Part 10- Sacrifice
Reflection: Clever, boy! But you've only shattered my portals, not my shield! You still have no chance!
Echo: I'll be the judge of that! Crew, attack!
Robin: Titans, go!
(Cyborg and Shotman begin firing at random places, trying to find a weakness in the invisible shield. Raven and Photon use their respective magics to try to weaken the shield. Beast Boy becomes a pterodactyl and carries Medic on his back, while the ninja throws shuriken at the Reflection.)
Déjà: For France!
(In a moment of indecision, Déjà Vu takes both Starfire and Gemini's hands. There is a flash of light, and Déjà's new form is revealed. He looks something like Starfire with black hair, green eyes, and a purple jacket with a white music note on the back.)
Gemini: Whoa. I didn't know you could do that!
Déjà: (speaking in a bizarre mix of two voices) Neither did I.
(Déjà rises into the air and splits into five people, then all five begin raining down Star Bolts. Following suit, Starfire begins firing as many Star Bolts as she can while Gemini multiplies them.)
Reflection: You think this will help you!? Think again!
(The Reflection widens his shield for a moment and presses everyone into the walls with the outward force. When everyone falls out of the wall and Beast Boy and Déjà resume their natural shapes, everyone ponders the next move.)
Robin: This guy is still tough… What can we do?
Shotman: Hmmm… Captain! There is a spot in that shield that is a bit weaker! If we hit it really hard, that just might break it!
Echo: Very well. Crew? Maelstrom Formation!
Gemini: What?
Echo: Ye keep back, Miss Gemini. We came up with this one before we found ye.
(Shotman aims his cannon at one spot on the shield that only he can see.)
Reflection: I know what you're up to. That doesn't mean I have to let it happen!
Robin: Titans, keep him busy!
Echo: Miss Gemini, help them!
(While the Titans and Gemini repel the mirror blades that Black Reflection sends out, Medic loads a shuriken into the cannon. This particular star is four times the size of his usual ones. Déjà Vu grabs Photon's hand and takes his shape. Both put their hands on the cannon and it glows with light energy. Finally, Echo puts a hand on the back of the cannon and the blue sound energy flows over it.)
Echo: Here we go! Light and Sound Combination Cannonball Star Shot, or for short, The Big Gun! Fire!
(The cannon fires out a burst of light that has the blue sound energy spiraling around it. The shuriken is engulfed in this blast. The shot apparently passes through the shield with no trouble. The blast strikes Reflection and an explosion rocks the room followed by a cloud of smoke. Everyone cheers.)
Cyborg: Boo-ya! You did it!
Photon: Wait… what's that sound?
(Just then, some new projectiles burst from the smoke and blast everyone back. They all climb to their feet, unhurt.)
Echo: Still alive, it appears, but lackin' in power now! Everyone hit em with everything ye got!
Shotman: Captain! I cannot see!
Echo: What!? Uh-oh…
(Echo has just glanced down and noticed that the projectile that hit him is latched onto his chest. It appears to be another type of mirror-prism. Echo tries to fire a sound blast and finds that he cannot.)
Medic: That attack wasn't meant to defeat us. He used it to-!
Reflection: Take away all of your annoying little powers. And it seems I succeeded. But I do congratulate you; I had to bring my shield in and focus all of my power into it just to defend against that last attack.
(The smoke clears and Black Reflection is revealed with not even a scratch.)
Reflection: You can do nothing to me now. Farewell, you annoying creatures!
(Black Reflection resumes firing his blades. Robin spots an opening in the wall.)
Robin: In there! Everyone, quick!
(Everyone manages to get inside. On the outside, Reflection stops his attack.)
Reflection: Hide in there if you want, but you will have to come out some time!
Robin: He's right. We can't stay in here. But we've got no defense against those attacks. And nothing we have right now can break that shield. I don't know if there's any way to win…
(Echo gets a solemn expression that stays for three whole minutes. He then heaves a huge sigh and stands up.)
Echo: I'm not just gonna sit back and watch this time; I won't lose a second crew. I'll put an end to this.
Robin: What? How?
(Echo does not respond. Instead, he puts up one hand and places it on his patch.)
Robin: That won't work. That thing has no fears.
Echo: I don't plan to scare it. I plan to kill it.
Robin: But illusions won't-! (Pauses, then gets an expression of disbelief) You're not gonna-!?
Echo: "Be it friends, family, or otherwise, if ye care about something, ye protect it, no matter what the cost." The very last thing me Pa ever taught me. Now seems like a good time to prove I learned that lesson well.
Photon: Captain, you're not serious!?
Echo: Mister Photon, stand down! Do not attempt to stop me. That is an order.
(Gemini bursts into tears and flings her arms around Echo.)
Gemini: No! Echo, don't go!
Echo: Now really, Miss Gemini-!
Gemini: No! I can't let you do it!
(Gemini tightens her hold and sobs into the front of Echo's jacket. She then turns her tear-filled gaze towards his face and speaks in a whisper.)
Gemini: Aidan…please. I can't let this happen. I don't want to live in a world where you're gone. I… I can't live without you! I love you, Aidan!
(A shocked expression crosses Echo's face.)
Echo: (thinking) Well I'll be chopped up an used fer shark bait… Robin was right all along…
(Echo pulls free from Gemini and gives a signal to Medic. Medic taps a spot on Gemini's neck and she passes out.)
Echo: I can't let anything get in the way of what needs to be done.
(Echo removes his eye patch and places it in Gemini's palm,then closes her hand around it. He then turns and walks into the chamber. The mirror blades come down on him and are blocked by a shield of sound waves.)
Reflection: Impossible! I have your power sealed!
Echo: Me power is bein' amplified by the Eye, me bucko; even yer crystal can't match the power of the Fiends! Say goodbye!
(The pupil of the Fiend's Eye contracts and turns red. Echo grips his head as the usual madness threatens to overtake him.)
Echo: No… No more! No more needless killin' or collectin' blood! We're doin' things me own way! This time, yer gonna listen to me!
(Echo takes a look around at all he is losing and begins his song.)
Echo: Spirits of the darkness, hear me rhyme
An grant me yer power this final time!
Channel me life-force and make it fast!
Create the power to fuel this blast!
Unleash the force upon this foe!
Shatter his shield with a single blow!
With this attack, me life now ends!
Destroy the Reflection and save me friends!
Reflection: You're bluffing! No pirate would ever give his own life to save another! You're just trying to-! Huh?
(A field of red energy has surrounded Echo as it did before.)
Reflection: The blood of his past kills… He's serious!
(Gemini awakens and looks out into the room.)
Gemini: No! Aidan, please stop!
(Gemini runs towards Echo, but is unable to break the barrier. The red energy slowly draws itself into the Fiend's Eye. The entire Eye lights up, then fires an enormous energy burst right at Black Reflection. It stops for a second as it contacts the shield, then there is the sound of shattering glass and the blast washes over Reflection. The mirror being screams in anguish and in the next instant, it is gone. The prisms on everyone's bodies shatter. The blast ceases and all is quiet.) Echo: Heh… I win… Agh!
(A jolt of pain rips through Echo's body.)
Gemini: Aidan!
(Echo's entire body glows with pale blue light. As he stares, the light slowly starts to draw away from his fingers and toes. Upon close inspection, it is seen that the light, which is in fact his life-force, is being drawn into the pupil of the Fiend's Eye. As the light continues to fade, Echo feels his limbs going numb. His vision begins to blur and his breathing becomes labored. He turns to his crew and gives them a sad sort of smile.)
Echo: Goodbye me friends…I was…honored…an' happy…to be yer Captain…I'll miss ye all…an' Colleen? …I'm…sorry…
(Echo then gives a final shuddering gasp as the last glimmer of light is extinguished. He falls forward and lands facedown on the stone floor, unmarked, but unmistakably dead.)