Chapter Twelve
Purple Ring Knight Emerges
Footsteps ring out in the dank air of the cell. I look up, my eyes blurred with tears, see only a green hulking figure before me. "Let's go Colt. Your worth is going to be proven here and now…" With that a fist collides with my skull and I black out.
"Heh, welcome to Colt. I do hope you don't mind the constraints on you but we can't have you trying to kill us now can we?" I roll my head, vision blurred and mind groggy I look around myself. I try to move my hands and legs to find only what the voice said is true, I am unable to move them. My vision begins to clear, I look forward and see the FOmar standing before me once again, his eyes giving me a smile while his mouth shows hate.
I turn to my left and right, seeing I am strapped down to some sort of table or device. My eyes fall on the surrounding darkness. My mind screams at me, a warning, danger, death, I panic as my vision shows me what I have only begun to remember. "Th-This, this is where I was born…" "Heh, I can see you are beginning to see clearer now… Although I do believe born is not the correct term used for you. Heh, that is to say you were created, not born human."
"Wha? What do you mean!" "Oh come now Colt? Are you truly that blind, the conflicting memories, who your surrogate mother was? You honestly still believed you were born human? Heh, what a joke… You were not born human. You were made human."
I fall silent… My mind wresting with this new phantom, that has brought it self forth. "… Anyways, on to your other memories we so cut off from you. Yes you were created human, Achrion and myself, were the ones who also taught you combat, do you recall?" I fall silent as my mind works… "It seems you do. You also had your mother, Anna who raised you…. She was supposed to do nothing more then make sure you were educated about Coral… To bad she failed and developed a bond with you…"
My heart freezes again; I now have a name for my mother… I look around again trying to wash away these scars of old that are now new to me. I look towards the tubes that surround us. I see all contain… Something in them, whether it be a monster I recognize or some sick merging of others… I do not care which, my mind just screams, hollers and writhes for my to flee, leave this place, to break free and run, killing all who stand in my way.
"Hmm, I see you rather dislike this place, as you should. It was the place of some rather, painful operations on you. Tell me have you ever wondered how two beings were able to exist within your one body?" I remain silent as the other rises in me now, at the mention of him. "Heh, it's no true surprise to us now is it Hunter? We are both alive are we not? Why should we care how it ended up like this, come let me take control, then we can begin what is rightfully ours!" "Enough of your mad logic!"
Achrion looks at me and laughs to himself, "Heh, it seems you were right Sojorian. One is bent on chaos and death, the other, willing to die for his friends. To sides of the same mirror, one dark and the other light." "Not quite Achrion." The FOmar Sojorian says, while smiling slightly, "While you are right about one being bent on chaos, the other is not as pure as one would think. Isn't that right Colt?"
I turn from him now and say nothing. "For you see Achrion, Colt did take top honors in his Hunter's test." "Yes I remember that well, I was there to present him with his license…" "True but you never did get a chance to see the file footage of the VR field now did you?" "Heh, I am sad to say I did not. Why did the light side suddenly become tarnished? Hehe." Sojorian smiles, a menacing smile to me. His eyes turn cold and glare with an evil happiness at me. "Why yes it did Achrion, yes it did…"
"Begin the examine… NOW!" A voice screams I open my eyes and see I am set in a forested area. The canopy is not covered in thick lush trees as I had thought of, yet it was more akin to a temperate zone climate with a few exotic varieties of plants. "Well… I best get going." My voice sounding frail even to my own ears, I draw forth my saber, it glows green as the photons come to life in my palm. I walk the path forward. I soon come to a laser grid fence. It goes down as I approach, I step through, suddenly as I leave it in my wake it activates once again and does not disappear as I approach.
"… This is not a good sign…" The voice crackles through to my ears again. "In some areas you will need to defeat monsters to move on to the next room, or activate a switch hidden some where along the way. Remember, you need two Ids to proceed and pass the examine, that is all." The voice fades out with an electronic crackle and hiss. I am left alone once again. "… Perfect…"
A sudden noise grabs me; it is a small peep, like that of a native bird. I look around and see nothing… Suddenly a flash of yellow catches my eye to the left of me, I lash out with my saber and server the head of the animal from its body. The head rolls on the ground, the body still waddles forward a few more steps, and then falls. Blood leaks from the stump it now has for a neck, I look towards the head, yellow in color, I see two eyes placed on either side of the beak, not directly in the center of the head and yet not directly on either side of its skull. Akin to my own eye set.
I look towards my arm gauntlet to determine what it is I have just slain. The data screen pops up and shows the bird standing at about two to three feet tall, a rather plump animal, almost like an over grown penguin from our home world of Coral, except yellow, and atop its head sits two antennae with feathers at the ends of them… The automated voice begins to describe the animal to me.
"Rappy, a class of native animal on Ragol, timid in nature, Rappies are non aggressive and flee from predators instead of fighting, though if caught or unable to run Rappies have been known to play dead. Waiting for their chance to escape. It should also be known that Rappies nest in groups of two or more…" "…. I really didn't need to know that." I say to the arm gauntlet which continues its rant on the over grown chickens. "There have also been sightings of a rare sub species of Rappies. We have dubbed them Al Rappies, these Rappies though almost physically Identical to their Rappy counter parts are blue in color and far more aggressive, extreme caution is to be used if one is spotted."
"Well at least it wasn't a blue one then…" I chuckle to myself slowly; suddenly more peeps are heard from the surrounding trees and thickets. "Ahh crud… I hate when research data is correct." More flashes of yellow appear from the trees and grasses. Suddenly in front of me a huge blue bird appears. "… Damnit… I just had to encounter the angry one didn't I?" I back away from the slowly advancing horde. My saber drawn forth once again, ready to cleave more of these rather strange birds in two. They all move towards the behead Rappy; they look towards it and then me, suddenly all flea but the Al Rappy. Instead the blue bird charges me, I am unready for this move and feel its sharp beak suddenly pierce through my armor.
I stagger back grasping at the point below my rib cage where the beak pierced me. Blood drains on to my hand. I put my left hand on the wound, hoping the pressure will stop my bleeding. The Al Rappy croons in triumph as its beak gleams red in the fading light. I grasp my saber within my right palm now. "Gah, damn bird… Glad it's so short." My breathing slightly labored now thanks to the new hole I have. The bird turns towards me and charges again, "Heh, I won't fall for the same move twice even if injured. You're going to have to think harder then that!" I pivot on my right foot as the bird charges towards me again, as the shocked Rappy turns its head to look at me; my saber comes around full swing and catches it in its stomach. The photonic blade burns and eats its way through the Rappy's flesh and bones.
The bird gives out a blood-curdling cry of defeat and death and then goes limp. I pull my saber out of the bird. It is drawn forth clean, the photons having burned the blood, bone and sinew as it lanced through the creature. I stare down at the animal and see the gash. It is the length of its stomach area, and almost went clean through the animal. Blood begins to slowly seep from the open wound now.
A sound of a lock opening sounds in the area I scan my surroundings, and soon notice a door with Green lights to either side of its markings. I step towards the door, it slowly slides open with a grind of metal. As I begin to walk through I look back towards the Al Rappy, its small mangled body. I feel remorse for the slaying. Suddenly I look towards the creature again and notice something besides its body. An orange data box appears.
I walk towards the small box, open it and discover within in it a massive photon sword. I grasp the handle of the blade, its photons activate, a low blue blade appears. Carefully removing my left hand from my wound I grasp the massive brand with both hands. I feel the weight of the blade, it feels… Comfortable, as if… It was always meant to be within my palm…
I brush aside these thoughts, I have hardly had enough experience handling weapons, the thought is a mere grandeur on my mind. I deactivate the phtonoic blade and strap it to my back. The clinking of the handle and center portion upon my battle suit is the only sound I hear as my feet carry me through the now unlocked door.
"Well. It seems he is doing rather well, quite remarkable Sojorian… Although. I am rather surprised he can handle a Gigush at his current level… He shouldn't even be able to wield the blade." Sojorian smiles to the Principal, "Yes he is rather well trained and well… A few other things as well." "Yes… quite… Now tell me Sojorian, how many of these, "vessels" can you have to me by the time we land on Ragol?" Sojorian smiles all is coming together, he thinks to himself, "The fool of a man. He doesn't even realize he is being used… So much for Pioneer 2's great leader, he can't even see he is the fly in my web... The lab director Natasha is not one much for brains either… Although more so then him… It matters not, as long as we achieve our ideals… They will both become nothing more then a ripple in history's thoughts…" A slow grin plays across his face and blood red eyes.
The Principal turns to Sojorian and cringes upon seeing his menace of a face. "I hate dealing with him… But… If it ensures the safety of all aboard Pioneer 2… Then I shall comply… If these reports from Ragol are true about ancient ruins… Then we will need this new breed of Hunter…" The Principal turns away and looks towards the screens again displaying the VR fields and the individual Hunters as they progress through them. An automated voice sounds "Hunter Brick has fallen… returning him to the medical area now…" "Hmm… They just don't seem to make RAcasts like they use to…" The Principal sighs to himself… He was hoping for a better turn out then this for the exams, although unknown to the people of Pioneer 2… The guild was in desperate need of Hunters… Most had left with the main body of Pioneer 1 as mercenaries for the army… The guild was desperate now for new Hunters… Still… They couldn't just take any one…
"Warning, Warning, Warning… Hunter Colt: Class HUmar, Skyly ID is en route with Hunter KilllOut: Class HUcast Skyly ID. Warning, Warning, Warning… A screen appears showing the Hunters current position to one another. "Hmm it seems they will meet within the biggest area of the first VR field…. They are ahead of the rest of the group as well… I hope your creation can fight other Hunters as well as he slays monsters Sojorian…"
Sojorian smiles, his face becoming cold and deadly in the wake of seeing his creation ready to shed blood. "Oh… He will pass do not worry… He shall prove his worth here and now… Do get the medical bay ready and prepared though…Hehehe… That HUcast will not finish this test." The Principal looks into the FOmar's eyes. No emotion is shown. His eyes, a blank mirror, reflecting nothing to the world… The principal turns to the screens again, looks at each individual Hunter, turns back to Sojorian and notices the developing grin on his face. It contorts him into a creature of dark obsessions. He then looks back and stares at Colt, he mutters to himself "…There is no way that a HUmar could hold so much power…" "Fine then, choose not to believe my words, you will loose a Hunter this day…" With that Sojorian turns his full attention to the battle that shall soon awaken on the field… He calmly says to the air. "Now Colt… Its time for you to awaken…"
I soon come across a tapestry f colors hanging in the fading light of the forest. Its light hews of golden yellow, red, and pink mixing and blending with the soft greens and blues of the ground below. I look down to the hole in my armor and again… The wound has closed, yet is still sore. Luckily I had discovered a few monomates a few rooms back and had put one to good use. I now had three left. The sound of water is all that greets my ears at first, then suddenly I pick something up. A sudden noise, as if they were… Feet… I look to my left and notice a purple HUcast has just entered the area from my left. He turns to me, looks me over, and charges.
His saber drawn forth, held above his head as if a guillotine, he barrels towards me. He strikes trying to server my body clean in two; I roll to the left, avoiding the deadly brand by four feet. An impression in the ground is left by his saber, five feet deep the blade has burned through the earth and rock as if paper. "Stand and fight HUmar!" He strikes again, trying to catch me in the stomach. I rise quickly and jump backwards two feet drawing my own saber. "Must we fight? We each need another ID to advance. Why not work together? We could get through this and not cause any blood shed!"
The HUcast stops for a moment, looks at me and laughs. "Ha! You foolish flesh ridden being! There is no helping! You can only depend on yourself! That is all it ever is and all it ever can be… Now, stop moving and die…" The HUcast charges again, I walk backwards and stumble over an exposed root. I fall to my back, the HUcast lunges hoping to drive the saber through my chest. I kick my feet into his chest plate, using his own movement against him; I move my legs with his body and toss him over me. I rise, I see him on the ground a few feet behind me.
"Heh, clever small one. However it will take more then that to stop me!" He rises and brandishes his saber. I ready mine again as well. We circle one another; defensive, awaiting the others move. The HUcast chargers again His blade coming towards me in a high left arc, I rear my own saber to parry his blow. The photonic blades clash, sparks fly from both blades as we lock in combat. The hiss and grind of our sabers as they lock in a deadly strife are the only things heard now within the clearing. He steps back, his blade coming free from mine, He again lashes at me. I parry the blow again, once more we are mere inches from one another's face, his eyes computing the likely out come of this battle. My own dead set on winning.
He charges again, his blade set down and to his right side. He strikes rearing the blade upward and to the left, I pivot to the right. Evading the strike of the brand, I lash out with my own attack, my photon blade cuts through his left arm. He jumps back; his hand lies on the ground now twitching as the circuits try in vain to connect with his arm again… It slowly stops and lies flat on the ground. Only sparks come forth from it now… "You worthless fool! You will atone for what you have done!" His emotions gone haywire in his maddens, a state of blood lust enthralls him. He streaks towards me now, speed unmatched by my human body. I stumble backwards again, only yet once more to land on my back.
He comes now, a purple blur before my eyes. "Now Colt… Awaken!" A voice screams through my mind. A searing pain burns in my temples. I feel something within me… It moves, breathes and craves life. The thing lances through me, suddenly I feel whole, as if I was never complete until this very moment in time, as if I were only a mere shell of what I could be… I turn towards the HUcast again, his charge seems slow now, as if… He was moving through water, his movements delayed, hindered, clunky and easily seen and predicted.…
I stand and ready my Saber, he comes for me. I crouch in under his slow swing. I slam my fist into his metal arm joint I hear the snap and twinge of metal and wire breaking. My elbow then slams home into his chest plate leaving a dent within it. I draw the Gigush from its sheath, the photons coming to life within my palm of ice. Its blue glow suddenly intensifies. A sudden surge of power courses through the blade. I care not where it came from or why it came to be. Just as long as my blood lust is satisfied, just as long as the HUcast lies on the ground battered, broken and dead I care not where it came from.
I swing the massive sword low, severing both his legs in one deadly lance. He falls to the ground, his legs clatter noiselessly to the ground before him. I draw my saber once more. I walk over to stand before his mangled body. Wires protrude everywhere along his arm and leg connections, sparking as if they had a hope of re-assembling. , then before he has time to utter another word of defiance from his circuitry, my photonic blade crashes into his chest. Piercing through his armor as if it were a mere body of water, my blade is shoved to its hilt in his body.
His mouth opens, nothing comes forth from it. He dies noiselessly before me. A sudden light of white and red flashes before me, the HUcast's body is teleported from the VR field, as soundlessly as he left this existence his body follows suit. I stand now, and look to where his body was, I see laying on the ground his Hunter ID. Bending down, picking up the small ID crest. I move it between my fingers. It feels so small and fragile… Much like a human life…
I place it in my pocket, I rise and look towards the door ahead of me. A noise sounds and the door unlocks. Strapping my Gigush back to its rightful place, I draw my saber forth from the ground it was embed in.
A sudden ice breezes billows through the area. The ground where the HUcast once laid is barren now, all that was remained of him, now gone… Whether by the Hunters Guild or the harsh wind that has come forth, like the Grim Reaper to collect his reward of another lost soul. It has all been lost to time… I sigh, turn my back on the grim scene and step through the door to the next area… As I walk past the doors I pray for his soul… Even though, I truly enjoy watching him die before my eyes… A sudden small down pour begins… As if the sky signifies the sudden loss of my own soul, and now… It weeps for me…
The HUcast was dead even before the vital signs on the Principal's visors activated. "Wha-What..? No… It can't be! He just can't be that powerful! Sojorian, what in the name of hell have you created!" The Principal whirls on the FOmar, his eyes, declaring a state of madness, fright and sadness all at once. His age finally shows in the withered mans face, no longer the stout youth of old, but a tired old man who just wishes to forget the past…
"… I suggest you inform the medical bay it was a freak accident." Sojorian says to the Principal, his eyes still keen on the battle field where Colt now walks away from. "A freak accident? This is an outrage! You know very well no one will believe that we were able to lose a Hunter applicant from a test! A VR FIELD TEST TO BE EXACT!" "Then I suggest you fire the nurses and hire others that are far less advance in thought patterns." Sojorian's face turns to stare at the Principal. His eyes showing no remorse for the slain Hunter, his eyes fall upon the Principal now. "You will do as I say… Know your place old man…"
No emotion is displayed at all in his blood red eyes. He is a mirror, only reflecting ones own image back at them… The Principal sputters and mumbles incoherent arguments. Half-truths, complete lies, and words half formed from his mouth, any manner of sound that can some how justify this… This, atrocity to continue existing… "I will be expecting your offer on how many you want within a week, Tyrell. Don't disappoint me… Oh do continue to watch the show…. I am sure you will find it… Rather amusing to say the least… Hehe, ahaha…" Sojorian exits through the twin doors, the life of the room leaving with him.
Tyrell now left alone, in the cold death that now plagues his mind, shakily sits down in his chair and opens a drawer by his desk. He takes from the draw a small flask of some kind. All that's known is the beverage inside will make him forget how human emotions are… He slowly produces a cup from the same drawer and places it upon his desk. He pours the liquid into it, a dark brown in color, or is it clear? The lights in the room dimmed down to the point where color is non-existent anymore… He grabs the cup within in his old hands. Stares at the contents, as if to debate on whether or not he should drink the vile crap once more, eventually he gives into the sweet ignorance of no human emotions can be. "To you Rico… May we never have another fate become like yours is…" The Principal gulps the said mixture in one swig of the glass. He sets it down slowly on the desk, covers his head with his hands, and then cries for the sins he is about to unleash upon his people…
"…. Well, well I am impressed. I never knew he would enjoy such blood shed." "Yes, quite agreed Achrion, though I doubt it was completely of his own feelings. That was when the other slightly awakened within… That is to say, when it started to grow, feed, and consume. Colt was merely the conducting rod for its nourishment… Now how ever, the vessel is no longer needed and its true body is ready."
Sojorian steps forward upon a pedestal of some type. I can't make it out from how I am strapped to this thing. Lights flash around him as the machine activates. The machine slowly hums to life, "Soon, truly soon I will be a god! Nothing will stop me! Ahaha!" Suddenly a jolt of energy surges through my legs and wrist, pain consumes my being. I wish to scream, holler in pain or cry like a small child. The pain however has other ideas, it strips me of my voice, my will, and my soul. My eyes must look as if I have died, for all around me I see scientists and aides cringing as I turn my head towards them. I try to mouth words of pleas, trying to beseech them to stop it, to release me from this pain.
None so much as glance at my efforts. I try again to holler at least test to see if I am still alive. Yet my voice cannot escape my body, instead the unholy screams and wails I clamor to release all ring out in my mind. I turn to look at this demon of man who stands before me now, Sojorian turns towards the door, I suddenly see it open, there within in the door way two figures step through, they step into the light, the first I recognize instantly, Serena… The second I am shocked to see, its Mint, I try and reach my hand out to her, to signify that she has come to help.
She merely looks at my struggling hand and laughs at me… I can't understand it then… It all makes sense… The reason she was looking for me with the other two hunters Marc and Alexis. The reason she was so glad to have found me alive… It was all just to bring me back here… I try to cry, how I could have been so naïve, so ignorant, so trusting… The pain replenishes its dosage on me and a new wave spews forth over my body.
I relive the memory in the mines. Colt… You're not alone, we are your family now. It was all just a ploy, a trick, a feint to bring me here… How could I have been so stupid! So arrogant… So needing… So… So… So foolish… I turn away and just stare at the ceiling, letting the pain wash over me again and again, letting it strip me of my thoughts. Soon though, my body numbs to the pain, it amplifies again… Again my body becomes use to it, soon I am forced to relive that moment again and again, that cheap tactic, that fake rouse, that simple lie that she easily used to win me over…
My eyes, water. I try to hold back the tears, show that this development has no effect on me. That I am more then a match for this simple emotion… It doesn't work… My eyes water, the pain now a dull singe upon my body does nothing to take my mind off of its own ignorance and stupidity… The truth was clear, the lie was murky… Yet I dove for the lie without looking back once…
The tears come to me slowly and softly, no great wails of pain, no searing screeches of torment escape my lips, just low small sobs… I am lost now… I can feel it, my mind clouding with thoughts, "What of the others… Will they betray you, can you trust them. What of the others… How ignorant can you be…? What of the others, you are all alone now…What of the others…" "No… Just stop please, just stop." I slowly sob to myself, tears roll down my face in small rivers, my mind repeating the same question within it self, harsher and darker then the times before.
"Heh, he is broken… Do it now. While there will be the least resistance, I care not whether he dies or lives… Just get me what is rightfully mine." I had thought the worst of the pain was over, what could be worse then fearing your friends have betrayed you… Fearing that the people, who you cared for most in this world, did not share the same emotion, the same feeling for you. Suddenly a pain as if my very soul was being ripped apart of it self takes hold of me.
This time I scream. My wail of torment, an unholy matrimony of agony and pain of two souls, two beings fused in one. I am awake through all this, my mind not once letting me shut down into sweet darkness, I open my eyes and see before me the form of the other. "Hunter! Fight back! Do not let them separate us! We can be one! We can be strong together! We can rule all with our iron fist!" I look at this spectra, he seems so worried, afraid and frightened… "I have nothing left to fight for… Just leave me please…" I say to him, "Hunter! You ignorant fool! You will be the death of your race, do you hear me! You will kill your own people!" "Just go away… I wish not to hear more of your mad logic, for fear it may consume me, breathe me into its grip and never let go… You are nothing… Nothing more then a whisper on the wind…"
"COLT!" "The other screeches at me within my mind, the demon's call pierces my whole body, it lances through me like a sword. I wither in agony as the last strands between us are cut. I hollow again, body and soul feeling as if they are being torn apart, ripped asunder. The pain does not die down after his ethereal form disappears either, yet intensifies in the wake of his absence.
"YES! Oh how this feels! To think, nothing can stop me! Nothing compares to me! I am more powerful then Falz or Olga Flow! I am truly a god!" Sojorian screams in pure ecstasy. His eyes flash a bright glow of red and yellow, his body flares up with a sudden upheaval of technique energy and then it returns to normal. He turns to Colt now, "Take him away, if he survives the night, we may have further use of him… If not, dump his body into the ocean… The creatures look rather hungry. Hehe, AHAHAHAHA!"
Writhing in pain, and torment I know nothing but darkness and agony. I scream and holler as the pain racks my body, never once does it relent, never allowing my body to become use to its glare. Never do I feel the sweet bliss of darkness either. I do not know its warm glow, yet how I yearn for it now, I beseech the darkness to take me, to kill me and let me by free of this horrid nightmare. Yet one memory keeps me from succeeding, one glaring drawing in my mind does not allow such sweet defeat come to me… The young RAcaseal, my mother… Stands before my minds eye, looking, watching, holding her hand out to mine own. I reach for hers, to hold it. She grasps mine with her small metallic hands. They feel warm and loving; she looks into my eyes with her own bright blue owns, "Don't give up Colt. Don't give up." Is all she says to me…
I writher in pain all night, my mind never able to shut down, never allowed to admit defeat. The searing pain of my body is intense beyond my own feeble mind's ability to comprehend. I convulse in pure pain and terror. Feeling as if every fiber, every tiny spec of my soul and body is on fire, being ripped apart, sliced, shot, stabbed and crushed. Morning comes, with it though, no renewed hope of the pain letting go. I look to my right as the door opens, I see Serena… Standing there watching me wither in pain. She looks at me through her glasses, walks over and kicks me in my stomach. I instinctively double over, even though the pain she has just sent through me is a mere pleasure to what I am going through.
"So you lived… This is a rather… Interesting find… I hope you continue to live… Heh, you should stop feeling the pain by tomorrow morning… That is, if you survive that long. Hahaha, take care Colt… You worthless prototype." With those final words she spits on my face, even though the pain I am in prevents me from standing and killing her, I rise my hand against the torment within my body and wipe my face clean. She stares at me daunted by the very fact I can even breathe much less move my whole arm, through controlled sobs of anger and pain I say only these words to her, "Get… The… Hell… Out… Of… My… Sight… Whore…"
She steps back from me tries to mouth something to me, stops looks down at me and just laughs. Laughs an evil scornful laugh and exits through the open cell door, closing it as she goes, closing it on my last hopes of freedom. My chest heaving with pain and anger rises and falls as my temper slowly boils down to nothing. The pain returns again, stronger then before. My body contorts into an unimaginable shape, one I could never hope to achieve on my own. "Gaahhhh! What is this pain! Its as if I… I… I don't know! AHHHHH!" My cries of agony only reflect off the cold dark walls of cell, returning to my ears only to mock me in my struggle to live…
The rocks have her pinned down now. Yet she has to get up she just has to, she can't let that HUcast go with out a fight. If not Colt may die. She just has to get up! Cranberry suddenly screams, willing the rocks around and on top of her to move, flee from her presence, a sudden surge of technique energy in the form of a Rafoie consumes the rocks, melting or blasting them into tiny pieces. As the smoke and dust clears, Cranberry slowly rises to her feet, she wavers for a moment as the haze slowly leaves her fatigued mind. Reaching into her storage device by her waste she pulls forth a Trifluid and Dimate. She quickly pops the two capsules into her mouth breaks them open and swallows.
The contents slowly drift through her fatigued body, washing away some of the haze. Her wounds begin to heal over, her mind clears even more. She opens her eyes and stares at the empty hall before her… "Colt? Colt, where are you?" No answer, "Mint? Mint are you all right?" Again only silence greets her ears. She looks around the area, no sign of disturbance other then her Rafoie blast indicates a sign of life, if Mint was caught in the blast there should be some sign of her, whether it be charred or not, there should still be one… Cranberry doesn't find any… "I don't like this at all… Something… Just doesn't feel right… Come on Sato, we have to go." The Mag appears behind Cran's left shoulder twitches once and then falls in behind her as she begins to race out of the dim hall. Cranberry's fears become alive now, eating at her mind's dark corners, making her heart race and jump with fright at every sound that echoes in the long dark hall.
"Where is he? Where is Colt…? He couldn't have lost… Could he?" Her mind races with the idea. Stops her self short of hysteria and rethinks things over. "No he may have lost but he did not die… He is alive… I just know he is…" Her mind set on the fragment of hope that has begun to blossom, she charges ahead into the dark to find the other three in the mines now, hoping they are well and together maybe they can find Colt before he is lost forever…
A second, sudden explosion rocks the hall Samus, Mewone and Sage are in. The sound of the sudden explosion echoing off the walls and floor, making it as if the whole tunnel will collapse in around them at any moment. "That was not a good sign…" Sage says his strength returning, able to walk on his own now, he turns back to stare at the neon lights towards the fork in the tunnel they had taken. "… I don't like this… Samus, are you able to tell what generated those two explosions?"
The RAcast turns towards the noise of the explosion stops and computes…. "Negative, insufficient data. Speculation is the best I can do without more hard data, I am sorry." "Give us your best guess then…" Sage already fearing what the RAcast's computer voice will tell him. "… The first was caused by a device of some kind, easily carry able… The other… Much more… concentrated… As if it were a tech of some kind…" "… Not good, Mewone, Samus we have to turn back now." "Why Sage? I don't see the point, so we felt a tremor big deal, which could be anything considering how old and run down this place is." "… That is not my concern… Don't you find it odd how two powerful explosions took place mere minutes after one another?"
The blue robed Force looks down at his hands and feet ponders what the other has said, shakes his head and says, "Very well… Let's go back; I still say there is nothing they can't handle down there though." Sage pulls ahead of the other two worry filling his mind. Mewone stares at his brown haired counter part and mutters to himself. "… I just wish this would be over with… I need that data…" "Did you say something?" Samus the RAcast turns his head, his visor hiding his eyes. Mewone looks up at the Ranger, scowls and replies. "No… It's nothing… Nothing at all…"
My eyes snap open, terror, pain and horror reflect in them. I search wildly around the cell I am now in, I stand, noticing the pain has subsided… She was right it was mostly gone, now. Small torrents still wash over me, nothing compared to what I knew. I look around the cell noticing very few things, a make shift bed at best, although I never made it to feel its minimal comfort. I look towards the ceiling and walls, noticing windows that stare out into the sea… "I… I am underwater?" I mouth aloud to myself, unable to fathom how I was able to get here…
A noise, the click of high heels and the scuff of battle shoes, draws my attention to the door of my cell again. I turn and stare into the eyes of Serena and Mint, I scowl at both asking in a tone of no emotion "What do you want?" They both look at me smile coyly and laugh, "Sojorian has need of you, it seems he is rather, pleased that you lived through the separation process, I on the other hand am quite disappointed… You should have died in the process, if not from the initial fraction then the resulting pain upon your body, all the research says so."
I merely stare at her complexion, short blonde hair, half rimmed glasses, and light teal eyes…. Almost the color of my own, except… Mine are a much darker cyan, as if they have a mix of piercing blue within them… I turn towards Mint now, my heart fills with sadness and rage, how could I have fallen for such a simple ploy? The thoughts enter my mind again, "What of the others… Will they betray you, can you trust them. What of the others… How ignorant can you be…? What of the others, you are all alone now…What of the others…" I cringe at these precepts of my mind. She notices my scowl and laughs, "What Colt? Are you surprised you were so easy to fool? Surprised I played you so well?"
I say nothing to her, rage begins to enter my eyes, blood boils in me, my hands clench into fists. Technique energy flows to my hands, a small blue glow surrounds them, I fire off a wave of Gibarta at them. The technique forms and streaks towards the two. It stops at the bars, seems to try and break something but stops, a backlash comes towards me, the energy hits my body and I fall on to the ground.
Both laugh at me, Serena enters my cell now, looking down at me and laughing, "What Colt? Did you really think us that stupid of your abilities?" I stare at my own hands and laugh to myself slowly, "Why yes, I believe you have!" My hand shoots out grabbing her neck in its steel vice, I crush the life out of throat, her eyes bulge, fear, and death grip them. My hand squeezes fast and hard, draining the life out of her, I can feel it, her neck, mere seconds from breaking, snapping in two, if only for a few moments more I hold this, I will-….
I stop, loosen my grip upon her neck ever slightly now, a blade is to my throat. I look down to its red sheen, noticing its glow in the fluorescent light of the cell. Mint is behind me, a pair of Red Daggers to my throat, I swallow slowly and calmly, removing my hands from Serena. Serena pulls away fast, fear enthralls her being, pure terror is shown in her eyes. Her complexion now white, hysteria taking control of her. "Kill him! Do it! You saw he tried to kill me!" "… Serena, Sojorian said he wants him… Alive…" Mint slowly removes the daggers from me, draws back, and goes to stand beside Serena. Serena's eyes still hold pure terror, her hands go to where I held her life in them, a few seconds more and she would have been gone, her neck broken under the pressure I had put on it.
Serena's eyes race from me to Mint, trying to think of a reason to kill me, trying to provoke me into grasping to end her life again, trying to make it so I must be killed, I give her no reason. I stand now, my hands folded across my chest waiting, for their next move. Serena's gaze falls upon me again, with venom and pure terror, and horror in her voice she echoes softly to me, "You will die Colt, whether it is by my hands or some one else's…. You will die." With a swish of her lab coat, and the click of her high heels, she turns and streaks out of the cell, like a timid child who has just escaped a harsh punishment.
Mint falls in behind her and closes my cell door locking it as she leaves. Neither turns back as they continue on their way. I fall to the floor of my cell, and breathe a sigh of relief they never noticed my lifting the keys to my cell off Serena… Heh, now it was time to sink or swim, I only had one shot and I had better make it count, for this was my only chance. I look down to my wrist, the Purple Ring still there, I rub it a few moments, and then from my pocket I draw the other one. I grasp it in my right hand squeeze slightly and lay it upon the bed. "I am sorry, mom… I hope I live up to your dreams and expectations…Good bye…" With that, I take out the keys, find the correct one, twist within the lock, opening the door to the cold and dark silence of the hall, step through the door and never look back.
"There he is! Quick get him!" "Ahh for the love of God! They just don't quit!" I say to the damn walls to my back, pinned down by a hail of photon bullet fire ahead of me, unable to go back the way I came and that damned alarm not shutting the hell off either! "Gah! Damnit! Where the hell is there another door when you need one!" I screech to no one, noticing a sudden halt in their assault I decide to poke my head around the corner, and see what has happened. I turn my head around the corner, only to be greeted with a sudden burst of photonic fire. I reel my head back behind the wall, the closest bullet missing my head by mere inches. The bullets collide with the far wall, they burn out and sizzle against the metal, ripping and shredding holes in it like mere paper. "…. This, is not going to be good…"
There has got to be a way out of this… I think for a minute… Suddenly it hits me. Getting low to the ground, I place my hand on the metal surface and concentrate. "God I hope this works." Allowing the technique energy to flow through me, I slowly begin to cast RAbarta. The ice wave exudes from my body, and spreads, I hear the men scream for a mere instant, then laugh, "Heh look boys, the HUmar thinks he is a Force! HAHA!" I slowly laugh to myself, good, they aren't thinking ahead. After the round of RAbarta has been cast, I slowly once again, check around the corner, I have just enough time before more deadly bullets are let loose upon my skull to see they are now standing upon the thin patch of ice my technique has just created. Next I slowly begin to channel forth heat energy into twin balls of fire around my body. I let them lose, I check back around to see the guards have Flame barriers equipped upon their wrists. "Give it up HUmar! Your weak techs can't harm us!" "Maybe not alone they can't. But together is a whole different story!" I say these last words as I slam my hand, palm open into the puddle of water before. I let loose a RAzonde tech into the pool of water. The lights in the hall suddenly flash and convulse. The screams of the men pierce the dark hall.
Soon the smell of burnt flesh and groans of the wounded, enter my sense. I turn the corner; a generator must have kicked in somewhere, the lights flicker back on to display the grisly scene before my eyes. I cringe at how well it worked… The metal floor and water must have amplified the electric shock greater then I expected, of course math was never one of my better traits while I was on the fly. I see multiple guards burnt to death, their skin blackened, their scared eyes bulging wide and white, death having claimed them almost instantly, when the electricity passed through their meager bodies. Others surround them, these less fortunate did not die as quickly as their brethren, instead their faces appear in masks of pain and horror, their bodies not as blackened by the shock but still there is no undamaged skin upon them. The last few that did not die are left to stare at the ceiling convulsing, their bodies still carrying the current through them as the last of it dies off.
Staring down at them, a twinge of guilt passes through me, I begin to run past them suddenly an arm shoots out and grabs me, I whirl my head, panic and terror strike my eyes. "You will not escape alive… Hu…unter…" The man dies and his arm falls.. I catch my breath momentarily, the shock slowly passing. "… I had best move, no time to mourn the dead…" I start once again. Turning to my right I head down a hall, voices sound over the wailing alarm, "Hurry! Find him!" "Damnit…" I think to myself, there has got to be a way out. I look to my left, and see a room; I dive in and shut the door. I press against it and listen. My breathing catching in my throat, fearing the very breath I let out will give me away, why am I breathing so loud? It's louder then the alarm…. How can they not hear it! Footsteps sound, I hold my breath, "Hurry, he couldn't have gotten far, spread out and find him! You five down that hall you others with me. Lets move it!"
The footsteps pass and soon I am only left to listen to the faint alarm and the sound of my breathing… I slowly release the door handle from my death grip. My hand sore from grasping it so hard, the handle began even to bite into my palm. I look around and notice I am in a locker room. "Well… I might as well change, no use in keeping this old thing…" I strip and search the lockers. None seem to have a color I would like. I open the second to last locker and stop there inside it, sits a fresh and clean Hunters battle suit. Predominantly white in color, with strips and areas of black and light blues surrounding it. I pause… Look down at my Purple Ring… Not thinking twice after that I slowly put the suit on.
As I snap my Skyly ID back into its rightful place. I feel… Some how, at peace now… As if I have finally abandon my old false life, for this new one… All with the simple changing of suits. I take my black Hunter's garb look at it once more and then place it in the locker where my new white one was just stored. As I begin to shut the door, I look back to it; a tear comes to my eye… "… Good-bye, old friend… I will never forget you…" I close the door as the single tear rolls down my check, leaving it feeling cold and alone… I stare into a mirror that is close by. I see how much clearer, now the suit and my ring blend. I look my self over. "Hmm… I almost feel knightly… Heh, sadly that statement holds no weight, for I am no where near knight hood…" "… My title of Chain Sawd Knight… I wish I never had received that… It has only brought pain and fear into the hearts of many…." I stare into the mirror once again, my complexion showing no sign of the soul and I that were once bonded…" "Well, well, I must say, you do look, rather, Regal in that suit, hehe, too bad its about to be stained by your blood."
I turn slowly knowing the voice all to well… Mint is standing in the door way now, leaning against one side of the frame. She smiles and claps her hands slowly. Clap…Clap…Clap "Well, now… Enough small talk… Lets end this Colt. One final duel." She draws forth a Twin Blaze. I am weaponless… "Here, Catch, can't have you fighting with out a weapon now can we?" I reach into the air as a red box flies my way. I grasp it and open it, within it sits, a Demolition Comet. I grab the twin saber from its box and activate the deadly weapon. Its sides expand and its tiny blades on either end of the staffs come forth. Its pink photons activating in the fluorescent light, giving a small low glow as the light reflects off them… "…" I fall silent, she steps out of the door and too the hall. I follow suit she stands at one end, I at the other.
I drop the Demolition Comet to the ground, it clatters in the vacuum of noise, the only sound heard. I slam my foot upon the blade's staff, shattering it in two, the blade splintering, as the flames of defiance roar into my eyes. "I will not take your pity. I will win on my own." "…You are a fool Colt, a pure and simple fool. You can not hope to win!" "… You may think I am a fool, you may think I can not win, yet I have already won. I have won against my own heart… For I have the courage to defeat you now, my former friend. Good Bye Mint." I jump back sliding on my feet, releasing as I go a Foie tech at her. She merely shrugs, and releases a Barta attack of her own to counter it. The two techs clash, her ice type easily over powers my own Foie, I concentrate, gathering heat energy around myself, I then release it, incasing the encroaching wave of ice in a single blast of Rafoie. A sudden wall of hot, liquid steam erupts forth from the two techs colliding into one another.
As the steam rises, and blankets the hall, in its enshrouding mist, I run down the hall to my right, hearing her jeers, and taunts as I go, "Nice tactic Colt, it will not serve you well though, Your time to die is at hand, now face it." I will not die; I shall not fall this day. These words blur in my head, as I run head long down the darkened hall, the power having been knocked out here as well, Suddenly a huge door looms into my sight, It is cracked open enough for me to slip through, I do so with out a second thought that the danger behind this door, could be worse then the one I face now.
I slow down as I enter the hallowed hall, squinting, my, eyes to see in the low light given off by displays and test tubes alike. I screen the area, hoping to see if there is any threat that I overlooked in my haste to enter this room to escape another. My eyes fall upon something, a display of some kind, monitors hum nosily around it as they compute data, statistics and tactics alike. I stare into the display and notice a purple floating blade. I finger the case, wondering what could be so special about this sword it pulsates, as my hand draws near it. I pull my hand back instinctively, afraid I may cause more harm then good.
Foot steps that are not my own echo in the hall, I whirl on my heels, and stare into the eyes of her. I look to my right and see the blade, going against reason, I form my hand into a fist and slam it against the glass case. The case shatters with a deafening crack, shards fly everywhere, fading into the darkness, the blade still hangs in the air, as if not concerned with time, as if it does not follow our own set of rules and beliefs, but listens to its own set of accords at its own will. I grasp for the blade into my hands.
I feel it as if a new energy has surged through me. The smooth handle, fits into my hand like a glove, the glossy purple blade wavers and bends the light to its knees whenever it catches it in the darkness. "You can control the Lavis... No one should be able to except for Sojorian now… Yet you can… What are you…?" I say nothing and just stare at the blade, the name echoes in my head… "Lavis…" "Just what makes you so special, Lavis?" "…Its over Colt… NOW DIE!" Mint Charges me, I feel a sudden surge of raw power I have never known or felt of before, it conducts into the Lavis, acting on pure instinct of the power, I lash out with the brand.
Sudden waves of energy lance from the blades tip, and travel on the ground like thunder. Mint has no time to react, the waves slam into her, tearing her apart as the energy lances from the ground to her body. She falls to the ground. I soon let go of the hold I have on the Wave Strike, suddenly my skin becomes pale, I become cold and weak, my body, nearly doubling over in exhaustion. "Wha-…What's happening to me…" I can barley utter the words without blacking out. "Although you may be able to control the Lavis, its power still holds control over you. That attack you just used, although powerful it comes at a hefty price, you must give up part of your own strength to bring forth, invoke that power."
Mint stands again, her fatigue and wounds gone, I see the remains of a Trimate and Sol Atomizer, by her feet. She charges me now, her twin blaze held above her head slightly; ready to cleave my own in two. I barley have the strength to carry this blade. If only I had the strength. Using every ounce of will and strength, I lift the blade and send it forward, just as Mint reaches me… The Lavis makes contact with a body, I watch as the blade slips through her chest as if it were mere water. The blade protrudes from her back. Her body has used its own momentum against itself; she has slammed head on into the blade and did not stop until she reached the hilt.
"Well… Colt, it looks like I was wrong. Cough, Cough" Mint says as a blood bubble forms in her mouth and pops. I push her off my blade and on to the cold concrete floor below. I stand now, using the Lavis for support, she speaks again. "It was not your blood that would drench you this day, but my own." I looked towards the shoulder where she had been just seconds before, she is right it is drowned in an iron red color. She coughs again, another blood bubble rising from her throat through open mouth to pop in her face. "Well I guess, Cough, Cough… This is it… Good bye, Colt." With that she dies soundlessly. "…." I say nothing, can think of nothing to say, my anger will not let me.
I slowly turn from the grisly scene as her life slowly seeps out of her body and collects in a red pool around her. I turn towards another display case it holds in it another weapon, a Partisan of some kind. I read the computer screen nearby its name soon appears, as data flows to from the hard drive to the database in another part of the facility. I stare at the strange blade in wonder. "… Tears Partisan…" I touch the glass, a small crack is heard, and then the glass slowly tumbles away beneath my touch.
I pull my hand back, afraid I may have alerted another alarm some where, I wait, nothing comes to my ears. I slowly grasp the handle of the blade. I pull the blade down from its case, it feels warm to the touch, the photons in the weapon slowly activate, its blade sprouting from its tip. A light brown in color, the blade gives off a sense of security; I also feel a slight weight upon my mental strength, now as I hold the brand, much like I feel a small tug on my physical strength when I hold the Lavis… Foot steps sound behind me; I turn around to face them. "There he is! Don't let him escape!"
The armed guards rush me, with Calibers and Rippers. I swing my blade hoping to block some of the blades if any, I feel strange sensation course through me once again, I grasp for it. I take it in the vice hold of my mind and unleash it through my blade. The Partisan explodes with power, shattering through the blades of the guards easily… It also shatters the guards in two as well. The top half of their bodies fly back and hit the wall, their lower portions merely stand for a second more, and then crumple to the floor below, oozing out blood into one huge sea of red.
I breathe heavily now, falling to one knee, as I try to breathe, the tax and slight pain that comes with it, evaporating from my mind. These two weapons… One weapon taxes the mind, the other, takes its debt from the body. Two weapons, two powers, both, either deadly to user or enemy… "Pant, pant such, gah, raw power, what were they making here…? What does he plan…? Sojorian… What do you want from me…" I slowly push myself to stand on both feet now, my head still turned to the floor, sweat slowly drips from my brow and nose, falling to the floor in small patters.
The fatigue slowly seeping out from my body, "Such… Power…" I whisper to the shadows, I turn towards the open door and walk towards it, averting my eyes from the torn up guards, away from the body of Mint. I slowly come to the opening of the door, take one final look back, step through the opening, and hit the ground running.
"So… We begin again… Another chase, another time, to hunt him. Achrion, are you ready?" "Yes I am Sojorian." Achrion says the FOmar, Sojorian turns to stare at the display screens again, watching as Colt tries to desperately make his escape. "Find him Achrion, bring him back… Dead or Alive, I care not which it is… Bring him back." "…. Yes, Sojorian…" Achrion says his voice distant even for an Android, his mind already on the task of bringing Colt back. "Good… Now go." Achrion disappears from sight, with but a whim. His form gone even before the light can detect it has left.
Sojorian peers inside himself now, watching as the other tries to via for power over this body but can not, it is slowly losing the battle and is becoming one, with him… "You lose Athanos… Now except it we are one, you said you always wanted a body… You just never said you had to be the one in control or be who you are all together… AHAHAHA!" With those final words the two souls join, becoming one. Sojorian's eyes flash a bright blood red, then return to normal, he speaks again, his voice distant and hallow, and yet filled with venom and malice all at once. "Now then Colt, lets see you survive, the curse of those twin blades. Lavis and Tears Partisan, can you live through their taxation, or will you fall, into their grasp, and lose your very life in the processes… Let us see you live, oh Purple Ring Knight, prove your valor here and now! Prove to us, just how great your will and word are! Ahaha, AHAHAHA!"
A sudden thunder slams into my mind, a surge of raw anguish. I grasp my head in my hands, falling to my knees, I holler in pain. "GAHHH! What is this?" "Now! Lets see you live through this Colt! Die before my hand! Die! Tainted Phoenix, Arise from your unholy ashes and consume him! Consume this heathen, who would defile our sacred plan!" I open my eyes and peer before me, darkness threatens to encircle me, envelope me and bring my down, break my mind in two and destroy me.
"I… Will… Not… FALL!" I scream in rage. The darkness fades, the pain slowly melts away as well. I breathe heavily, my fatigue catching me again. I slowly pull myself to my feet, I look up and down the hall again, and then take off running, never noticing, the figure behind me or how my Purple Ring reacted to the darkness that had tried to enclose me…
A sudden treble wakes through the facility. I stumble forward, trying to maintain my balance as the quaking slowly begins to fade. Soon I regain my footing and stop. Waiting to see if an after shock shall arise… None comes, "… This is not good… Not good at all…" I whisper to myself. Looking back to see if all is well, seeing nothing I take off running again.
Achrion steps from the shadows, mildly amused with the new development. "Quite agreed Colt, this is not good at all. Hmm, I wonder how much death and destruction this one shall cause. Heh, Oh well I do hope to have a front row seat to it, it should be, rather… Exciting to watch, Hehe, Ahaha…" Achrion soon returns to the shadows and continues to follow Colt, without a sound or trace of him to be seen.
Sojorian awakes from his trance as his room quakes and rocks with the sudden tremble of the building. "… So, he is awake now, well, well… This is unexpected… Yet not an un-welcome happening… Hmm, I wonder what caused it." Sojorian turns towards the monitors again, "Ahh of course, Colt… Hmm well they are brethren in a sense… Let us watch and wait for their meeting, it will be… Rather, deadly I must say. Heh"
The lone guard stirs from his slumber, His chair falling forward on to its front legs, his feet hitting the floor with a dull thud. "Huh? What was that?" Nothing happens, thinking it was a mere drop of water, he returns to his position to resume his nap, the floor then quakes, shaking violently, the guard is thrown from his chair. Landing face first on the floor he groans, rising slowly to his feet he stares towards the tank he was guarding. Nothing appears wrong, all the monitors show green, biorhythms appeared normal…
The guard gets up and turns, begins to brush himself off, and then stops, a small tink of glass brings his attention back to the tank. He stares at it, a crack is heard, a small scar appears on the glossed glass tank. It breaks, sending torrents of water forth drowning the guard. He comes up, spurting and gasping for air. There in the mist and water stands a FOmar. About six feet tall, Cyan hair, blue eyes, adorned in white robe, his hair is matted to his face. "Wha-What the hell! You shouldn't be able to awake! AHHH!" The guard whirls on the FOmar, firing off his Yask 2000 Hand gun at him, a collector's item, the other guards called it, but this "old relic" Held power, the bullets could rip through anything.
The FOmar turns his head up to stare at the guard, bearing his hand forward; he releases a Gibarta blast from it. The ice freezes the bullets, dropping them to the ground, cold and dead. The FOmar quickly unleashes a Barta wave towards the guard freezing his feet in place. Terrified and unable to move the guard goes white, losing color and blood through out his body. The FOmar turns his face towards him, whipping his hair back, water sprays forth from his hair. The tiny droplets shimmer in the air before falling in the ground, disappearing out of the light.
He turns now, his eyes upon the guard, his hand raised to him, purple and white lights swirl and mix in his hand, dark and light energy mingle as if one, he speaks now, "May thy sins be purged… Divine Chaos!" The guard hears a sudden ripping of metal and steel from above his head, he stares up towards the noise. His fear gripped mind controls him, he hears a demon ripping the roof above him apart, tearing at it as if blood thirsty, its fangs dripping with saliva, just oozing to taste his soft flesh and warm blood. A sudden down pour of light, falls upon the guard; he only has time to utter one, agonized, filled scream of horror as the light envelops him. His body, gone now… The FOmar is alone in the dark room, still dripping from the water that contained him in that tank. He shakes his robes, pulling form it, a light purple bandana, taking care, he brushes his hair back with his hands, and ties the bandana around his head. He looks around himself and walks towards the door, he opens it, as he leaves, the guards screams still echo in the room behind him, even though his body and soul are long gone, his terrified cry still remains, the cry of a man, who lost his soul…