moved around it so as to strike at the man's backside. Shinotori was too agile for that, and moved away from Clive's counter.
A wind blade caused Clive to raise his blade, blocking the attack's effect. The two charged forward and slung their blades at one another creating another sound of metal-upon-metal that night. Then another two. Followed up by three more. Neither of the two could get any attacks in on the other.
A wind blade aimed at the ground between them sent Clive off-guard, and he just barely made it in time to see Shinotori's attack and block it. Before he could begin again, the samurai sent his head colliding with Clive's own, sending the man's glasses aside. Clive staggered back to recover as he got his bearings straight. He had to now adjust his eyesight for the blurring he saw. Little did he know that he was about to be run through once more.
"Negative Cannon, Blast!" Adven declared, sending the one-armed samurai through a wall in time to save Clive from his early fate.
Clive took the chance and as Shinotori recovered and stood from the ground, Clive swung his blade, slicing off the head of the samurai. As a head rolled across the sand, a body fell down to paint it crimson.
Clive panted as he succumb to his pain and collapsed to his knee in agony. Adven came over to him, holding old something that bounced the moon's light off of it. "Glasses."
"Thanks. Again."
"No problem."
"And that…is what Jet has been up to?" Amigone wondered.
Virginia nodded as she sat in a chair she found. "As much as he has told me. He doesn't…open up about enough."
"He never has." Amigone agreed. "He has never wanted to admit anything that bothers him. But I always knew what did. It is too easy to see through him."
Virginia frowned. It was not always so easy for her. It took all her power to figure Jet out. Before Virginia could think any more than that though, the door opened and she froze, thinking an enemy had come. She turned quickly to find Jet without his coat, wearing his two scarves and a bloody white T-shirt and long khaki shorts. That was what was hidden by his coat?
Virginia stood as Jet stepped towards her. Knowing he had seen Amigone by now. "I…Jet, I'm sorry."
Jet looked at her briefly, but it seemed like he did not even see her. He walked past her, and touched the glass between him and Amigone. "Can you hear me, Amigone?"
"Jet? Is that you Jet? You…you sound older."
"It has been ten years."
"Yes, I know. I wonder, do you look older as well?"
"I do. But I look a lot like I did as a boy. You can imagine what I would look like, right?"
"I have been for a decade." She confirmed.
"I have…thought what you would look like when we got older. You look just as beautiful as I had thought you would."
"Oh, thank you, Jet." She replied with a voice of embarrassment. She could not blush, but she would. "Your voice…you sound so handsome."
Jet had not changed his emotionless features though. "I am. Virginia should have told you that."
"She didn't speak much of that."
"Don't worry. I'm sure it slipped her mind."
Even though they spoke of her, Virginia found she had no place in the conversation as she stood further and further away. It seemed like Jet was so far out of her reach now. She fell in love with someone she could never be with. She felt like a fool.
"Jet, you are hurt?" Amigone wondered.
"A bit." Jet replied. "Norris and I fought again…without you there to stop us."
She looked disappointed. "You two…always have to fight and compete…I wish you wouldn't."
"We won't soon, Amigone."
"That's good."
"Amigone…I want to give you your life, just like you gave me mine, ten years ago."
"That's alright Jet. I'm sure I told you, that you already had. Long ago. You gave me a life by breaking the loneliness of my youth."
"But that isn't enough to repay you." Jet replied. His hand rose, with the Aigert-Lahm B/V 2 in hand. He used the butt of it to strike the glass. Once. Twice. Thrice. The glass finally cracked and the water burst through, shattering the rest of the window as green liquid swarmed the room, swamping the machines in it.
The machines sputtered around Jet with electric discharge. Jet took no notice, but Virginia was frightened. The lights went dark around them. The electricity having overloaded. The emergency power lights of a red hue took the room, making it look like everything was covered in blood.
When chaos had ended, Jet stepped through the window, entering the tank Amigone now lied at the bottom of. Jet stepped across the shallow water left behind as he made his way to her limp body on the floor.
Taking a knee, he lifted her body up to his. Caressing the upper body in his arms, while giving her the same emotionless look. "I…I can feel you, Jet. After so long…to feel you…again."
"Yes, I must be warm to you." Jet commented. Her body was cold. He looked to the stretched skin arms that looked like globs of skin, attached to machine. Jet understood what the idea was overall. "Amigone, you are free from the Council…from the Ark."
"And now I can be with you again."
"Yes, you can be with me again."
"And we will play with Norris as well, right?"
"Yeah, he will be there too."
"And Virginia can come along as well. The more people, the more fun, correct?"
"Yes, Virginia will be welcomed." Jet sat there a moment, taking in Amigone's beautiful face. "We…we…we will…be happy again."
"Will we get married?"
"Amigone, we will do anything you dream of. What is it you dream of?"
"Oh, Jet, what I dream?" She moved her head to seem as if she were looking far off somewhere in thought. The truth was that she still could not see. "You and I, will wed, and we will have a home, just here in Jolly Roger, and we will have children, a boy and a girl."
"A boy and a girl? What will we name them?"
"Name them?" Amigone muttered. "I always thought that Elliot after your father and Rhea, after my mother, would be perfect names."
"Yeah, they sound perfect."
"I also thought, that we would have a dog, named Thor, because he was always your hero."
"Yes, he was."
"And, we would spend many happy hours on the porch, watching our children play with Norris' children, as well talked of the old days and watched the beautiful sunsets."
"That sounds wonderful."
"Yes, that is what I dream of."
"Amigone, I will give you that. I will." Jet moved his hands to her face. Moving a bang out of the way as he caressed her cheek.
"Would you kiss me, Jet?"
"I will." Jet moved his face to hers', taking her lips.
Virginia stared at the couple. Some reason…there was something wrong. It was not that her heart was slowly cracking. There was something wrong with her stomach. A gut feeling in her told her to rip Jet away from the woman he kissed right now. Not because of a feeling of jealousy. There was some other reasoning. She just did not know what though.
Then she knew.
Jet's hands grasped at Amigone's neck tightly. The young woman's breath immediately stopping. Jet parted his lips from his childhood love and strangled her with more force until the woman's neck snapped. Jet stopped when all life seemed gone from the woman, and gently placed her on the ground where he had picked her up. Jet stood on his feet and turned to the mortified Virginia.
They stared for what seemed like an eternity. Neither of them saying a word. Virginia could not believe the actions of the man she loved. He killed her showing no emotion at all. But her eyes always fell back on the smile that Amigone wore in death. Virginia had never seen a smile from her in life like that. Was that because Jet kissed her, or because Jet killed her?
Before either of the two could speak, the door slid open, as a wild Norris staggered in, bleeding on the floor from his right arm. Virginia moved out of the way as his eyes met with Jet. Norris swiftly looked down to the floor by Jet where the prone Amigone lied.
"You…"
"I did." Jet immediately replied. No emotion at all.
"How…How could you?"
"With a strangle and a snap." Jet simply spoke.
Norris' remaining hand became a fist. "You were everything in the world to her! How could you kill her? How could you take her away from me? She was…she was everything to me? How can you say you ever loved her?"
"I did this…because I do love her." Jet explained.
"Bullshit!" Norris declared, sending a rock formation from his remaining left arm, aimed at Jet, who moved aside, letting the rock spike stab the wall of the tank on the other side. Norris looked wild-eyed at Virginia. "You…You're the one he loves! You will die just like Amigone!"
Jet fired his ARM off, shooting Norris in the chest and stopping any attack on the brunette woman. "She may be the woman I love, but she will not be killed by you. Norris, if you want your revenge, kill me now."
"Yes, you." Norris turned his attention back to Jet.
Virginia stood in a daze. Somehow, she believed Jet. When he said that he loved her. He was telling the truth.
"Virginia, leave here right away." Jet demanded, grabbing her attention. "Find Adven and Clive, and get away from here."
"Jet…"
"Just do it!" He demanded.
Norris ripped apart the wall divider between the room and the large tank Jet and Amigone were in. Virginia looked at Jet's seriousness and nodded. She left the room in a hurry, with her braid trailing behind.
Jet turned his full attention on Norris. "You…are a liar!" Norris declared. "A traitor. I was right! I was always right about you! I should have…I should have killed you! But I didn't…"
"Because I am your friend." Jet replied knowing it to be true.
"Yes!" Norris roared, ten vines lashing out from his left arm as they went about the place, shattering machinery and the likes. The machines sputtered with flame and electricity, catching on fire and erupting. "But I won't make that mistake again!"
"Norris…you will always be a friend to me." Jet simply said, dodging a vine attack that tore apart the machine Amigone was hooked up to. A loud eruption from the other end of the lab shook the room. The machine Amigone had been equipped to was hooked up with the rest of the lab. Norris had just started a chain reaction that would mean the end of the laboratory. The sounds of destruction got louder as did the flames as Jet dodged around more attacks from Norris. "I did love Amigone! That was why I killed her!"
"That makes no sense!" Norris fumed, striking at his ex-friend with rage, destroying more equipment as the blood loss was beginning to catch up with him.
Finally the machines all over burst forth and spewed fire. The room was lit aflame as Jet dodged one more attack. "Norris, we could have been happy in another life." He simply said, swinging the boomerang he still carried, and destroying the ceiling between he and Norris. The debris blocked the distance between he and Norris. With one last moment, Jet grabbed up the body of Amigone, and used what material he could to leave through the hole he made in the roof.
Second later, the lab burst with consecutive explosions shaking it to it's frame. The early morning's moon being not enough to hide the demise of the lab from the citizens of Jolly Roger any longer.