Hey there readers...This chapter will explore some of Jayce's past,and some rather interesting details.Let me know what you think of the series so far!

Phantasy Star Online: EX Hunters

Episode 3 "Hidden Past"

By importgamer13

Disclaimer: Phantasy Star Online,it's weapons,creatures,Ragol and most other names are owned by Sega and Sonic Team.Lita Kino is partially inspired by Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Jupiter character.Jack Chronos/Chaos Lord,Shard,Jayce Candleheart,Kasumi Miyamoto/The Kasumi Ninja,Paige Kuji,Jinso Candleheart,Rufus Yanos,Rumiko Starfox,the term 'EX Hunters' and the city of Neo Algo are crated by me for this fic series.

Two days later…

Minus Norton,a high level Black Paper Commander,laughed. "You think you can stop me?"

Lita Kino and Jayce Candleheart closed in on him. "We'll see,won't we?" Lita asked.Meanwhile,Jack Chronos the Chaos Lord,Shard and Masumi Miyamoto AKA The Kasumi Ninja were taking care of three more Black Paper soldiers.

They had decided to check out the Caves at the edge of the Forest,and had stumbled upon a small Black Paper base built into an area of Caves 1. "I guess your number is up,bitch." Minus said.He ignited his Pallasch saber and lunged at her.

Lita blocked with her Buster saber,and launched an attack of her own.Jayce also attacked with his Pallasch saber.The two of them were able to drive Minus backwards a little.Minus lashed out with his left hand,a blast of Razonde lightning knocked both Lita and Jayce down.Minus began walking towards a teleporter.

Shard brought up his Fire Spread shotgun that he'd bought earlier that day and fired.The three Black Paper agents started on fire. "Take them down!" He boomed.

Kasumi drew a Twin Blaze staff and attacked,flames hitting one of the Black Paper agents many times. "We have to take thme down fast!Jayce and Lita need our help!"

Chaos Lord drew his Breaker sword and swung,slicing all three agents in half at the chest. "Let's move!"

Minus was almost to the teleporter. "It's not over yet." Jayce said from behind him.

Minus whirled and saw that Lita was still struggling to get up off the floor. "How?How did you get up so fast?"

"I'm special that way." Jayce said,his red eyes shined in the dim light of the Caves 1 exit.

Minus chuckled. "Ahhh…you are special,aren't you…Wildcat?"

"Shut up…" Jayce rasped. "I'm none of your business."

"On the contrary,we want you,Wildcat.You will help us revive Dark Force!" Minus laughed.

Jayce lunged at him,their Pallasch sabers clashed and sparks flew.Minus stepped backwards,and Jayce's Pallasch saber cut into his left leg.Minus retreated more as Jayce continued to press the attack.Jayce was more than Minus was ready for.Minus drew a Shadow Raygun and fired,hitting Kasumi in the left shoulder.As she fell down,everyone looked at her.Minus used the diestraction to create a Telepipe.Minus escaped as Jayce rushed over to Kasumi. "You okay?"

Kasumi nodded. "I'll live." She gazed up at Jayce in concern. "You okay?"

"I don't think so…they know…" Jayce said softly.

Kasumi nodded. "I won't let them take you."

Chaos Lord looked at Jayce "I think you'd better tell us what's going on."

Jayce shook his head. "I…I can't." He picked Kasumi up in his arms and carried her to the exit.

Lita said to Chaos Lord. "Maybe he'll tell me.I…I think I've met him before…"

About three hours later….

Lita sat down on Jayce's bed,gazing at him. "You're going through a lot. These guys want you real bad.I do trust you…but…please tell me the truth."

Jayce sighed softly and said "You remind me a lot of her."

"Who?" Lita asked.

"Paige Kuji…The first girl I ever loved." Jayce said as he stared at the floor. "I had something of a normal childhood,but that went out the window when father…my real father…was killed."

The past…

"You two will be the heirs of a great Hunter Legacy." Jinso Candlehart said. "It was a Candleheart who defeated Dark Force and Olga Flow,and a Candleheart who commanded the Arkz and Endu to victory."

Little Jayce Candleheart gazed up at his father. "Really?"

Little Kasumi Miyamoto grinned. "Cool!"

Jinso nodded. "Kasumi,even though you are my adopted daughter,I know you will honor the traditions of the Hunters organization.I know you two will fight to preserve peace.That Black Paper thug you two defeated at the market the other day was skilled,and yet you two kids defeated him."

A few feet away,a Black Paper thug emerged from the shadows. "The last mistake you'll ever make." He drew a Twin Psychogun and shot Jinso dead.

"Dad!" Jayce yelled.He'd already lost his mother in childbirth,to lose his father was unbearable.His blond hair blew in the soft breeze that picked up.

Kasumi drew a Fire Scepter and smacked the Black Paper thug with it. "You killed papa!"

The Black Paper thug fell down and yelled "I'll hunt you two down!"

Jayce and Kasumi fled into the shadows.They fled from town to town for years.Jayce became handsome,to a level that rivaled being called 'hot'.By comparison,Kasumi became cute and amazingly busty.There were times that she hinted that she had romantic feelings for Jayce. "We're not really related…we could get married,and have a family,you know."

Jayce blushed. "Having sex with you would be amazing…but it isn't what father had planned for us.He wanted us to find others to marry,so we could raise even more Hunters.That doesn't mean I don't love you,Kasumi."

Kasumi whispered "Kiss me,Jayce…"

Jayce decided one kiss wouldn't hurt.He kissed her slowly and sensually. Kasumi responded in kind.Then,a laser shot past them. "Oh,no…"

Two Black Paper thugs came running,Lockguns blazing.Jayce turned Kasumi around,taking a shot in the back that was meant for her. "Gaaah!"

Kasumi tried to pick him back up. "Don't die on me,Jayce!"

Jayce said "Run,Kasumi…I'll find you,I swear…"

Kasumi hesitated and ran.The Black Paper thugs grabbed Jayce and carried him away.Soon,he was in a lab being experimented on.Over two years,he was worked on by scientists.The overseer was not there by choice,he was a hostage.His name was Rufus Yanos,and he was the only one one treated him nicely. "Why do you experiment on me?" Jayce asked weakly.

Rufus said softly "They are holding me here against my will.I fear they may have already killed my family.Right now,I am on borrowed time.They are doing experiments to make you stronger,hoping you will be a ferocious weapon.It's their project,codenamed 'Wildcat'."

"Why…do they want me?" Jayce wanted to know.

"You come from a line of heroes.They think your blood will make you a perfect subject for them." Rufus said. "You can't give into them.If they use you as their weapon,the armies of Black Paper and Dark Force will rule Ragol forever."

It was then that a thug came over and said "We're upping his dosage.The leader wants results." He adjusted a knob on the console and more power and chemicals went into Jayce's body.Jayce yelled in pain.When this phase was done,Rufus went over to Jayce and asked "Are you okay?"

Jayce opened his eyes and Rufus found himself gaping.Jayce's eyes had gone from blue to red,and his hair from blond to red. "I…feel powerful…"

Five days later,Black Paper killed Rufus and approached Jayce's cell.The strapped him onto the experimentation table. "Time for more results…" one of the Black Paper scientists said.

Just then,the wall exploded and an alarm sounded. "Hunters have invaded the base!" someone yelled.

In the chaos,he saw her…tall,busty and with shoulder length brown hair.She slashed up the Black Paper thugs with a Gigush sword.Soon,she walked over to the experiment bed and began unstrapping Jayce. "Who are you?"

"Paige Kuji." The tall HUnewearl replied. "They experimented on you?"

"Yes…they killed my father years ago…" Jayce said as he sat up slowly.

Paige hugged him gently. "Have faith…I'll help you,I swear it." Paige kissed him slowly.Then,a noise from the corner of the room got their attention.

"So,you're the infamous test subject." A blond haired youth said as he walked out from the shadows.He looked like he was only two or three years older than Jayce. "I look forward to fighting you."

Paige held Jayce protectively. "What do you want,kiddo?"

The youth sneered. "I am Rumiko Starfox.When the time is right,I'll collect Jayce and show Black Paper what it really takes to rule Ragol." Rumiko ran off then.

The present…

"What happened then?" Lita asked.

"Rumiko was another experiment…" Jayce said. "He wants me to join his side.After that,Paige helped the rest of the Hunters defeat the agents in the rest of the building,but I never saw her again…I don't know if she survived. Soon,I found Kasumi again,and after that,we began training to join the Hunters." He began sobbing uncontrollably "I miss Paige so much!"

Lita held Jayce in her arms,but he was crying so much,he didn't hear Lita whisper "She loves you more than anyone else."

To be continued….