Disclaimer: Pearl, the Ivory Core, and theparallel dimensionALL belongs to me. Sadly, Andromeda does not. I DON'T OWN RHADE! (Cries loudly)

ATTENTION!

WHO WANTS TO SEE GERKSAND? New picture at my album! Go and check it out! And don't forget to vote on who you think should play Pearl. Either Alicia Witt or Alyson Hannigan.

I'll give you a cookie…

Title My one & Only Pearl

Author GreenLeaf7

Chapter 22: One Headstrong Teenager

Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong we're Headstrong
Back off I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong…
…I can't give everything away
I won't give everything away

"Headstrong" - Trapt

Gaheris was lying flat on his stomach, his hand stretch out towards the shaft as if he could wield Peal to come back. But she didn't come back…

With quick movements, Gaheris jumped up and rounded on poor Harper. A second later, Harper was held tightly up by the scruff of his shirt collar with his feet dangly as Gaheris lifted him up to eye level.

"What was this shaft used for?" Gaheris slowly questioned, his voice shaking with fury.

"It's the ventilation shaft." Harper managed to speak. Than after a minute of thinking, Harper remembered the other purpose of the shaft.

"What is it Mr. Harper!" Gaheris emphasized as he urgently shook Harper.

"It has a system of cleaning. Anything that doesn't belong in the shaft will immediately go into the Processed Garbage Center." Harper explained.

"This place was active! And you didn't tell us! Now Pearlana is somewhere in the ship, since it seems to think she is garbage!" Gaheris practically yelled in Harpers face.

"But it wasn't active when I was in the computers matrix. It said it was in shutdown." Harper quickly explained, hoping that Gaheris would release him soon.

Gaheris immediately released his hold on Harper, who dropped to the floor and feel to his side, but soon after picked himself up.

When the information that someone was controlling the shaft settled into everyone's minds, they all knew the answer to it.

"Shamus, you're in command. Take the others to the Hanger Deck and board Pearls ship." Gaheris quietly ordered.

He placed a finger to his temple and closed his eyes. "Look for the Avenger when you reach the hanger. That's Pearl's ships." Gaheris explained.

"Wait, where are you going?" In unison the three men questioned.

There was no way they were going to let Gaheris save Pearl while they just sat around waiting and doing nothing.

Gaheris picked up his forcelance and his other weapons before turning to face the three men. He knew by the fires in their eyes that they wanted to help. But if he was right, Pearl was now confronting Gerksand himself.

A full grown Nietzchean male against a teenager with enough fury to light a match by mere sight…you do that math. The odds of Pearl defeating Gerksand were grim. That's why it was crucial that Gaheris get there in time…

"You'll be helping Pearl if you got that ship prepared and ready for launch when we get back." Gaheris answered their unspoken questions.

"But…"

"Move it or loose it!" Gaheris was loosing patience.

Like school boys doing something they didn't want to do, the three men turned away and headed down the path to the Hanger; leaving Gaheris alone.

Harper though came back and looked straight at Gaheris.

"Bring her back…" He said, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"There's an entrance back the way we came that leads to the platform above the Processed Garbage Center. That's the only one that's close by and below us." Harper explained.

Gaheris placed a hand unto Harpers' shoulder while looking straight at him. "I will bring your sister back. I promise. And thank you"

Harper slowly nodded his head and looked at the dark shaft that Pearl had fallen into. He didn't like the idea but accepted it. With one last look at the shaft, Harper turned around and headed to follow the others.

Gaheris took a deep breath and turned his attention back to the dark shaft.

"I'm coming Pearlana. I'm coming." He said to himself as he started running down the shaft towards the entrance that Harper was talking about.

Meanwhile, Pearl on the other hand was not having a smooth journey.

She screamed when she found herself falling, just barely touching Gaheris' hand before she fell completely into the shaft.

For a while it felt like she was falling forever, until that is her rear end came into contact with something very hard yet smooth. A metallic sound bagged and echoed in the darkness. It was then that she found out she had landed on a slide and was now going straight down.

Soon after she was picking up speed down a shoot, pitch black everywhere she looked. It didn't matter what she did to stop herself from sliding down, she still kept on going anyway.

Suddenly, the slide ended…and she was in mid air. She screamed as she immediately began to fall, but it was cut off as she landed face first on something mushy…and it stunk like hell.

Not even her gills could stand the stench. It was worse than the conveyerbelt.

"The stench is worse that Harper's machine shop." Pearl thought to herself.

Suddenly, the gunk she had landed on began to slide downward…and soon Pearl was going along for the ride.

A second later, she was uncontrollably rolling down the hill of stench she had landed on. She tried grabbing unto anything that will stop her descent, but all she grabbed was crap that no one should even touch.

Soon after, Pearl landed hard on a cold floor. The left side of her head smacked hard against the floor, making sure she saw stars. Sprawled across the floor, lying on her back, she laid there not wanting to get up.

With her breathing labored, her eyes shut closed, and her body completely covered by garbage crap…Pearl didn't notice the figure hiding in the shadows.

Pearl groaned as she slowly opened her eyes. Instantly her eyes saw only darkness. Completely pitch black surrounded her and she immediately feared she had gone blind. But she calmed her racing heart and slowly allowed her eyes to get accustomed to the darkness.

Slowly turning to lean on her side, Pearl grunted as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. When she was sitting up, she immediately raised her head to cover the left side of her head.

Instantly she winced as pain shot up. With her finger tips she could feel an already forming, and quite large, bump on the left side of her head.

"What the hell did I land on?" Pearl asked herself as she gingerly touched around her scalp, looking for anything else that was damage.

"Maybe I don't want to know…" Pearl told herself as she touched her skull.

But luckily, her skull was fine, just in serious pain from the bump. She was just about to lower her hands when suddenly a straight beam of intense light from above Pearl, illuminated the small area she had landed on.

Pearl quickly covered her eyes as the sudden light burned her vision. With her eyes tightly shut and her arm covering them, it was then that she heard the laughter.

It was a sick laughter, a laughter that Pearl knew all too clearly. While still sitting on the floor, Pearl snapped her eyes open and ignored the pain she was met with.

Quicker than a flash, she quickly got up to stand on her own feet. With her forcelance in hand she aimed straight into the darkness that surrounded the small spot of light she was in.

The sound of mockery clapping could be heard in the darkness. It seemed to vibrate in Pearl's ears as she pointed her forcelance towards the sound, even though she didn't know where to shoot.

"Bravo, bravo, bravo…" The unmistakable voice of Gerksand floated from the darkness that was in front of Pearl.

"Once again Pearlana, I underestimated you." Now the voice came from behind Pearl.

She swirled around to face the voice behind her, but she took a side glance when she heard Gerksand speak to her right.

"You seem to enjoy your little games. Don't you?" Pearl's mind was reeling as confusion centered in. How was it that Gerksand could be speaking in front of her one second and the next he's behind her?

And then, Pearl felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Instantly she held her breath and kept herself rigid since she could feel that someone was behind her…and she had a pretty good idea as to who it was.

Her suspicions were confirmed when she felt a breath of air go against her right ear, soon after the sickening voice of Gerksand as he whispered in her ear.

"But play time is over…"

"Who said I was playing?" Pearl didn't wait for a reply because she quickly spun around, her right leg raised high to give a good kick right on Gerksand's face.

But she met air when she spun around. Still in a fighting position, she slowly lowered her leg while keeping her senses in check.

She wondered how he did it though, move so fast without her even realizing it.

"Getting a little slow, aren't we Fox?" Gerksand now sounded like he was to Pearl's left.

"You don't mind if I call you Fox, do you? It soot's you so well, with your flaming hair and gold eyes…" Gerksand said the last barely above a whisper.

"As a matter of fact…" Pearl quickly raised her forcelance, pointed it to where she thought that Gerksand was and fired three shots.

"…I don't." She finished as she watched her three shots take off and into the darkness. Once leaving the circle of light Pearl was in, the shots were no longer visible. But secretly Pearl hoped that they found their mark.

A cruel, loud laughter rumbled from somewhere behind Pearl. She whirled around again to face the laughter, but her shoulders sagged as she saw that no one was there.

"Too bad…"

Pearl immediately spun around, her fist tightened and ready to give a seriously hard blow to Gerksand's face. At this moment, she didn't care if she hit his eye, nose, or chin. All she wanted was to hit something!

But once again she was met with air, even though she knew that Gerksand had been right behind her.

Pearl grinded her teeth, her hands clenching tightly the forcelance. Her blood boiled and her eyes flashed…all signals that she had reached the peak of being seriously pissed off.

"Stop being a coward and show your face!" Pearl screamed into the darkness.

She really didn't expect a reply, but she got one. Gerksand's laughter immediately stopped, and this time Pearl knew he was standing in the darkness before her.

"As you wish…" Gerksand replied.

Pearl had to quickly shield her eyes as the entire room was illuminated by an intense light that came from all directions. Although later she wished she hadn't covered her eyes.

With her eyes tightly shut as well as covered by her arm, she had no way of seeing Gerksand walk towards her until he was standing right in front of her. Nor did she see Gerksand pull back his arm, his fist tightened…

Until it was too late…

Gerksand punched Pearl clear across the face, causing her turn her head sharply because of the impact. Caught unprepared, she dropped to the floor while covering her burning face.

She tasted a metallic taste in her mouth, and instantly knew it was blood. She opened her eyes and looked up at Gerksand.

For a man…or Nietzchean…who was about to get his ass kicked, he appeared to be pretty calm about it. Actually, he was smiling down at Pearl like he was proud of himself.

Pearl slowly got up, her eyes never leaving Gerksand's. She could see his smile falter as she stood up to her full height…which wasn't really much since she was the same height as Harper…but no doubt her eyes were ablaze.

When she was standing, Pearl took a quick look at her surroundings. Looking at the place she was in, Pearl wished she could be somewhere else…but it would have to do.

Pearl was in the Processed Garbage Center, probably a little below the ventilation shaft. 'Garbage surrounded her' won't even come close to describe where she was. Mountains of garbage were placed all around the deck. Much of it was from organic substance.

When Pearl had fallen into the Garbage Center, she had landed on top of one of the mountains of garbage. She could only guess the way she looked now, but she pushed that thought away; even though it sickened her to her stomach.

The Processed Garbage Center was as large as the Engine room back on the Orion. Only this time, instead of the Ivory Core's center power, it held a large tube devise that reached sky wards.

Known as the C.O.U (Cleansed Outlet Unit), it carries green liquid that swirls inside. Large circled doors, closed at the moment, were at the bottom of the tube. At the right moment, the doors would open and release the queen liquid that would immediately become a green cloud once it combines with carbon dioxide in the air.

Once this happens, the green cloud would literally eat away anything organic; this including the organic garbage…among other things.

Above Pearl's head she could see a catwalk going up towards, what she could guess, was the control center. If she could make it there and program the C.O.U., that maybe she could get rid of Gerksand…once and for all.

She snapped her attention back to Gerksand. While calming her racing heart, she maneuvered herself into a familiar martial arts stance. It was time…

"Oh, are you going to fight me now?" Gerksand asked, mockingly. "Is the little Fox going to 'kick my ass'?"

Once a tiny flame, Pearl stared at Gerksand as she laughed. She once a kid, having dreams of her own. Dreams a regular teenager would have. Never understanding what it meant to feel real pain, to see a loved one die, or to see evil in the face.

She never thought she was going to actually combat with someone, those classes were just for fun…but now getting herself mentally and physically prepared to engage in a battle with an enemy…she began to wonder if everything she was taught was on purpose.

One thing was for sure, she had changed. She had grown up, and she wasn't going back.

"No more Miss Nice Girl." With that Pearl swung her right leg and did a high kick straight towards Gerksand's face.

But he blocked it with ease, but Pearl didn't stop there. She dropped to her knees and brought her right leg to sweep from underneath Gerksand's feet. He jumped over her leg and quickly brought his fist down to give Pearl another punch.

But she protected her face with a block, grinded her teeth as Gerksand's fist came into contact with her bare skin. That was going to leave a mark.

"Really Pearlana, I figured someone like you would calculate who the winning side would be." Gerksand said as he backed away from Pearl.

Pearl quickly got up and quickly picked up her forcelance, which had fallen to the floor when Gerksand had punched her.

Without hesitation, she fired straight at Gerksand's chest. There was no way that he could escape the shots as they aimed straight for his heart…so why did they pass right through him!

"What!" Pearl screeched as she nothing but a ripple in Gerksand's chest as her shots passed right through him.

Unbeknownst to her, she pocketed her forcelance and looked at the point were her shots had passed through before looking up to face Gerksand.

"A small gift from the Abyss. Tesseracting is so much fun. You should really try it." He replied with that cocky smile.

Pearl gave out a cry of rage as she ran straight towards Gerksand. She jumped into the air did a double kick straight at Gerksand's face. Her fist kick, he blocked…but the second…

Pearl's kick wasn't enough to knock Gerksand to the ground, but it was enough to snap his head to the side from the impact. He stumbled for a second before straightening himself and turning his head to stare straight at Pearl.

He watched as her lower lip swelled up from the punch he had given her. But he also saw the fire in her eyes and for a moment wondered if it was wise to fight her alone.

But when he tasted his own blood inside his mouth and spat it out, his own anger boiled over the pot. He had been easy on Pearl, feeling that it would be all too easy to over power a teenage girl. Just give her a couple of hard whacks and she will be begging for him to stop.

But he wasn't counting on the girls rage, and now knowing that she could harm him…he knew that she would kill him if the time came. The little girl was dead, leaving this woman who was filled with rage.

"I've got to hand it to you Pearlana. You are one headstrong teenager." Gerksand said as he wiped away the last remnants of blood from his mouth.

"But like I said before…" Gerksand came at Pearl with such force that she wasn't prepared as he rammed into her.

It didn't take long for her back to collide with the cold wall. She winced as she felt her lungs complain since the wind was knocked out of her.

But she didn't get the change to breathe in since Gerksand grabbed both of her wrists with one of his hands and roughly brought them up and over her head. He pressed her wrist against the wall and started to pull up, until her feet were dangling.

When he was sure that Pearl couldn't free her hands and was completely helpless now, he brought his face within an inch away from Pearls.

"…play time is over." He dangerously whispered into Pearls ear.

Now Pearl was stuck. She hadn't expected this move, and judging by the vise grip Gerksand had on her wrists…she knew that it would be nearly impossible to free herself. Of course there was always something, but she had to make sure that the opportune moment had come.

Pearl turned her head away from Gerksand and looked up. Her eyes immediately sparked, and inside she was grinning like mad. Just a little above her wrists was a ladder leading straight up and onto the catwalk. If she could just piss Gerksand off a little, maybe he could lift her up enough to hold on to the ladder…

She looked down at Gerksand and didn't take a second to know just what to do. She gathered enough juice and spat straight at Gerksand's eye. Like she had planned, Gerksand swore under his breath before yanking Pearl higher into the air…her back pressings hard against the wall.

Pearl couldn't help but cry out as Gerksand intensified his hold on her wrists, squeezing them so tightly that she feared he would break them. But her pain was paid off when she could wrap her fingers around the bottom of the ladder.

"Awe, the little fox is helpless." Gerksand said in a stupid childish manner. "What are you going to do fox? What is the brave and fearless fox going to do?"

Pearl stared straight into Gerksand's eyes without blinking once. It was now or never…

"This…" Immediately she kicked with every ounce of her rage. Her target? Well, let's just say he went down pretty fast.

This too Pearl was counting on as Gerksand released his hold on her wrists and clutched his pride as he dropped to his knees. While holding onto the ladder with both of her freed hands, Pearl swept her legs upwards and kicked Gerksand clear across the face. Her graviton boots making sure that Gerksand won't be getting up for a few blissful minutes.

Looking down at the heap on the floor who was Gerksand, while still holding unto the ladder, Pearl turned herself to face the wall and pulled herself up.

When she had done so, she reached for the second step of the ladder. Soon after she was climbing up that ladder with speed. Never once did she look down, but kept her concentration on the catwalk up.

But maybe it would have been best if she did look down…at least only for a moment. Then she would have seen that Gerksand was no longer where she had left him.

When she had reached the top of the ladder, she found herself in a small opening on the catwalk. Pulling herself unto the catwalk, she left the ladder, and soon stood up.

Looking around, Pearl spotted a dark glass in front of…or really across the gap between the two catwalks. Judging by how dark it was Pearl could guess it was double sided…meaning that there was a room behind it.

Knowing that that must be the control room, Pearl made her way towards her. The control room would definitely have a door leading out of this hellhole…along with some controls to activate that gas below…

The catwalk was circled around the area, both sides of left and right meeting to stand right in front of the 'spy mirror'. Choosing to go right, Pearl started running down the length of the catwalk; her eyes fixed on the dark mirror.

But suddenly; Pearl found herself on the floor while clutching her stomach tightly. Her eyes were tightly shut, the pain unbearable. It felt like a rock had just slammed unto her gut.

She could hear someone above her breathing like a mad dog, and she knew it was Gerksand. He had just appeared right next to Pearl as she was running, catching her by surprise when he punched right on the gut.

"You know…" Pearl found herself being yanked up to her feet, a vice grip on her left shoulder.

"…it takes a lot for someone to get under my skin." Gerksand said as he pulled Pearl and roughly swirled her around to face him.

Pearl gasped as her eyes widened when she looked up at Gerksand. His eyes were no longer green, but blood red. Not one bit of his pupil was seen, just red.

"But congratulations…you just won The-Biggest-Pain-In-The-Ass-Award." Gerksand grinded his teeth his grip tightened on Pearls' shoulder.

"Lucky me…" Pearl muttered to herself.

While catching Gerksand off guard, she tightened her right hand into a fist before bringing it back and slamming as hard as she could unto his face. One thing was for sure, it was going to a while for feeling to come back to her hand.

Her eyes widened as Gerksand didn't even appear to have felt her punch. He just kept his gaze on her, never blinking once.

"Let the games begin…" With that he spun Pearl around and shoved her forwards. Not being able to do anything from the sudden push, Pearl helplessly fell over the railing of the catwalk.

But luckily, she was able to grab hold of the third railing before falling to her certain death. She hanged there for a while, gathering her strength until the right moment came…and it just did.

She heard Gerksand step forward and quickly looked up to find him bending over the railing. The position she was made it so that she could not be seen, that is until she quickly pulled herself up…and was completely upside down while balancing herself on the railing before she slammed her feet straight into Gerksand's face.

The impact sent Gerksand to fall backwards, having nothing to hold himself up. Pearl however jumped over the railing to stand on the catwalk. She tightened her fist and stood ready for anything that Gerksand through at her.

Springing up, Gerksand rounded on Pearl. He started throwing punches at Pearl at a pace that no ordinary man could do. But Pearl blocked every one of his punches and gave him some of her own.

Now true, Pearls' strength did on reside in her punches but in her kicks. So when Gerksand brought his fist back to give her a real knocker, she quickly dropped to the floor and unto her back.

For a moment looking helpless, but not for long, Pearl brought both of her legs up simultaneous before kicking Gerksand's shins…hard.

Gerksand gave out a cry of rage and pain as he went down on his knees. After kicking Gerksand and making sure that he went down, Pearl bended herself backwards and did a back flip to crouch on her own feet.

She stayed that way, like a panther ready to strike. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, her eyes flashed, her muscles tense. She pulled her forcelance out of its pocket, gripping it tightly with her left hand.

She watched as Gerksand slowly picked himself up, she kept herself as silent as a mouse. Gerksand turned around to look down at the crouching form of Pearl, and she came to realize that his eyes were no longer red.

He was breathing heavily, looking at Pearl like she was some sort of caged animal…filled with fury which no doubt reflected in her eyes.

"It's not too late Pearlana." Gerksand began as she stood up to his full height, so that he was now towering over Pearl.

Pearl's eyes flashed in the light.

"It's not too late to change your fate. Join…" He didn't get to finish because of Pearl jumping up and running full force at him.

She had tightened her grip on the forcelance and had tightened her right hand into a tight fist. As she ran towards Gerksand, she brought her fist up to pelt him with a hard punch.

But Gerksand anticipated this move and grabbed a hold of Pearl's right wrist before she was able to punch him. With a vice grip on her wrist, Gerksand spun Pearl around so that her right arm was tightly held behind her back.

A moment of pause before Gerksand gave a hard jerk upwards on Pearl's arm, causing the bones to snap. She screamed as pain shot up arm as Gerksand jerked her arm upwards and against her back.

None of them heard the sound of someone calling out Pearl's name. The voice was near, probably a little bit away from the dark mirror that Gerksand's back was facing.

"This is your last chance Pearlana. Join us; join the Abyss and those you love won't come to any harm." Gerksand spoke into Pearl's ear, still keeping a tight grip on her arm.

Tears of pain fell from Pearls eyes as she lifted her head up high. Her teeth were tightly clenched as she felt the pressure Gerksand was placing on her arm.

"Join the Abyss Pearlana…." He whispered in her ear.

"What does the Abyss want with me?" Pearl questioned through gritted teeth.

A pause spans out before he replied. "You're special. Your DD was special, and the Abyss knows it."

Pearl's mind was reeling. Special? What the hell did that mean? Snapping out her thoughts when Gerksand turned around until it was she who was facing the dark mirror.

"Look at yourself?" Pearl looked up and straight into the glass. Reflecting back she saw herself being tightly held by Gerksand as he towered over her from behind.

"You may not see it now, but there is greatness in you Pearlana. A greatness that not even your family could comprehend." Pearl felt Gerksand release his hold on her wrist.

Instantly she stepped away from Gerksand while grabbing her broken arm and cradling it. She turned away from the mirror to look at Gerksand.

"You can feel it, can't you? A part of you that's missing, a part of you that hurts to be alone. Am I right?"

Pearl turned her gaze away from Gerksand, keeping her eyes on the floor as she took a step back.

Gerksand merely smiled, knowing that he was getting to her. "The others won't understand what you are going through. They will think it's just the feeling of loss from the connection you had shared with your DD."

Pearl shook her head roughly, causing her hair to spill across her face. However, she kept on stepping away from Gerksand while tightly holding on to her broken arm.

"He won't understand you Pearlana." Gerksand changed tactics, going right for the kill.

Pearl snapped her head up, knowing who Gerksand was talking about.

"Do you think it will all end like a fairy tale? With a happy ending? He doesn't even know what you really are." Gerksand said as he took a step towards Pearl.

"But the Abyss knows. He knows what you really are Pearlana and he can help you." Gerksand then stretched out his hand towards Pearl so that she could take it.

"All you have to do is take my hand and all of your pain will leave you. That missing part of you will be complete and all your worries and fears will be over. Just take my hand…and join us."

Pearl looked at Gerksand's hand like it was a viper, ready to strike and poison her. But maybe…maybe all of her pain could end. Her eyes glossed over as her tears began to roll down her cheek.

She closed her eyes and was surprised when she saw the image of Shamus and Harper frantically waving at her while calling out to her. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could clearly see their mouths moving.

They were screaming at her 'No!' She turned her attention to her left, seeing more of her friends and family. She saw her mother, Brendan, Eric, and even Trance; all screaming at "No!"

And then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and found herself looking up at Gaheris. He warmly smiled at her before placing his hand on her cheek and wiping away her tears.

Pearl gave a small smile as Gaheris tapped her nose before leaning forwards to give a kiss to her tear stained cheek.

"He doesn't love you." Gerksand voice snapped Pearl out of her vision, causing her to open her eyes and look straight at Gerksand.

She felt the fire within begin to grow hotter and hotter.

"He can never love you…"

And that's when Pearl snapped.

"FUCK YOU!" Pearl screamed as she ran full out towards Gerksand.

Forgetting all about her broken arm, Pearl swung her good arm to give a hard punch to Gerksand's eye.

When he went to cover his burning eye, Pearl switched tactics and leaped into the air while giving a side blow to the left side of Gerksand's head. He staggered from the kick, but Pearl didn't stop there.

She jabbed and punched, kicked and even bit…never stopping until she had back Gerksand up against the railing of the catwalk.

"I! WILL! NEVER! JOIN! THE! ABYSS!" Pearl said these words as she gave the former second in command a beating.

"YOU CAN BURN IN HELL FOR ALL I CARE!" Pearl went on as she was just about to send another swing on Gerksand with her fist.

But she suddenly found herself choking. Gerksand had stopped her flying fist and had grabbed a hold of her throat. He squeezed hard, causing Pearl to gasp for air. He began to lift her up while still have a firm grip on her neck. Soon her feet were no longer touching the floor.

Pearl could see his eyes turn red once again, but then blackness consumed the red until all Pearl was seeing were a pair of soulless eyes of black.

She could feel Gerksand's bone blades press against her collar bone. But not once did she wince. If this was her fate, then she will leave it without showing Gerksand the pleasure in seeing her cry out in pain.

Suddenly she was yanked forwards until she was but an inch away from Gerksand's face.

"You first…" confusion played across Pearls face, but it was suddenly replaced by shock and horror.

With inhuman strength, Gerksand threw Pearl fowards and away from himself as he released her neck. He watched as Pearl was thrown back to smash against the dark mirror. The strength he used to throw Pearl, and from the impact of her body against it made the dark mirror shatter to pieces.

Pearl however kept on going, her body passing through the broken shards of mirroras itcut her face, arms and legs. She flew into the control room, but only for her side to slam onto the wall. Immediately she began to fall to the floor. But she landed on a control panel, the back of her skull slamming against the hard metal plating.

White hot pain shot up and completely covered her senses. Her world immediately began to fade into black, and she allowed it without any resistence.

Pearlana Orianna Harper crumbled to the floor in a heap onto her side. No sign of movement came from her, but only the steady drip of crimson which fell from the back of her head. The crimson droplets fell to the floor causing an already small puddle to form.

She was already long gone when the door to the control room was smashed open. Rushing in came a certain Nietzchean who stood still as he looked at the still form of Pearl on the floor. He gave out a cry of rage when he saw the puddle of blood beneath her head…

Ok, no doubt you all are going to kill me for leaving you here. But it wasn't my fault.

It was all suppose to fit into one chapter, but it didn't. So I'm sorry, but I have to leave it here.

(Hides behind chair to hide from angry reviewers) I promise I'll update A.SA.P. Just don't hurt me…

THANKS TO ALL WHO READ THIS FIC! Even if you don't review, though I wish you would, I hope that for a few minutes I entertained your curious minds.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!