30 Worlds: Megaforce, Episode XIX: "The Ashes of Destiny"
BOOK ONE*CHAPTER FIVE
William walked into the residential compartment of Gavan's Glory and saw the Rangers already preparing for battle: Lennier and Sito meditating, Chad and Mal discussing strategy. "All right, everybody. Listen up," William said as Sofia walked in.
Everyone's heads turned to face William and Sofia. "We have an incoming A.I.C. vessel," Sofia said. "Not only do we believe they're here for the smart bullets, but to ensure that they-not William-get the Scarlett Warrior powers."
"This is the biggest turning point in our mission," William said. "We must prevent the A.I.C. from getting what they came here for." "That goes without saying," Mal said. The Rangers shared a brief chuckle before William gestured for silence.
"We all know what the A.I.C. is planning," Sofia said. "If the A.I.C. gets a hold of those smart bullets and especially if they get a hold of the Scarlett Warrior powers, they will be unstoppable. You know what needs to be done."
As the Rangers left the compartment, William turned to Sofia. "While talking to Steve McGarrett earlier, I had a hell of an idea," William said as he reached for his Mobilates. "Prince William to Enterprise. Have Isabella and Sgt. Calhoun beam down with our newest toy." "Right away, William," Zenon said.
As Isabella Garcia-Shapiro and Calhoun resolved from the transporter beam with a small silver box, Sofia cocked an eyebrow. "Is that what I think it is?" Sofia said. William smiled. "It is...And more," William said as Isabella pressed a button on the box.
A few minutes later, the Rangers stood aghast as a person who was supposed to be dead led a bound Sofia off of Gavan's Glory. "Kalabar?! But he died on Terok Nor!" Chad said. "Not exactly," "Kalabar" said.
Lennier looked at "Kalabar" and instantly knew who really stood before him. "William?" he said. "Exactly, Lennier," "Kalabar" said. "What you are seeing is the result of the latest technical breakthrough by the Army and our friends at the I.M.F."
"Now, I'll need to use binders on you all, just as I have with Sofia," "Kalabar" said. "That way, when the A.I.C. arrive, they'll think you all are in my custody." "But what about you, William?" Mal said.
"I'll simply say that 'Kalabar' disintegrated me when I refused to disclose the exact details of the Phoenix Protocol," "Kalabar" said as he set to work using restraint binders on the other members of the away team.
A few minutes later, an A.I.C. assault shuttle landed near where Gavan's Glory had landed. The occupants of the shuttle filed out and gasped when they saw "Kalabar." "Lord Kalabar? We thought you were killed!" the leader said.
"As the Terran author Mark Twain once said, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," "Kalabar" said. "And I bring trophies."
The A.I.C. soldiers gasped when they saw Sofia and the other Rangers in captivity. "Three cheers for Lord Kalabar!" the lead soldier said. The other soldiers began to cheer. After a few minutes, the lead soldier took a communicator off of his belt. "Commander, Lord Kalabar has captured the team from the Enterprise!" he said.
"What about Prince William?" the commander's voice said. The soldier handed "Kalabar" the communicator. "Prince William is dead," "Kalabar" said. "He refused to divulge the Phoenix Protocol to me, so I blasted him to oblivion."
"Well done, My Lord," the unknown Commander said. "I have a present for you as well. She'll be down in just a moment." "I await your transport," "Kalabar" said before deactivating the communicator and giving it back to the soldier.
A few moments later, an A.I.C. transporter beam deposited the commander and her prisoner in front of "Kalabar." Mal gasped when she saw the face of the A.I.C. commander. "Una?!" she said.
Una, daughter of Ursula the Sea Witch from Mal's homeworld-the World of Descendants, fell to one knee. "My Lord, I am Una of the World of Descendants," she said. "Rise, Commander Una," "Kalabar" said. He then saw the face of Una's prisoner.
"Queen Scarlett of Cinnabar," "Kalabar" said. "How I've longed for this moment." "I have nothing to say to you, Kalabar," Scarlett said. "Oh, you don't have to say anything, Scarlett. Just listen," "Kalabar" said.
"Kalabar" gestured to the bound members of the Enterprise away team. "I have your precious 'Chosen One' and her friends. I've killed Yen Sid's Chosen One," "Kalabar" said. "The multi-verse now belongs to the Army of Inter-Universal Chaos. If you swear undying loyalty to the A.I.C., I will give you the World of Sofia the First to rule as your domain."
"And if I don't?" Scarlett said. "Kalabar" held out his hand. Una put a Klingon d'k tahg knife in his hand. "You get this," "Kalabar" said before pushing a button on the knife's hilt. Two smaller blades sprung into place.
Scarlett did not even think: she simply spat in "Kalabar's" face. "Kalabar" took a deep breath. He then mouthed "I'm sorry." "Kalabar" then took the knife and drove it straight into Scarlett's stomach.
"NO!" Sofia said. A red mist flowed from Scarlett's body into "Kalabar's" body. "Now, the multi-verse truly belongs to us."
Sofia began to cry while the other A.I.C. members began to cheer louder. "On the other hand..." "Kalabar" said as he reached for a spot just under his right ear. "What do you mean?" Una said. "Kalabar's" face began to twist and distort under the pulling.
Finally, "Kalabar's" face came completely off, revealing William's own face. "Now, you have a new Scarlett Warrior to deal with."
William snapped his fingers. The bindings holding the away team's arms behind their backs snapped clean off.
William's clothing then transformed into a suit of crimson samurai armor. "I am Prince William of Cinnabar, and I am the Scarlett Warrior," William said.
::TBC::