Author's Note: Thanks for your reviews! I know I've been slack on my chapters since they were way shorter than what I had started out with so I decided to make up for that with this chapter. Its just myenemy (and any writer's enemy)the writer's block. Sometimes I just don't know what or how to write a piece. Now the hard part is passed I hopefully can continue more strongly.
Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Ashelin and Torn saw the creature rise up a distance away from Rygar's back. Its solid bright purple eyes firmly locked onto them. Ashelin stole a glace at Rygar who's face was composed in a maddening glee that she never expected from the old soldier.
"Give it up Rygar!" Ashelin commanded in her soldier voice, "This is crazy!"
Rygar let out a long laugh, "Your heroic bravado amuses me to no ends. I have the advantage! I have the ultimate power but you... you don't even have a working gun!"
"Even insane he's still a windbag" Torn muttered
Rygar's face twisted in a growl, "You see not everything works your way. You may had the silver spoon in your mouth when you were born but not everything runs on how you like it! This world is too corrupt and evil to continue and I've waited too long to see a great paradise rise form this earth's ashes. I will destroy all evil, I will rule the new world and no one, not you, not anyone and certainly not the rabid freak is going to stop me!"
Ashelin opened her mouth in protest but she was cut off.
"Forget it Ashelin. The guy is a nut case" Torn said coolly knowing this was getting nowhere fast
Ashelin closed her mouth as her soldier side tensed for action. The creature approached, hovering over Rygar, its blazing gaze fixated on them. Side by side Torn and Ashelin prepared for some kind of battle. They always fought together and now it would seem that they would die together too...
"We have to get that scepter off him" Torn pointed out the objective
"Easier said than done" Ashelin replied
Rygar raised his scepter in the air as if the object itself had power and authority. He looked up to the creature above him and glared, "What are you doing hovering there! Attack them! Do as I command!"
"Big bad and ugly can't be in two places at once" Torn continued conveying the hushed plan
Ashelin glared recalling the old KG battles, "You're playing bait this time"
In the background the scepter-sphere's orange light twinkled as the creature screamed again, hands flying to its ears as if to block out noise.
"But I was bait last time" Torn's voice was almost reduced to that of a small protesting child
Rygar growled at the Eco creature knowing the being was trying to resist the power placed over it. The creature finally succumbed and focused its attention to its targets, with every intention of attacking them. He swooped in from his spot, igniting some Eco energy in its hands.
"Tag, you're it" Ashelin said harshly before running off
Torn was going to say something obscene in protest but that luxury was snatched away when the creature came right at him. Its hand, faced with deadly talons, held raw Eco energy that would make the Precursor Stone pale in comparison (or green with envy- get it?).
"I really wish I had my dagger" Torn muttered
The ball of Eco energy came down and dug into the ground before exploding, tearing the smooth surface apart. Torn just dodged the energy burst as it made contact with the concrete, however, he was caught in the force of the explosion and was thrown a few meters away. Torn rolled before friction slowed him to a stop. Hurting all over he struggled to the height of his arms, only for his sight to be filled with the creature again as it came right at him with no warning. The open Dark Eco hand connected underneath Torn's jaw sending the grown man skywards and into the wall of a metal building. To add insult to injury the open Dark Eco induced claws punctured holes in his skin, causing deep gashes and the running of blood.
Torn made a loud grunt as his back hit the metal wall, the wind knocked out of him. Gravity enforced its law and he fell back to the earth. Water underneath the sector rushed up to ease the landing. Then suddenly hands grabbed him and Torn found himself flying upwards.
"Oh no, you're not going to escape injury that easy" the demonic voice whispered, "I'm not done with you yet"
Torn snapped his mind out of the daze from the attacks. He was being held underneath his arms as they creature seemed to carry him with ease. Torn glared but didn't say anything as his mind focused on a plan.
The creature flew high before turning upside down and coming back down again in a backward loop. As the creature came down it gain speed from gravity by folding its Light Eco tainted wings. Like a rocket the creature sped at an angle towards one of the surviving high rise buildings in the sector.
Torn could only embrace himself as the structure came closer and closer. His blood, that poured from his wounds, were caught in the wind and droplets were sent everywhere. In his current grip from the creature, he was in no position to free himself. Even if he was in even odds he had no way to over power or stop him. Torn was beginning to think this wasn't going to end well.
"At the end of this I'm going to kick Jak's ass so hard that-" Torn vowed but was cut off
The building rushed up and they smashed through the glass, millions of tiny pieces broke and cut his skin. In slow motion the tiny pieces reflected the moonlight twinkling like stars, sparkling the air. Torn growled as tiny pin needles of pain hit his face and body. Due to training, Torn was resilient when it came to pain but he wasn't prepared for the next attack.
The creature didn't stop as they smashed through the glass, but continued flying straight into the interior wall. Torn saw the obstacle coming and all he could see was his own death. At the high speed the impact was great, Torn felt the full force as his body was ploughed through the brick. His bones snapping on impact, but he didn't have time to feel the pain or register the force for the shockwave that hit his body killed him.
The creature stopped after they ploughed through the wall, he felt the life force from the body he had was gone. The body was cold and lifeless and was an empty shell to the spirit it once held. The creature growled in annoyance.
"Such a fragile existence. I thought he would at least have some resistance to my attack..." the creature held the limp form in disgust
The creature gave a glare and somewhat gave a sigh. The creature's urge for attack, from the artefact, had slowly disappeared. The creature felt relieved to have his freewill back but he knew that as long as the corrupt man held the scepter-sphere he was always destined to do its bidding.
The creature wondered what to do with the dead body in his arms. It was just resting there beginning its very long process of decomposition. The creature suddenly felt pity for it.
"Stupid humans. So weak" the creature growled trying to shake the feeling away
Something stirred inside. The creature glared as he was going to leave the body there and go away. Soon the pity inside turned to guilt and in the end the creature could not bring himself to leave the man here to waste away.
"Now I carry their weakness..." the creature sighed, "I suppose I shall bury him"
The guilt became a bit stronger, but not because of abandoning but because he took the man's life. The creature tried to ignore it but it would not be silenced. It became so strong that it was like a deep sadness. The creature was surprised at himself for feeling such a thing, he never felt things like this before. It all came from within him, deep down in his very soul...
The creature gave a bothering sigh as he hovered down and landed lightly on his feet.
"I did not wish for your death and so you shall not die" the creature spoke with authority
Then Eco energy glowed from his hand, its energy transferred into the human through contact. The life giving properties of Green and Light Eco resurrected the dead soldier, healing the gaping wounds on his neck and even healing the shattered remains of bone to some degree.
The human wailed as tissue and bone knitted together within and all the natural life support systems were shocked into function. The creature held him there until the human got its bearings.
"Wha-" Torn mumbled dazed as his last memory was hitting the wall
He felt hands still holding him. He focused on the creature that was in front of him before the creature released him. His shocked body wasn't prepared and he fell on his backside.
Torn shook his head and glared at the creature, "What the hell happened?"
"Be glad that I was merciful to you human" the Eco creature growled
"Did I just..." Torn frowned knowing his last memory was slamming into a brick wall then he was here in front of the creature. There was no way I could have survived... could I?
"People only die when I want them too" the creature seemed to answer his questioning look, "Your death was ordered by an even more disgusting earth creature than yourself"
Torn struggled to his feet feeling a little sore and woozy but fine overall.
"So you're not on Rygar's leash anymore?" Torn asked
The creature gave a puzzling gaze at Torn's wording but he caught the meaning. He stated in a disembodied voice, "I am still influenced but only if he commands me. He is out of the proximity range for now unless he calls upon me again"
Torn wasn't too sure how to handle this but he needed the creature on their side so they can get the scepter out of Rygar's manic hands.
"Do not get any pitiful ideas" the creature snapped, "I only saved your life because you may hold some use to me"
Torn raised an eyebrow and folded his arms but said nothing indicating he was all ears.
"You mentioned a name" the creature continued, "The name Jak"
Torn frowned, "Yeah so? That's you"
The creature seemed to hide surprise well as a feeling stirred within him again.
"Explain" the creature demanded
"How the hell can I explain?" Torn shook his head and snapped, "You were meant to get the city's Eco back online and here you come back high and mighty with all the city's Eco... literally"
The creature recalled his first memories with the corrupt human holding The Sphere at him demanding obedience, before he kicked it out of his grip then chasing after the girl since she stole it. Anything before that was blank.
"Look are you going to help with getting rid of Rygar or not?" Torn snapped knowing Ashelin, Keira and Jak's pet was out there probably having a face off with Rygar. If Rygar used the scepter again he didn't think he would get another chance to survive. Torn rather fight the creature on his own terms than at Rygar's will.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" the creature stated simply, "I will only align myself with such lowly creatures to destroy a greater threat"
Torn gave a snort knowing the creature was more prideful and ego inflated than Baron Praxis.
The creature closed its eyes for the moment. The fog in its mind cleared a bit. The creature was determined to know his origins and he had a feeling it was among the humans since this one talked to him with such ease. He suspected the name was once his. The pity and the guilt he felt for this human had came from within and had something do to with this name and origin. He also knew he couldn't beat this Rygar all on his own as long as the disgusting human had the artefact.
"What are we waiting for?" Torn snapped, "Lets move out!"
The creature growled, "No one commands me!"
Torn walked passed him with a snort, "Tell that to Rygar"
The creature made a sour face before following.
Rygar laughed as his men knelt before him knowing he now controlled the awesome creature. Keira was hiding some distance away, behind a corner, with Daxter tightly gripping her left shoulder. They had left the offline prototype to spy on the old Krimzon Guard.
"So what now?" Daxter whispered
"We have to get that scepter off Rygar" Keira murmured back
"How? We can't just walk up and take it! He's surrounded by his cronies all the time" Daxter muttered distastefully
"Maybe not..." Keira trailed as an idea started to form in her mind
Daxter wasn't use to Keira in the way she thinks and acts, like he could accurately pinpoint with Jak, but he knew that tone of voice. He usually didn't like that tone of voice because it always led to crazy ideas and usually he ends up caught in the fray.
"There you two are" a firm female voice rang behind them
Keira jumped in surprise and whirled around to find Ashelin holding a bemused look in her expression. Daxter jumped down with a big grin on his face.
"Hey sweet cheeks" Daxter greeted, "What brings you here?"
Ashelin said in slight annoyance, "The same reason you're here. Retrieving the scepter"
"But how?" Daxter offered the same question up again, "It's not like we can rock up and ask him for it back!"
"I got an idea but we need a diversion to draw the Inner Circle away..." Keira replied
Keira moved from the corner towards the crashed prototype that was a few feet away. She bent over the side the vehicle into the cockpit before digging around and pulling out a few gadgets . Keira went back to them and handed something to Ashelin. Ashelin was puzzled at the cold metal in her hands until she saw what it was.
"A gun?" Ashelin questioned knowing all the Eco in the city was knocked out
"It basically doesn't run on Eco" Keira explained
Ashelin raised her eyebrow as she looked at it, "Gunpowder?"
Keira made a face as if she was insulted, "Not that basic. Though, technologically, the gun's power source is a few decades out of date but it has no reliance on Eco"
Ashelin looked again before slipping it into her empty holster.
"What's your plan?"
Rygar felt untouchable, unstoppable and unmatched. He had achieved what he has been planning all these years. Finally all his hard work had paid off and it was paying off big time. Rygar gave a wicked grin as his Inner Circle group bowed at his feet, acknowledging his power and authority.
With the power now his he could now create the world he dreamed and fulfill a prophecy that he lived by.
"Rise my servants" Rygar told his men, "We cannot mould the world while we're in the clay"
With that Rygar turned and moved away. As one the group rose to their feet and followed their leader with quiet steps.
"Eeep! They're heading this way!" Daxter panicked
"Shhhh!" Keira hushed as she quietly melted back further into the shadows
Rygar was approaching their hiding corner. He was a few feet away before a gunshots were heard. Rygar turned, as did his men, as white tiny bullets of light headed straight at them. Those men who were caught unawares fell to the ground with a whisper of robes.
Rygar didn't run but faced the new attacker as his men formed a human shield around him. They were loyal to him to the point of death. The figure landed in a crouching position in front of them with the weapon pointing right at them.
Rygar just smiled as he knew who it was, "Impressive Ashelin but you cannot face the rest of my men... armed"
At that word his men had drawn guns of their own and in sync pointed at Ashelin's shadow hidden figure. Ashelin drew herself to a standing position. The metal metropolis was blanketed by darkness, only to be lit by raging fires and the pale moonlight.
"I've prepared myself well for this attack on the city. It would be silly of me to implement a plan to suck this city dry of Eco and hold Eco weapons myself" Rygar gloated, "You may escape my creature's attack but you wont live to see the new world. Kill her"
At that order guns were fired. Ashelin jumped up to miss the row of lime green bullets before coming down in a kick attack. Her foot connected with one man's face before pushing off and landing on her hands in a handstand before flipping to an upright position. In all the while missing bullet attacks.
Some members came in for hand to hand combat seeing the shooting did little to their advantage. Ashelin engaged in them quickly with a punch to the face, a sweep of the legs and a few well aimed shots at their chests. Others stood back and tried to shoot her as she disengaged and flipped backwards to a considerable distance.
In the fight Rygar turned his back and continued to his ship that was hovering in the distance. Not caring for his men's lives, they were disposable. His mindset was too prideful and ego centric to worry about anyone or anything coming to attack him. After all who is stupid enough to challenge my power?
Suddenly something cluttered against the concrete ground. Rygar stopped and pin pointed the noise. It was a small round disk in front of him, but before his soldier mindset override his ego the disk made a beep then exploded. The explosion itself was a few meters away and it was small but the shockwave was powerful. The device was made for minimum explosion, maximum impact. Rygar was thrown a few feet away landing on his back and sliding across the pavement, his old KG armor protecting him from any dangerous injury.
Being in his old age Rygar could only try to catch his breath as the two seconds of disorientation and dizziness came in. Out of the shadows another figure came and grabbed the scepter that was somehow still clutched in his hands. When he realized the figure grabbed it he retightened his grip on the scepter and clung to it as if it was his only life support.
The figure groaned as they were pulling against Rygar's muscular grip. He heard a famine tone come out from the figure and knew it had to be Keira. Still out of breath he didn't speak but instead staggered to his feet to try and gain the upper hand.
But while gripping with one hand, an orange creature came from the shadowed figure. It ran down her arm before it reached his hand.
"Finder's keepers!" the orange rat creature snapped before it opened its mouth and bit strongly into Rygar's soft but leathery fist.
"ARRRRGGGHHHH!" Rygar roared as Daxter's blunt teeth sank in
Rygar was determined to hold on, finally shot out his right hand to secure his grip on it, but Keira was faster and gave a cry before yanking it out of his hand. She backed away out of arms reach with the powerful artefact held tightly in her hands.
Rygar howled in fury and grabbed Daxter who had let go by then, and threw him across the ground. Daxter gave a yelp as he hit the ground and felt the concrete's burn as he slowed down to a stop. He was covered by shadows, out of sight from anyone.
Ashelin struck down the last of the small group with a number of aimed shots then approached Rygar before he could advance on Keira. Keira was now within the scepter's orange light, revealing her brave features.
"It's over" Ashelin's cold voice said
Rygar froze at the voice as a gun was pointed directly at his head. Instead of Rygar howling in defeat or roaring in range he just laughed.
"HA, HA, HA! You think you've beaten me? You think you've won?"
Ashelin's face was still and portrayed nothing in the firelight. Rygar resumed his proud stance as he lifted his uninjured hand and between his fingers made a simple click.
"Checkmate!"
Then suddenly men appeared from the darkness pointing guns at both women, wearing the same traditional clothing as the Inner Circle. Ashelin saw they were greatly outnumbered but she kept her gun trained on him.
"Don't you remember? I am the leader of a whole organization! The largest in the city! You think you can take the scepter from me and walk away? You are more pitiful than I thought!" Rygar sneered
"Even if I go to hell, you're coming with me" Ashelin vowed as her finger tightened on the trigger
Rygar gave a bemused look, "How very noble of you"
Ashelin just glared.
Rygar's smirk fell away, "You will now pay for your insolence"
Keira gripped the scepter tighter knowing it was the key for the planet's survival. Jak... where are you?
"Kill them"
The creature carried the human in his hands as he neared the part of the sector he departed from. From his Eco sensory vision he could feel those on the ground, he could feel the life forces that stood there and could tell them apart.
The creature swooped in as he sensed danger. He could feel a whole group of life forces with dangerous intentions surrounding two who were more pure in heart. He could feel the danger they were in and he could even sense the fear. Fear?
"Ashelin!" Torn gasped, "Get in closer!"
Having that intention anyway, the creature continued its path downwards urgently picking up speed. As they neared the ground he sensed that the corrupt human didn't have the scepter anymore. With this revelation the Eco creature's eyes glowed powerfully bright, fuelled by hatred.
On the ground, no one had a clue about the two new comers above but Keira had one more gadget up her sleeve. As the command was given for their death, in one move she pulled out a small ball and threw it at Ashelin's feet. Instantly smoke poured out creating a screen.
Ashelin took the unplanned but welcomed diversion in her stride and dropped to the ground, on her stomach. A split second later lime green bullets buzzed overhead and blindly into the smoke. Finding nothing but metal or concrete.
"NO! Get them!" Rygar roared
His men kept on firing blindly but to no avail. The girls had disappeared.
Rygar's face twisted in rage but before he could say anything offensive explosions surrounded him. The explosions were light purple and those who were caught within them were dead or thrown a few rough feet away.
"What!" Rygar growled completely ignoring the welfare of his men
Rygar looked up to find the Eco creature, his form glowing bright as his face was twisted in hatred. Rygar knew he didn't have the scepter anymore and then finally he saw the failure in his plans.
"You will pay with your blood!" the demonic voice screeched
The creature ignited more Eco energy within its palms before raining them down on his men. The force of the explosions made Rygar brace himself to be steady in his position.
"NO!" Rygar screamed, "NO! I can't lose! I worked too hard for this!"
Then the creature swooped in, its hand swirling in Dark Eco energy, before attacking Rygar with a huge swipe. The claws cut through Rygar's skin like a hot knife through butter, slashing through tendons, ripping up blood. Rygar howled in pain as he fell to the ground by the force of it all.
"Weakling!" the creature spat before flapping its wings to gain distance away from his target and formed Eco at his hands. Instead of the usual Eco energy ball it was bright neon Dark Eco sparks. Rygar's survival instinct made him struggle up to flee, but he only made it to a kneeling position.
"I... wont... lose..." Rygar gasped
The creature stretched out its charged hand, then like lightning the Dark Eco essence zapped him. Rygar screamed as the Dark Eco gave him pain beyond belief. Like electrocution the old man was thrown into a seizure but his screams were unmeasured within the darkened square.
The creature gave a manic grin as its hatred was intensified greatly by the Dark Eco that mixed with his power. It was hatred to the point of insanity, where nothing else mattered but the objective.
Relentlessly the Dark Eco sparks blasted into the old KG igniting every inch of muscle, inflicting pain in places where it was never deemed possible. The Dark Eco changed the man's skin to a pale purple before the body started to smoke. The creature didn't care, his hatred was being fuelled from within. Deep inside where his hidden past was buried, it was an anger and hatred of an young tortured soul. A young man who did no wrong but was put through pain and suffering by those greedy in power.
And Rygar was the outlet of the rage.
Rygar's screams died as his throat frothed and swelled. His eyes withered away as his body was beginning to blacken but the Dark Eco continued. The creature continued to fry the corpse, determined that there was nothing left. Nothing left to rise up from the ashes and taunt him ever again.
Those who were unfortunate to see the event wished they didn't. Charred remains of a man, smell of burnt flesh was sickening and overwhelming. Ashelin had to look away, her eyes were glassy as the smell reminded her of the fate that some of her close comrades, from long ago, had met. Torn glared away in disgust, Daxter covered his eyes and Keira looked on mortified by what she saw.
She screwed her eyes shut and clung to the scepter tightly, Stop it! Stop it! That's enough! He's dead! Stop it!
Then the attack ceased. Silence filled the air as the blackened corpse smoldered in the dim light. The creature breathed heavily as if it just ran three triathlons, its open hand still exerted towards the body. The creature was suddenly in shock by what he had done. His cocky nature was diminishing as his mind was grasping the very power he held. The horror he could unleash.
He was no god. He was a monster.
The power drainage greatly helped his natural abilities to cope better with the large volume and also allowed him to think properly. His thoughts were less domineering and more human like. The creature began to realize who he was as some memories had been blocked came to him. He was human, a human with the great gift of harnessing and channeling Eco. Yet here he was torturing a man till death, using that power for something that he despised.
The creature floated down, landing on its feet before sinking to its knees. Emotions came unknown and unwelcome but they came all the same. Flooding his soul giving him grief and sorrow. The creature didn't know much about himself be he knew that he didn't deserve this gift. He wasn't worthy to hold such power, he didn't know how to use it. It was too much Eco for him to handle and he knew it.
There was only one way to release himself from this burden.
Awaken from its eternal rest, eyes are dull and no sense. Eco combined so powerful but tame, return to the dust from whence you came!
A silent voice whispered in his mind as he stood back up and turned to the girl who held the scepter. He could sense the other life forces silent and sad. He knew the magnitude of what he had done and it had to end now. He approached the target life force with great shame.
Keira saw him approach but didn't run. She was scared by what she'd seen and equally afraid for herself but she saw the expression on the creature's brightened face. If all else fails she still had the scepter for protection.
The creature stopped a distance away, he could feel her fear and he didn't want to intimidate her. The other life forces look at him quietly, he could feel their sense of justice but mixed in with sadness and harshness.
"The Sphere" the creature asked for the object, "Please give it to me"
Keira looked at the creature strangely not knowing if she should trust him or not. She could still be in danger of a surprise attack or something.
"Please give it to me" the creature pleaded more than demanded, "I should have never existed"
Keira looked down in silence before grabbing The Sphere. Not really knowing what she was doing she pulled it off the top of the scepter as if it was a magnet off a fridge and tossed it over to the creature. The creature caught it and as soon as its hands touched it The Sphere sparked and glowed. Then the creature screeched in pain as the artefact sucked his power. With sparks and the sound of zapping from The Sphere the creature lost its glow as its mutations returned. The Light Eco wings were sucked back into the back, as his Dark Eco horns receded back into his skull, his claws returned to the short skin fingernails as its eyes cleared up revealing sapphire ovals. His monstrous scream turning to a human cry.
The Sphere stopped and glowed brightly within human hands as a pale blind human stood there for a few seconds in suspended animation. His face still and his eyes filled with pain. Then his body shut down after hours and hours of coping under the stress of the impossible amount of Eco. In one move his eyes rolled back and his eye lids closed as he collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud.
His mind entering into a deep darkness.
To be continued...
Rygar's dead and his plot has been put to an end. So much for Jak not being the hero he just saved the world (again) from total annihilation! Knowingly or unknowingly he did it... but at what cost?
Stay tuned to find out what happens now. Not everything ends in fairytales.
Come on and review! Puleeze? I'll be your friend if you do!... or is it I wont be your friend if you don't? Oh well whatever! Review! Don't miss your chance to shout out your opinion/assessment on this chapter!