It was a dark room, lit only by a few torches on the walls. Unlike the rest of the base, this room and everything in it was made of black stone; pillars looking like rows of black trees in the darkness, the stone chair in which Matthew sat. Seras entered the room, her glocks held at her sides. She could sense Matthew's… darkness. It was far greater than before. She started to fear he might be lost…
///
Where the mindscape had conjured a forest before, it now conjured a dry, cracked, wasteland. And there, deep in the middle of nowhere, lay Matt. He couldn't move, could no longer influence what happened… wherever he was. He had a theory about it, though. The 'other' had probably pulled all the energy sustaining what was left of him. It figured it didn't need him, and with no reason to keep him around was content to let him die. Or perhaps weaken him so much that whatever was coming would kill him. On that, Matt wasn't sure anymore.
But something was certainly different. The 'other' was steeling itself, preparing for something really big. And there was a… presence nearby… He'd felt it not too long before. Oh yes… of course… It was Seras. A slight smile appeared on his cracked lips. She was coming to end it. Whatever that end was, there would be one. That was fine with him.
But what if he could help her? The 'other' was distracted again. Holes appeared in the shell holding him in. He reached through one, trying to find Seras somewhere out there. "Master…"
///
Matthew's eyes shot up to look at her. A smirk curled his lips, one that chilled Seras. That smirk was even colder than any Alucard had shown… She slipped the glocks into their holsters, her hand resting on Joshua. She knew there was no way he would leave without a fight.
She felt something in the back of her mind, like back in Columbia. She kept a smile from her face. It was the true Matthew, reaching for her again. And this time, she knew what to do. She could feel the connection path back to wherever he was kept bottled within his own mind. Slowly at first, to hide what she was doing, she sent some of her own energy down the line back to him. If she was going to get her friend back, she had to make sure he didn't loose his own battle.
///
A rumble of thunder crossed the mindscape. Matt gave a light chuckle. She'd heard him, and help was on the way. Clouds started to form overhead, cutting the light from the sun, and rain started to fall as Matt started to stretch his new influence over the mindscape. He felt the rain soak into him, rejuvenating him as he found the strength to return to his feet.
Around him, the ground pulled itself back solid. Trees, bushes, and grasses sprung from the ground, the air around him cooling to a much nicer temperature. He knew all this was incredibly clichéd, but it served a purpose. It got at least a chunk of the 'other's' attention focused squarely on him.
The repairs to the mindscape were complete, as were the repairs to himself. The rain stopped, a layer of fog forming around him. It looked like there was a clearing in his forest ahead of him a ways. He started forward. The challenge was issued. Time to see if the 'other' was game for a real battle.
///
Matthew stood, a large barreled weapon in his hands. "So they sent you to deal with me. I'm not surprised. With all I've learned, I could probably take out Alucard faster than he could smirk. You won't fare much better, but I think I'll take my time with you." He held the weapon, a shotgun with a long box magazine, at his hip in her general direction.
Seras drew Joshua, but didn't waste time and aimed directly at Matthew. "When I'm done with you, you'll be nothing more than a bad memory." Whatever her friend was going to do, he'd better start soon…
///
There was a pile of rocks before him, and a drizzle had started up in the fog. Standing atop the rocks was the 'other'. It wore Matt's face, and looked down on him with contempted sneer. "I've gained more power than you ever would have without me," he yelled down. "You're weak, pathetic! I have no further need of you, slime." It reached up, Amenthyl appearing from the mist. But as it pointed his sword at him, the blade corrupted. Its metal became dark, mottled. It's guard curved, becoming sharply pointed and very stylized.
Matt reached out, and a pair of slender mid-length swords appeared. He grasped them, bringing them into a high-low guard. He said nothing. The 'other' yelled, and leapt down at him with the corrupted Amenthyl held high. Matt caught its blade and deflected it away. Then started their dangerous dance; his speed matched against its strength.
///
Matthew opened fire, Seras twisting out of the way of the slug as it slammed into one of the pillars and blew out a chunk. She used the pillars as cover, returning fire when she could and diving out of the way when needed. She knew Alucard was busy elsewhere. She was truly on her own this time. But she would make it… she had to…
She fired another trio of rounds, trying to hit Matthew's gun, or arm, or something that wouldn't kill him. Matthew wasn't doing the same. Another huge slug passed over her head, hitting an already weakened pillar and sending it to the floor as rubble. She changed magazines, steeled herself, and leapt from cover. She dove toward another pillar, opening fire again. One round grazed Matthew's leg, enlisting a gasp. But his return fire came quickly, and grazed her flank. Her connection with the real Matthew flickered a moment…
///
The clash of swords filled the air, gentle rumbles of thunder starting to complement them. The two were evenly matched, but it was only a matter of time before one would tire. Suddenly there was a flash through the sky. Not lightning… Matt realized Seras had been hit. He wasn't sure how bad, but any injury was unacceptable. He would not allow her to be killed…
There was something the 'other' hadn't realized. Neither of them could win this fight. If one were killed, the other would die as well. When he had realized it himself, he damned the fates that had tangled so many clichés into his life, but it did give him a way to end it all. He refused to allow the 'other' to win, even for a moment.
With a look in his eyes that could stop the devil himself in his tracks, Matt unleashed a hail of blows that knocked the 'other' back onto the defensive. It was time to end this.
///
Seras could feel it through the connection… Matthew had lost hope in survival, and was going to take down the demon that had taken control at the cost of himself. She couldn't let that happen. She'd never forgive herself if her friend silenced himself that day. She slammed another new magazine home, hit Joshua's slide release, and charged. It caught Matthew by surprise; it was a moment before he fired. But it was enough time. Several of her shots landed; one arm, one leg, opposite hip. Matthew fell, catching himself on his remaining limbs. Seras didn't give him a change to move. She brought Joshua down on the back of his head hard.
Matthew's eyes rolled back into his skull as he fell over and was still…
///
The 'other' was faltering under Matt's crushing attack. The vestiges of fear crawled into the sides of its face as Matt's jaw set itself for the final push. He lanced out again, batting away it's corrupted sword and slicing its limbs again. The storm was gathering intensity, lightning arcing across the sky. Now was the time.
With both swords, he swung hard to knock Amenthyl away, then stabbed deep into the 'other's guts. As he did, a bolt of lightning struck, channeled through the swords into Matt's foe.
Matt withdrew, the 'other' falling to its knees as the storm calmed. Amenthyl dropped to the side. The 'other' looked up, holding one arm against its belly to keep everything inside, then hauled itself to its feet as best as possible and steadying itself against a tree. Determined, but not angry, Matt brought his swords in for the final blow.
But as he was about to strike, the mindscape faded to white. 'Is this it…?' he wondered. He lost all feeling, and all faded to black.