Vyser: I'm back!

Zeek: So we heard.

Vyser: Okay, then since you seem to be in a great mood today, why don't you do the disclaimer?

Zeek: You better not zap me again. Vyser doesn't own Tales of Symphonia or the characters that the reviewers posted.

Vyser: That's good enough, and thanks reviewers for being loyal!

Chapter 12: The Master and the City of Machines

"Kratos," Said Lloyd as everyone who was in the original group as well as Sera looked surprised at this new development, "What are you doing here?"

"Lloyd, it is good to see you again," Said Kratos as he approached Lloyd, but then noticed Sera starring at him. "It is good to see you too, Sera."

"I ought to smack you right now," Said Sera.

"Time for that later," Said Kratos as he began leading the group to a side of the room they were in. "You all must leave."

"So why do you want us to leave?" Asked Zeek as Kratos turned his back for a minute to press something on a keypad on the wall.

Suddenly, the wall flies up and a huge pod is in the wall. When the pod doors open up, they reveal that there are sixteen seats in the huge pod.

"It will get too dangerous in here once mine and Adrian's plan starts," Explained Kratos as he held up a Cruxis Crystal in his left hand. "And this crystal is going to do the job."

"I'm very confused here," Said Zelos as Genis and Raine shook their heads.

"Then allow me to explain it, this Cruxis crystal is special," Explained Kratos, "When placed directly upon the skin, the organism will immediately be turned into a crystal statue."

"You mean like the disease I had two years ago?" Asked Colette as Kratos nodded.

"Yes, but different, this disease will spread much more rapidly," Said Kratos as he pointed towards the pod, "Now get in these pods now."

"But, how did you know about this happening?" Asked Raine as the group slowly entered the pod.

"This organization was somehow able to steal mana from Derris-Kharlan," Explained Kratos, "Adrian came to me and spoke of this plan of his to stop this organization. He said it was for the good of Martel."

"Kratos, in a way this is my fault," Said Lloyd as Kratos approached him.

"Only one person knew that this event would happen, and he's long gone," Said Kratos as Lloyd stepped into the pod and the doors closed behind him. "Good luck, my son and daughter."

Kratos, being the only person in the room, pressed a set of buttons on the control panel. Soon the pod was released, the group saw that they were in outer space. They saw the stars float away behind them as they were heading down back to the newly changed world.

"We're in space?" Asked Colette as she is gazing out of the pod's window.

"Well that would explain why we saw the world being changed," Said Locke as Raine was fascinated with this new event.

"Hey guys," Said Torii and Genis as they also were staring at the window and everyone turned towards them.

"Where exactly do you think we're going to land?" Asked Genis as everyone got a shocked look on their face all of a sudden.

Meanwhile, Kratos had made it to the front of the maze and met up with Adrian. Adrian quickly led Kratos to the Master's room, the same room where his throne was. The two quietly entered the room, as they silently stepped into the darkened room, they saw the master sleeping in his chair.

"Must be a comfortable chair," Thought Kratos as he and Adrian quietly stepped towards the master.

With every step they took, the master's features were coming in better. They could see that he was slim, and had golden hair. The two were close enough to place the crystal upon the master's forehead, and just as Kratos was about to place the crystal on the master's skin, the master's eyes suddenly opened with anger in his eyes. Immediately, a strange force pushed Kratos and Adrian backwards and crashing them into the nearby wall and sending the crystal to the ground before the master.

"Well, well, well, I must say I'm quite disappointed Adrian," Said the Master as he stood up from his throne.

"That I betrayed you?" Asked Adrian as he and Kratos managed to get up from that last attack and draw their swords.

"No, because you would use such a barbaric way of trapping me," Said the Master as he lifted his hand and the crystal rose in the air as well. "It would have been more effective like this!"

Suddenly, the crystal flew from the air around the master and was heading straight for Kratos. Adrian quickly pushed Kratos out of the crystal's spell, but he was not so fortunate. The crystal land on Adrian and almost in a split second, his body had become an entire crystal, he held his sword in the air, and his left hand was extended because of pushing Kratos out of the way.

"And you must be Kratos, an ally to that ridiculous hero Mithos," Said the master as he chuckled a little.

"Do not laugh at the dead!" Yelled Kratos as he was trying to charge at the master, but his feet wouldn't move. When Kratos turned to see what was the cause of that, he saw that his feet were becoming crystals. "How is this possible?"

"The impact on Adrian must have cracked a few pieces of the crystal and they landed on you," Explained the master as Kratos was none crystallized up to his chest. "But instead of killing you two, I'm going to make you permanent fixtures in my domain."

Kratos tried to speak, but it was too late, his body was covered from toe to head with crystal. The master just smiled and snapped his fingers, and the crystallized warriors disappeared. And just as the master was sitting down in his throne, someone else enters his quarters.

"Yes, how can I help you Chaos?" Asked the master as Chaos approached him and kneeled before the master.

"Sir, what happened in here?" Asked Chaos as he noticed the shards of crystal on the ground.

"Just some worms trying to stop me," Answered the master.

"Okay, um anyway the underlings have already departed towards there kingdoms sir," Said Chaos.

"Yes, I suppose it was time that they were able to get what they desired," Said the master as Chaos stood up.

"I take my leave," Said Chaos as he began to leave.

"Chaos, in the morning I require you to bring me one of "R" books we have in the library," Said The master as Chaos turned his head, "We are in need of a new dark general, and I know the perfect person for the job."

"It shall be done Master," Said Chaos as he left the room.

"Now back to my dream," Said the master as he quickly dozed off.

Meanwhile, the pod that had Lloyd's group in it had just passed through the ozone layer of the planet. The pod landed in the ocean water, and everyone was shaken up mainly because the pod didn't have seatbelts. The pod managed to come up to a beach and once everyone got out they noticed that it was night.

"Well what are we supposed to do now?" Asked Sheena.

"Lloyd, doesn't this beach look familiar?" Asked Colette as Lloyd was looking around.

"You're right Colette, this beach is near Isellia," Said Lloyd, "We should try to get to town."

"Lloyd are you sure that's wise?" Asked Raine. "What if Isellia has changed for the worst?"

"Raine is right, we don't know if Isellia has changed," Said Genis.

"Yeah but if we stay here we might be attack by new monsters," Said Luna.

"Guess, we don't have much of a choice," Said Elemmírë.

"Good, but before that I need to do something," Said Zeek as he quickly ran behind a rock. A few minutes later he reappeared wiping his mouth, "I hope to never go on a ride like that again."

The group was off. They traveled through the night, until they reached the once Isellia. But instead of seeing the darkness of the night through out the town and the small wooden houses, the group saw many tall buildings and lights brightening even the night's sky into daylight.

"What happened here?" Asked Genis as the group was walking through the metal city.

The group was still walking until they reached what appeared to be the town center, the center had a fountain with running water, and many benches were set up around the fountain. Everyone was either sitting on the benches relaxing or looking at the all metal city. Zelos was a little curious and walked up to a small booth that had a lever on it.

"What's this do?" Asked Zelos as he pulled the lever and gears could be heard.

Suddenly, the booth opened and inside was a screen. Zelos, Zeek, Luna and Suzu got close to the screen. The screen flickered to life and Tech was on the screen, and his appearance scared the four a little bit.

"Hello and welcome to Techno City!" Said Tech; this was obviously a recording, "Once known as the town of Isellia, Techno City offers the finest of all facilities. From dining, to weapon designing. Please smile while the picture bot prepares your photo Ids."

Suddenly a floating camera appears and takes a picture of everyone in the group separately, most of the group was surprised so when they got their Ids the pictures were funny to look at.

Meanwhile, in the tallest building in the city, we find Tech in some kind of control room sipping on some wine while some androids that look like him are working on some computers. In front of Tech are some screens, to see almost anything in his city. For some reason, Tech's metal parts were rusted.

"Number 5, any new visitors?" Asked Tech before he took a sip of his wine again.

"Yes sir, sixteen new visitors, I'll bring them up on the monitor," Said the Android Number 5 as Lloyd's group's pictures instantly appeared on the monitor. Tech just simply spat out the wine he was drinking as he looked at the pictures.

"How can that be? Bring up the link to Chaos, now!" Commanded Tech as the androids did so and soon the screen showed Chaos rubbing his eyes.

"This better be good Tech, I was having the most wonderful dream that I destroyed everything," Said Chaos before he yawned.

"Why wasn't I informed that Lloyd's group escaped?" Asked Tech as he slammed his fist into the seat he was sitting in.

"Well I was going to inform you, but then I just fell asleep," Said Chaos as he cut the link.

"Great! Number 9!" Yelled Tech as an Android called Number 9 approached Tech.

"Yes father?" Asked 9.

"Take a troop of soldiers and arrest these sixteen visitors," Said Tech as he sat down, "Oh and bring me some more wine."

9 kneeled and soon another android appeared and brought Tech some more wine.

"And here I thought that I would finally have my own city to call my own once more," Sighed Tech before he drank his wine.

Meanwhile, with Lloyd's group everyone was laughing at everyone else's Ids.

"That's a new look for you Genten," Said Torii as he grabbed Genten's Id.

"You give that back right now!" Yelled Genten as he began to chase Torii around the fountain.

"This is not my best picture," Said Sheena as she threw her Id behind her. Jet and Zelos dived for the Id, but ended up whacking each other in the head.

"Watch Jet," Said Zelos as he and Jet grabbed the Id at the same time.

"Give me that pretty boy," Said Jet as the two began to fight. Sage, Elemmírë, Zeek and Genis were watching the fight.

"Won't these two ever grow up?" Asked Genis, as Zeek laughed a little.

Suddenly, many heavy footsteps are heard coming from all directions. Everyone stops doing what he or she is doing and listen. After everyone confirms that something is coming, everyone draws his or her weapons. Soon, many gray androids that look like Tech, only more muscular and had cannons on their shoulders, appeared and circled all sides of the group. The muscular Tech androids were just standing there, when all of a sudden, a younger version of Tech appears from the crowd of androids.

"Excuse me visitors, but I must ask that you come with me," Said the Android.

"Alright who exactly are you?" Asked Zeek.

"It's Tech, remember?" Asked Lloyd.

"Tech is much older," Said Zeek.

"I am Lord Tech's android number 9," Said 9, "Lord Tech requires you sixteen to corporate and follow us."

"Forget it we aren't coming," Said Sera.

"Then you leave me with no choice," Said 9 as the raised his right hand and the Tech Androids prepared to fire their huge cannons, "On my mark, fire."

Vyser: Well I hope that you all like this chapter.

Zeek: When did Tech get androids of himself?

Vyser: You should have been paying attention Zeek. Anyway, I need to know if there are any other pairings that you loyal reviewers want.

Zeek: I want someone.

Vyser: You keep begging, then nothing for you!

Zeek: Just review please.