Tales of the Cosmic Wars Vol 2: A Star's Twilight

by Darth Necron

The second volume of the tale of Ben Auro as he joins with hero's like Mario, Sonic, Link, Samus Aran, Megaman X, Master Chief, Cloud and more to defeat the many groups of evil that threaten the cosmos. The more Ben fights, the more he faces the horrors of war, from the likes of Bowser, Ganondorf, Sephiroth, Sigma, Xemnas and more, to the darkness within. Character guide added!

53. C 108:Desperation Over the Devil’s Halo!

Chapter 112: Desperation Over the Devil's Halo! Ultimate Showdown of the Cousins!

Last time in Tales of the Cosmic Wars are hero's were walking across a thin line over disaster! The one who was the deepest in was Samus, who was having a hard time rebounding from her arch enemy's sudden brutal and rapid attacks!

Ridley was taking great pleasure in making his long hated nemesis suffer, and with his new body, infused and enhanced by Curse Seal Crystals, seemed to be impervious to all of the Chozo Hunter's attacks! Things were getting so bad that one of Ridley's attacks shattered her Power Suit and left her with her zero suit! Ridley finally saw the true form of the one who kept destroying him time and again, and was ready to make Samus pay for being defeated by a mere human! However, after reminding him just what he took from her, she hanged on to her resolution to avenge her parents and all others killed by the Space Pirates!

And while things looked grim, she managed to use her opponent's overconfidence against him and managed to get in a few good shots! However, this just made Ridley even madder, and he soon resumed showing her the large difference in power between them! However, just when things looked grave, at last Ben and the others arrived, to show Ridley he has to get through her friends first before he can sink his teeth in to her! Now that the fight was not one on one anymore, the momentum of the battle promptly reversed, especially now that are hero's had the added power of Shinryudramon! And by chance, the good guys knocked Ridley in to a new chamber, that at last showed how he continued to come back from death!

It seems that Xiza had stored the mind and physical data of his most effective enforcer in his company's severs, so that he could bring Ridley back as long as he saw it profitable! However, this revelation leaded to Ridley's bane and with a combo attack, they blasted through his final furious attacks, and last dealt a final blow to both him and the connected terminal with his data, effetely hopefully killing Ridley forever! With her long time enemy at last gone for good Samus and the others could focus on eliminating the true leader behind the Space Pirates, Xiza himself!

Meanwhile, Max all ready made it first to the president's office, but before he could fulfill his long desired revenge, Captain Zinyu stood in his way! The commander of the Vector Company's special forces wanted to finish the long standing pest to Xiza while his fellow members dealt with Lacus, Brad and there squad's!

However, despite being one of the most deadly warriors of Xiza 's employee, he was outraged to find he was still no match for Max! Even when Xiza 's top servant Salzon joined the fray, even after he even transformed, the two bad guys were no match for the amount of rage Max had in him! After seeing he was no match Zinyu desperately rushed to his last resort, and tried to get Max with his secret desperation magic, his body change !

However, to bad for Zinyu Max was to quick to be hit, and he just switched body's with Salzon! While he tried to do it again, Max was in no mood, and quickly killed both of them, leaving him alone with Xiza! However, Xiza seemed to not be very impressed, in fact he just enticed Max more! Ben's cousin was enraged, and in a fury unleashed his most powerful attack to try and kill his target!

However, little did he know, that this was what Xiza wanted him to do, but it was too late, because Xiza shocked Max by redirecting his attack, and using all the energy to break the seal on some ancient seal that he was hiding right in front of Max!

With great horror, Max, Ben, and everyone else saw a massive structure appear around them, the mega-structure super weapon that was used in the great war of the celestial ones against the Zannacross Empire! However, now it seems Xiza's true master plan for all of today's battles was to get this million year old weapon at his disposable! And with its power supposedly capable of more grand galactic devastation then Weil's Death Star!

Has Max in his constant desire to avenge Bardock and his other fallen comrades doomed the entire Lylat Kingdom? Or can he Ben and the others stop the sadistic demon lord before he fulfills his desire? Time to manage this crises, so ready? GO!

---

Now, before we return to are main stars, first we will briefly shift views once more to some of our other villain's, who are also taking notice of the arrival of Halo! By that I mean Kira, Sigma, Genesis, and the other members of the Zannacross Empire! While the traitor to the Enji was displeased that Weil managed to slip away from his judgment for now, the alert from his ship's sensors about a massive spike in power was enough to get his attention. And soon enough he and the other villain's are watching a giant nearly planet sized ring like ultra weapon glowing in space! Genesis sees Halo and looks amused before putting out a wry,"My, so this is the grand plot that Xiza has been scheming to get his hands on? Ill give him credit, it sets the tone quite well. "

Kira is just sitting on his command chair above them all and looks amused while responding with a detached," Tsc, so it would appear Xiza 's nearly millennium long devotion has paid off. Since the beginning of are partnership he always said Halo was the final piece he needed to prove that he could secure his ultimate victory. It seems master Damonus was correct in saying Xiza had a very long term operation in mind. Still, I don't mind, with this power now we can begin the new era even faster."

Sigma looks amused and responds with," So, it all comes down to a weapon of supreme mass destruction is it? I have had my fair share of experience with super weapon's, and while they are indeed quite good at causing quick and massive damage, they do have the flaw of being a rather large target. No doubt the Enji and the rest of the Lylat forces will swarm all over it."

Kira then gives of a evil smirk and reacts with a sharp," And that is while we will now move the fleet to back up Halo so Xiza can go in to the final phase of his plan Sigma. Tsc, you see from what legends say, there is a reason this Halo was sealed away after Emperor Chaos Zannacross Necron was imprisoned and his forces shattered. For you see Sigma, as soon as Halo gets to fire, it will be all we need to win the war. For Halo is powerful enough to wipe out the majority of the Lylat Kingdom's population ."

Bower chuckles and says,"So you're saying just one full powered shot from this giant ring thing and are victory is in the bag? Sweet, that will teach those Enji losers who' has the real power! GUhahahah!"

Kira just sighs and says,"Yes, well, let us make sure nothing goes wrong then. Margulis, Ribbons, tell the fleet to enter Hyper Space to give cover fire for the Dämmerung and Halo."

With this his subordinates nod and Ribbons reacts with a polite," The fleet will be ready to mobilize and move out in moments Lord Judicar."

As the Dark Specter and the rest of the Nova Crushers prepare to move much faster Kira looks at his replacement hand and clutches it tightly before musing out," Max, with this we will enter the final phase of are long, disagreement. I wonder if now, that the true destiny of the cosmos has forced its way in front of your eyes, will you at last see how futile your resistance is? You were always stubborn, and in the end it matters not if you expect it or not because either way Ill crush you, your pathetic cousin, and all the other warrior of light's defiance once and for all!"

With this the Zannacross fleet enters hyper space ready to make sure are hero's don't have a shot at winning the day, even though their chances seem rather slim all ready! With this we now go back to where we were left off last chapter, with Max gasping in horror as he realizes Xiza has managed to dupe him once again!

---

Xiza is still laughing as hard as he can, as Max stares at Halo. Finally he turns to Xiza and says, This thing, was released because of me? No, so all of this, was just another scheme of yours, that I fell right in to? NO! How could I have let him trick me, use me again!?"

Xiza just looks down on Max and responds with a delighted," Oh, but you did fall for it Max, right hook and sinker! I knew if I leaked some information for both you and the Enji you would just come running! The chance to bring Weil out was just some extra enticing to get the Enji come along. In the end I did not need you in particular Max, so don't feel like I singled out. I just needed someone with a massive amount of magical energy to follow me to the exact position of the seal, all the way in its area of space, and unleash that power to unlock the seal!

Alas it could not just be any energy, the requirement was strictly human or angel energy. True, Kira could have easily broken the seal for me but, I wanted this to be my little surprise for him, a ace in the whole so to speak.

I suppose any of the Enji Masters could maybe have done the job but even so it's deliciously fitting that you Max Bruder are the one to give me the push I need to complete my moment of glory and unlock this Array ! For so long you have been completely driven by your desire to have your revenge on me and Kira, that you became my ideal pawn! Hahahahaha!"

As Xiza just laughs on Max''s rage just continues to rise as he clutches his fist before his energy explodes and he howls out a livid," Shut the hell up Xiza! You have no right to talk about human emotions, not when it's clear you don't understand a damn thing about them! "

Xiza just looks smug before his retort is a dismissive," Of course I don't desire to emulate the thoughts of such inferior beings, after all I have always sought to be on the highest of levels. Max, you your cousin and all the other Enji are nothing more than fools! Warriors of Light, you truly think you can save this cosmos?

Tsc, what a farce, since the beginning of time humans have been bound to annihilation, and the weapon you now see before you is the ultimate testament to this fact. I suppose a little history won't hurt since I can count that as your death wish. In ancient times, the time before Emperor Chaos Zanncross Necron was sealed, people used to be together with the God of light, Cosmos.

People loved God, revered and even feared God. And soon this fear turned in to resentment Out of the fear and anger of the undying God, they sought to find a way to reproduce the divine power of the celestial ones. Eventually, they found a method to become gods themselves, but many factions of the dimensions were at war with each other to become the sole owner of that power.

This rapidly descended in to a bloody war, one that had millions of casualties. While the forces of light seemed to be either oblivious or unconcerned with this, the one true master of the universe, the god of darkness, Zannacross saw that this was forever to be the nature of humans and the rest of the populace of the cosmos. And so he sought to end such an inefficient evolution of the cosmos, he sought to take matters in to his own hands, and lead mortals to its true era himself. However, arrogant as always, most of them rebelled his judgment, and sought to defy the will of Zannacross.

It's amusing that the ancient societies so quickly united, but it was pointless, nothing could deny the will of Zannacross, well, almost. While he with ease nearly crushed the entirety of the universes forces with the combination of his demonic empire, the mortals that were wise enough to pledge loyalty to him, and his own supreme power! However, then the celestial ones, the forces of light, from Cosmos herself intervened, they still sought to keep things as they were, and because of a handful of unplanned events, Zannacross and his empire's near total conquest of the universe was brought to a abrupt halt. But even after being humbled by the wrath of the dark god, mortals still did not truly change. Even preventing cosmic Armageddon would seem to have only united the various races for a moment before there base nature overridden any desire for unity.

Yes, you humans have not changed at all since the beginning, no matter how many years pass and you pretend to evolve, your emotions are still pathetically predictable! You humans are not the only species that I manipulated, I brought countless civilizations to there doom over the years. Ah, but I suppose seeing you primitive beings get your hopes up only to run in to your doom with such oblivious thoughts is what made this long wait enjoyable to say the least!

Superb manipulation always brings about such a grand sensation. You know I helped manipulate the people who build this construct in the first place? Well, at least partly. For you see, when the angels gave mortals the blueprints for theses super weapon's the long lost Forerunner civilization constructed many of theses installations along side humans.

It was I who subtly encouraged the master builder of the Forerunners, who was in fact named the Master Builder. They did not even know my real identity, but I encouraged the chief Forerunner warrior the Didact to see humans as the enemy and he nearly used the Halo Array to destroy the majority of humanity for me out of contempt that the angels were more fond of humans the Forerunners!

He was stopped but the backlash of his rebellion still crippled the Forerunner race in the process, allowing the enemies of my master to suffer all the more. The most enjoyable fact of all is that even after my Master was sealed Forerunners were still paranoid about humans and stole this weapon to try and stop them, only to destroy there entire race in the process!

It was not the only time I caused a society to destroy itself from within. I managed to manipulate the Krytonian head general Dur Zod to turn on his own leaders, crippling that society, and I did the same to the Kree the Thanagarians the Saiyan race and all the others!

You mortals all think your better then the rest but your all the same, your all nothing but loathsome disobedient microbes! Even those races that think they are civilized, that they are the prime example of tranquility, can descend so easily to barbarians when there superiority is challenged! No matter your skin color or the number of limbs on your body, if you have been around since the dawn of time or just came in to this realm a few centuries ago your all the same pathetic inferior beings that you always will be!

Some of them still sought to find a way to replicate the power of a god, and that is why we are where we are today! I have spent countless years to find a method to revived their relics: like Halo before you, and the Y Data, which holds the records left behind by the ancients. And with this I will now at last bring about the demise of this corrupt dimension, with the very weapon the humans once used to try and stop it with! Heh, the humans and all the others who tried to hang on to this mega weapons motivation was simple." If, in fact, God cannot be destroyed, then we shall be the ones to become gods, ourselves!"

But it's no use, no matter how much one tries, worms are still worms! Now do you see why you can never win my friend? Even stopping me, will change nothing! You can never win against your true nature, so just expect your fate!"

Max just cracks his neck, and has energy consume his sword as he mutters a blunt," You done? Because you talked too much for one lifetime! I don't care about what you have to say, I don't care at all if you're right or wrong. Even if humans are destined to fight and kill forever, it's just how it is. I don't really care much about the past or the future at the moment, all that I care about is the present.

And that present is all about killing you! So, you seem to be a guy who plans very, very, long term, and now you managed to even use me again. However, you forgot one crucial thing; you're not going to live long enough to get to play with your new toy because now I am VERY angry! Ill slice and dice you to ribbons!"

Xiza then extends his hand, and his eyes glow red before he chuckles and says," That's right, pout all you want, because you're just making my grand victory entertaining to the end! But, if you really think you can kill me, maybe it's time I once and for all force you to expect your place! Oh? Ah, but first, I might as well address a few more of my guests!"

Max just says," Now what are you, huh? Damn it, not now!"

All of a sudden the left wall explodes, and out of the smoke comes Ben, Cloud, Samus, Shinryudramon, and the others! Ben at once takes the Star Sword out of his sheath and says,"Max! So, we were not to, too late. Looks like the short cut worked after all."

Doug then cracks his knuckles and blurts out a enthusiastic," Told you guys it would work! It saved us a few floors and now we are here for the main butt kicking!"

Samus just sighs and says," I don't know if that was a shortcut I would use frequently, since we nearly hit the power generator on the way down. "

Bacchus nods and says," Yes, I would not recommend using such a short cut on a frequent basis either Miss Aran. However, it seems to be worth it for now we are here in time, even if not in time to stop everything. "

Cloud takes a look at Halo looming over them all from the window and powers up as he says," So, this was your big plan from the start Xiza? Whatever this thing that you have brought out it is, the fact that you seem to have pulled everything today to unveil it is all the justification we need to shut your plans down now! "

Xiza just turns to the spiky haired swordsmen and looks smug before saying,"I think you're going to find our self unfulfilled Cloud Strife, because I assure you that there is very little possibility of that. First of all, it was not I who unsealed Halo, it was Max here! "

Ben gasps and turns to his cousin, who's face is one of fury as he says," What, Max? Why!"

Xiza grins evilly again and answers with a delighted," Oh yes, your dear cousin is the catalyst of the Lylat Kingdom's explosive end, even if he was not aware of his role. But then again, being such good puppets must run in the family! Ah, a good puppeteer does not even need strings to get all of his pieces aligned! "

Max just slams his sword on the ground with such force it feels like the entire ship just shook as he says,"Enough! You talked long enough, now let's see how great you are when you see your body fall down as your head's rolling on the ground!"

Ben then looks determined and gets in to his fighting stance as he says," Xiza, you and Kira seem to have been treating everyone in the cosmos as parts to your own twisted game, and its gone on long enough! I will never forgive you, this ends now! Everyone surround him, he might be hiding something, but if we attack him all at once we can stop him before he can get a chance!"

His friends nod and begin to move out, but before they do a massive wave of energy nearly blasts in to him, and as Ben turns in shock he sees Max was the one who did it! He then says," What are you doing Max?"

Max looks deadly serious and responds with a on edge,"What the hell do you think you're doing Ben? Don't interfere, this is a matter between me and him alone!"

Ben is shocked and says," What are you doing Max? Don't you see we have to attack him together to , whoa!"

He is nearly brought to his knees, along with everyone else at the amount of energy Max unleashes as his anger explodes and he shouts out,"I don't need your help, this is my revenge, mine alone! None of you can help me; you'll just get in my way. I will avenge my fallen friends no matter what, and I won't let you guys muck things up any longer! I am doing this my way and no one else's!"

Ben looks upset and says," Not all of us are as idiotic as Brad! Max, you really don't trust us, trust me?"

Max just looks down and says," Haven't you paid attention to one damn thing I said to you Ben? Haven't you learned anything, from being betrayed and used by that Dark Enji chick, by Kira, and by ME!? I thought having a nervous breakdown and forming a split personality would get it in, but it seems you're not getting the message so let me get this clear! In the end, the only one you can truly trust is yourself! I survived this far only because I was able to wake up from the world's lies!"

Xiza laughs and says," I must say for once I agree with you Max. The only true path to success is to cast aside the excess baggage of others, and roll the dice of fate yourself. Only by making sure nothing can hinder your stock in success can you grasp all you seek in your hands! Now, this is quite a amusing chat, but I have business to attend to. You all might as well sit back and enjoy the fireworks, the fireworks of celebration of the start of the era of darkness! And with that I bid you adieu gentlemen!"

With that his aura begins to surround him, and Cloud gets tense as he says,"His energy, he is trying to warp!"

Max at once charges at him as the former Enji growls out,"To hell he is! Die Xiza!"

With that he, Cloud, and Ben all move at top speed to slash at him, but Xiza's casting time is nearly instant. For with one more devilish grin he vanishes in a spark of dark red light and the three swords simply slice the air! At once this infuriates Max, and he responds by punching the ground so hard he punches a hole in the ground regardless of the fact that it's a titanium class metal before he says," No, NO! Not again, how could I have been so careless? Just when I thought I was going to at last fix the nightmare, it slips through my hands again! That damn Xiza, I'll make him pay! I won't let him get away with this!"

Ben then slowly goes up to Max and says," Max, don't worry, he is not getting away with this. "

Bacchus walks over to Max and says,"Your cousin is correct Mister Bruder, the chance we have to stop Xiza is still passable. My sensors detected a massive flux of energy has landed on this Halo structure. It is not too late to change things."

Max just looks at the robotic man and looks like he is about to snap as he says,"To late? It's all ready to late, Xiza has tricked us all, now the only thing to do now is to kill him before he gets the last laugh. "

Ben then looks concerned and reacts with a unsettled," How can you say it's too late Max? You're the one who always said to never give up till the end, to fight with everything you have and have no regrets! "

Max just looks up and looks delirious as he laughs a little and says,"Oh Ben, even after all this time, you still refuse to grow up. Life's not a fairy tale, things don't ever end as things are suppose to!"

Ben then looks determined, and says,"If you want something, you have to fight with everything you have! It's not too late, I did not come this far, suffer through everything to let things end here!"

Shinryudramon nods and adds a determined," The boss is right! No matter how hard things are, as long as we stick by each other we can handle anything the bad guys throw at us! So what if it's an even bigger super weapon? We will just bust it up! "

Doug nods and gives a half lopped grin before adding," Even if things are rough, handling the burden together makes it not so bad."

Cloud then nods and contributes with a steady," It's true, Xiza played us all, this is not the first time we had to deal with recover from a nasty surprise. However, it's not too late, as long as we do everything we can, we can still save everyone!"

Max just chuckles and looks at Halo before saying,"Look at all of you, you really think you can pull it off? "

Ben instantly responds with a collected," Of course we can, that's what hero's do after all."

Max just shakes his head and says," It must be nice to have the backing of angels themselves. Still, I know you Ben; you could call me your shadow. And once you're tainted by the dark side, you can never really return to the light."

Ben just looks at the Star Sword and reacts with a stoic,"Maybe, but I have to at least try. "

Max just laughs and walks right up to the window and puts his Janus mask back on as he says,"Heh, you can try Ben, but take my word, if you spend the rest of your life trying to grab salvation, you will only find yourself disappointed. We are all damned beings, to be alive is to be damned. But even so might as well make the most of it to get in your fun while you can. Now, I wasted enough time, Tri-Edge!"

He snaps his fingers, and within moments his ship is hovering out front, and it's all ready transforming in to its Gundam form! Max at once shatters the glass with a thrust of his sword and as he prepares to go Ben says," Stop this Max, stop being so stubborn!"

Max just gets in to his mobile suit and snaps back with a feisty," Enough! I am doing things my way like I should have done from the beginning, so that no one will screw up again! Don't interfere Ben, you don't have the power to help! As long as you need to really on others, you will never truly be on my level! "

With that the cockpit of the Tri-Edge Gundam closes and at once it blasts off to Halo. Ben almost goes after his cousin till he remembers Max in fact broke open the ship and has to use his magic energy to avoid being sucked in to the space vacuum! Luckily are hero's don't have to add being sucked in to space on their list of problems as the Dammerung 's safety procedure kicks in and the blast doors close!

Ben takes a deep breath and looks out at Halo and sees the blazing trail of his cousin's Gundam in the distance closing in as he says,"Max, after all this time, you still refuse to acknowledge me, to trust me. Is, he right?"

Samus then walks over to him and says," Don't let him make you doubt yourself kid. I am normally a lone player myself, but thanks to my encounters with you I seen there is value to making collaborate efforts. And what is more, you proven you had what it takes to fight through the most vile scum in the dark reaches of the universe. And thanks to all of you guy's help Ridley is truly gone, and soon the mastermind behind him and the majority of the Space Pirates will soon be joining him. So it's time we finish this mission."

Cloud then walks up and says," I know Max is someone who you looked up to for some time Ben, even now. But, you can't let his rash behavior unshaken your resolve, not after the great lengths you went to rebuild your confidence in yourself.

Didn't you promise to make sure to do everything you could to atone for the tragedy caused by Darth Idious? You managed to save Yuri and the others world and finally defeat Ganondorf even after he managed to increase his power. And you even managed to help me, Ezan and everyone deal with the return of Sephiroth and manage to overcome his devious attack to thwart his plans of revenge. Don't tell me something like this is going to derail you from the track to your dreams. After all, you have more pride then that right? "

Seeing Cloud's confident smile causes Ben to chuckle as he looks back at his friends and says,"Thanks Samus, Cloud Sensei. Sorry about that, nearly let everything get to me. Your right though, if Max refuses to see that I, that we are not someone he can dismiss, then that's his problem! I guess I'll just have to show Max that I have closed the gap between us, and stop Xiza and save the Lylat Kingdom along with it! "

Bacchus then walks forward and says,"Do not take the words Mister Bruder said to hard Mister Auro. I have traveled with your cousin for some time now. And when he does mentioned you while sometimes he comments on how he sees you as naïve and the sort, he also has mentioned several times how he , as he put it, " gets a kick" out of seeing you make progress."

Ben is shocked and blurts out," He really said that?"

The Cyborg nods and says," Indeed. And, I think you should know something else. I do not think he would approve of me disclosing this, but, it might help you all understand why he is acting irrationally. Mister Bruder seems to be carrying a large burden on his shoulders.

I know of his past, he explained to me it all, even when I did not ask he brought it up in are travels through hyperspace. And, I think while he never directly said it, the pain and suffering he has experienced have had a effect on him. Most of all, on several times when he was sleeping he was yelling out several names, that I assume were his comrades.

Also, while most of the time he displays absolute confidence in his plans, lately his actions seem to be more fueled by anger and rage each passing day.

While I am no psychologist, I must say if I had to guess he may be suffering symptoms of Combat Stress reaction, otherwise known as shell shock or battle fatigue.

I fear this recent event may have caused those symptoms to intensify, which might cause mister Bruder to get even more irrational. And in such a state, even a superb fighter as himself might run in to trouble."

Ben and the others are shocked at this and James says," Now that I think about it it's not too much of a shock, but still, this just makes things worse."

Ben then looks horrified and says,"No, Max must be consumed with his anger, just like me his anxiety and frustration over the pain he has felt is nearly eating him alive. However, like me, I doubt he would ever admit it, till it's too late!"

Doug then looks calm and says,"Looks like even if he is better at keeping it to himself you and your cousin share the same anxiety buddy, but don't worry. It's just like you said, all we have to do is shut down Xiza and is precious ring of doom before he can do anything!"

Ben nods and says,"

Right Doug, let's stop wasting time talking about doing it and do it! Er, but first, how are we going to get there? We kind of got a ride from Max, and getting a ship from here might be difficult. Well, I suppose we could try just ramming this whole spaceship in to Halo, if we can get through Xiza's security in time."

Samus walks forward and presses a button on her visor before saying,"We could, but I have a easier and faster option to present. Let's just take my ship, good thing I had it trail Max on auto pilot when we left Cardianon just to be sure."

With that everyone hears a new sound, and sure enough Ben and co look to the left to see Samus 's yellow gunship closing in and all ready preparing for a emergency docking procedure! Cloud grins and says," And who says being prepared does not pay? Nice work Samus. All right, we don't have much time guys, so let's get ready to double are movements, track down Max, hopefully get him to come around, and stop Xiza for good! Time to move out, again!"

With this Ben looks down for a moment and says," Damn it, Lacus and the others are still here. I hope they are all fine, we could really use their help. But, there is no time. "

Bacchus then says," Do not worry Mister Auro, I am transmitting a message as we speak to all the Enji communicator in the area. Even if they can not join us now, they will at least be aware of the situation and might be able to help us later. "

Ben retorts with," Thanks Bacchus, every little thing counts in situations like this. Oh and one more thing, you really don't have to call me Mister Auro do you? It makes me feel kind of old, like my dad old. "

Bacchus nods and says," As you wish, Mister Ben."

Ben just face palms as he says," Oh brother, I like being addressed with respect but this is just painful. "

With that Ben tries to get the message to Bacchus and for a brief moment as he and the others board there bounty hunter friend's ship he momentarily forgets he is in the midst of catching up to his potentially enraged cousin and once more preparing to save the cosmos! However, we now turn to someone who can't forget what they are up against, Lacus, her friends, and Brad and his squad!

---

With that we now turn back to see how they have been doing against the other members of the now leaderless Zinyu Force and the other minions of Xiza! While the elite Xiza soldiers may appear to be nothing more than a bunch of mantic idiots, are heroes are finding out the hard way that they are elite fighters for a reason! Because of the energy interference caused by Halo's appearance the members have not realized there leader is now dead.

At the moment Lacus has been dodging a barrage of energy blasts and just as she slashes the largest one in half with her Oath-keeper sword only to hear her opponent Grace laugh as he says,"What's wrong gal? You look a bit stressed! Is fighting the awesome power of the Zinyu Force to much for your composer? Maybe if you agree to surrender and sign up as Lord Xiza's new secretary Ill figure out a way to get you to live! That Salzon is a bit of a stiff anyway. "

Lacus just sighs and snaps back with a flippant," Oh please, don't give yourself too much credit. I am merely worried at how my friends are doing."

Grace sees the female Enji Knights defiance and retorts with a sarcastic," How sweet, you're a compassionate Enji, I like that! Of course it's why you're going to lose, but I'll try and not pummel you to hard!" With that he tries to give a drop kick, only for Lacus to back flip to avoid it, before then quickly jumping on the wall behind her to give herself a boost before in a flash appearing above Grace, and before he can move kick him so hard he is slammed through an energy conduct!

She then says,"Don't worry, I can handle myself quite well, and if you keep trying to stop me you out the hard way how well I can handle myself."

Grace just gets back up, and says," I get it, you're not just a fashion model! But even so, I am a member of the bloody Zinyu Force! I am not going to lose here! You Enji really think you can prevail? No one can deny something from Lord Xiza when he really wants it girl!"

Lacus just has her sword glow as she says,"My father worked with Xiza as a fellow member of the subcommittee for years, and while he was never able to figure out his true nature, he always told me to be careful of men like him, men who seem to treat their fellow man as pieces in their own games. But no matter how much power one welds, no amount of power or money gives a single person the right to decide the fate of the entire cosmos! We will make sure you, and your employer plan's does not succeeded! "

Grace then looks annoyed and says," That's the thing that ticks me off the most about you Enji, always thinking you know what's best. Well, you're dead wrong this time! You're all a bunch of quacks with a way to out of date game plan, and you're about to lose the final point! Really think you can beat me? Ha, for one thing, I an'it going to lose to any Enji, and second of all I even have my own backup squad, right boys?

" With that Lacus is shocked as she hears a bunch of clicking noise and turns to her left to see a bunch of Vector soldiers and Space Pirates all fire everything they have at her! Lacus quickly sets up one of her energy barriers to protect her, and she is successful. However this is what the Zinyu Force member was waiting for and he flash step's to appear right in front of her back, and puts both of his hands together to form a massive red ball of energy! As she turns around he laughs madly and she turns around just as he says,"It's a shame, but if you won't admit your wrong girl then the only choice left is a special serving of Zinyu pain! Prepare for the ultimate Zinyu F, GUH!"

Before he can complete his attack he finds himself blasted in the back with a powerful holy spell! As he blasts in to the wall his "helpers" turn around to point their guns at the source of Lacus 's backup, only to be swept away by a sudden magical flood spell! As they all yell as they are swept down below to the lower levels of the massive spaceship Lacus turns around to see Yuna and Terra land at her side as Yuna says," That rock band reject will have to think harder if he thinks we let are friends be killed so easily! "

Terra then nods and says," Sorry you had to deal with this joker by yourself for so long Lacus. Every time we seemed to clear out the room of their minions just as many seem to pop out of the ground."

Lacus just smiles and says," Don't worry, this guy is not too big a deal. Thanks for that though. "With this the wall behind them is blasted down as a furious Grace emerges! His aura is surging as he says," I heard that! So, you think I , Grace of the Zinyu Force is no big deal!? That's it, I was trying to be nice but now I'll kill you all! Even if your friends back you up ill blow you all away! If you were not impressed so far, then I'll just show you how nasty I can be!"

He then gets in to another fancy pose as his energy causes the ground to shake before he says," Eat this! The ultimate final, AH!"

Before he can complete his attack, he is once more interrupted as he is hit in the back by two chakras, and sure enough he turns around to see the last member of Lacus 's squad, Collette catch them in the rebound with her energy angel wings before landing next to her teammates and saying,"Sorry I was late everyone! I was coming to help when I tripped over a knocked out guard and nearly fell out of the entire room! Whew it was close, good thing I can fly though!"

Lacus just sighs and says,"Oh Collette, you really could improve your balance just a little more. Still, now that you're here with us this can go down even faster. I am getting worried about what is going on with Ben Max and the others, especially after I heard that odd shaking."

Grace just keeps getting madder and tries doing his pose again even faster as he says,"You really should be worrying about your self's right about now! Because I am going to kill you all, with my ultra secret attack! Brace your self's for the great Grace's Supreme, GUHH! "

To his great annoyance he is interrupted once more, this time by the cause of his own teammate slamming in to him! By this I mean a screaming Carter crashing right in to him, causing both of them to crash in to another machine, causing it to fall on them! From beneath the vector machinery the women can hear the two Vector elite thugs say," What the hell are you doing Carter? You just seriously killed the lethal moment I was building up to! "

He gets the responds in the form of a snappy," Don't blame me Grace! One of those Enji caught me off guard a little!"

With that the machinery is blasted in to atoms as both of them emerge as Grace says,"Well stop messing around and take this seriously mate! We are the oh so great Zinyu Force! The Capitan will blow a gasket if he comes back and sees we are not done killing them yet! Who is the ugly bloke who got you off guard? Huh? "

Everyone hears the ground quake, to see Brad lumbering over looking annoyed! In his powered up state every move he makes shakes the ground and he spots them all as he says,"Who you calling ugly freak? You guys are so weak my fist fell asleep punching you! If you have some secret power, go on and bring it out now, because if not ill kill all of you Zinyu losers right now!"

Carter and Grace both look furious as Carter says,"You have a lot of nerve for a over-sized gorilla! I admit I did not expect punching a hole through your skull would be so hard, but apparently your head really is that thick! But all that means is that warm ups are over!"

Brad just spits on the ground as he grunts out a snide," Oh really? I thought you were going to kill me fast? Please, your nothing more than a bunch of weaklings!"

Grace then snaps and says," You clearly keep forgetting that we are the elite destroyers of anyone who gets Master Xiza in a bad mood! Entire planets run for cover when are names are heard! No one gets away with disrespecting us like this! Huh? Well, unless you're Billdoh. "

What prompted Grace to say that was seeing his short blue skinned fellow Zinyu member fall down from the walkway above, with the cause being having his own blast defected in to him by Vaan! The Enji from Dalmasca lands on the ground in front of his foe with Penelo right behind him! The short villain pulls himself right back up as he glares at the blond warrior of light and says,"

Don't get cocky Enji, I just slipped that's all! No way I am going to lose to the likes of you! "

Vaan just says," I don't care who you are, I have to win! "

Billdoh just sees a large crane like machine to his left and uses his power to rip it out and have it hover around him as he says," Let's see how long you keep acting like that when your bones are crushed? Die!"

He then hurls it at Vaan, but in responds he gathers up his power and says,"It will take a lot more then this to get me to give up! Pyrocataclysm!"

With this Vaan quickly fires of his level three Quicking Mist attack, and hurls a massive fireball of energy from his hand to blast through the thrown machine, and hits its sender, causing him to be blown off his feet! As he lands on his head again all four of his eyes turn to his comrades and he looks annoyed as he says,"

Grace, Charter, don't just stand there! Make an example of him already!"

This annoys both of them and Charter says," Damn it Billdoh you disgrace us all!"

Grace nods and says,"HE is right, you have not been pulling your weight lately, we only thought you would be useful because you said your physic powers were a lot stronger then what they really seem to be! Keep this up and after this is done you're getting the boot from the Zinyu Force!"

This causes Billdoh to get to his knees and beg Dr Wily style as he says," NO! Please don't boot me off the force! I'll kill them all I swear!"

Grace rolls his eyes and says," Bah, were is Bacoom? Most likely goofing off to! He better hurry up so we can blast them all to dust with are awesome triple attack!"

Billdoh then looks at him and says," Don't you mean awesome quadruple attack?"

Grace then says," No, because you could not get the moves down right! "

Brad has had enough of this and forces everyone to pay attention when he punches the ground and says," Shut up all of you! Ill smash you all till you have no choice but to see that I am the most powerful fighter around! Where is that other guy? I would like to start the cracking with his face first! Oh?"

Brad gets his answer when he hears a crashing sound, and Bacoom comes crashing down, looking like a kid in a candy store!Sabin then lands right in front of him looking like he is breaking a sweet as he says," Damn it, this guy either can't feel pain or is very strong. Either way, this is not going so well. "

Baccom just laughs childishly and says," I thought you were one of those Enji Captain's? You don't seem very strong to me! "

Sabin just says," You have not seen anything yet, don't think your victory is assured!"

Baccom just groans out,"Man, if I had a buck for every chump who said that! All right tough guy, if you're so strong then let's see you survive a minute of me fighting serious! Baccom Kick!"

With this he does a brief pose, before energy surrounds his foot and in an instant he appears in front of Sabin! The man from Fargo manages to grab his foe's foot, and as the impact causes a shock-wave to form Sabin braces himself as the ground around him is torn up and glares at his foe before he says,You clearly have quite a high level of power Baccom. However, you still can't win!"

Baccom laughs and says,"Oh yeah, seems like a pretty dumb thing to say since am moments from caving your face in you, huh? Whoa!"

He is shocked to find Sabin use all of his power to hurl Baccom around in the style Mario likes to do to Bowser before he flings his foe in to the air! He then unleashes all of his power and fallows after him as he says,"It takes more than using raw power to thrash about like a animal to win a battle! Time you Vector thugs learn what the true meaning of strength is! Blitz Bum Rush!"

With this Sabin has his energy explode before he charges at his foe! Baccom goes to punch him, but sees he only hits an after image! Sabin then moves so fast it's like several blurs moving at once before Baccom is hit at all sides!

Sabin ends his Blitz combo with a boot to the head that sends Baccom flying, and right in the direction of his teammates! He comes crashing to the ground, and finds his head stuck in the ground! Grace and Charter are annoyed before they pull of their teammate. And when Baccom is back on his feet the tall green skinned reptile creature growls before saying," Knock it off Baccom! We let theses Enji have too many shots at us, it's starting to hurt are image!"

Baccom just moans and says," All right knock it off! Don't compare me to Billdoh!"

This upsets the short one and he is about to say something when all of a sudden the ground shakes and Brad begins to charge like a bull as he says," If you're not going to pay attention to me then I'll just kill you now!"

Charter has had enough and charges at Brad as he says," Boy, you really want to die huh? Well find have it your way! Ready boy's? Time for the ultra lethal Zinyu combo! First up, Streak of hyper fast pain!"

He then zigzags in a blaze of energy and goes to kick Brad in the face, only for it to have no effect!

Brad just grins madly and says," That all you got? Lame!"

With that he swats Carter like a bug, with such force he is sent through another wall! Being the speed loving bad guy he is he gets back up, on the other side of the next room! As he sees coughs up some blood he says,"Damn this punk! What is he? Normally that move is so fast my targets die before they can blink! I won't stand for this! I am a member of the Zinyu Force! And we don't lose! "

He then bursts back at Brad and goes to punch at him, only to fake out and jump in to the air before firing a barrage of energy blasts! He then laughs and says,"Ha! Stupid punk, thought you were a better fighter then us? Who is laughing now? So what you think guys? Think I gave him a good enough last sight?"

Grace then sees something rise out of the smoke as he says," Behind you Charter!"

The tall foe does, to see Brad unharmed right with him hovering in the air! In an instant he then bear hugs Charter and proceeds to crush him as he laughs and says," Hahaahha! What were you saying before about giving me a last sight? I think what you meant to say is that you were setting me up to see your last pathetic look! Annoying higher ups who are so out of touch with the realities of the real world get my blood boiling! So I think I'll make the truth about who is the top dog very apparent, as I set you up for a new pose loser!"

With that he begins to squeeze Carter tight, and it's not long till everyone hears bones cracking!

Charter then says," RAH! What are you guys doing? Don't stand here, blast him off me!"

Baccom then charges up some of his power as he says,"I'll teach you to do that to a member of the Zinyu Force Enji! Ultra Baccom Eraser, huh?"

Grace puts his hand s in front of Baccom as he says,"No wait, you will just blast Charter along with the baboon! Let's blast him from all sides so he can', hey what are you guys doing?"

He is talking about some more Vector soldiers running on the walkway to the upper left of where Brad is hovering, and Lacus sees them take out what looks like some sort of sniper rifles and says,"No, watch out Brad!"

Brad sees them aim right for him and says,"Think you can cheap shot me? Please! "

With that he throws Charter in their direction, and as the Zinyu member sees them already pulling their trigger fingers as his eyes widen in terror as he screams out a horrified," No, NO!"

Since he is still recovering from Brad's attack he can't get his muscles to move in time, and he is shot several times in the chest! As he lands on the ground near his teammates Grace looks over at his minions and says," Watch were your firing! You ok Charter?"

Charter coughs up some more blood as he says,"I took worse hits, but something is wrong. I feel, GUH!"

All of a sudden he begins to spasm as his chest explodes! He instantly falls back down, dead, and his fellow members freak out as Baccom says," NO way some grunts could do that with some puny guns! What did you do you Enji punk? I am going to roll you up in to a tin can!"

Billdoh then looks at the guns the lesser nervous Vector soldiers are holding and all of his eyes budge as he says," NO! I know what killed Charter;they were using the new special ammo Lord Xiza had just finished producing made just to kill Enji Knights and others!"

Grace quickly blurts out with a mortified,"WHAT! You mean what the Captain said about making bullets that can pierce the magical energy of its target,

and when it hits causes some sort of fancy poison that tears the person apart from the inside out!?

How can Lord Xiza have hired such sloppy marksmen?

You're all fired! Now, now you're all going to die painfully for what happened to poor Carter Enji!"

Brad just looks at the sniper rifles and whistles saying,"Anti Enji rounds? You think someone like me can be killed by a gun? HA! That might work on some idiots like you, but even if it can pierce through my unstoppable power, I'll never be hit by worthless weaklings like you! Now, I'll show you what happens when you compare the likes of a real man to cowards with expensive toys!"

With that he sees the soldiers prepare to fire on him but he just claps his hands, with such force it creates a massive shockwave that blows them away! He then gives off a cocky smirk at the remaining Zinyu members and says," So, why don't you all stop messing around and come at me at once? You wasted my time enough as it is, and this is the only way you might be able to hurt me before I kill all of you! "This causes the three living Zinyu Force members to get enraged and Baccom has his energy explode as he says,"YOUR DEAD PUNK! You're lucky the Captain is not here or you would already be missing your head! But that just means I get to shut you up myself, with my ultimate attack! Prepare to be crushed by the Ultra, Baccom, Hyper, Bomber, at, RAH!"

Before he can finish the elaborate posing that was apparently required to complete the attack,Brad shows he no longer has the patience to wait for his opponent to finish, and in a flash he appears right above Baccom, before he brings his entire massive body down on the Zinyu Force member, right in the neck, which snaps it!

Baccom gives off one more surprised moan before he falls over dead! Brad just looks delighted and says,"Man, your voice is so annoying! Who is dumb enough to make to make a attack that looks so stupid!? "

Billdoh then says,"You really are an uncivilized dog for attacking before he finished his pose! Didnen't anyone tell you about proper fighting producales?"

Brad looks amused and snorts back with," Your so called ruthless enforcers and you think there is rules to combat? Let me fill you in on the only rule of combat. There is no rule! And while I think all of your poses are gay, I am found of one. Let me show you the head twister!"

Billdoh walks back nervously and prepares to take a deep breath as he says," What the hell are you saying you, AH!"

He soon gets the message when Brad gleefully kicks the short foe, with such force he kicks his head off like a soccer ball! An instant later Brad fires two blasts from his two hands to vaporize both parts of the him!

Brad just laughs madly and says,"Oh man do I love the head twister! Well, looks like we are down to you pretty boy. "

Lacus sighs and says," Brad, did you really have to be so ruthless?"

Sabin looks disgusted and says,"They were are enemies but you're enjoying this way too much."

Brad laughs and says," Oh come on, they are trying to kill us remember? Its kill or be killed, and with the stakes this high, no time for mercy! So, say your prayers you poser!"

As Brad stomps up to Grace he freaks out and says,"You think you can get out of this alive? I'll kill you! Ultra Crusher Ball!"

With that he uses all of his power to fire a massive red energy blast at Brad, which is just batted away with his massive arm! He holds up his hand and looks at Grace with a murderous look as he says,"Great, now I have a itch, I guess I'll just use you as a back scratcher! "

With that he lunges over and in the blink of a eye grabs his foe's hands, and crushes them! As Grace screams out in pain Brad just laughs and says,"Looks like you found out the hard way what happens when you try and get in the way of a real man's path! Now, you're finished! Huh?"

Grace shocks Brad by beginning to laugh as he says," You don't get it mate, your all ready screwed! True, you schooled me and wiped out the others, but your still going to die! "

Brad just looks amused before he widens his eyes and yells out," Looks like I all ready got you to crack! How boring!"

Grace just looks at him and says,"Oh your such a dimwit, surely you all felt that large vibration earlier? The Captain and Lord Xiza said that soon we were going to see the ultimate power of the cosmos, and it seems that it was true! No surprise, lord Xiza always gets what he wants. And it's too bad for you all he wants you all dead!"

Brad just slams Grace to the ground as he says,"Idiot, I am the ultimate weapon! Anyone who tries to say something about it will end up just like what I am about to do to you!"

He prepares to punch a hole right through Grace when Sabin grabs him by the shoulder and says," Enough Brad! He is worth more alive! We might be able to get some answers out of him!"

Lacus then nods and says," There is all ready to much killing going on today, too much killing in this war. Even if he is are foe, he should at least live long enough to face up to his sins."

Brad just sighs and says," Oh if you have to rag on to it Lacus doll. You're lucky you're such a persuasive gal."

Grace laughs and says,"What? An ace girl like her is with you? What you have dirt on her or something? Because you can do way better gal, like me! GUH!"

This enrages Brad so much he rips Grace's arm off as he says,"SHUT UP YOU GOD DAMN PRETTY BOY! Every freaking freak, from every were seems to have a problem with Lacus being my gal! I don't care if the entire universe is jealous, she is my gal, MINE! No one can understand the unbreakable link between us, and ill crush anyone that tries to meddle in are affairs! You're dead!"

He is about to blow him away when Lacus grabs his arm and says,"Please stop Brad! It's ok, not many people would ever understand us, so please stop, it's not worth it. "

Brad looks at Lacus, and is about to say something when all of a sudden Terra and Sabin see that there communicator's are glowing, and Terra presses the responds button, and sees Bacchus 's transmission! After reading it Terra grasps in horror as she says,"No, what this man says is right, Xiza did unleash something horrible!"

Sabin follows up with," It seems while we were fighting theses clowns Max Ben and his group ran in to Xiza. But somehow he was able to use get them to use their energy to unleash some ancient super weapon, Halo."

Grace laughs and says," See what I mean? No one out wits master Xiza, your all screwed! Hahahaha!"

Vaan then looks dismayed and says," So, we all ready lost? "

Terra responds with a resolute," No, not yet. The transmission from Bacchus sais that Max at once took off to chase Xiza himself, and that Ben and the others are following him in Samus's gunship. "

Lacus then says," This day, just keeps unfolding one unpleasant twist after another it seems. We have to hurry and fallow after them! Ben, Max and the others will need our help!"

Collette then looks puzzled and says,"But, how are we going to follow them if we got here on Max's ship? I don't think we will be able to use a ship form the guys here even if we ask nicely. Oh, does anyone know how to warp that far?"

Terra looks distraught and says," While If I focused all of my power in to the task I could perhaps pull it off, but it's pointless, this entire ship has a specialized barrier to make that impossible. "

Grace then chuckles and says," You can try all you want but you're not going to win Enji! Still, if you REALLY want to try and die heroically then here!"

He then takes out with his one arm a keycard and throws it over to Lacus before saying,"That's for being so nice gal, it's the key to the Zinyu Force shuttle. Ah, I am sure lord Xiza and the Captain will love to give you a personal death for all the headaches you caused us!"

Lacus picks it up and says," We will have to make sure this is not a set up, but thank you."

Terra then says,"Yes, for your corporation we will let you live, while I cannot guarantee you will survive after your trial. Oh, and just to make sure you don't pull anything funny." With that she uses her magical energy to form an energy barrier to confide him. He just sits down and says,"

If it makes you feel better , I know how today's really going to end. "

Lacus just looks determined and says,"Come on everyone, if this thing really has the power to bring devastation to the Lylat Kingdom like Weil's Death Star, then we must stop him quickly! "

Sabin nods and adds," Let's hurry to the docking bay, then we can settle things. "They all then run to the elevator in the room, till Brad stops and says," Wait a second, I'll just go on ahead and get rid of any jokers who would dare to try stop us!"

Lacus smiles and says,"Thank you Brad, be careful. "With this Brad takes a massive leap to jump out of the room through the ceiling, and the others take the elevator to leave. Seeing everyone is gone Grace sits down and says,"

Damn them all, hope lord Xiza and the Captain makes them pay! They really think they can stop things? Huh, what the?"

He hears a crashing sound and is horrified to see Brad come crashing down from the other side! He then says," What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were going off ahead!"

Brad grins and says," I am, but first I have some business to wrap up! Like I said, idiots that think I should not be with my gal REALLY gets on my nerves!"

Grace walks back only to hit the wall of the energy barrier Terra set up and says,"

Wait a minute mate, I made a deal with you Enji! I gave you a way to try, and fail, to stop Lord Xiza!"

Brad charges up energy in his hand and says,"That was there deal, it means nothing to me!

You talk too much, and are to annoying to be allowed to go on annoying me!

You may have got by their justice, but this is MY justice "mate"!"

With that he fires a beam of energy, from his mouth!

As it heads right for Grace he panics and screams out a horrified," No way, this is so not cool!

This can't be, the end of the Zinyu Force! AH!"

With that Brad's blast at once shatters Terra's barrier, and Grace along with it! As the blast goes on tearing through several walls and causes a explosion in the distance Brad chuckles and looks around before saying,"Sorry Lacus, but I won't let anyone get away with thinking they are better than me! Bah,its getting old everyone looking down on me. Both the Enji masters and the messed up Dark Enji, Zannacross and Titan stiffs, they all think they are better than me! But its time I show them I will win even without all the fancy magic tricks and secret skills they have!

HEhehe, time to see if I can get my own rewarded from this day, then everyone like that stuck up Max will be forced to see that the one true ultimate fighter is me, the unstoppable Juggernaut Brad Fowltror! HAhaaha, he acts so tough but I know "mysterious" dudes like him are really weaklings.

Now, time to get what I need, so I can get to Xiza and crush him to get Sabin off my back for Weil getting away! Oh yah, I can taste my soon to be galactic fan base cheering there superstar, at my wedding!

I think its about time to get the ticket to my glory!"

With that he laughs madly to himself before taking another leap out of the room! And with that we once more change are view, and now we return back to the man with the most personal feelings at the matter, none other than Max!

---

Brad's comment for once was not entirely off about Max, for at the moment Max's usual cool demeanor is totally replaced by a berserk rage brought out by his anger! We now return to Max still having his Tri-Edge Gundam blast to the surface of Halo, and getting closer to its destination. It seems Xiza tricking him in to unleashing Halo really did deal a big psychological blow to him. And his hands are shaking as he says to his droid partner,"T4-X5, PLEASE tell me your useful for once and have a lock on Xiza's location on that thing. "

His droid ally just continues to press buttons as he says," That would be a negative sir Janus. While I do detect two massive powers, one coming from this Halo itself, and one around it, because of the unstable surge of power I cannot isolate it. "

Max just pounds his chair and says," Well, I knew that all ready! Stop screwing around and do something, I have to get to Xiza now!"

His responds is," I will do my best sir, but yelling at me will not make it faster. Sir Janus, if I may say, you are showing signs of extreme stress. "

Max just laughs cockily and says,"Oh you think? Of course I am stressed! I was so close to finally avenging everyone, and then Xiza pulls the rug underneath my feet! And what is worse is that he was planning for it, he set me up, and I fell right in to it! And now, now he has a toy that can freaking wipe out the Lylat Kingdom! I won't be, the guy who caused the universe to end. Bardock, Shin, and all the others believed in me, and, I can't be that much of a screw up! Huh, what is this? "

All of a sudden he sees a large light shine in front of him, and when it fades he sees a man floating in the area in front of him! He stops his charge as he says," The hell? Why and how is someone floating in space? No, it can't be!"

He is shocked as he takes a closer look, and sees its none other than his former teammate, and Kira's brother Shin! He then says," What is this, because whatever is going on its not funny! I may be a little on edge, but you have been dead for years, not to mention your floating in space without a suit. "

Shin, or whatever is taking his shape just grins and says,"What's the matter Max? Not happy to see me? I thought we were best buds? "Max just grits his teeth and says," I was friends with him, but our not him! I did not come this far and survive this long in order for a ghost to stop me!"

Shin just chuckles and says," What did you survive for? Seems to be your all ready dead, because all you are doing is lingering on like an angry ghost, just causing more pain for everybody!"

Max flips out and says,"OH, so now you're saying it's me, and not Kira, who backstabbed everyone that's the problem? Funny, the Shin I knew would never agree with the things his monster of a brother has become!"

Shin just laughs and says,"Well, that's because you were clueless to the real me, like you were clueless to everything till the end! You think you can fix things? You cannot change fate Max, you were fated to fail, it would have been better if you died, as long as you continue to live your just making it harder for the universe to evolve!"

Max then says," I had enough of this! I don't care what game this is, I won't let anything stop me from bringing this to an end, with my own hands! And for god sakes why are you poking me T4-X5? "

He snaps out of his gaze on his ally as he says," My apologize, I just thought you would like to know that I detected, oh it's too late."

Max is about to blow as he says," What the hell are you, Ah!"

He feels his mobile suit shake he realizes he was hit! He then checks the monitors and says,"Where did that come from? What the? I see, I should have known, Kira!"

He sees the alert monitor show up, and sure enough he sees the Strike Freedom Gundam closing in on him, and it's clear he was who just fired on him! Max then hears Kira laugh through a transmission as he says," I knew you would come Max, you always do try to defy the impossible. But this time even you cannot stop destiny!"

Max then takes out his Gundam 's weapons as he says,"I guess you caught tired to chasing Weil and wanted to take part in the fun eh? Bah, well get out of my way, as much as I would like to even the score I have things to settle with your partner in crime Xiza first!"

Kira takes out his machine's beam saber as he responds with a flat,"That is not going to happen. I give Xiza credit, thanks to his master plan, the end of corruption is at hand."

Max then says," See Shin? See what your twisted brother has become? What the?"

He turns back to Shin, and sees that he is gone! He then glares at Kira and says," But of course, your cheap little absolute hypnosis! I knew this smelled like your kind of ideal of fun! "

Kira quickly responds with a emotionless," Ah, but you still were taken in, even if your mind knew it was an illusion, your heart sill believed it. And you know what that means Max? It means your resolve is wavering! Poor Max, you have been suffering for so long. Why don't you allow me to do you one more favor as your friend, and relive you of your despair? "

Max just charges at Kira and says," Or how about I relived you of your stupidity, and your head!? Do you know just what Xiza plans to do with this thing!"

He then clashes with the Strike Freedom's beam saber, and as he does Kira says,"Of course I am aware, that is why I am stopping you from interfering."

Max presses down as he says,"You really have lost it all! So you're ok with Xiza using this Halo to destroy even living person in the Lylat Kingdom? IS your precious new ear worth this high a price?"

They break out of there lock, and Kira has his mobile suit fire its 2 x MMI-M15E "Xiphias 3" rail cannon, folded underneath hips, and its MGX-2235 "Callidus" multi-phase beam cannon, mounted in torso before he says,"This has been the toll I have been ready to pay since the start! No sacrifice is too great to erase this pathetic rotten universe and create a new cosmos where only the worthy are allowed to exist! You and I both know that the true nature of mortals will never allow for true peace Max.

The only solution, the FINAL solution is now Halo, for with one flash of judgmental light it will kill enough life forms to give us all the energy we need to free Chaos Zannacross Necron at last! Give up Max, you cannot stop me, you can never atone for your sins!"

As Max continues to dodge his foe's blasts, he has his machine's conductors come out to absorb the attacks! He then says,"Just shut up all ready Kira, I don't care how well you can defend your justification, and you're still going to die! I don't care if humans will never be able to become better, all that matters is evening the score, and making sure before I die you and Xiza get what's coming to you! Blazing Judgment!"

He then tries to slash in to Kira, but his former friend has his suit's thruster's blaze to blast up in the air to avoid it. He then has his Dragoon funnels disengage before he has them swarm Max as he says," Ah, you really are a simple minded fool Max. It's a pity you are unable to have an appreciation for what true evolution is, otherwise you might have been able to live a little longer. But alas it's clear that we will never see eye to eye. And that is why one of us will not live to see today's sunset!"

Max just shows of his ace piloting skills as he dodges blasts being fired at him from all angles as he says,"First of all, we are in freaking space so the sun can't set. And second of all I always was the better pilot, and since even you can't fight in space for long on your own I have the advantage! "

As he defects another blast from a funnel back in to it he charges at the Strike Freedom again, only for Kira to say,"Well, you once more underestimate how far above you I have become Max, and even then, who said I was alone?"

Max does not take long to figure out what Kira said as his radar detects more hostiles and he moves downward to avoid a barrage of laser blasts!

He then zooms in on his monitor and sees not only the standard mobile suits of the Zannacross Empire,

but the new grunt suits of the Titan Special Forces like the red GN-XIII machines and the Ahead mobile suits!

As Kira's backup begins to surround Max Kira chuckles once more as he quips out a cutting," See Max? If my logic is so twisted then why do I have so many followers and you stand alone?"

Max just snaps back with a bitter," Because the majority of people are brainless chumps who will swallow anything that sounds good enough. But I don't care, I'll take you all on myself!"

Kira just snickers before responding with a condescending," You can try, but I assure you will fail. All forces, kill him with extreme prejudice. It's too bad things had to end this way, this was not how I envisioned are final interaction. But I will not let that get in the way of getting things done. Now, prepare to, huh? No, all ready?"

Before he can resume his attack on Max, the Strike Freedom's own seniors warn him of a massive surge of energy heading his way, and at once thrusts to the side as a massive column of purple energy consumes his grunts before they can turn around, and they are all blown to bits before they knew what hit them! Both Max and Kira turn to the right to see the blast came from a Gundam, a Lylat Gundam and the Seravee Gundam and its four GN mega particle cannons!

It's not alone either as behind it are the 00 Raiser Gundam, the Cherudim Gundam, the Arios Gundam, and the Nu Gundam! Amuro then fly's in front of the rest of them and makes his own transmission as he says," Kira! That's far enough, don't think you can get away with something like this!"

Kira turns to them and with a cold voice says,"I told you all, Kira is no more, I am now Darth Judicar, the one who will bring final judgment to this dimension!

It's a shame, some of you use to serve me, but it would seem you were swept up with King Atem and the others foolish idealism."

Max looks around and realizes both the Lylat forces and the Imperial Zannacross forces have both exited out of hyper space and at once are firing on each other. And if that's not enough the remaining Vector forces are also deploying out in their own stuff like the transforming mobile suits the Star Vipers!

Max takes a look at the battle breaking out and notices both the Great Fox and the Neo-Highwind are in on the action as he grins and says,"Looks like you can't move around anymore without being noticed Kira! And that's good, because that will make it all the more easier to finish this!"
Kira then says," You can try, but you will still fail! Nothing can deny progress, your all clogging true peace from taking form!"

Hearing this Setsuna take's out his Gundam 's GN sword/rifle and points it at the Strike Freedom before he says,"We once believed and followed your intentions Kira. But, while at first we thought we were truly enforcing justice, you soon twisted that justice. Now I know for sure, the one who is spreading war is you!"

Kira then says," So it seems all of you are fools, so be it."

Max then fires at Kira with his head machine guns as he says," I have long grown tired of that arrogance of yours Kira! This ends now! Huh, what's this?"

Max sees he has a transmission request and presses a button to see none other then Amuro appear. The ace Gundam Lylat pilot then says," Your Max Bruder correct?"

Max looks amused and says," Who wants to know? Trying to arrest me now? Don't you think you guys have enough on you plate as it is?"

Amuro just shakes his head and responds with a flat," On the country, we are here to assist you. We all know time is of the essence, that is why we are here to cover for you. Leave Kira and the others to us so you can land on this Halo. "

Max chuckles and says," Oh please, you guys won't last two minutes against him! Its my grudge, so why don't you boys try to find a way to stop that giant doomsday weapon!? "

Amuro then says,"I know you and Kira have a score to settle, believe me I know how that feels. However, with all of us here I think we can manage. Besides, you're the only one that was a former Enji, you and the other Enji are the only ones that can stop the man trying to activate Halo, Xiza. Please, I know I have no authority over you, but please, there is little time left so for the sake of everyone living in the Lylat Kingdom go on!"

Max is about to say something, but then bites his tong as he answers with a carefree," What a drag, I hate it when theses kind of situations arise, but your right. And, before I put Kira in his place once and for all, I should kill that rat Xiza once and for all, and put to an end the mess I caused. I don't want to be remember as that guy who screwed everyone over, or at least apocalyptically screwed everyone over. All right, just don't screw up, I am tired of being the only one carrying his weight!"

Amuro nods and says,"Thank you, and good luck. " Max then has his mobile suit's thrusters change direction back on his course to Halo, and Kira sees this and says," What is this, the fearless Max has at last broken down and is fleeing? I knew after enough pressure then proud lion would be reduced to a fractured cub. But the least you could do is die with the honor of a warrior you once so proudly talked about."

Max just says," Don't let it go to your head traitor, I am not feeling, I am just finishing what I sent out to do! Don't worry, ill be back to smash your face in as soon as I finally run this sword of mine through Xiza's head! "

Kira aims his mobile suit's high energy beam rifles and says,"Your mistaken, your business is dying by me old friend!"

With that he fires a blast at the Tri-Edge Gundam, only to get annoyed at seeing the green blast being intercepted and the Nu Gundam appearing!

Amuro then says," Don't think you can continue to look down on us forever Kira, other wise you might find your self having a painful surprise. "

Kira just sees the other Gundam's surround him before he chuckles and says,"I see you all seek to be relived of your sorrow, Ill be happy to comply. You do know that even all of you fighting against me at once does nothing to increase your odds of victory? I could crush you all in an instant with ease. Oh?"

He sees that his responds is a sniper energy blast and with beyond human reflexes manages to dodge it while then having his Dragoon Funnles form a energy barrier to neglect the follow up barrage of GN cannon blasts from the Servee Gundam! Amuro then has his own Fin Funnels deploy as he says," Kira, you can't dismiss us so easy, we will force you to see how blind you are. "

Kira just responds with, "Tsc, it seems once more I have to show who's eyes are truly open. Have it your way then. "

With that Kira goes on a full assault firing all of the weapons the Strike Freedom has at once! As the Lylat Gundam 's pull of some evasive maneuvers to not get hit Max sees the Titan forces swarm in to back up there commander, but he just turns his head back on Halo and says,"

Those guys make me look sane taking Kira on like that. But, its there choice to be crazy. Now, time to finish what I started, and give Xiza what he has coming for him once and for all! T4-X5, get ready for a rough landing, I want to make sure I can get this done before Ben and the others somehow try and interfere again. "

His droid partner nods and says," As you command, it seems this Halo has its now atmosphere, how very odd."

Max reacts with a sharp," Now is not the time to be analyzing! Oh right, but there is one thing I want you do to. No matter what, you will complete this task got it? I need you to do some researching on something I thought of recently. No matter what it takes, I will drag the truth to everything behind this out under the rug! All right, prepare Xiza! There is no escaping me! "

---

With this the Gundam turns back in to its ship mode to prepare and make a faster descent so Max can try and out run everyone. Little does he know someone is very determined to stay on his trail, and its Ben!

While delayed Ben and the others tried to catch up with Max in Samus's Gunship, however they got a little sidetracked getting rid of the Star Vipers hounding after them, and it only got more complicated when they all of a sudden had to deal with the traffic brought on by a fleet battle! We now turn back to the inside of the Gunship, to see Ben hanging on tight in his seat as Samus does some invasive moves of her own to avoid a barrage of missiles heading in there direction!

Ben then hears them explode and says,"Arg, are we almost there yet? I am glad Fox, Cid and the others were able to arrive for back up, but at the moment its just making it even harder to catch up to Max! Not to mention all this shaking is doing a number on my stomach! How much longer Samus? "

Samus responds with," Almost kid, it's not easy with all the attacks to avoid. All right, we are approaching Halo, get ready for a rough landing!"

Bacchus then says," I am sorry to say because of the ruckus we got caught in I have lost Mister Bruder 's exact location. But I am sure we will not be to far off."

Cloud sighs and says," Let's hope so, we have enough to worry about as it is. All right guys, better brace your self's . With that she puts her ship's thrusters to maximum thrust and descend in to the ring. After a tense minute they are able to land down, and when Ben takes a look he is shocked as he says,"

What the, did we somehow run in to a warp hole or something? Because, this looks , not very super weapon like. "

The reason Ben says that, is that now that they have a good look at the real surface of the giant ring, they see they are on what appears to be a mountain with green grass and a lake! Bacchus then quickly checks his scanners and says," I do not think such a event accrued mister Ben, it seems we are indeed on Halo itself as unlikely as it may appear. Well, it seems that perhaps there might have been a whole civilization on this ring, for I detect oxygen outside."

James repositions his glasses as he says,"As odd as it may be this gives us a break, we don't have to worry about chunky space suits and can move at full speed." Samus just stands up and says,"Chunky space suits? You guys really need to work harder on that then, but in any case what are we waiting for? Let's go."

They all nod and within moments they are exiting the ship and looking at there surroundings. Ben sees he could nearly mistake the terrain for Corneria before saying," Well, it's a nice view and all, but where is Xiza?"

Samus and Bacchus both check there gear before Samus says,"Its no good, there seems to be some sort of jamming filed set up. I can tell there is some massive power on this thing, but it's like its coming from every were at once."

Bacchus quickly answers with a thoughtful," It must be that the power of Halo itself is so great its surging energy is overwhelming are sensors. However, there is likely an area that looks like the command center for this entire structure. While we can not trace the energy itself, I could send out a few auto cameras to scout quickly and find such a thing. "

Cloud nods and says," Do it, we don't have any time to waste, and there is no telling if Xiza has more guards to send are way. "

Ben looks around and says," Such a place hardly seems like something that has the power to massacre a galaxy, but I guess its just one of those appearances are deceptive things. Sigh, I bet with my luck there is some massive monster hiding underneath us or something. Huh, hey! I did not mean that to happen literally! Good grief!"

Ben's reaction was prompted by everyone feeling the ground shake, and at once everyone gets on guard. Soon enough they hear moaning, and see several hands burst out of the ground! This is fallowed by the owners of those hands popping up out of the ground! Ben and the others see yellow rotten fleshed zombie like men appear! Not expecting this Ben says," What the, it's operated by freaking zombies? "

James then says," Well, this is a ancient installation after all. "

Little do are hero's know it, but they are staring at the dreaded parasitic Flood creatures from the Halo games!

Doug is not impressed and says,"What? Xiza so desperate for stalling he has to hire the undead? They may be ugly but that just make me want to get rid of them even more! Bursting Machine Gun Punch!"

With this Doug unleashes a barrage of lighting fast punch's at the ghastly new grunts, and manages to do some damage, so much damage that most of them are torn apart! As he sees one headless Flood zombie land on the ground Doug grins and says,"Man, they must have been waiting for someone for a long time, but that seems to have made them really weak! Come on, lets find where Xiza is so we can make him one of theses zombies to!"

Shinryudramon, who despite having a more humanoid mega level form still has the use of his keen nose, and senses that there foe's are not quite dead yet as he says,"Watch out Doug! Those guys are still kicking!"

Doug takes a look at them and reacts with a grim,"What? So, theses guys just keep on kicking huh? Well, in that case I will, whoa! "

Doug is shocked as he sees one of the fallen body's all of a sudden swell, before it bursts like a balloon and Doug sees several smaller parasite like creatures come hurling out of the body, and at him! However before they can reach him they are quickly blasted to bits by a barrage of blasts from Samus, James, and Bacchus! Doug looks embarrassed and says,"Thanks guys. Whew that was close. I don't know what the hell theses guys are but they are all ready over loading the ugly scale. "

Ben just has his energy flare up as he sees one of the headless Flood human's rise up again, only for a large Las Plagas like tentacle head with a number of small tentacle-like appendages with a larger tentacle that has a sharp bone at the end appear as he says," We don't have time to waste on freaks like this! What ever they are they are just a waste of time, so let's finish them and move on!" ( On, and I am taking some liberty's and having the Flood have Las Plagas like quality's as well. They are both parasites after all hehe. )

Ben then sees the nearest Flood foe try to slash him with his tentacle blade and swiftly parries with the Star Sword before in a instant slicing it in half! He then jumps in to the air and fires a barrage of blue energy blasts to blow away its friends! Seeing Ben's resolve his friends are fired up and Shinryudramon has his shield form in to cannon as he says," That's it boss! Show theses ugly freaks that they can't scare us off! You guys hungry? Chew on this, Infinite Exia Ray!"

With this the Royal Knight Digimon takes to the air before he fires of his energy attack, and has it spread out to bombard the hoards of Flood monsters preparing to rise! This of course causes a barrage of thunderous explosions, and as the ground shakes and Shinryudramon lands back on the ground he sees the numerous craters he just made and shrugs saying," Well, at least I don't have to worry about offending the guy who build this place, unless he is one of theses zombies. "

Ben grins and says," Heh, way to go Shinryudramon, that will teach them to try and mess with us. Huh? "

He sees the ground shake as he sees even more flood creatures begin to pop out! At once Samus fires a super missile to blow them away to and says," I don't think most undead creatures can be sacred Ben. We might as well just plow through them as we search."

Ben nods and says,"Sounds good to me. Still, I hope Max did not get caught up with theses guys. In his berserk state they might get the jump on him or something. In fact, whoa!"

Everyone all of a sudden sees a blinding light, and turn around to see a nuclear class explosion to the southern part of Halo!

Cloud then says," I think even now Max has a handle on the situation Ben. Come on, he either just wasted a good chuck of theses flood or is fighting Xiza. Either way this is are chance!"

Ben nods and says,"Max, you're the one who always told me never to lose sight of my self, don't tell me you're the one who can't even remember what he believed in!"

With that Ben and the others move at full speed, and using there magic energy to enhance there dashes to the speed of the Z warriors, its only a minute till they closed in on the large creator, and it seems Ben and Cloud's hunch is right, as they stop they see Max!

It seems Ben's cousin did encounter the flood, but he showed them at once how much he thought of them, because at the moment he seems to have obviously already exited his ship, and is standing on top of a large rock pillar surrounded by blast holes that he himself made!

Doug then whistles out a impressed," Damn, he really is not messing around! "

Ben then runs up to Max and says,"Max, your all right! I see you encountered Xiza 's last line of defense as well. "

Max does not turn around, and just sternly declares," Of course I am fine, who the hell do you think your talking to? But, what I want to know, is why are you all here? I told you, I am ending this alone!"

Cloud then says," Now is not the time for this Max. We will need to use everything we all have at once to end this. Just calm down and think straight and you will know this is what makes the most sense!"

Ben grins ands says," Come on Max, stop trying to be the tough guy for once and let us help you! You don't have to carry the burden by your self anymore."

They approach Max, but his cousin just laughs bitterly to throw everyone off balance as he says,"That's rich, you really think you know my burden Ben? I see, as always, your god damn clueless! Don't interfere, I won't let anyone deny me my revenge! "

With this he turns around, and to everyone's shock as his energy explode so much it creates a shockwave that blows Ben and Cloud back, and tears apart the ground around them! Ben and Cloud land on there feet back with there friends, and as Ben looks at his cousin he sees he is still wearing his Janus mask as he says," Max! What are you doing!? We are on your side remember?"

Max just hovers in the air and has his two shoulder blades extend again as he says,"Oh really? How do I know your not another one of Kira's little illusions? "

Ben grimaces before he responds with, " Come on Max, you out of all people would know if we are a fabrication of Kira 's absolute hypnoses. Stop being so stubborn and let us help you, all of us want to stop Xiza and bring him to justice for what he has done!"

Max just chuckles again and puts out a low bitter," Justice, I am beginning to think it does not even exist. Good always prevails against evil? Don't make me laugh, its just a fairy tale made so kids can sleep well at night. You think you know my burden Ben? You have no idea, being the chosen one and all you got all the luck and easy exits handed down to you.

You may have had a taste of suffering and despair brought by Kira, but you could not even swallow a sample of what I had to deal with before it caused you to snap and create another personality, Darth Idious, to deal with your pain! Meanwhile if having my former Capitan betray me and kill my squad mate and one of my friends was not bad enough. I also had the joy of having both of my other teammates turn mad and betray me, while also setting me up!

Hiding in the shadows for years, and can't show my face to one side for being a traitor, and being there swore enemy to the other! What do you do when you have no one to turn to Ben? You either roll over and die like a poor little puppy or suck it up, be a real man and deal with it! The main difference between us, is that I don't need crutches just to deal with the harsh truths of the reality of existence! And just when I was finally able to achieve the one thing I could do that would be useful, you and your naïve actions messed up everything! If you want to help Ben, then stay out of my way!"

Ben then looks down and says,"I know things have gotten a lot worse then they should have. But its not to late! As long as there is hope, as long as you hang on to your dreams you can still make it through the darkness!"

Max laughs again and says,"Look around you! Look at the remains of a lost dream. The final product of human intelligence, human technology that can rival even the power of the God and the devil. "

Hearing this causes James to cough before chipping in with a keen," Um, remember it was mostly the work of angels and the extinct Forerunners who built this? "

Max quickly snarls out," Don't but in when I am speaking here! My point is that is that no matter where someone is or what they know in the end there greed will overrun any decency and want it all to be the best. Yes, what happened here is the end result of desire for forbidden power. The very definition of a nightmare! I, too, was unable to rise above my human existence. It may have been I who just sealed this entire cosmos into a never ending nightmare of darkness. You could say I was pure one, that I existed for one goal. If I'd stopped to think for a moment it all would have been obvious.

But the word "martyrdom, seduced and clouded my eyes. All I could think about was avenging my friends and make Xiza and Kira pay for what they did to me!"

Ben is disturbed at how frantic his cousin is acting before he runs up and yells out ," Are you crazy Max, are you telling me you want to die!"

Max looks deadly serious as he jabs his finger at his cousin and says,"Ben, those who died with their beliefs were the happy ones. But what about me? There's nothing more pathetic than a pet who's been abandoned by his master. Lacking the strength of the wild, he merely exposes his pitiful form the world and waits to die. But it is the same for you, for all of you! The Zeon Federation, Vector, the Lylat Kingdom, the Enji Knights... Don't you all realize all of them are nothing but actors for the one objective, the one big con that is the nature of life!?

What does the term "Warriors of Light" mean to you now after all you seen? Think you can really banish all evil, think you can bring a true everlasting peace? If anything peace is the thing more humans hate, they hate being bored, they want the thrill of combat, the desire to concur. You should have fought long enough to know that its not just a few sick mortals causing chaos, we are all sick! We're just fools made to dance to a tune of lies ! So I guess the best we can do is just enjoy the ride to hell, Hahahaha!"

Ben and the others are shocked at Max's outburst as Cloud says,"I think your right Bacchus, his mental state is decaying rapidly. I know a few things about losing your mind but even what I went through does not seem as bad as this."

The android nods and says," And it seems his symptoms are rapidly getting worse, this is not good at all. "

Ben then gets mad and says," Enough! I refuse to buy that Max! I know, I know there are a lot of scum that ruin things for everyone, but there is still a lot of people worth protecting to! Just when I was about to give up on everything my friends came through to me. And now I know, that no matter how bad it gets, there are still plenty of people that make all of this worth fighting for!

After all of this, I still am the one chosen by the celestial ones to weld the Star Sword and save the cosmos from the ultimate darkness! And for everyone beside me right now, and for everyone else I hold dear I will never fail! Your not going to get rid of us Max, so what are you going to do about it? "

Max just shakes his head and says,"I see, so you really are hopeless. I guess the last thing I can do as your former mentor is do you a favor and beat your senses to the right path! "

Ben's eyes narrow as he says," Are you kidding, this is your responds Max?"

Max just has his blades glow with power as he says,"Do you think someone who clings to his friends possesses a strong determination? True brilliance will not come to someone who relies on other people! Without worrying about others, you should accomplish your goals by yourself, for yourself! It's the only way you will ever be truly strong Ben!

I understand now. I will rid you of your childish fantasies of bonds with other people, by force! "

Ben looks down, and looks at his Star Sword before he says,"I see, so, this is the only way? I don't understand, I don't understand this at all Max!"

Max then has his magic aura explode as he nearly blows everyone of there feet and he says,"How surprising, I guess the only way Ill drill it through your head is by explaining it in the only way you can understand, a battle! Better getting you out of my way then messing things up when its down to the wire! And when I thrash all of you ill show you once and for all how weak you are Ben, before I kill Xiza at last!"

Ben stands his ground before uttering a firm," Max, your wrong, that is not going to happen. "

Max is motionless for a moment before rasping out a sarcastic," Excuse me? Speak up, what did you just say?"

Ben then looks determined as he says,"I said that's not going to happen Max! Max... I don't fight with the help of my friends because I rely on their strength. I fight with them not because I need them, but because we all need each other! Of course their strength becomes mine, as well. They encourage me and worry about me. That's why I want to become their strength, as well! There is strength in being together with everyone, as well... that is what I believe in!"

Max just says," Tsc, how naïve as always Ben. Even though you know well the despair of betrayal, you still want to become the strength of others? Your just going to be betrayed again. But whatever, it is clear now nothing I say will change your mind. It seems we are on two different paths, and words will not bridge that path. I guess that means there is only one thing left to do now."

Ben nods, and gets in to his own fighting stance as he begins to power up and says,"Your right, as bad as a time as it is, I have no choice. Even if I am betrayed again, I don't want to be like you Max, I don't want to give up on everything! Its time then, even if its not the time or place that I wanted it to be, its time I show you once and for all that you can't look down on me anymore, because this time, I will defeat you!"

Doug cracks his knuckles and says,"All right then, its rematch time! Even if you are Ben's cousin, no way your going to beat us all at once Max! You're going down!"

Ben turns to Doug and says," Er, sorry Doug, but as much as I appreciate the gesture, I have to settle this showdown with Max by my self."

His friends are shocked and Shinryudramon says,"Are you feeling all right boss? Did you inhale something from one of those weird zombie things? I mean you know how crazy strong your cousin is! "

Ben grins and says,"Believe me, I remember. But, I have gotten a lot stronger, in more ways then one since we last fought. This time I won't let my feelings weaken me. Also, if you guys help me when I beat him it will just prove his point. Besides, we still have to track down Xiza. Bacchus, have you managed to locate anything like what we are looking for?"

Bacchus, who in fact has been keeping up his search ever since they ran in to the Flood nods and says," In fact, my cameras have located something that has a fifty percent chance of being the command tower where Xiza is."

Ben then looks determined as he quips out," Then go now, we don't have much time left! Leave this to me, and Ill catch up when this is over. "

Cloud looks right at Ben's eyes and says,"Ben, as much as I hate to admit it, your plan is the best option we have. Just, be careful, and do your best. I know you have what it takes, you have come a long way, now show Max just how far you have come!"

Samus nods and says,"That's right, give it all you got kid and good luck."

He sees the others give sighs of encouragement and Ben grins as he gives them all the thumps up and says,"Thanks everyone, don't worry, I won't let you down. "

With that they all take off, and Max chuckles as he says,"My, you really have grown Ben, or at least your ego has! You really are naïve, to think you could ever really defeat me!"

Ben then unleashes all of his power as he says,"Its time we see who is really naïve Max! Bankai!"

With this Ben unleashes the true power of the Star Sword, and he has a golden light evolped him, before like always his Star Sword transforms and his aura is twice as large and has turned golden! As he gets in to fighting stance, and as Max hovers above him as the situation looks nostalgic of the first battle between Goku and Vegeta Max sees the resolve in the Enji Knights eyes and mutters " I am not impressed, this is the same power you showed me last time. And if that's all you got this battle has all ready been decided."

Ben just says," Oh believe me, I am not the same person I was last time Max. For one thing, after the fight with Kira I was trained by Grand Master Myers himself!

He took me to his special personal training chamber, the room of spirit and time. There, lets just say I got a extra edge to my training, as he taught me his secret skills and training methods so I could master moves like the Kai Sage arts! And now I have the edge, to show you not only that I can surpass you, but that I all ready have!"

This causes Max to laugh again as his energy spikes and he takes off his Janus mask and puts it away as he says,"Oh really? So Master Myers felt bad about what happened and teach you some moves to make up eh? Well, that's rich, he was going to teach me those moves when I got back form Zandalor. Very funny, but its not going to change anything. Because, even if you have some new moves, your skills, your mind, its still and always will be below my level! You can never defeat me Ben, the truth is that you never had the mindset to become what it takes to be someone as tough as me!"

Ben has had enough, and raises his sword as he says," Time I open your eyes and once and for all force you to see that I have grown past you Max!"

He then prepares to make the first blow and charges with his aura blazing as he raises his sword and dashes at Max. But Max's eyes widen as he says, "Oh really? In that case, show me!"

With that his energy explodes, blasting Ben in to the air! And in a instant Max is in front of Ben before he punches him hard in the chest! He at once punches him several times more in a second as he says," Come on, COME ON! Show me this strength your so sure can beat me with Ben! Show me, if you can really surpass me!"

With that he performs a powerful kick that hits Ben hard, and sends him flying through a rock pillar or two! As the rocks fall down Max just lands back on the ground as he says,"Bah, no matter how many new moves you have, you don't have the proper power to pull it off! I should have know better then to get excited over fighting you, after all I always had to pull back in are sessions, even that last one! Huh? "

He then sees a explosion of aura break out as Ben reappears, looking unharmed as he says," Well, in that case I won't hold back either! Get ready Max!"

With this he has aura fling a bolder at Max, which is instantly sliced in half, but in that instant Ben jumps in the air and says," If my odds are grim, ill just increase them a little in my favor! Multi Shadow Clones!"

With this Ben instantly creates a dozen clones to back him up. But as they all charge at Max his cousin just has his blades glow as he says," Give me a break! You should know better then to think this level of magic to faze me! Sturm Und Drang ! "

With this Max begins spinning around like a tornado of power before he charges at the Ben barrage and in a flash instantly slices the majority of them! The few that remain back up but Max continues his charge as he says,"Is this really the extent you have grown? Not only will you never beat me, but your dreams of stopping the Zannacross Empire will remain nothing more then a dream! You forget, I know how you think Ben. Your not even here, your just letting your clones distract me while you plan to jump me, well its not going to happen!"

With this he breaks out of his spin and then goes to throw a shrunken at Ben, before it splits it to many smaller shrunken that pierce all the other Ben's! As they all fall down he jumps high in to the air and spots another Ben, and dives at it at full speed as his Shadow Blades glow with power and he says," In the end your the same as back then, a amateurish dreamer! Game over Ben!"

With that he slashes the surprised Ben across the chest with both of his blades creating an X shaped slash! As Ben falls down Max says,"I guess tough love is the only way to drill some sense in to you! Now, time to get Xiza to pay up his debut and, huh, no way!"

He is shocked to see Ben vanish in smoke, realizing was a shadow clone! He then looks around and says,"What? That was a decoy, where did he, no!"

He all of a sudden sees Ben is right above him, with all of his energy surging in to the Star Sword as Ben screams out," I am right here Max! Divine Flare Edge!"

With that Ben slashes down with all of the power he has, and Max blocks with his shadow blades, only to be shocked to see Ben's attack slice right through them! Ben's sword then goes on to hit the ground before causing it to explode and blast Max back!

He stares at his former pupil, before he sees that Ben has a shrunken in his shoulder!

He then chuckles as he says,"So, you decided to take the hit to throw me off eh? I guess you got some guts since last time, not bad. "

Ben calmly throws the shrunken out of him and uses his magic to heal the wound, before he says,"

I told you, the one thing Kira 's excuse for training did was make me able to handle pain like this like nothing. Still think you can just dismiss me so easily?"

Max just chuckles as he looks at his broken shadow blades before having them retract as he says,"Well, so you really have improved a little since are last fight. Well, what do you know, I just might have to take you seriously. "

Max then laughs madly as he now takes out his favorite sword, the massive Beskar out and has his energy cause it to glow as he narrows his eyes and says," Well, I never thought I see the day when I have to use my full power on you Ben! However, your still out of your league, you will never be able to surpass me!"

Ben just grins as he reacts with a collected," We will see about that. After all, courage is the magic that turns dreams in to reality. A man I once respected who might have had a few screws loose in his head said that to me. It was want once inspired me to make a grasp for my dreams. "

Max narrows his eyes before responding with a heavy," Heh, that was before I knew what the true reality of existence is. Hahaha, if you still believe that after all that has happened then you're a damn fool my worthless pupil! But, I guess even a fool has his pride. Ben, I admit it gives me a kick your somehow able to hold on to such fantasy. But after being betrayed and rejected by all I've believed in, I can no longer aspect your delusional world. However, there is still one thing left for me. And that is to with my hatred eradicate all of the scum that have dishonored the one who has the title of king of hearts!

Ben Auro, show me the extend of your will, of your resolve!

Show me if you can compare that fire to the will of the undefeated of the East,and his resolve to as a warrior,

and as a man, leave his mark upon the world!"

Ben just gets determined and charges as he says," It that's what you really want, then so be it! I will prove to you I have forced my self to evolve, to change in to a person that can surpass you! Once and for all let's settle this Max!"

With this the two cousins clash blades, and the collision of there powers is like two storms colliding, and the force of power creates a powerful shockwave and tremor that rocks Halo itself! In fact, even Xiza feels this tremor!

---

Speaking of Xiza, let's see where he has gotten to during all of this! We now turn back to the man causing all of this trouble in the first place, and it seems at the moment that are hero's in deep trouble, because Xiza has reached the command center of Halo! He sees the giant blue and golden room and laughs in triumph as he steps in to the platform that rises him to the top, and when he sees the command terminal he grins and says,"

At last, the beginning of the final holocaust of humanity is moments form beginning! Ah, now to get this started"

He walks over to the terminal and takes out a disc he had prepared for the occasion as he mutters a calm,"As long as my data was correct, my Cubia " helper" program will modify things to let me fire the target in mind. Let's begin."

He enters the disc, and it seems to respond, causing the whole area to glow! Xiza is amused as he sees a circle appear in front of the terminal , before out of it pops out a basketball sized blue and while sphere, that happens to be a droid! The droid looks at Xiza and says," Greetings, Greetings. I am the monitor of installation 04.

I am 343 Guilty Spark.

Oh my, it would seem someone has released the Necrocalcous.

My function is to prevent it from leaving this installation, but I require your assistance. You are here to fire the installation 04 correct? "

Xiza looks delighted as he says,"But of course, it seems are hostiles are ready to swarm us, we must fire at full power as soon as possible."

Guilty Spark hovers around Xiza before saying,"Oh really? Very well, I and this Halo have been inactive for quite a long time, but luckily it does not take long for the systems to reboot to max power."

Xiza laughs and looks as evil as you can get as he says,"That is exactly what I wanted to hear! I can sense you Enji coming, but by the time you get here, you, and everything you hold dear, will die! Hahahahaha!"

Well, it seems that saying things are getting tense is an understatement! Xiza, with the help of the troll Gulity Spark is ready to fire Halo as soon as possible, Kira and his Titan fleet are keeping the Lylat Kingdom busy, and now in the midst of it all, Max and Ben have come to blows, and in a irony of fate the time for there deceive battle has come! Can Ben once and for all show Max he has reached his level, if not higher? And even if he can truly surpass and defeat Max, by the time he does it will it be too late? Only one way to find out and that's to tune in next time to Dragon Ball Z! Err, I mean Tales of the Cosmic Wars!

In are next chapter Ben and Max of course continue there showdown, and both Ben and Max give it everything they got! However, Ben's in for a rough ride because even with his Kao Ken power Max is able to find a way to get one step ahead of him! Meanwhile, Cloud and the others are desperately trying to reach the command tower in time. Luckily they run in to Master Chief and Sergeant Jonson, who were able to descend to Halo to give the Enji a little back up and together they storm the command tower, only to run in to Guilty Spark.

The annoying cube hurls its security at are hero's, but to bad for him the good guys are not going to let an obnoxious stuck up clown like him stop them! And meanwhile, Xiza is approached by Megaman X, Zero, Axl, and Leon and his squad, who were able to sneak a shuttle on to Halo, and confront Xiza. However, this just prompts Xiza not only to show the Maverick Hunters what he knows about there past, and the true depths his subcommittee member Albert Yurive knows about there origins. But that's just the appetizer, because the main course is Xiza finally showing everyone the true terrifying power he has as one of the seven demon lords of Zannacross! And if that was not bad enough, to top it off a new arrival pops up, and to the good guy's dismay its none other then the psychotic dark Enji Ravxen! It seems the masked villain was in the area, or more like Damonus told him to go there to make sure things go there way! Is there any chance the good guys can get out of this in one piece? Don't dare miss

Chapter 113: Ben and Max's Ruthless Showdown! The Clash Between the Former Master and Student over the True Radiant will Of one's Dream!

Oh and for a quick author's note, I knew I kind of leaded on that the battle between Ben and Max would be this chapter, but as I wrote it I realized it would be better if I got most of the stuff out of the way lol. Sorry to mislead you, but don't worry, I can promise it will be worth it for what's in store next time. Thanks for the reviews like always, and till next time!