p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius watched as Angel leaped through the forest, raw power coursing through her like adrenaline. The only time she'd been let out of the base was for training, and even then it was only for a short time. With unfathomable power like hers existing on Earth, they couldn't risk taking her outside./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" It was midday. The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon, setting the sky ablaze with orange and purple hues. The canopy of the trees shaded the ground in semi-darkness, though./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Now, Lloyd and Nox were gone to spend time alone. And the team had to watch over Angel./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The leaves trembled and shuddered in an icy cold wind. Winter was just upon them. The ground was damp, above the mountains overhead, storm clouds picked up cold water from the cascading streams, darkening. He calculated that they'd have at least five minutes before it began raining. He could already smell it approaching./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He attempted to call out to let Angel know they had to head back inside. Just because Angel still had her powers, didn't mean Etrius was immortal as well. But one look at the enthusiasm on her face dissolved any words./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" At first, Etrius thought that bringing a new addition to the team would only slow them down. But after seeing her progression and willingness to fight and use her power, he'd taken a liking to her. She reminded him a bit of himself and Josiah when they were young. The memories brought a smile to his face. A smile that nobody had seen from him in a long time, and he was glad that nobody was around to see him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius watched, breathless as Angel walked across the grass, leaving behind budding flowers and bushes that rose from the ground. She was the first Ancient, Descendant Hybrid. An immortal. He sighed. Neither Nox nor Lloyd were immortal. Nobody was. She would watch her own parents grow old and die, followed by the rest of the team. She would continue on in life, watching as the world changed around her. Perhaps she would see the next resource war./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius seized her waist, hoisting her into the air and sitting her on his shoulders. "Uuurg… Angel, you're seven years old. Think you can lend me some of that power so I can carry you again like before?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel laughed gleefully, bringing a chuckle out of Etrius. Lloyd was like a brother to him, so he vowed to protect his kid with his life. He never thought the feeling would be this refreshing. All his life, he knew he was missing something… A hollow, vacant part of him that would never be mended. It took him a while to realize Angel's intervention in his life mended that gaping hole./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" After a moment's silence passed, Angel looked down at Etrius. "Uncle Etrius?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Mm."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Am I ever going to see the team again?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' brow furrowed. "Why would you ask something like that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel propped her chin against his head. "I heard dad talking about it. He said that you quit one time, and mum and dad want to do the same thing."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' eyes darted everywhere before coming to a stop at Angel, who gazed at him with golden eyes above him. He shut his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry, Angel. It's not up to me to decide. But Nox and Lloyd only want the best for you. I'm sure that whatever they decide to do, is for your sake."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He had a pretty good idea of what Nox and Lloyd were going to do. Now that Angel knew how to harness her power, they were going to go undercover. Hide away from the world so Angel could get a chance at a normal life, and so she could never be hunted down for her power and bloodline./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Something growled in the sky./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' breath froze inside him. That was emnot/em thunder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Something large and powerful roared over their heads, piercing through the skies. Dark helicopters zoomed right over their heads, radiating wind so strong that some tree branches snapped off./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "What the fuck?" Etrius breathed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel covered her mouth. "You said a bad word…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Tell me about it. Let's get out of here." He tried to keep his voice leveled so Angel wouldn't panic, but he was breathing heavily. Angel may be immortal, but he wasn't. Not anymore. If he died, Angel would be alone, and possibly captured. He needed to be careful. No more fecklessly busting into problems./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" As he searched for a good place to hide in the forest, where trees were crying droplets of rainwater from their canopies, he bit his lip. Even before he had Element Evil in his system, he still ran recklessly into things. Back then, he had his team, and backup at any time. Now, he was alone with a Hyrbid containing unimaginable power. Things were not going well./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The sound of the choppers had faded away into the distance./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius scanned the skies, but they were empty. Rain cascaded from above, almost resembling a giant bowl of air and water. "The coast is clear."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel gasped./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius seized her small hand. "What?" He set her own. "Angel, what is it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel wasn't responding. She was just staring into the shadows ahead of them. The sun had descended behind the mountains by now, and a new moon was out, so the forest was shrouded in darkness./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius's eyes peered through the shadows, but he neither saw nor heard anything. Had he still had the gift of Element Evil, he could've easily spotted what lay ahead of them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "What do you see, Angel? A bear?" His mind traveled back to a time when he was still young and living with his younger brother, Josiah. They watched from behind their house window as a grizzly bear rocked their car, smelling food inside./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He hadn't been out in the Oregon forest long enough to spot any bears, but he knew for a fact that they lived out here. Only, a bear would've been scared away from the chopper noises by now. What was Angel looking at?/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Then, Etrius saw it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" A red light sliced the darkness, aiming for Angel's chest./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" His breath froze inside him. Before he could shout out a warning, he grabbed Angel and hurled them both to the ground. A bullet sailed over them, shattering a tree trunk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Men shouted all around them. They leaped from the shadows, aiming technologically advanced weapons. Far more advanced than anything they had in the base. Etrius recognized their armor uniform emblem immediately. They were the Superior's men./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius kept Angel behind him, hefting two weapons of his own - Uzis. The same weapons he'd brought with him to the second castle. Although seeing the weapons the Superior's men held, fighting back didn't really matter. He glanced at Angel who stood, her height barely reaching his knee. A Hybrid. An immortal. She cast him an enthusiastic glance. "Can I fight now?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" One of the Superior's men screamed out at them. "DROP YOUR WEAPONS, HAND OVER THE CHILD, AND GET ON THE FLOOR! DO IT NOW!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius grimaced. He never did like following orders. "Yes. You can fight now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel unleashed a laugh as her hands set alight with pure, clean power. Even the Superior's men watched in amazement. Etrius raised his guns to the sky and opened fire to cause a distraction while Angel charged at the wall of soldiers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius had her back as they fought, firing at soldiers before they got too close. Angel pulled up a shield before the bullets could even touch Etrius. Her reaction time was much faster than Etrius', even when he had Element Evil. In a way, he felt proud of Lloyd's kid. And he wasn't letting anybody else take her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Slices of white power darted into the sky, evaporating the raindrops before they could hit the ground. She demonstrated a level of power he'd never seen before, not even from the Mind Worm or the Presence. The very evil beings of the universes that brought chaos and destruction in the blink of an eye. If he didn't know any better, he would've thought Angel as a threat to the peace. But one look at the light in her eyes, like the piercing of a sun after a violent storm put his worries at ease. Angel was going to bring peace and harmony to this world./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" They got rid of the Mind Worm, the Three Elders, the Presence, and The General had retreated to the side of the rebels. Now only the Superior remained. Sure, he had a plethora of soldiers, but they were mortal. It wouldn't be long before it was Angel's turn to win the fight, destroy the Superior, and give this world the justice it deserved./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Then, Etrius heard one of the men say something. A word. A word that sent shivers up his spine, put his teeth on edge, and sent his mind reeling./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "emBring in Obsidian/em!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Obsidian./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The only element that could bring a wielder of Element Evil to their knees./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel was tough and could handle herself. But not against Obsidian. The more power someone has, the stronger the effects of Obsidian were. Almost like kryptonite./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He couldn't imagine her experiencing the effects of it. Not now./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" While Angel pulled up a shield around them, Etrius seized her arm. "Angel, we need to leave!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "But we just started fighting." Angel pouted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "It's not safe here. Not for either of us. I'll tell you later!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Together, they retreated into the darkness of the forest, shooting at enemies that dared to follow them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" When they got far enough from the army, Angel lowered her shield to allow the darkness to hide them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius didn't hold back from breathing heavily. The sound of pounding rain drowned it out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Men shouted in the distance. Once in a while, they got close to where they were hiding - within an uprooted hollowed out tree. But they soon vanished./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Silence reigned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius blinked languidly. He gave Angel the signal to be silent. She didn't respond. He couldn't see her through the darkness of the tree./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius crawled out from the tree, his eyes devouring the forest around him. Nobody was around. He breathed a sigh of relief, gesturing for Angel to come out. "Come on. The coast is clear. Let's get back to base and warn the others."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel didn't move. He could barely see her hunched over form inside the tree trunk. Etrius frowned, kneeling down. "Angel? What's wrong?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" A sniffle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' heart pounded. Horrifying thoughts plagued his mind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He seized Angel's tiny form, carrying her out from the tree. All breath left him. Angel's right arm was bent at an awkward angle, white liquid dripping down like blood. A shard of Obsidian was embedded within the bone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' eyes were clouded with anger. He held Angel close to him, trying to stifle her sobs as if trying to stifle the pain. He'd been through it before, and it wasn't an experience he'd willingly go through again. With Angel's unfathomable power, he could only imagine what Angel was going through./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Fucking bastards… They have the nerve to shoot her… I will rip each and every single one of them apart…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel didn't criticize him for cursing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius had to get Angel back to Romanov. He could get the Obsidian bullet out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He bundled Angel against his chest, whispering reassuring words before rushing back to the base—/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" And right into the Superior's men./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "It's them. Open fire!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel was lurking under the surface of consciousness. There was no way she could summon a shield./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Bullets whizzed past them. Etrius ducked to the floor, but a sharp pain ran between his neck and shoulder. The bullet had nicked his skin. Fresh blood bloomed across the fabric of his uniform. He ground his teeth to battle the pain, wishing once again that Element Evil would heal him. But that was impossible now./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Soldiers leaped down from the towering pine trees, rushing out from cover. They were everywhere, infesting the forest like ants. It wasn't long before choppers began to roll in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "HAND OVER THE CHILD, NOW!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius ground his teeth, and for once, it was like the bullet flesh wound wasn't even there. "Fuck you… FUCK YOU!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius waited. They didn't open fire. He frowned. They would've shot him by now. It looked like the Superior wanted them alive./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior's men closed in. Etrius checked both his Uzis. They were empty./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "FUCK OFF!" Etrius backed away, holding Angel's unmoving form closer. But more men were behind him. He stumbled around a confined area with no escape, Angel in his arms, one of her arms dangling lifelessly. "I WILL FUCKING KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Something pinched him in the small of his back. Voltage ran through his being, putting his teeth on edge. Angel fell from his arms, and then was quickly scooped up by the soldiers and carried away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' vision was doubled, but he could barely make out Angel's form before she was lost in the crowd. "No… NO, YOU FUCKING SONS OF BITCHES! LEAVE HER ALONE!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Soldiers grabbed his arms and began to drag him in the other direction. He struggled harder than he ever had in his entire life. He managed to land a punch and kick into a few soldiers, but they held him down with unrivaled strength. Etrius screamed, cursed them to hell, and even begged them to take him instead of Angel./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He shut his eyes and tried to draw upon the familiar inner power that slept within. To warn the others through the mental channel that connected them on another level. Hoping to feel at least a sliver of leftover Element Evil. But there was nothing. He never felt so helpless in his entire life./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" One particular chopper landed in the forest clearing, it's titanium blades chopping off any trees in the vicinity and causing near-irreplaceable damage. The trees bled nectar./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior himself emerged from the chopper's cockpit, strolling across the area with an air of superiority around him. Soldiers straightened and saluted as he passed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius felt the cold bite of handcuffs against his wrists as he was hurled to his feet, brought before the Superior and thrust back onto his knees. "Show some respect for your C.O. that you betrayed, emRebel/em." One of the soldiers snarled. The Superior waved a hand for him to be silent. Even without speaking, his mere presence could stop an army in it's tracks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior knelt down to Etrius' level, smiling. Triumph stirred in his blue eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius snarled, through he couldn't help but feel curious. The last time he'd seen the Superior, he was old. Much older than him. He must've used Element Evil to reverse the aging process. Etrius would've done the same./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "So," The Superior chuckled, his voice young, and yet aged at the same time in a way Etrius couldn't explain. "emThis/em is the leader of the Elite Rebel Organization? emThis /emworthless rat has been causing us all this trouble?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius spat at him, but he narrowly missed him by an inch. His head was spinning. "You've got a lot of nerve showing your face here, especially after all we've done for you and Earth. All that emAngel/em has done."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Angel…" The Superior's eyes grew distant, as if he were tossing the name around his mind. "So that is her name, hm? Such a pity that you are containing so much power. A weapon like that shouldn't be locked away. It will collect dust."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "She's not a weapon," Etrius growled. "She's human just like the rest of us."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Are you sure about that?" The Superior winked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius hated every single square inch of this man, but the worst part was that he was correct. Angel wasn't human. She was the universe's first Hybrid. An immortal./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior stroked his chin. "The last I saw of you, you were torn apart alive by the Mind Worm and the Presence. You died, and yet now you're kneeling here in front of me. I wonder…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He kicked Etrius' shoulder until he collapsed in the mud on his back. Raindrops hit his eyelids like needles. The Superior planted the bottom of his boot against his shoulder, pressing it against the floor. Etrius felt something in his shoulder emsnap/em. He couldn't hold back. He unleashed a scream of frustration and agony. After healing with Element Evil for years, he forgot what pain felt like./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior watched him heave several breaths before chuckling. "Just as I thought. He doesn't have Element Evil. None of them do."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius snarled, blood dripping from the side of his mouth. "Listen here, you fucking piece of shit. You'll leave Angel here, and my team won't rip you to shreds. She's just a child. She's not your enemy."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "I think you underestimate my purpose," The Superior grabbed Etrius' broken shoulder, yanking him back up to his knees. Blood and mud caked his face like oil. "Read my lips. emI. Want. Her. Power./em I could care less about the child."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' hands scrunched the grass, trying to find something solid in a world that spun. "Then we'll work something out," He cursed himself for what he was about to suggest, but it was the only way to save her. "We'll find a way to extract her powers. Just—Just don't hurt her! She's done nothing wrong against you—against anybody. She's willing to befriend the enemy, and choose peace over war."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Innocence…" The Superior sighed. "Sickens me. Too see the darkness take over her eyes as she learns and grows under my watch will be most pleasurable. I just wanted to see the expression on your face as I tell you that your emniece/em is now mine… And so is that Ancient Descendant—Nox. I've searched for years for a way to create a Hyrbid like that child, but without the experimentation involved, creating defects. Nox is the answer to my questions. The end to my quest." He hissed in his ear. "The mother of our next Hybrid child. I look forward to seeing how well she fights in bed."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' eyes widened as the realization set in. "Sick bastard… All you need is her DNA!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior shrugged. "Do I look like a man who saves his victims the torture?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius ground his teeth, the anger manifesting inside of him until it reached the surface. He screamed, yanking away from the soldiers and pouncing on the Superior. The handcuffs held him back, but he pressed his knee against his throat, pinching his airway shut. The Superior's face was coated in a layer of mud and Etrius' blood, but his white teeth still sliced through the darkness in a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The moment didn't last long. The Superior's men seized him once again, dragging him off. He felt the side of his head collide with the ground, and everything went dark. His ears still picked up voices./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior picked himself up, batting away the helping hands of his men. "Teach him a lesson… And make sure his body is never found."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius uttered a groan as he felt himself being rolled onto his back. Someone's boot collided with his stomach, winding him. He felt something press against his broken shoulder. Muscle curled around the broken bone, piercing it. Hands raked fire and agony everywhere they touched. He opened his mouth to howl out the pain, but his voice was lost somewhere in his throat./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Element Evil." It took Etrius a while to realize he said the words. He needed it, now. He needed it to destroy the men who had the nerve to betray him, to heal himself, and find Angel./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior must've been watching them the whole time. He waited for the right moment, when the team and Angel weren't together, to make his move. In a way, he felt responsible for all this. If he'd just taken the team with him…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius lost track of time, but every bone in his body ached. He couldn't move. The ground was flooded a few inches, filling his lungs each time he breathed in. They wouldn't stop landing blows when he was down. His eyes rolled up in their sockets. He began to lose feeling, starting from the fingertips and spreading through his veins. His vision grew dark, but a bright spark of light permeated his vision, almost like watching a phenomenon from outer space./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "You think he's dead?" One of the Superior's men inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Not sure. I can't feel his pulse through his fucking rain. Let's drop him over the canyon. The fall will kill him."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius uttered a groan as he felt rough hands grab his cuffs, dragging him across the ground. Scars opened up in his back, through his torn clothes. Only one word crossed his mind. emAngel/em. He saw her face, heard her voice, felt her powerful, innocent hands in his./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" emAnd Nox/emem… I'm so sorry you have this monster after you./em He knew it was futile to put his thoughts out there, especially when Element Evil no longer connected their minds and souls. emLloyd, you/emem'd better look after her. Keep her safe. Keep the whole team safe for me. Can you do that?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius felt the ground give away beneath him. The Superior's men swung his arms over the canyon. He heard the steep ground hit his ribcage before he felt it. He rolled and slid until his chest hit a small shrub bush peeking out from the soil. Each breath pushed against his broken ribs. He lay there, dangling within the shrub, surrounded by darkness./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Where is he?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Can't see him. He's probably dead. Let's get the fuck out of here. I'm soaking wet."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius waited many heartbeats for the soldiers to walk away far enough before he screamed out the pain and frustration pent up inside of him. Choppers darted through the night sky, moving away from the area. Angel was on one of those choppers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "No…" Using what little strength he had, Etrius moved his cuffed hands in front of him, trying to shove the pain into the back of his mind. "Angel…" He dug his fingertips into the wet soil, trying to climb his way out of the canyon. If he could just make it to one of the choppers, and follow them…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He lost his grip. The soil crumbled beneath his fingers, resulting in a slow, perilous descent. He let out a scream of frustration, trying again and again, even long after the choppers were gone. His radio had been destroyed. There was no way to contact the team./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He pressed his foot into the soil, but hit against a stone. He inhaled sharply as he lost hold of the soil with his hands. He rocked backwards, his back colliding with the soil. He tumbled down the steep cliff, loosing consciousness before he hit the bottom./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" It was midday. The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon, setting the sky ablaze with orange and purple hues. The canopy of the trees shaded the ground in semi-darkness, though./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Now, Lloyd and Nox were gone to spend time alone. And the team had to watch over Angel./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The leaves trembled and shuddered in an icy cold wind. Winter was just upon them. The ground was damp, above the mountains overhead, storm clouds picked up cold water from the cascading streams, darkening. He calculated that they'd have at least five minutes before it began raining. He could already smell it approaching./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He attempted to call out to let Angel know they had to head back inside. Just because Angel still had her powers, didn't mean Etrius was immortal as well. But one look at the enthusiasm on her face dissolved any words./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" At first, Etrius thought that bringing a new addition to the team would only slow them down. But after seeing her progression and willingness to fight and use her power, he'd taken a liking to her. She reminded him a bit of himself and Josiah when they were young. The memories brought a smile to his face. A smile that nobody had seen from him in a long time, and he was glad that nobody was around to see him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius watched, breathless as Angel walked across the grass, leaving behind budding flowers and bushes that rose from the ground. She was the first Ancient, Descendant Hybrid. An immortal. He sighed. Neither Nox nor Lloyd were immortal. Nobody was. She would watch her own parents grow old and die, followed by the rest of the team. She would continue on in life, watching as the world changed around her. Perhaps she would see the next resource war./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius seized her waist, hoisting her into the air and sitting her on his shoulders. "Uuurg… Angel, you're seven years old. Think you can lend me some of that power so I can carry you again like before?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel laughed gleefully, bringing a chuckle out of Etrius. Lloyd was like a brother to him, so he vowed to protect his kid with his life. He never thought the feeling would be this refreshing. All his life, he knew he was missing something… A hollow, vacant part of him that would never be mended. It took him a while to realize Angel's intervention in his life mended that gaping hole./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" After a moment's silence passed, Angel looked down at Etrius. "Uncle Etrius?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Mm."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Am I ever going to see the team again?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' brow furrowed. "Why would you ask something like that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel propped her chin against his head. "I heard dad talking about it. He said that you quit one time, and mum and dad want to do the same thing."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' eyes darted everywhere before coming to a stop at Angel, who gazed at him with golden eyes above him. He shut his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry, Angel. It's not up to me to decide. But Nox and Lloyd only want the best for you. I'm sure that whatever they decide to do, is for your sake."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He had a pretty good idea of what Nox and Lloyd were going to do. Now that Angel knew how to harness her power, they were going to go undercover. Hide away from the world so Angel could get a chance at a normal life, and so she could never be hunted down for her power and bloodline./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Something growled in the sky./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' breath froze inside him. That was emnot/em thunder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Something large and powerful roared over their heads, piercing through the skies. Dark helicopters zoomed right over their heads, radiating wind so strong that some tree branches snapped off./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "What the fuck?" Etrius breathed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel covered her mouth. "You said a bad word…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Tell me about it. Let's get out of here." He tried to keep his voice leveled so Angel wouldn't panic, but he was breathing heavily. Angel may be immortal, but he wasn't. Not anymore. If he died, Angel would be alone, and possibly captured. He needed to be careful. No more fecklessly busting into problems./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" As he searched for a good place to hide in the forest, where trees were crying droplets of rainwater from their canopies, he bit his lip. Even before he had Element Evil in his system, he still ran recklessly into things. Back then, he had his team, and backup at any time. Now, he was alone with a Hyrbid containing unimaginable power. Things were not going well./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The sound of the choppers had faded away into the distance./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius scanned the skies, but they were empty. Rain cascaded from above, almost resembling a giant bowl of air and water. "The coast is clear."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel gasped./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius seized her small hand. "What?" He set her own. "Angel, what is it?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel wasn't responding. She was just staring into the shadows ahead of them. The sun had descended behind the mountains by now, and a new moon was out, so the forest was shrouded in darkness./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius's eyes peered through the shadows, but he neither saw nor heard anything. Had he still had the gift of Element Evil, he could've easily spotted what lay ahead of them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "What do you see, Angel? A bear?" His mind traveled back to a time when he was still young and living with his younger brother, Josiah. They watched from behind their house window as a grizzly bear rocked their car, smelling food inside./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He hadn't been out in the Oregon forest long enough to spot any bears, but he knew for a fact that they lived out here. Only, a bear would've been scared away from the chopper noises by now. What was Angel looking at?/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Then, Etrius saw it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" A red light sliced the darkness, aiming for Angel's chest./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" His breath froze inside him. Before he could shout out a warning, he grabbed Angel and hurled them both to the ground. A bullet sailed over them, shattering a tree trunk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Men shouted all around them. They leaped from the shadows, aiming technologically advanced weapons. Far more advanced than anything they had in the base. Etrius recognized their armor uniform emblem immediately. They were the Superior's men./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius kept Angel behind him, hefting two weapons of his own - Uzis. The same weapons he'd brought with him to the second castle. Although seeing the weapons the Superior's men held, fighting back didn't really matter. He glanced at Angel who stood, her height barely reaching his knee. A Hybrid. An immortal. She cast him an enthusiastic glance. "Can I fight now?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" One of the Superior's men screamed out at them. "DROP YOUR WEAPONS, HAND OVER THE CHILD, AND GET ON THE FLOOR! DO IT NOW!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius grimaced. He never did like following orders. "Yes. You can fight now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel unleashed a laugh as her hands set alight with pure, clean power. Even the Superior's men watched in amazement. Etrius raised his guns to the sky and opened fire to cause a distraction while Angel charged at the wall of soldiers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius had her back as they fought, firing at soldiers before they got too close. Angel pulled up a shield before the bullets could even touch Etrius. Her reaction time was much faster than Etrius', even when he had Element Evil. In a way, he felt proud of Lloyd's kid. And he wasn't letting anybody else take her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Slices of white power darted into the sky, evaporating the raindrops before they could hit the ground. She demonstrated a level of power he'd never seen before, not even from the Mind Worm or the Presence. The very evil beings of the universes that brought chaos and destruction in the blink of an eye. If he didn't know any better, he would've thought Angel as a threat to the peace. But one look at the light in her eyes, like the piercing of a sun after a violent storm put his worries at ease. Angel was going to bring peace and harmony to this world./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" They got rid of the Mind Worm, the Three Elders, the Presence, and The General had retreated to the side of the rebels. Now only the Superior remained. Sure, he had a plethora of soldiers, but they were mortal. It wouldn't be long before it was Angel's turn to win the fight, destroy the Superior, and give this world the justice it deserved./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Then, Etrius heard one of the men say something. A word. A word that sent shivers up his spine, put his teeth on edge, and sent his mind reeling./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "emBring in Obsidian/em!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Obsidian./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The only element that could bring a wielder of Element Evil to their knees./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel was tough and could handle herself. But not against Obsidian. The more power someone has, the stronger the effects of Obsidian were. Almost like kryptonite./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He couldn't imagine her experiencing the effects of it. Not now./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" While Angel pulled up a shield around them, Etrius seized her arm. "Angel, we need to leave!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "But we just started fighting." Angel pouted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "It's not safe here. Not for either of us. I'll tell you later!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Together, they retreated into the darkness of the forest, shooting at enemies that dared to follow them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" When they got far enough from the army, Angel lowered her shield to allow the darkness to hide them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius didn't hold back from breathing heavily. The sound of pounding rain drowned it out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Men shouted in the distance. Once in a while, they got close to where they were hiding - within an uprooted hollowed out tree. But they soon vanished./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Silence reigned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius blinked languidly. He gave Angel the signal to be silent. She didn't respond. He couldn't see her through the darkness of the tree./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius crawled out from the tree, his eyes devouring the forest around him. Nobody was around. He breathed a sigh of relief, gesturing for Angel to come out. "Come on. The coast is clear. Let's get back to base and warn the others."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel didn't move. He could barely see her hunched over form inside the tree trunk. Etrius frowned, kneeling down. "Angel? What's wrong?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" A sniffle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' heart pounded. Horrifying thoughts plagued his mind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He seized Angel's tiny form, carrying her out from the tree. All breath left him. Angel's right arm was bent at an awkward angle, white liquid dripping down like blood. A shard of Obsidian was embedded within the bone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' eyes were clouded with anger. He held Angel close to him, trying to stifle her sobs as if trying to stifle the pain. He'd been through it before, and it wasn't an experience he'd willingly go through again. With Angel's unfathomable power, he could only imagine what Angel was going through./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Fucking bastards… They have the nerve to shoot her… I will rip each and every single one of them apart…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel didn't criticize him for cursing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius had to get Angel back to Romanov. He could get the Obsidian bullet out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He bundled Angel against his chest, whispering reassuring words before rushing back to the base—/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" And right into the Superior's men./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "It's them. Open fire!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Angel was lurking under the surface of consciousness. There was no way she could summon a shield./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Bullets whizzed past them. Etrius ducked to the floor, but a sharp pain ran between his neck and shoulder. The bullet had nicked his skin. Fresh blood bloomed across the fabric of his uniform. He ground his teeth to battle the pain, wishing once again that Element Evil would heal him. But that was impossible now./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Soldiers leaped down from the towering pine trees, rushing out from cover. They were everywhere, infesting the forest like ants. It wasn't long before choppers began to roll in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "HAND OVER THE CHILD, NOW!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius ground his teeth, and for once, it was like the bullet flesh wound wasn't even there. "Fuck you… FUCK YOU!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius waited. They didn't open fire. He frowned. They would've shot him by now. It looked like the Superior wanted them alive./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior's men closed in. Etrius checked both his Uzis. They were empty./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "FUCK OFF!" Etrius backed away, holding Angel's unmoving form closer. But more men were behind him. He stumbled around a confined area with no escape, Angel in his arms, one of her arms dangling lifelessly. "I WILL FUCKING KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Something pinched him in the small of his back. Voltage ran through his being, putting his teeth on edge. Angel fell from his arms, and then was quickly scooped up by the soldiers and carried away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' vision was doubled, but he could barely make out Angel's form before she was lost in the crowd. "No… NO, YOU FUCKING SONS OF BITCHES! LEAVE HER ALONE!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Soldiers grabbed his arms and began to drag him in the other direction. He struggled harder than he ever had in his entire life. He managed to land a punch and kick into a few soldiers, but they held him down with unrivaled strength. Etrius screamed, cursed them to hell, and even begged them to take him instead of Angel./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He shut his eyes and tried to draw upon the familiar inner power that slept within. To warn the others through the mental channel that connected them on another level. Hoping to feel at least a sliver of leftover Element Evil. But there was nothing. He never felt so helpless in his entire life./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" One particular chopper landed in the forest clearing, it's titanium blades chopping off any trees in the vicinity and causing near-irreplaceable damage. The trees bled nectar./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior himself emerged from the chopper's cockpit, strolling across the area with an air of superiority around him. Soldiers straightened and saluted as he passed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius felt the cold bite of handcuffs against his wrists as he was hurled to his feet, brought before the Superior and thrust back onto his knees. "Show some respect for your C.O. that you betrayed, emRebel/em." One of the soldiers snarled. The Superior waved a hand for him to be silent. Even without speaking, his mere presence could stop an army in it's tracks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior knelt down to Etrius' level, smiling. Triumph stirred in his blue eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius snarled, through he couldn't help but feel curious. The last time he'd seen the Superior, he was old. Much older than him. He must've used Element Evil to reverse the aging process. Etrius would've done the same./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "So," The Superior chuckled, his voice young, and yet aged at the same time in a way Etrius couldn't explain. "emThis/em is the leader of the Elite Rebel Organization? emThis /emworthless rat has been causing us all this trouble?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius spat at him, but he narrowly missed him by an inch. His head was spinning. "You've got a lot of nerve showing your face here, especially after all we've done for you and Earth. All that emAngel/em has done."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Angel…" The Superior's eyes grew distant, as if he were tossing the name around his mind. "So that is her name, hm? Such a pity that you are containing so much power. A weapon like that shouldn't be locked away. It will collect dust."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "She's not a weapon," Etrius growled. "She's human just like the rest of us."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Are you sure about that?" The Superior winked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius hated every single square inch of this man, but the worst part was that he was correct. Angel wasn't human. She was the universe's first Hybrid. An immortal./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior stroked his chin. "The last I saw of you, you were torn apart alive by the Mind Worm and the Presence. You died, and yet now you're kneeling here in front of me. I wonder…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He kicked Etrius' shoulder until he collapsed in the mud on his back. Raindrops hit his eyelids like needles. The Superior planted the bottom of his boot against his shoulder, pressing it against the floor. Etrius felt something in his shoulder emsnap/em. He couldn't hold back. He unleashed a scream of frustration and agony. After healing with Element Evil for years, he forgot what pain felt like./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior watched him heave several breaths before chuckling. "Just as I thought. He doesn't have Element Evil. None of them do."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius snarled, blood dripping from the side of his mouth. "Listen here, you fucking piece of shit. You'll leave Angel here, and my team won't rip you to shreds. She's just a child. She's not your enemy."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "I think you underestimate my purpose," The Superior grabbed Etrius' broken shoulder, yanking him back up to his knees. Blood and mud caked his face like oil. "Read my lips. emI. Want. Her. Power./em I could care less about the child."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' hands scrunched the grass, trying to find something solid in a world that spun. "Then we'll work something out," He cursed himself for what he was about to suggest, but it was the only way to save her. "We'll find a way to extract her powers. Just—Just don't hurt her! She's done nothing wrong against you—against anybody. She's willing to befriend the enemy, and choose peace over war."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Innocence…" The Superior sighed. "Sickens me. Too see the darkness take over her eyes as she learns and grows under my watch will be most pleasurable. I just wanted to see the expression on your face as I tell you that your emniece/em is now mine… And so is that Ancient Descendant—Nox. I've searched for years for a way to create a Hyrbid like that child, but without the experimentation involved, creating defects. Nox is the answer to my questions. The end to my quest." He hissed in his ear. "The mother of our next Hybrid child. I look forward to seeing how well she fights in bed."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius' eyes widened as the realization set in. "Sick bastard… All you need is her DNA!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior shrugged. "Do I look like a man who saves his victims the torture?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius ground his teeth, the anger manifesting inside of him until it reached the surface. He screamed, yanking away from the soldiers and pouncing on the Superior. The handcuffs held him back, but he pressed his knee against his throat, pinching his airway shut. The Superior's face was coated in a layer of mud and Etrius' blood, but his white teeth still sliced through the darkness in a smile./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The moment didn't last long. The Superior's men seized him once again, dragging him off. He felt the side of his head collide with the ground, and everything went dark. His ears still picked up voices./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior picked himself up, batting away the helping hands of his men. "Teach him a lesson… And make sure his body is never found."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius uttered a groan as he felt himself being rolled onto his back. Someone's boot collided with his stomach, winding him. He felt something press against his broken shoulder. Muscle curled around the broken bone, piercing it. Hands raked fire and agony everywhere they touched. He opened his mouth to howl out the pain, but his voice was lost somewhere in his throat./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Element Evil." It took Etrius a while to realize he said the words. He needed it, now. He needed it to destroy the men who had the nerve to betray him, to heal himself, and find Angel./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" The Superior must've been watching them the whole time. He waited for the right moment, when the team and Angel weren't together, to make his move. In a way, he felt responsible for all this. If he'd just taken the team with him…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius lost track of time, but every bone in his body ached. He couldn't move. The ground was flooded a few inches, filling his lungs each time he breathed in. They wouldn't stop landing blows when he was down. His eyes rolled up in their sockets. He began to lose feeling, starting from the fingertips and spreading through his veins. His vision grew dark, but a bright spark of light permeated his vision, almost like watching a phenomenon from outer space./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "You think he's dead?" One of the Superior's men inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Not sure. I can't feel his pulse through his fucking rain. Let's drop him over the canyon. The fall will kill him."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius uttered a groan as he felt rough hands grab his cuffs, dragging him across the ground. Scars opened up in his back, through his torn clothes. Only one word crossed his mind. emAngel/em. He saw her face, heard her voice, felt her powerful, innocent hands in his./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" emAnd Nox/emem… I'm so sorry you have this monster after you./em He knew it was futile to put his thoughts out there, especially when Element Evil no longer connected their minds and souls. emLloyd, you/emem'd better look after her. Keep her safe. Keep the whole team safe for me. Can you do that?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius felt the ground give away beneath him. The Superior's men swung his arms over the canyon. He heard the steep ground hit his ribcage before he felt it. He rolled and slid until his chest hit a small shrub bush peeking out from the soil. Each breath pushed against his broken ribs. He lay there, dangling within the shrub, surrounded by darkness./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Where is he?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "Can't see him. He's probably dead. Let's get the fuck out of here. I'm soaking wet."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" Etrius waited many heartbeats for the soldiers to walk away far enough before he screamed out the pain and frustration pent up inside of him. Choppers darted through the night sky, moving away from the area. Angel was on one of those choppers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" "No…" Using what little strength he had, Etrius moved his cuffed hands in front of him, trying to shove the pain into the back of his mind. "Angel…" He dug his fingertips into the wet soil, trying to climb his way out of the canyon. If he could just make it to one of the choppers, and follow them…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;" He lost his grip. The soil crumbled beneath his fingers, resulting in a slow, perilous descent. He let out a scream of frustration, trying again and again, even long after the choppers were gone. His radio had been destroyed. There was no way to contact the team./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: #fffffa;"He pressed his foot into the soil, but hit against a stone. He inhaled sharply as he lost hold of the soil with his hands. He rocked backwards, his back colliding with the soil. He tumbled down the steep cliff, loosing consciousness before he hit the bottom./p