CH.8
P.S. the man in white Khalaq
The man in black Almawt
The ship rocked gently as it lowered through the air. Nero stood there silent next to Ozpin in the darkness of the bullhead's cabin. A small red light illuminated the space. The ship stopped moving and the door slid open, the harsh light of the sun flooding the cabin. Nero squinted his eyes as they readjusted to the light.
"This is your stop, we will be back in three days for you," Ozpin pushed his glasses up his nose. "Good luck."
Nero nodded his head and stepped out. He got clear of the bullhead so it could take off. Once it was gone Nero stood up and looked around.
"Ok, show yourselves." Nero said.
The two figures phased into view. They stood there and stared at him silently.
"Ok, what are your names?" They just stood there and looked at him. "Ok fine. What the hell do I have to do to get you to answer my questions?"
The man in black cracked a smile and looked at the man in white.
I like this one.
Agreed, he is interesting.
Screw interesting he is just the kind of person that I like.
I understand, so how do you think we should go about this?
"I'm right h…"
The man in black cut him off holding up his index finger.
I'll lead.
Ok, I'll follow up and cover anything you miss.
Ok.
They turned to look at Nero.
Hello, I am Almawt Distrukitin, or at least that is what I was called when I was alive.
And I am, Khalaq Alhaya, we are the spirits that live within you.
"Ok, so… If I ask a question will you both answer truthfully?"
Of course. We are here to help you but before we begin with the question. Why don't you let us tell you about this world.
"That's fine with me as long, as you answer my question after."
Yes, why would we lie. After all we need you to trust us.
Yes, trust is first and foremost. If you trust us, we will trust you.
"Ok, then please begin your story."
And thus the last catalyst sealed Salem away…
And we began to hibernate awaiting the next catalysts birth…
And that's you. We have been with you since you were born, watching and protecting you.
"Wait if you have always been protecting me why didn't you when I was kidnapped by that woman and her.. henchman… or partner... Either way, where were you then?"
Khalaq stood there and looked at the ground.
We were there, but…
But we were unable to do anything.
"Why, and what do you mean by protecting me?"
We have the ability to influence those pure heart, or that haven't been touched by Salem's grasp.
Do you remember when any of the, I don't know how many times, a random stranger changed their course and ended up something for hitting you or someone from robbing you or…
He was cut off by Khalaq
What he is trying to say is we have for many years helped you, but…
He paused
They were Salem's lackey's, and for that reason we couldn't do anything... but sit… and… watch.
And it was hard, but we knew they would not kill you.
"And how did you know that, what if they did? What then, would the world have been doomed?"
No, cause they wouldn't have.
You are… too valuable.
"What do you mean valuable?"
That seal on your face is draining your energy.
And today we will destroy and remove the seal.
Then you will be to full power and will be able to learn how to use your new abilities.
"So what do I do?"
Sit down and concentrate on one thing.
It can be anything, something, someone, an event as long as it's meaning to you is pure.
This should put a block on the seals ability.
Once we say so we need you to think about the opposite.
The absolute worst thing that could happen.
And the more detailed the more affect it will have on breaking the seal.
If it works right the seal should be destroyed in about twenty attempts, based on how strong the seal is.
"Ok, just one question. Will it hurt?"
Yes.
Alot.
"Ok."
Nero stood silently with his eyes closed. He concentrated on one singular thing. Weiss, he thought of every feature. Her long silk like hair. Pale soft skin. The gentle way she smiles. The forest around him seemed to fall silent. His breathing slowed. Khalaq then cut in.
Good now imagine her without you alone, hurt, scared.
Imagine being forced to watch her be hurt, raped, beat… killed.
The air grew still. And then as if the were in the fleeting eye of a hurricane, the wind began to pick up. The clouds over head came together and blocked out the sun. The clouds began to spin. The air became a whirlwind the trees swayed back and forth. Small, weak branches broke off and began to spin around Nero in the wind. It picked up speed. Until it was at the point where the trees nearest to him began to bend. The mark on his face illuminated and glowed. It almost seemed to be raising off his face. Suddenly all at once the mark disappeared, the wind stopped the forest was silent again. And then Nero yelled. A blood curdling yell. He dropped to his knees and his eyes opened. Beams of white light shot out of his eyes and mouth towards the sky. After a few seconds it stopped. Nero stayed there on his knees. A tear rolled down his face. He stumbled and stood up, bracing himself against a tree.
Holy… shit… that was fucking awesome.
Indeed that much power, being able to break the seal in one go. Quite amazing.
"So," he took a breath. "Did I do it?"
Yes, the seal is broken. Your power is back to full.
How do you feel kid?
"Strong."
He stood up straight. He turned to look at the tree. In one swift punch he broke it in half. Sending the upper part flying through the air.
I would say he is ready.
"For what?"
Your destiny. But for tonight, we sleep. It's getting late you should set up camp.
Yes, that would be a good idea.
Nero look at his arm pad and saw it was already almost 7. He unhooked the tent he brought from the outside of his bag. After setting up the tent he gathered firewood and made a teepee. He looked through his bag and realized he forget his lighter.
Forget something?
"Yes, my lighter."
Well why don't you learn the first of many new tricks you can do.
"Ok, what is it?"
Ok hold out your right hand, palm up and open.
"Ok."
Now concentrate on your palm. Imagine a ball of fire in the palm of your hand. Feel the warmth, see the light, now close your hand. Hold it tight. And then open it fast. Now!
Nero did as he was told. His hand flipped open and in the center a ball of fire about the size of a baseball appeared. It floated above his hand and just sat there.
Now, put it on the wood.
Nero put down the ball beneath the wood. In a matter of seconds the pile of wood was on fire.
"So now I can make fire… is that it?"
Really, is that it.
He said in a mocking tone.
No, that's not it. There is much more you can do.
But for now you must rest. Tomorrow is a big day. You have much to learn.
The sun rose up over the horizon bathing the forest in the warm soft light. Nero sat up in his tent and looked around to see he was alone. He unzipped his tent and took a step out into the world. He stretched out towards the sky letting out a yawn. He opened his eyes and looked around. To his right was the expenses of the forest. He look to his left and saw Weiss standing with her mouth open. He looked back to his right.
"Wait, what the…"
Nero's head shot around and faced back to Weiss. She jump and stumbled backwards and fell on her rear.
"Are you ok?"
Nero asked helping her back up.
"I'm fine but can you," she said blushing."Put on some clothes."
Nero looked down and realized he was standing there in his underwear.
"Yes right away."
Nero grabbed his clothes and got dressed. He brushed off his shirt, and looks back to Weiss.
"So, how did you find me?"
"Well there's kinda a tracker on you… my dad put it there when you were younger and just kinda forgot to remove it."
"Good to know… wait then why didn't you use that to find me why i disappeared last time?"
"It went offline when you disappeared and just rebooted recently."
"That man must have done something to it… back to the subject at hand, why did you come looking for me?"
"Why, do you not want to see me.
Weiss put her hands on her hips. Nero walked up to her and pulled her into a hugged.
"I'm never don't want to see you," Nero released the hug and looked her in the eyes holding her shoulders. "Your the woman who I love, I just wanted to know why you came all this way for me?"
Weiss jumped forward and pulled Nero into a deep kiss. After a minute she broke it off and stepped back.
"That's why."
"So you missed me."
"Alot."She punched him in the arm. "And that's for not saying where you were going."
"I get it, I'm sorry," Nero paused. "I just needed to be alone for a little, and I wish I could tell you why but. You would think I am crazy."
Out of nowhere Khalaq appeared.
We could make it where she could see us.
That is true.
Almawt walk into Nero's view.
"And how may I ask, we do that?"
"Who are you talking to?"
"I'll explain in a minute."
Well if you two… well…
If you two fuck she will be able to see us.
"What!"
What he said is true, intercourse will allow her to see us.
"How does that work?"
"Seriously, who are you…"
"Weiss, listen, I will tell you but just imagine there are two other people are here… you just can't see or hear them."
"Ok, but you better tell me everything."
"Ok, now continue."
Ok, if you two…
Fuck.
Yes that… you two will be connected by your souls.
Once you are connected we will be able to be seen by her.
"That's absurd. I couldn't do that."
"Do what."
Tell her.
Just tell her.
"Ok, ok," Nero looked at Weiss. "There is a way to make you be able to see and hear them. But…"
"But?"
"Well, and you need to understand, I love you Weiss, but… well…"
"Just tell me I don't care what.. "
"We need to have sex."
"Wait… can you say that again… I think I misheard you… I thought you said we had to have sex?" She looked at Nero surprised.
All he did was stand there and look her in the eyes.
"Goddamnit," Weiss said pulling Nero into a deep kiss. "I love you too much."
Nero broke off the kiss and looked her in the eyes.
"Are you sure your ok with this Weiss?"
"Nero, I love you… and quite frankly after the last few months I've had, I need this."
"Ok, just… if you want to stop tell me, ok?"
"Ok."
Nero pulled Weiss back into the kiss. Weiss jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. Nero put his hands under her legs and held her up. He carried her back to the tent and laid her down on his sleeping bag. Nero broke the kiss and looked into Weiss's eyes. He rested one of his hands on her cheek and the other he used to hold himself up.
He lowered himself down to meet her lips. He left a trail of kisses from her lips down to her neck.
"Nero, i need… i need you now."
This triggered something inside of him. His eyes flicked red, and then everything went black.
Nero opened his eyes to be meet with the harsh light of after noon. The light flooded through the open tent door. Nero rolled over to see Weiss there sleeping. He got up and pulled on his clothes. He walked out of the tent and zipped the door closed. He stretched his arms and looked around.
"Where are you guys?"
How do you feel Nero?
Yes how do you feel, especially what you just did?
"I was hoping you could tell me what happened?"
What do you mean?
"I blacked out, i don't remember what happened."
That's gotta suck, i mean not remembering your first time with a woman of her caliber…
"I don't care if you are just a voice in my head i will not have you talk about weiss in that way and… you didn't watch us right?"
Well we didn't purposely but…
When we disappear we retract into your head and can only see what you see.
"Great you guys saw it but i can't remember a single part of it."
Nero looked towards the tent as he heard a rustling noise. The door to the tent unzipped and weisses head popped out. She was dressed in one of nero's dress shirts.
"Nero, who are you with," Weiss opened her eyes and just stared blankly at the three men standing there in front of the tent. "Nero who are those men?"
Nero was a little scared. He had never seen weiss like this.
"These, well these are the guys i told you about," Nero gestured to the two men. "You know the ones only i could see."
"Oh, ok," weiss zipped the door back up and then it came flying back open. "Wait what!"
"So you don't remember what happened?"
"Ya, im sorry…"
"Why are you sorry, i mean," weiss blushed. "I had fun."
Nero looked away.
"I understand your not mad its just," Nero summoned his cogage and looked into her eyes. "With a girl like you no man should forget that experience… especially if it's with the one they love… i feel like i didn't deserve it, like it didn't happen… and that scares me… cause what if i can't ever remember… you deserve..."
Weiss cut him off.
"I deserve you," she grabbed Nero's hands. "Nero i love you more than anything… and if writing down what we did second for second so you can know what happened like writing a story… i'll do just that."
Nero picked Weiss up at her hips and sat her on his lap embracing her from behind in a hug.
"I don't need you to do that Weiss," he looked her in the eyes. "I just need you by my
side."
Well isn't that just sweet… now are you two done with this lovey dovey shit, cause if you haven't noticed thanks to you two having a little fun we lost half a day of training so get your ass up and…
I think what he is trying to say is that we need to get to work seeing as how you are supposed to save the world and all that…
"Ya, ya… i get it," Nero picked up weiss and sat her next to him. "Sorry but i do have to get to work… but you do get front row seats."
Nero stood up and walked away from weiss.
"So… now what?"
Now the cool part…
Seeing as how you now have your power back we can proceed with…
Fusing…
"Fusing… what do you mean?"
Since we are simply consciousnesses within you we are able, for a time to…
Take over your body…
However we can still be controlled by your will and in such you must be prepared for the after effects, which include and are not limited to…
Lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, migraines, bleeding from the eyes and or ears, inverted penis,
"Inverted what!?"
I'm joking calm down, and last but not least...
Death…
"Death?"
Yes, but you are strong enough…
To strong to fail…
So feeling up to it…
"Is there any choice?"
Nope, now stick out your right arm
Nero did as he was told, he stuck out his right arm as though he was going to shake someone's hands. In what seemed like all to fast Almawt moved forward and with his right hand grasped Nero's and began to say something.
This hand shake is a binding contract which states that you Nero are prepared to uphold the mantle of responsibility which falls upon you in the role of catalyst and are henceforth contracted with your right hand to the power of the god of destruction, brother of Khalaq, the god of life, and will use your life to serve the mantle of catalyst until your dying breath. Do you agree?
"Yes."
Then with my power as the god of destruction i seal my power within your right hand as to be able to be called upon at any time. Now repeat after me. Catalyst Break…
The air grew still, silence fell upon the forest except for two words.
"Catalyst break."
Nero's sight blacked out for a second and when his sight returned him and Almawt had switched places.
"What happened?"
Can't you tell… i'm in your body.
Nero looked around. He felt normal, but something was off. He caught a glimpse of Weiss's face. It was a look of shock.
`"Weiss what's wrong?"
"I just watched your spirit drift out of your body, then his spirit drift into your body, and then your body completely change to look like him."
"Wait, Weiss are you serious?"
She is… when fusion occurs your spirit is replaced by one of ours and your body shifts to our form to better suit us…
And damn does it feel good to be back in a real body…
"Then how do i get back in my body?"
Reach out your right hand.
Nero did so and Almawt grabbed it again.
This time say catalyst contain…
"Ok, Catalyst contain."
Again his vision went black and when it returned he was back in his body.
Now it's my turn stick out your left hand.
Nero did so and Khalaq grasped his hand.
This hand shake is a binding contract which states that you Nero are prepared to uphold the mantle of responsibility which falls upon you in the role of catalyst and are henceforth contracted with your left hand to the power of the god of life, brother of Almawt, the god of destruction, and will use your life to serve the mantle of catalyst until your dying breath. Do you agree?
"Yes."
Then with my power as the god of life i seal my power within your left hand as to be able to be called upon at any time. Now repeat after me. Catalyst bind…
Nero did as he was asked and once they went through the fusion and diffusion Weiss just sat there and watched as so of the craziest shit she has ever seen happened right in front of her.
Now that both contracts are made your training is complete.
"Wait that was it… then why did we come out here?"
There was a small chance that upon fusing you could have possible exploded… like a balloon…
"That would have been nice to know."
Well i'm sorry,would you rather had exploded and killed everyone within a mile of you…
"A mile?"
Yes the power stored within you is enough to level the entirety of Beacon and kill all who are within a mile of the epicenter of the explosion…
In other words you go boom and Vale gets a new parking lot and cemetery in one, sounds like a good deal to me wouldn't you say…
"I know i only just found out about you two but don't you think you are being a little mean?"
Weiss spoke standing up. Almawt walked over to her.
Listen here missy your fate as well as the rest of the world relies on him and our jobs are to prepare him…
And after all what would you expect from the god of destruction…
Exactly, hey wait…
Weiss we aren't mean to him we simply are teaching him about what he is and that he has to be carefull…
Ya cause if he loses control the whole explosion thing can happen…
"Fine, can me and nero have so privacy, please?"
Sure…
The two phantoms vanished leaving Nero and Weiss alone.
"So this whole catalyst thing… are you ok with it?"
"Well to be honest i only found out recently and i am apparently really important."
"As long as you're happy, and don't get hurt too bad...then i support you," Weiss looked Nero in the eyes. "But i swear if you are ever hurt as badly as you were again i'm going to put a stop to this because i can't see you die… it would kill me."
The sun set and rose again over the mountains. Nero and Weiss packed up camp and walked back to where Ozpin dropped Nero off. At around noon the sound of engines filled the air. The bullhead landed in the clearing and opened its bay doors. Ozpin stood there with an angered scowl.
" may i ask why you are here and are not on campus?"